Expectations?

[Jaxartes]

As the game draws nearer to release, it seems that the consensus forming is that it is a decent, but not earthshatteringly incredible game. This is rather deflating news, as I really believe that FF needs a true return to form, if it is to remain truly relevant.

It'll sell massively, of course. But I can't bear the thought of it being 'just another RPG' in high production values sheep's clothing.

But the signs aren't promising. You can always expect critics to give near perfect scores, but there is a difference between when they really mean it and when they're giving a good but not great game, the benefit of the doubt.

And sadly, I'm getting the vibe of the latter, from the comments I'm read. I honestly hope that this isn't the case, and will reserve final judgement until I've actually played it myself.

I debated whether or not to put this up. Whatever people may think, I don't enjoy or look to be the bearer of bad news or negative feelings. I just try to call it like I see it.

Nobody is going to be happier than me, if FF13 turns out to be the return to form that we've been waiting for since the PS1 days.

It could happen, I hope it does.

[Tidus1979]

Lets think positive. Maybe it'll have a different effect on an American audience. (or really anything but japan...)

You know the 360 is very popular in America but in Japan no one plays it. So it could go the other way around. You never know.

[CEK]

I'm trying real hard not to have any expectations at all about it. I dont want to be let down. I was really psyched for FFXII's launch since it had been so long between FF titles on the PS2 but once I got it and into it I was utterly disappointed. I'm not getting my hopes up anymore when it comes to Squeenix these days.

[Jaxartes]

You have a good point about western culture being different to Jap culture, Pave. It is possible that the game was designed with a western audience in mind (I hear SE's 'The Last Remnant's' baddie, The Conqueror was designed to appeal to us, for example).

I'm not sure what the 360 reference has to do with anything, though. FF13 isn't even available for the 360 in Japan, as far as I'm aware. SE were only going to port it to the 360 for the international versions, but I don't know if that's changed.

I'm not saying it won't sell - it will probably sell by the truckload. But sales can't cover over the cracks, if the game turns out to be substandard (which hopefully, it isn't).

I mean, we know the game will have high production values. It will look and sound great, be basically free of bugs and glitches, the controls will be fine etc. FF has been at the top of the game on those points for years now.

But it's whether the game is really that good, if it [i]really[/i matters, when it comes down to it. Western RPGs from Bioware and solid competition from Namco are putting pressure on SE to show they've still got what it takes to make truly great games.

It needs to be a great game, a really great game. It's not going to be good enough for it to be just okay or pretty good, this time. I was hoping that the first impressions following the game's Jap release, would confirm this.

But like I say, the comments so far, seem rather robotic in their praise. There's sadly been nothing to suggest that this really is the game we've been waiting for, that we're all hoping it is.

A commonly made comment about Lightning for example, seems to be that she is okay, but that there isn't much to her character. And that a romance between Snow and one of the other characters is very plain and hard to get worked up about.

It's just a little dispiriting, really. The game can't come out soon enough, in my opinion. The sooner we can see for ourselves, the better. I just pray that it's good news...