Nobody has complained about the other Final Fantasy's linearity, which leads me to believe that this one is going to be INCREDIBLY restrictive.
FF13 Bosses Respond to Western Review Scores
- Thread starter John Funk
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Obligatory half-angel FF Boss: "Ah, Lightning, so you have come to face me at last."Commander Breetai said:
Lightning: "Well yeah, but it was so easy to get to you, like a straight line."
Obligatory half-angel FF Boss: "Ah, but you now know why I am planning on destroying/ruling the world right? You figured it out....I mean, I threw my whole plan at you along the way."
Lightning: "Oh, it was easy. The whole thing just came at me along the way to fighting you."
OHAFFB: "Now, you are ready to fight, yes?"
Lightning: "About that, no. See, I just jumped from place to place to get to you, so I am actually kinda weak. And I also only have like half of my available party members with me. So could we like, delay this fight?"
OHAFFB: "No, the story is set, my motivations are clear, there is no turning back. We must fight!"
*They fight, Lightning wins*
Lightning: "God, that could have been easier, ah well, time for the credits."
Obligatory optional FINAL final boss that has nothing to do with the plot: "No, I am the true evil on this world, you will fight ME now!"
Could it be that this game is just mediocre, they suck at their jobs, and they're in denial? Frankly, I'm no fan of the traditional western RPG myself and would rather have a good story than a big sandbox world. But here's the thing: I also want a good, engaging GAME, otherwise they're wasting the medium and I'm going to be bored off my ass. They could have the most compelling story ever made, but if they break it up with monotonous gameplay that doesn't in any way reflect or support the story at all, I'm not going to get excited! Linearity's not a problem--I can handle it if I at least feel engaged by the gameplay. Look at Metal Gear Solid 4. Linear as shit, and there's probably more cutscene than game. One of my favorites. Know why? Because I can PLAY it. It's trying to be a GAME instead of an animated film that's a superficial imitation of a game. There's a ton of ways to solve any given problem, there's variation in pacing as appropriate to the story, and how you choose to play actually matters.
Normally I can say that a Final Fantasy game is at least not BAD at this--if a little overly dependent on the same mechanics they've been using for twenty years--but from what I've seen and heard they basically cut out all the things that made their games interesting. Buying items at save points, linear CORRIDORS with monsters in them instead of actual interactive environments... I'm not saying that they need to try and be Fallout 3 here, but Jesus, Square, either admit that you'd rather be an animation studio or throw me a bone! This is like Yahtzee's worst joke about your games brought to life.
Normally I can say that a Final Fantasy game is at least not BAD at this--if a little overly dependent on the same mechanics they've been using for twenty years--but from what I've seen and heard they basically cut out all the things that made their games interesting. Buying items at save points, linear CORRIDORS with monsters in them instead of actual interactive environments... I'm not saying that they need to try and be Fallout 3 here, but Jesus, Square, either admit that you'd rather be an animation studio or throw me a bone! This is like Yahtzee's worst joke about your games brought to life.
Maybe because "interaction"(interactivity) is the speciality of the videoludic medium, just as cinematography is to cinema. If you want to be told a story with no interaction, why the hell are you playing a game! If we'd be sick of interaction, we'd be sick of games by now.Axeli said:
Since when has a linear game been bad?
Fuck open world sandbox games. When you give players too much freedom, the game gets all clusterfucky and the story line suffers for it.
Fuck open world sandbox games. When you give players too much freedom, the game gets all clusterfucky and the story line suffers for it.
Final Fantasy is Final Fantasy. I say take it or leave it. It's something only some people will like, like most other JRPGs.
I know I was going to buy it no matter what, unless it got crappy review upon crappy review. Then I'd have to see what is up beforehand. The things I've seen with most complaints is that I don't mind them, such as linearity. Hell, if you're taking points off of a FINAL FANTASY game for being linear, you obviously shouldn't be the one reviewing the game. However, apparently the camera is an issue, which is something I care about.
I know I was going to buy it no matter what, unless it got crappy review upon crappy review. Then I'd have to see what is up beforehand. The things I've seen with most complaints is that I don't mind them, such as linearity. Hell, if you're taking points off of a FINAL FANTASY game for being linear, you obviously shouldn't be the one reviewing the game. However, apparently the camera is an issue, which is something I care about.
I just wish I had some say in the FF stories instead of just being an observer, it's hard to immerse yourself in an RPG game where you have no role to take.
There's a difference between gameplay interaction and story interaction - games don't need to have the latter. 99% of them don't have it even today.ShadowKirby said:
Practically only Bioware has done constantly with any success, though they've not really strayed away from their basic formula enough to tell how universally well the gimmick works.
Well after 12 i lost faith in Sqeenix so i could care less what they do with this pile of donkey shit.. But i do however disagree entirely on the whole Open world freedom thing.. Thats just a excuse they are using to justify there shitty story's for the past what? 7 or 8 years if not more? Oh well i have put enough energy into Sqeenix i just hope they go crawl somewhere and die..
Fine, I'll just tell my professors that they're simply seeing my exam papers "from a non-mechanixis point of view."
If you just want to tell a story, there are mediums for that - videogames are a little broader. Now that I think of it, Final Fantasy VII-XIII seem like they would be just as good if not better as anime.
If you just want to tell a story, there are mediums for that - videogames are a little broader. Now that I think of it, Final Fantasy VII-XIII seem like they would be just as good if not better as anime.
everything in this post is opinionated and not very credible. unfortunately thats how most people see it anyway.JaredXE said:
of course i havent played this particular game yet and its possible compared to other final fantasies that this one is too linear. lets see if i eat my words.
Granted, a lot of games have rigid storylines, but most JRPGs go so far as to couple that with extremely rigid gameplay, to the point of it boiling down to "fiddle with numbers, run to next fight, perform systematic attack patterns, repeat." There are definitely times in the series where the gameplay feels like it's actually detracting from the experience.Axeli said:
Theres nothing wrong with having linear gameplay for the sake of story, but at some point, the freedom to do things as you see fit also add to making things a bit more personal and more engaging, to have that kind of decision making process.
That's what annoys me about JRPGS in general, they tease you with the odd option of what to say in a situation or something like that but then the other character just asks again or "corrects" you and you had no real say at all.Caligulove said:
By the way, love your avatar, Spider Jeruselum kicks ass and even more so as Patrick Stewart.
People need to stop hating linearity so much. It's a design choice, not a design flaw: what's with this ethnocentrism?
I see what he's saying: the more control you give the player, the less control you have as the designer. It makes telling a compelling story difficult. It's possible, but difficult. They want to tell us their story, and they are taking steps to ensure it. Linearity is not a bad thing, people. Final Fantasy has always told good stories, but in a different way than we do over here in the west: there is nothing wrong with that.
I see what he's saying: the more control you give the player, the less control you have as the designer. It makes telling a compelling story difficult. It's possible, but difficult. They want to tell us their story, and they are taking steps to ensure it. Linearity is not a bad thing, people. Final Fantasy has always told good stories, but in a different way than we do over here in the west: there is nothing wrong with that.