by Fizzie Thu Mar 11, 2010 1:29 am
I'm on Chapter 3 at the moment, with almost 5 hours of game play. So, without spoilers, here's how things are going so far...
I'm really enjoying it!! As with all Final Fantasys, there's alot to learn. But everything's laid out in short tutorials as and when you need them. And it's all very easy to understand and master if you're used to playing Final Fantasy games. I'm not entirely sure how anyone else would find it, but it's probably almost as easy, seeing as you have to learn new things with any game you play really.
Leveling up your abilities in the Crystarium, is very pretty, and very similar to Final Fantasy X's Sphere Grid system - which I love!! =D
But it limits you to how far you can go, depending on where you are in the game. So it doesn't just through you in at the deep-end and expect you to plan everything according (like with the Sphere Grid - though I didn't mind that at all and I started with the Expert Grid from the get-go - lol).
The game as a whole feels the smoothest of all the Final Fantasys I've played.
But the loss of the Victory Theme does irk me, and the little jingle they've replaced it with is... well, rubbish. If they were gonna have a jingle at all, why not stick with what we all know and love?
To an outsider, it's just a jingle. But to us Final Fantasy lovers, it's a must. And it's one of the little things that keeps it a Final Fantasy. So, with that missing, it's already broken itself into not feeling quite like a Final Fantasy.
The battle system is great, dispite the fact that, again, it doesn't quite feel like a Final Fantasy, as you only have one character's action to really worry about (aside from mainly keeping an eye on if you need to switch Paradigms when you need a medic in your team). But, saying that, there is so much going on and everything plays so fast and smoothly, that it's probably a good thing you only need to worry about one character most of the time.
The other times, however, you do feel slightly bored. Which brings me to the level of difficulty in this game thus far... it's easy. I've yet to have any problems, and I've never been killed.
Mentioning death though, it's kind of annoying that if Lightning dies; it's Game Over. Why? In all the other Final Fantasy games, it doesn't matter if a character dies as long as you still have at least one other alive on your team. So why the change? Once again, just another little thing that takes away from the Final Fantasy feeling.
Oh, I forgot to explain Paradigm. It's basically a job change system. You get two sets to start with, and you may get more later (I'm not sure yet), but you also have the option of making new ones yourself... though they are limited to whatever the system chooses for you anyway. Once you know what the different jobs do, it's pretty easy to judge which are best for you during certain battles, and you can switch back and fourth as many times as you like/need during battles.
Also, as I mentioned, this game is easy so far and I've no need to train/grind yet. But I've been doing it just now anyways to build up CP (Crystogen Points), and max-out my characters (as far as they can go at this stage in the game anyways) in each of their jobs.
What else... Summons (known as Eidolons)!! I've not come across any yet, but I'll let you know when I do. Unfortunatly though, there aren't many in this game anyways. One per character, apparently. But I might be wrong. I haven't checked my guide (coz I like to complete games all on my own the first time round, before then using a guide the second time, so that I get the most of the games).
Characters!! They're pretty cool and I love the designs... except that Lightning looks too much like Cloud, and Hope looks too much like Vaan.
Lightning's also permantly stuck in an attitude problem at the moment too. She has her reasons to be kinda emo right now (which I won't mention), but her personality is very 2D thus far. You get a glimps into other sides of her, but that's all. Well, for now anyways. It's still early on in the game and hopefully she'll develop as the story continues and we get to know everyone better. And she is awesome to use.
Snow's pretty damn cool. He knows what he wants and he's prepared to fight for it. He has his own reasons to be emo, but he's not. Though you do feel for him and, seeing as you don't really know the truth from the myth right now, you wonder if everything he's resting his hopes on might turn out to be a lie and tear him apart emotionally later in the game.
Sazh is kinda cool. And he has a little chocobo chick that lives in his afro. XD So awesome!! He seems to be caught-up in something he wasn't prepared for, and his character is played perfectly. But he does seem like a lesser character right now, and if I had all the characters together at the same time (very rare right now), he may not be one I'd chose for my main line-up.
Vanille is the obvious Rikku replacement, but she is sooo cute when you first meet her!! Her accent seems to be a mix of Australian, British, and American. It's so confusing. Lol!! But it actually makes her all the cuter... until her accent actually starts to switch. o_O
Hope is a whiney little emo p*ssy. Sorry, but that's how he is right now. XD He's got a problem with Snow (which you could see coming a mile-off), so he's being an ass. But right from the start, he's a little p*ssy. Now, I don't expect any little kid to jump into battle, but this is Final Fantasy... why put him in the party if he's just gonna useless and annoying? And he is pretty useless right now. I only use him if I have to. And by that I mean, when the games makes me!!
The only other character is Fang, and we haven't officially met her yet (you see her at the bar in one of the cut-scenes, and apparently in a few other places later on as well).
And that just about does it for now, I guess. Lemme know if there's anything I missed or anything you wanna know and I'll tell you what I can based on where I am in the game. ^^