Master_Snipe's Gaming Review
Alright boys and girls. This is your Master_Snipe here for another Video Game Review. Today's game is in fact the sequel to Final Fantasy XIII. Fittingly called, Final Fantasy XIII-2. Now let me start. If you do not like Sci-Fi that deals with Time Travel. Stay away. Stay far away. This game will not make any more sense than it already does. Though thanks to my years of being indoctrinated in the Sci-Fi study of Star Trek and Doctor Who. I get at least HALF of it...or more than I should really know. Yet it comes right down to....your own brain piecing the story together. It starts off rather strangely as the ending of XIII has everyone living...well almost...not spoiling much there. Yet in XIII-2, everyone lives but Lightning. She disappears and only person that remembers Lightning ever existing after the near fall of Cocoon was Sarah. Blah blah blah...not ruining much of the story as really by this point some Die Hard Final Fantasy Fans are avoiding which is a shame as it is rather unique story...which Square Enix is turning into a Story Telling game with some times little game play. Yet this time there is a good balance of the two. Let's start off saying. Final Fantasy XIII-2 does not lack how visually stunning it is. There is little difference between game play and cinematic cut scenes. Long with some moments you have to make split second actions in what is fittingly called "Action Cinematic". Long with some choices may change the outcome of some events and different dialog long the way. So a good 10 out of 10 Final Fantasy XIII-2 has improved and made small changes in the combat system that was just fine in the last title. One they did add was a monster system to have the ability to control them as allies. Plus leveling them up and making them stronger...within their own limits. Some monsters are very helpful and hard to find and get. Other rather useless and as normal easy to get. Yet each have their own traits that play key parts of different party dynamics. Though this system is not completely full proof but it is a easy to use system with a smart AI not throwing attacks or spells after figuring out that attack or spell doesn't work. Even more so go right into it with hitting the enemies weakness once found. Score: 9 out of 10 Final Fantasy XIII-2 has made vast improvements on overall exploration. Mainly that is very open areas, i'd be it small in some, yet open areas. Very able to go back to them and farm farm farm. That was what was lacking somewhat in XIII as it was very focus on pushing forward with the story. Really had to be on your game on leveling up characters right or be fucked...lack of a better term. So a score of 9 out of 10. Characters...okay there are only two main in this one. Sarah and this new guy of the unthinkable future, Noel. They are likable. Can't really hate them. Now there is still a supporting cast from the past game that make an appearance here and there. Yet big one is Hope as he in fact...well...time does really change a guy who most fans seem to hate. Which is rather sad as I feel that Hope was thrown into an ordeal that really all of would act if were in his shoes >.> maybe or you'd be lying to yourself. Anyhoo. Though there isn't much else....rather lacking in overall character development in this title over the others. Yet there is my favorite Moggle, Mog, that I wrote a few Journals about. He is funny =3. Still Score is a 5 out of 10 Item shop. There is one. Only one. One crazy and rather creepy Chocobo mated with a human, Chocolina, she just loves to take your gil. Lord all mighty, she is everywhere, as she is a time traveler.....which is why she is the item shop vendor. Though I have hit a few weapons...overall most you have to craft. And crafting in this game is a pain in the fucking ass (lack of better words). You have to go around find EVERYTHING you need to craft or upgrade weapons and these items are annoyingly hard to come across or they never drop. So...really not to be fair. I won't even rank this part of the game...hate it and personal feelings should not be allowed to rate something. Now there is one important thing that was missing in ALL OVER FINAL FANTASY GAMES. GAMBLING! That is right boys and girls spend your Gil without care! Gambling is back and in a big way...well somewhat a DLC is suppose to add card games (Which I'll destroy). The place is called Serendipity. It has the slots, soon to be added Card Tables, and the all important Chocobo Racing. Now skipping the Slots and the not added yet Card Tables. Chocobo Racing is one of those games that you can enter your Chocobo you've collected during your trip through time. Put them in a race, bet on them or against and if your Chocobo wins. You win your prize money and a prize from that race. Chocobo Racing is rather difficult to understand and yet easy to master once you figure it out. Able to win some great prizes and lots of credit to buy prize items as well. So Gambling gets a big score of 10 out of 10 as I missed it ever since Final Fantasy VII had it. The Story: Well the story of Final Fantasy XIII-2 is not without saying very hard to understand but easy to follow. After all Time Travel is one of those things that you can't explain in simple words. Though finally beating the game. I have to say that XIII-2's story ranks as one of the Greatest WTF Moments in Final Fantasy History. It ranks as Number 1 in my book right next to Aerith's Death at the end of Disc 1 of Final Fantasy VII (See can't be a bad game when I am comparing it to a classic). So this story gets a 8 out of 10 do to the fact that as any typical Final Fantasy tale. Epic in all but gives the good WTF moment in the end. Replayiblity: You are in fact able to replay in the same play through. Thanks to the Impossible Science of Time Travel. Able to lock gates to other times. Enter them and start the story all over again and do things differently to see other outcomes and other Paradox Time Lines... |
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