Final Fantasy 13 or Mass Effect 2?

[shadow skill]

Mass Effect 2. The characters are far more believable than anyone the Final Fantasy universe has offered up so far. Plus, it has third person shooting combat, which is far superior to turned based (in my own insignificant opinion.)

I would have liked it if they had made it action since you can only control one character directly in FF13 if memory serves me.

 

[nicholaxxx]

Hasn't FFXIII been getting shit reviews in Japan? like 4 out of 10's? Trust the Japanese, they know their Final Fantasy.

 

[GQSmoos]

13 all the way. The Mass Effect company (can't be bothered to look it up) always fail at RPGs

 

[shadow skill]

Hasn't FFXIII been getting shit reviews in Japan? like 4 out of 10's? Trust the Japanese, they know their Final Fantasy.

I think an HK magazine was less than favorable, and I do remember reading about people complaining on 2ch that Snow was an annoying douche. (Something I figured out months ago from the trailers.) But I can't say for sure.

 

[Silva]

Both, thanks. Final Fantasy XIII might come first, but that's just because I haven't had a JRPG to play in a long while.

Looking through the thread, I have to say this: anyone who does that popular thing of saying all the Final Fantasy protagonists are too androgynous or feminine, really needs to take a good look at themselves in the mirror and notice their own obvious insecurity. Feminine male heroes are just fine, just the same as masculine female heroines are. Why would femininity be a criticism, except if you're immature about letting people live life how they want to?

For those who choose Mass Effect out of preference, though: fair enough. Just so long as you don't pretend to be the authority on which kind of game is "better". I like my JRPGs, and I also like BioWare's stuff. Both will be excellent games, without a doubt.

 

[e2density]

Mass Effect 2 sounds good. Only because FF got old right after 7 Compilation.

 

[Veldt Falsetto]

It's kind of hard to say because they are both such completely different games. You really can't compare them directly. It really just depends on if you prefer the WRPG model, or the JRPG model.

In other words, it depends on whether you prefer a little innovation now and again, or the same RPG you've been playing since the days of NES. I mean, what would you consider the standard for the "WRPG model" to be, exactly? Baldur's Gate? Mass Effect? The Fallout series? They are all pretty unique unto themselves. But I guess Final Fantasy 13 doesn't have any game which is similar to it. Oh wait, I forgot about the 12 games that came before it...

There's also the fact that, of these two RPGs, only ME2 has actual role-playing in it. So, you know, that helps its case a bit.

Well, you do play a role in Final Fantasy 13. It's just a role you're forced into with no possibility of customization for further immersion. So if you really want to be able to get into it, you better be one of those people wondering what it's like to be a pre-pubescent girl. Here's a primer to help you ease into the role: you love the Jonas Brothers and Twilight.

Yeah, about Final Fantasy? I've been playing the games for ages, I'm sure I'll get XIII, but lately I've come to the conclusion that they're not really role-playing games. You play no part in the creation of the characters, you have no control over their non-combat-related actions, you have no influence whatsoever on the story--you're just there to manage the party's inventory, to give them suggestions as to how to win fights, and to steer them from one non-interactive cutscene to the next. The only role you play is that of the heroes' invisible, voiceless caddy.

Just as an example: remember that part in FF8 when Quistis saw absolutely nothing wrong with abandoning her post in the middle of a high-profile political assassination to go make nice with Rinoa? If that was a role-playing game, you might have had the option to stop her from doing something so mindbendingly stupid. But nope, the game forced you to march her all the way back to the mansion, get trapped, and fight through a sewer level instead; you had no choice in the matter. This is the kind of stuff I'm talking about.

You're wrong. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/role-play

God I wish people would actually go learn what role-play is.

Okay then, let's see: "to assume the attitudes, actions, and discourse of (another)...to assume or represent in a drama..." Yeah, I don't see how this is a problem for my argument--it doesn't say anything along the lines of "to sit on your hands and watch (another) carry on with his/her own attitudes, actions and discourse."

Here, let's try http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/role%20playing: "to act out the role of."

No luck there, either.

Which is of course what you are doing by playing the game...

Um, no. No, you're not. Quistis goes back to the mansion no matter what. You have no influence over her attitudes, actions or discourse, and therefore you are not role-playing.

To be honest, even if you were able to choose your actions like DA or ME, that scenario would still happen because you'd role play as Squall not Quistis

Just as in ME and DA you can't control what your party says or does but admittedly because they ask you no matter what and don't have a mind of their own they aren't going to do something stupid but Quistis is an actual character and not a slab of fira casting meat so she can do what she goddamn likes and doesn't need to do everything you want like a robot

 

[Veldt Falsetto]

Hasn't FFXIII been getting shit reviews in Japan? like 4 out of 10's? Trust the Japanese, they know their Final Fantasy.

Famitsu gave it 39 out of 40 and the first UK review gave it 9/10 EDIT another big Japanese mag's readers poll named it second best game of the year falling just behind Dragon Quest IX
There are some japanese complaints but XII was perfect in their eyes and Famitsu gave it 40/40, which is a point ahead of X and XIII and 2 ahead of VI and VII
XIII will be loved more over here because we hated XII, well most people did, and alot loved X which XIII is blatantly very similar to.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

Even as a Final Fantasy Fan I MUST say go with Mass Effect 2. Bioware has REALLY pushed the envelope with this series in terms of storytelling that is both Character Based and Customizabe allowing you to Create a Character with CHARACTER whose actions and dialogue you have a strong hand in rather than just watching a scripted cutscene. As well since your picking between the two I assume you have a 360, which means that you are most likely getting the inferior version of FFXIII, so that makes an even stronger case for Mass Effect 2.

Essentially for my money I do not see how Square can equal Bioware in terms of storytelling and no matter how good FFXIII is (I'm excited but skeptical) I think that Mass Effect 2 will be the better game in the long run.

 

[shadow skill]

Even as a Final Fantasy Fan I MUST say go with Mass Effect 2. Bioware has REALLY pushed the envelope with this series in terms of storytelling that is both Character Based and Customizabe allowing you to Create a Character with CHARACTER whose actions and dialogue you have a strong hand in rather than just watching a scripted cutscene. As well since your picking between the two I assume you have a 360, which means that you are most likely getting the inferior version of FFXIII, so that makes an even stronger case for Mass Effect 2.

Essentially for my money I do not see how Square can equal Bioware in terms of storytelling and no matter how good FFXIII is (I'm excited but skeptical) I think that Mass Effect 2 will be the better game in the long run.

While I can agree with you in principle I don't really see how Mass Effect's storytelling is really all that better than FF games in general. While I found Mass Effect enjoyable I found the storytelling to be a bit meh.

 

[ffxfriek]

FFXIII all the way

 

[Arisato-kun]

I plan to get both at some point but I'll be getting Final Fantasy XIII first and Mass Effect 2 at a later date. XII was quite bad but I really feel that Square deserves another chance. The cutscenes look gorgeous and battles look fun. On top of all that I've been waiting for this ever since the first trailer came out.

Both Mass Effect 2 and Final Fantasy XIII are sure to be fantastic games but I only WANT to play Mass Effect 2. I NEED to play XIII both because of how long I've been waiting and to see if I can still have faith in the series.

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

Mass effect if you like fun, FF13 if you like men turn based final fantasy stuff.

 

[Bat Vader]

I say rent both of them first and make your judgment after you have played both. Just because more people say one it does not necessarily mean you will like it.

 

[Comma-Kazie]

Mass Effect 2, hands down.

 

[The_ModeRazor]

Mass Effect. It is far more replayable (and apparently, a lot more fun).

 

[ethan22122]

Mass Effect 2 by far.

 

[Allstar309]

Meh its allll gewd. I hope that helps your decision.

 

[Are.Oh.Why]

I feel like I will echo the sentiment of a few other posters, whatever spreads your butter man. Watch a couple trailers and whichever one gets you goin...my bad lost my train of thought. From a fiscal point of view replay value may weigh heavily on your choice.

 

[Skoldpadda]

Well, I'd like to try them both, but in the case of FFXIII I'll wait for the reviews and general buzz on the internet after it's been out a while. I don't like the direction the series has taken. I want to explore in my airship.

Then again, I really enjoyed Eternal Sonata, and that didn't have any exploring either.

Mass Effect 2 is a no-brainer. I enjoyed the first, even though there was a lot wrong with it, but they're sure to have fixed that in the sequel. I'm very excited for it, and will buy it the day it comes out.