Sassafrass Reviews: The Final Fantasy 13-2 Demo

[Sassafrass]

Notes before I begin
All images taken from Google/Bing.
Any TL;DR posts will be reported and the poster will be hunted down by me with a spoon, talcum powder and many cacti.

Having just got my grubby little mitts on the brand new Final Fantasy 13-2 demo, I thought I?d throw together a little review of the demo, get my opinions across and let you know what?s changed from Final Fantasy XIII to Final Fantasy 13-2. Note however, this small review/overview of the demo is based on one play-through of the demo that lasted about two hours whilst I fiddled with a few options to see what they did. Oh, and this demo is available for downloading on the Xbox 360 right now, which is what this was played on, and the size is 1.29GBs. Not sure if the PS3 has a demo but I?m guessing it probably does and it?s probably the same size too.

Upon starting the demo and getting past the pretty opening cinematics, you are introduced the Bresha Ruins where the heroes Noel, Serah and a Moogle called Mog arrive, via use of a Historia Crux (Think Dr. Who time travelling here, it?s really the best way I can describe it.) to find a calm, tranquil dig-site on the world of Cocoon. However, upon arrival, a huge giant awakens and proceeds to wreak havoc on the locals and force you to fight it. After a quick tutorial in which it teaches you how to use the Paradigm Shift system, which is making a return and something I?ll cover later on in more detail, and a quick boss battle that introduces you to ?Action Cinematics?, which are pretty much small cut-scenes where you hit buttons to make the action progress. I personally think they?re a nice little touch to the combat. The Last Remnant did something similar in their combat system and I thoroughly enjoyed that and they are enjoyable here too as they aren?t too hard to do and they?re not too often, about once a boss fight if the demo is any indication.

[Img_Inline width="325" Caption="This is...oh. He?s already told you who he is. Ass." Align="right"]http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad25/Sasquacth99/Nothing/oie_1223520JAgXYpsf.jpg [/Img_Inline]

Another thing that Final Fantasy 13-2 brings back that many people lamented the removal of in Final Fantasy 13 and that?s the bustling towns. Well, in the demo at least. The whole area it takes part in was bustling with NPCs you could who?d talk to you as you walked past them. It?s a good return to the old style of Final Fantasy towns and even the shop-keepers make a return, although the vendor I saw in the demo, named Chocolina, could probably get on many peoples nerves. She?s a wee bit insane, you see, and here?s hoping she?s not the only merchant you?ll be able to visit. Anyway, we kiss good-bye to the shops being at the save points, welcome back merchants and NPCs and also welcome back side-quests given by NPCs. I found only one in the demo and I?ll admit, quite a few NPCs seemed to be the triggering point for the quest but it does look like NPC given side-quest will be making a return, which is a good thing in my eyes.

Another possible new addition to Final Fantasy 13-2 is the addition of multiple choices in how to deal with the quests. In the demo, the quest at the end had four options to choose from before you faced the demo boss. Admittedly, yes, I didn?t pursue all of them and I went for the wussy option of weakening the boss first then attacking it but the option to have a little more freedom in dealing with the boss was a nice addition. Another small addition is small puzzling segments, where you have to pick up a certain amount of what I?m assuming to be crystals without back-tracking on your footsteps. It?s a fun little challenge that breaks up the running around and combat mix.

[Img_Inline width="325" Caption="This is Serah. She?s pretty cool, although she doesn?t dress practically." Align="right"]http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad25/Sasquacth99/Nothing/oie_1223753x0DASlhH.jpg[/Img_Inline]

Now, as I mentioned earlier, the combat has had a fair few tweaks to it. The base combat is still the same as Final Fantasy 13, you only control one party member directly and it?s pretty much the same basic combat as before, except if you root around the options menu, you can set the default combat to start on the Abilities list, meaning that you don?t have to scroll down from the Auto-Battle, which is making a return. Also making a return is the Paradigm Shift system, which allows you to customise your own combat party and the Stagger Bar also returns to Final Fantasy 13-2 as well. They have added a couple of new ideas to the combat as well, including being able to capture monsters that can take the third place in your party, which opens up a new ability called Feral Links, where by doing actions, you fill a bar up and when the bar fills fully, you can unleash a special attack that comes from your monster party member. Of course though, if you have a Medic based monster when you launch this attack, it?ll be really weak and on the other end of the scale, having a Commando based monster will make him have a powerful attack.

Another new addition is the ability to be wounded in the fights. When you take damage, your health metre goes down but leaves a red bar, which shows how much health you can heal back. I?m not sure if you can heal yourself fully when you?ve taken enough damage over a long battle as the demo was scrimping a bit on the abilities and monsters you get to play with but one would assume they wouldn?t allow it, just to make the fights a bit more challenging and tactical. And to be honest, it doesn?t matter if you die as they still have the option to retry any battle you lose, which is good as it saves so much back-tracking. As for the other changes, Final Fantasy 13-2?s combat feels a bit slower than the combat in its predecessor. I?m not sure if this is indeed the case but to me, it feels like they?re giving you a bit more time to pick attacks and plan ahead. You still fully heal after each battle as well, so you don?t need to stock up on potions and healing items too much. As for the quick time events, I?m probably in the 1% of people here but I actually like them. They aren?t every fight and they only really appeared in after battle cut-scenes, when the enemy is dead and buried. Besides, The Last Remnant did something similar but you don?t hear people complaining about those. Mainly because no one actually played The Last Remnant but that?s not the point.

[Img_Inline width="325" Caption="This is a menu that you?d do well to get well acquainted with." Align="right"]http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad25/Sasquacth99/Nothing/oie_12239242iYIW6G.jpg [/Img_Inline]

The levelling system is pretty much the same as before, just stream-lined for quick and easy use. You just select a class you wish to upgrade (The same six classes from Final Fantasy 13), press A and away you go if you?ve got the points to upgrade it. You can also upgrade any monsters you catch as well, but you?ll need to find specific items to level the monsters up. It?s a good idea, makes the many items you?ll pick up worthwhile and give them a use. And speaking of monsters, there aren?t any more enemies walking around the environments, they pop up at random points and you can either combat them by running up to them and pressing A to attack them, gaining a bonus, run into them, prompting a normal fight or just run away from them completely. It?s a pretty neat system and one I can get behind. It?s the best from both worlds, the ability to pick your own fights but the enemies you fight will be randomised. With all the new additions to the gameplay and battle system, I?m liking the gameplay of Final Fantasy 13-2. It?s not too different from the gameplay of Final Fantasy 13 and the changes only improve it in my eyes.

I?m also pleased to report that Serah and Noel?s voice acting work is actually pretty damn good. They aren?t as annoying as I thought they?d be. Their voices fit well, Noel doesn?t act like he?s been portrayed and overall, I like the characters I was introduced too. Well, except Mog the Moogle, who follows you around and points out invisible treasure chests. I don?t know about anyone else here but the constant ?Kupooooooo!??s he makes in both cut-scenes and general exploring could grate a bit. I will say though that when Mog?s voice actor had more to say then ?Kupoooo!?, the voice actually fit the character and the irritation was gone. However, I suspect that Mog won?t speak too much and all we?ll hear from him or her is ?Kupooooooo!? so prepare for Mog to be really annoying. Too much to ask for, isn?t it? A Final Fantasy game that doesn?t have something annoying in it.

[Img_Inline width="325" Caption="And this is Mog. Kupooo." Align="right"]http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad25/Sasquacth99/Nothing/oie_12231019R5pPtN35.jpg [/Img_Inline]

Now, based on the demo, would I say Final Fantasy 13-2 is shaping up to be a good game? I?d say yes, based on what I?ve seen here. It?s a solid affair; the demo showcases the gameplay and keeps cut-scenes to a minimum, so you can focus on picking out the improvements. However, when it comes to the multiple choices, I?m thinking that they won?t be too regular, won?t have any real options apart from attack or weaken the boss before attacking or will be completely pointless. And more over, I myself, despite enjoying the demo enough to write this, am holding on with baited breath. It?s a solid demo, showcasing what you expect a demo to showcase but something feels off to me. Not sure what it is but I?m caution- ...Wait, in the video at the end. Is that chocobo racing? Excuse me for just one moment, readers. Oh, and I?d say download the demo, no harm could be done and it?s a pretty good demo as well.

[small]OHMYGOD, CHOCOBO RACING!!! OHMYGOD OHMYGOD OHMYGOOOOOOOOD!!! *Ahem* I?m a professional reviewer who won?t be swayed by this mere distraction, no sir/madam. You have my word on this matter.*Preordering FF 13-2 as you read this based on the chocobo racing*[/small]

Spoiler: Previous reviews

Films and TV: Hot Fuzz (First and original review) [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.163840] - UK Big Brother and Celeb Big Brother [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.167121] - Scrubs (Sassafrass, VaudevillianVeteran and Pimppeter2) [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.167644] - Black Sheep [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.174430] - Dave, a TV channel [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.181712] - Twilight: Eclipse [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.213377] - The X-Factor (Sassafrass and VaudevillianVeteran) [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.250859] - Predators [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.268805] - Hot Fuzz (Rewrite) [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.270265]

Games: Final Fantasy X [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.166262] - Borderlands [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.180755] - Colin McRaeiRT 2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.187935] - Final Fantasy 13, plus guide review [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.203989] - Viva Pinata [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.234884] - Fallout: New Vegas [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.246820] - Fable III [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.255418-Sassafrass-Reviews-Fable-III] - Final Fantasy X-2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.291553-Sassafrass-Reviews-Final-Fantasy-X-2] ? WWE 2011 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.312693.12667178] ? Saints Row 2 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.328405-Sassafrass-Reviews-Saints-Row-2] ? Final Fantasy 13-2 Demo

Music: Full Fathom Five by Clutch [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.206062] ? Press X To Rock: Miracle of Sound [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.316714-Sassafrass-Reviews-Miracle-Of-Sound-Press-X-To-Rock]

Random reviews: Friends list review, no 4. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.170076] Friends list review 1, 2, 3 lost.

Game previews: Final Fantasy 13 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/jump/326.178502]

Spoiler: Unimportant stuff

Feel free to follow me on Twitter @SexySassyfrassy [https://twitter.com/#!/SexySassyfrassy] and pester me about mundane things and also pester me on my craptastic blog. [http://sassafrassreviews.blogspot.com/] Also feel free to leave an opinion on my new banner, shit or awesome, you decide!

 

[PurpleLeafRave]

CHOCOBO RACING? NON PRACTICAL DRESS CODE? Being a sensible, mature gamer I have no interest in such matters. *pre-orders*

 

[Pimppeter2]

I liked the review, but I still can't wrap my head around Final Fantasy as a franchise. I have only played 1 and 2, and will play the rest at some untold time in the future, but where the hell does Mog come in. WTF?

Also, Noel Kreiss got it wrong. Its Bond. James Bond.

Not my name is James. James Bond.

Thats inherently less badass

EDIT: Also the new banner is too kick ass for this site. We must ask you to leave.

 

[Baby Eater]

I TOTALLY WAS NOT HELD AT GUN POINT BY SASSAFRASS TO READ THIS. I AM COMPLETELY DOING THIS OF MY OWN FREE WILL. I LOVE SASSAFRASS AND ALL OF HIS REVIEWS.
Can...can I go home now?
KEEP GOING! OR I'LL BURN YOUR EYES!

Okay, okay!
*Ahem*..I've never been a fan of the newest installments of the Final Fantasy series. I liked them back before they were movies. Obvious joke is obvious. Though I will admit this Paradigm switch doo-hickey is kinda interesting. And I, kupo, happen to like, kupo, the way Moogles talk, kupo kupo kupo kupo kupo.

I may have to check if the demo is on PSN and try checking it out myself.

Good review as always, but I'm not sure if reviewing a demo is staying ahead of the crowd or just pure laziness. And considering it's you, probably laziness.

Kupo.

 

[Lost In The Void]

First of all I like the Banner so keep it. This is fact. This is law.

That aside the review is one of your better ones, I've found it difficult to find any major issues worth pointing out in my multiple reads and the formatting is pretty and simple meaning that you've done an all around good job with the review.

Now onto my feelings about the demo. Note I am not the intended audience, no matter what the developers say about 'reaching a western audience' but I booted up the demo anyways to see if they could persuade me to buy the actual game. Will I? No. I still feel the battle system lacks by only allowing one player to be controlled at any given time. When you have an option to slow combat down, that also allows you to make time for players to switch characters to select moves. Not only does it create that extra challenge for those who want it, but it also allows you to use the RT and LT buttons, both of which have no function in battle.

The voice acting was ok but that little sprite thing can burn in hell; why do developers insist on annoying companions, they're not fucking funny and they only serve to annoy.

So yeah, good review, hated the actual demo, but I hope you enjoy your experience with it since it seems to be your type of game. Also you smell and your tastes are obviously wrong.

 

[Lost In The Void]

Good review overall, but my only request is that you space out your paragraphs a bit with particular words in bold to make a sentence stand out or when you express something that you want the user to feel you by, to make that sentence or section in italic

First the dickhead answer to this
Now for the more reasonable and rational answer. The reason that most reviewers don't do this is because they strive for a standard essay format. When it comes to the standard essay format, the words should speak for themselves, not by modifying them in any way visually. I understand that bolding a word can give it the ooomph that you're looking for, but simply using accurate and strong words should do that as well, without resorting to what I would call tacky add ons. They're alright for a forum post, but article writing and reviewing, the plain words should give that feeling without it

 

[Antitonic]

...I played The Last Remnant... D:

I had no idea there was a demo for this until I saw this review. Well, I actually saw it on your Twitter, but that was for this review, so that totally counts. Now to wait a couple days before I'm able to download it in any decent time before the next FF is released.

I suppose I should finish FFXIII first, as well...

 

[josemlopes]

Although I am not a JRPG fan I still gave it a try and the writting is really poor (dont know if it has to do with localisation though) but in the middle of the boss fight (you are really halfway through the battle) the game goes into a QTE and Noel climbs the monster through its hand and hits him, then he jumps back to Serah. When he lands he says "Its an invisible Giant."... No shit, sherlock, I would understand if he said it when the monster appeared but no, apparently the developers though that we needed to be reminded of what we were fighting against in the middle of the battle.

 

[Sassafrass]

SNIP

I actually have no idea when Moogles where introduced. I want to say it was around VIII they were added but I'd have to ask a FF fan who's played all of them. I've only played VII to X-2 and then XIII.

SNAP

I'd like to think it's a little bit of both. Lazily staying ahead of the crowd. ;p
And you love me? Dude, that's totally ghey. XD

SNIPPITY

Skyrim is like that because it has the ability for you to save anywhere at any time, so losing progress when you hit a brick wall shouldn't be a problem, you just reload, level up and go back. FF 13-2 has designated save points so if you died in a battle and hadn't saved in a while, you'd lose a lot of game time which, speaking personally, put me off a playthrough or two of the older games. Nothing sucks more than forgetting to save for two hours, getting destroyed and losing all that progress. At least with the FF13-2 system, you can go back to just before the fight, level up then try again. Makes things less annoying, I think.

And as for the suggestion you made, Lost covered why it's a bad idea pretty well. I'll also add that if I did that, this review wouldn't look professional which is what I strive for. Having bolded and italicised sentences would make it look tacky, I think.

SNAPPITY

Well, that makes two people I know who've played it. Me and yourself.

And I'm not sure if a two day download is worth the one to one and a half hours you'll get from the demo, really. But it's up to you, if you wish to torture your internet, go ahead.

 

[GameSoundMe]

The one thing I miss so far is the presentation of the menu and status screens. I would just flip between characters to see the little animations.

 

[DkDerek]

@ Sassafrass
"I actually have no idea when Moogles where introduced. I want to say it was around VIII they were added but I'd have to ask a FF fan who's played all of them. I've only played VII to X-2 and then XIII."

(Quote button isn't working)
Moogles oringally appeared in FF6, and were also in 9,11, 12. And various Tactics games. They've become a staple in the FF series. A moogle was also part of the chocobo summon in 7.


Good review. I'll probably still buy it, even though I'm sure the game will suck. I played the demo for about 20 minutes, and it felt really boring. Just don't think I'm a fan of the combat system in general. COM/COM, switch to RAV/RAV to stagger, Medic when needed. To simple. Little to no customization of the characters because of how important staggering, and the slowing of the stagger bar that COM provides.

 

[DkDerek]

Let me reply to myself. Moogles have been in every single Final Fantasy starting with III. With the exception of IV.

 

[Sassafrass]

Let me reply to myself. Moogles have been in every single Final Fantasy starting with III. With the exception of IV.

Ah, thanks for that. I only joined the FF series at VII so I wasn't sure when Moogles were introduced.