FFXII is one of the few Final Fantasy games I find myself consistently coming back to for its Combat, hell the entire XIII trilogy is almost on a bi yearly cycle of replaying. Lovely video!
As someone who adores the 13 trilogy, I appreciate the fair and honest approachto this conversation that I've been seeing lately, other than just the typical "haha hallways simulator" garbage
Yep. I remember how bored I was playing as hope and Vanille early in the game. The combat dragged on and on with nothing to do. I never played XIII2 but really enjoyed Lightening Returns. The combat system was tough and rewarding.
Character development was actually my favorite part of the game. There were times when I hated characters, but it was worth it to see their development over time. I personally loved going from hating Hope to seeing him grow up. Watching Lightning, who also hated Snow, have to figure out how to deal with this kid was great.
Loved 13 especially introducing Stagger gauge. 13-2 is a game I've loved and replayed the most out of all 3. LIGHTNING RETURNS was one that I didn't want to play until about 3 years ago because I never liked the thought of being under the pressure of a clock due to my playstyle of taking my time and grind and not wanting to miss anything. I did finally play it in 2020 and loved it but used a guide to ensure nothing was missed. For me it was more enjoyable that way but very off-putting to be under that time pressure which many may feel the same with.
Lightening = Cloud! So true!! I recently started to replay this game on PC and falling in love with it all over again. Many of your points are spot on! Thank you for the video!!
ff13 was the main reason I started recording videos. I wanted to play through the final fantasy games but have a bad habit of not finishing. So I figured if I recorded and put them on youtube I would have incentive to finish the games. I haven't reached ff13 since I am playing through all the ff games, a majority I have played and beaten prior, but It is the one I am looking forward to most. I was younger and dumber when the game came out so I want to give it a fair shake this time.
Honestly I got more "auto-battle" vibes from FF12. I liked FF13, it was one of the first PS3 games I got. I was blown away by the graphical beauty when I reached the ruins near the beginning of the game. I still haven't 100% completed it yet (didn't level up everyone to max only) and I doubt I will as I found the game as a whole quite boring. FF13-2 however was an awesome trip. I bought the game, but didn't get around to playing it until I had a really bad flu. I was off sick for a week just playing this game, high on meds and damn, it was good. As for FF13-3, I pretend it never existed.
I do wish Square kept the initial universe connection between 13 and 15 (at the time was Vs 13). I think that would've been a better storyline than 13's.
Great video, you had me hooked from the start since you acknowledged the warts of FF13. For some reason, I come to seeing vids of this game - and not just for the music. Maybe I should play ff13-2 and ff13-3 too? Subbed.
I think I generally agree with your points. I also try to be a bit kinder when looking back on FFXIII. When I was younger, I really disliked it, and now I understand that it was because--in part--as you pointed out, XII gave us so much freedom, and I loved that title to BITS! So XIII ended up feeling like a very limiting experience for me. I maintain that the naming conventions of XIII's universe hurt it. l'Cie, Fal'CIe, Cie'th... Those already were a bit of a hurdle to take seriously. All in all, while now I can appreciate XIII on it's own merits, especially when considering the other two parts as a whole. It unfortunately had to contend with the reality that my first Final Fantasy was X. and I was at the age when I was craving another starcrossed lovers/character drama after XII's political intrigue and zoomed out storyline, and I was quite disappointed that that's not the experience I got during my first time around nearly 17 years ago.
I really want to play at least the first one, I purchased it and 2 a few years after its release not knowing much about it and still thinking it was what became 15, started it up thought it looked amazing but and I was intrigued about the combat system but the characters and the dialogue really threw me off, and then it hit me! I thought at that point I had officially aged out of FF games and it was a gentle reminder these are kids games after all! So I ended up trading them in and never thought about it until last year a random ff13 combat video was in my feed and I was loving it so I watched some from 13-2 and they where even better and then it was damn I was too impulsive I should have kept those games for a rainy day! Now it seems one of the harder games to obtain but for whatever reason its the only one I want to play, I thought the zodiac age was pretty well done and this game already looks amazing so a remaster and or re release should surly be on the cards
XIII and XIII-2 are my favorites in the trilogy. I really hated the time mechanic of Lightning Returns. My ONLY gripe with XIII was the crystarium system. I honestly enjoyed the game
every ff game has it's quirks and problems, but this one is my favorite. and it's the most weirdly hated on; "parroted" as you called it, which is absolutely the truth lol. loved the vid.
The problem with 13 isn't just the linearity. No side quests really, little exploration till much later, we don't get to learn more about other people. Can't go back to explore further. It's just not fleshed out enough.
Man this entire series of 3 games is about Big daddy creator god, creating the Fal'Cie, who then create lesser Fal'Cie that create the l'Cie. Each iteration of lesser gods is basically created to circumnavigate the Focus, aka will of the preceding level of gods. Eventually Lightning becomes female Jesus, and the game ends up with her looking over her shoulder wondering if God is really dead. Its just a cycle of gods being lazy, and passing their orders onto the people below them. The whole thing is literally a joke about Black Company culture in Japan, and Squeenix didn't figure it out. The writers are still laughing to this day because Squeenix made them add in a bunch of over-explanation because they think their audience is dumb. 🤦♂
@@backlogbaldie you truly surprised me in the best way, I wish more people gave praise to XII like they do with X and VII. You gave justice to an overlooked title more people should appreciate
@@TimeForJesus. it's not "trash"... its just unique and a bit jarring for most classic FF fans. My first was 7... 9 and 10 are probably my favorites, but 12: zodiac age has a specific, hard-to-explain feel to it that some people find extremely enjoyable, the license board, the jobs system, and setting up gambits are what I like about the game. I also like how the Espers (summons) have different names from the previous games' summons like Ifrit, Shiva, Bahamut, etc.
The auto battle makes it easy argument always made no sense to me. Those 30 min plus bosses I can’t imagine how long it would’ve taken me to figure out without a guide. The combat is exhilarating
THIS. This game (specifically the first one) was at times GRUELING. It just switched where the player applied the strategy. From menu commands of old to split second paradigm shifts to try to negate incoming damage. Admittedly, it took me while to fully figure out and understand that part of the gameplay. Like once it clicks, the game really cooks!
I like 13. It's definitely better than 16/14/15. But 13 has quite the steep and deep lore of the world and was very well crafted and became a staple to what later games would adopt later in the series. I still miss the old walk up and talk to NPCs but walking by NPCs and hearing them talk and discuss stuff is just as enriching. story isn't half bad either but this game has quite the amazing end game that the current mmo is slacking (go figure) and 16 just flat out doesn't have a single amount of endgame whatsoever. Travesty and telling of how yoshit p can't make games
Now 16 is out 13 looks like a Masterpiece and shows it's still a FF game. A lot of us didn't appreciate that we still got a FF game, we could still call it FF because it was.
@@pogoacct8611 I didnt share the same experience. For me the remake was just a bunch of filler fetch quest. Then 16 was a action game, not what a FF fan would expect from a FF game or the type of game play such a player would enjoy.
@@jubjuba1982 FF has been an action game for almost a decade now (with record breaking sales) Sooo it sounds more to me like this Franchise just isn't for you anymore.
@@pogoacct8611 I agree. They went the route that appeals to the gamers that like button mashing rather than strategy gaming. Very unfortunate they sold out.
I am from the team that loves FF-13. The game indeed had some lacking QOL... (Like the cutscenes about chocobo, and the level up system) But overall it was pretty good. The FF licence died with FF15, not FF13.
I was blown away how good the game looks in 4k, you can only tell its age by the polycount of the models but everyhing else looks incredible
FFXII is one of the few Final Fantasy games I find myself consistently coming back to for its Combat, hell the entire XIII trilogy is almost on a bi yearly cycle of replaying. Lovely video!
As someone who adores the 13 trilogy, I appreciate the fair and honest approachto this conversation that I've been seeing lately, other than just the typical "haha hallways simulator" garbage
Yep. I remember how bored I was playing as hope and Vanille early in the game. The combat dragged on and on with nothing to do. I never played XIII2 but really enjoyed Lightening Returns. The combat system was tough and rewarding.
Character development was actually my favorite part of the game. There were times when I hated characters, but it was worth it to see their development over time. I personally loved going from hating Hope to seeing him grow up. Watching Lightning, who also hated Snow, have to figure out how to deal with this kid was great.
Loved 13 especially introducing Stagger gauge.
13-2 is a game I've loved and replayed the most out of all 3.
LIGHTNING RETURNS was one that I didn't want to play until about 3 years ago because I never liked the thought of being under the pressure of a clock due to my playstyle of taking my time and grind and not wanting to miss anything.
I did finally play it in 2020 and loved it but used a guide to ensure nothing was missed. For me it was more enjoyable that way but very off-putting to be under that time pressure which many may feel the same with.
Lightening = Cloud! So true!!
I recently started to replay this game on PC and falling in love with it all over again. Many of your points are spot on! Thank you for the video!!
I love how vibrant the game is, has imo the most beautiful areas in any FF game
ff13 was the main reason I started recording videos. I wanted to play through the final fantasy games but have a bad habit of not finishing. So I figured if I recorded and put them on youtube I would have incentive to finish the games. I haven't reached ff13 since I am playing through all the ff games, a majority I have played and beaten prior, but It is the one I am looking forward to most. I was younger and dumber when the game came out so I want to give it a fair shake this time.
Honestly I got more "auto-battle" vibes from FF12. I liked FF13, it was one of the first PS3 games I got. I was blown away by the graphical beauty when I reached the ruins near the beginning of the game. I still haven't 100% completed it yet (didn't level up everyone to max only) and I doubt I will as I found the game as a whole quite boring. FF13-2 however was an awesome trip. I bought the game, but didn't get around to playing it until I had a really bad flu. I was off sick for a week just playing this game, high on meds and damn, it was good. As for FF13-3, I pretend it never existed.
I do wish Square kept the initial universe connection between 13 and 15 (at the time was Vs 13). I think that would've been a better storyline than 13's.
Oh yeah!! I totally forgot about the whole Versus idea. That is a shame, feels like a very big missed opportunity.
Great video I hope your channel finds success, good luck!
Thank you 😊
Great video, you had me hooked from the start since you acknowledged the warts of FF13.
For some reason, I come to seeing vids of this game - and not just for the music.
Maybe I should play ff13-2 and ff13-3 too?
Subbed.
Thanks! Welcome aboard 🙂
I think I generally agree with your points. I also try to be a bit kinder when looking back on FFXIII. When I was younger, I really disliked it, and now I understand that it was because--in part--as you pointed out, XII gave us so much freedom, and I loved that title to BITS! So XIII ended up feeling like a very limiting experience for me.
I maintain that the naming conventions of XIII's universe hurt it. l'Cie, Fal'CIe, Cie'th... Those already were a bit of a hurdle to take seriously. All in all, while now I can appreciate XIII on it's own merits, especially when considering the other two parts as a whole. It unfortunately had to contend with the reality that my first Final Fantasy was X. and I was at the age when I was craving another starcrossed lovers/character drama after XII's political intrigue and zoomed out storyline, and I was quite disappointed that that's not the experience I got during my first time around nearly 17 years ago.
XIII definitely sets the standard for esoteric naming conventions 😂
I really want to play at least the first one, I purchased it and 2 a few years after its release not knowing much about it and still thinking it was what became 15, started it up thought it looked amazing but and I was intrigued about the combat system but the characters and the dialogue really threw me off, and then it hit me! I thought at that point I had officially aged out of FF games and it was a gentle reminder these are kids games after all! So I ended up trading them in and never thought about it until last year a random ff13 combat video was in my feed and I was loving it so I watched some from 13-2 and they where even better and then it was damn I was too impulsive I should have kept those games for a rainy day! Now it seems one of the harder games to obtain but for whatever reason its the only one I want to play, I thought the zodiac age was pretty well done and this game already looks amazing so a remaster and or re release should surly be on the cards
XIII-2 has an unreal story, and one of the best villains of any game I've ever played.
@@ashleydesrosiers7150 X-2 or XIII- 2 because I've played a little of X-2
@Bevtone XIII-2, sorry, I corrected my statement. I never finished Lighting Returns though.
XIII and XIII-2 are my favorites in the trilogy. I really hated the time mechanic of Lightning Returns. My ONLY gripe with XIII was the crystarium system. I honestly enjoyed the game
every ff game has it's quirks and problems, but this one is my favorite. and it's the most weirdly hated on; "parroted" as you called it, which is absolutely the truth lol. loved the vid.
Thanks! 😊
The pacing of the story is a little better if you read the intel and such.
The problem with 13 isn't just the linearity. No side quests really, little exploration till much later, we don't get to learn more about other people. Can't go back to explore further. It's just not fleshed out enough.
I love Ff13, so you got my sub for this gem of a video about it.
Welcome to the channel! 😊
What do you mean the character named 'Lightning' is inspired by the character named 'Cloud'
Man this entire series of 3 games is about Big daddy creator god, creating the Fal'Cie, who then create lesser Fal'Cie that create the l'Cie. Each iteration of lesser gods is basically created to circumnavigate the Focus, aka will of the preceding level of gods. Eventually Lightning becomes female Jesus, and the game ends up with her looking over her shoulder wondering if God is really dead. Its just a cycle of gods being lazy, and passing their orders onto the people below them. The whole thing is literally a joke about Black Company culture in Japan, and Squeenix didn't figure it out. The writers are still laughing to this day because Squeenix made them add in a bunch of over-explanation because they think their audience is dumb. 🤦♂
Over-explanation in a Japanese game. Who wouldda thunk 😂
I enjoy your very thorough reviews.
The humorous inserts are class: wind blown hair even indoors.
Haha. No God no!
Clear and concise. Very well done.
Thank you so much 🥹
mkae my wish come true let darkness slip aside/fade to light
It makes my heart sing to hear you praise XII and call it a masterpiece. It’s the most underrated entry in the series
A singing heart is the best kind of feedback 😊
@@backlogbaldie you truly surprised me in the best way, I wish more people gave praise to XII like they do with X and VII. You gave justice to an overlooked title more people should appreciate
It’s trash but if it was your first ff game u played I can see how u like it
@@TimeForJesus. it's not "trash"... its just unique and a bit jarring for most classic FF fans. My first was 7... 9 and 10 are probably my favorites, but 12: zodiac age has a specific, hard-to-explain feel to it that some people find extremely enjoyable, the license board, the jobs system, and setting up gambits are what I like about the game. I also like how the Espers (summons) have different names from the previous games' summons like Ifrit, Shiva, Bahamut, etc.
The auto battle makes it easy argument always made no sense to me. Those 30 min plus bosses I can’t imagine how long it would’ve taken me to figure out without a guide. The combat is exhilarating
THIS. This game (specifically the first one) was at times GRUELING. It just switched where the player applied the strategy. From menu commands of old to split second paradigm shifts to try to negate incoming damage.
Admittedly, it took me while to fully figure out and understand that part of the gameplay.
Like once it clicks, the game really cooks!
I like 13. It's definitely better than 16/14/15. But 13 has quite the steep and deep lore of the world and was very well crafted and became a staple to what later games would adopt later in the series. I still miss the old walk up and talk to NPCs but walking by NPCs and hearing them talk and discuss stuff is just as enriching. story isn't half bad either but this game has quite the amazing end game that the current mmo is slacking (go figure) and 16 just flat out doesn't have a single amount of endgame whatsoever. Travesty and telling of how yoshit p can't make games
Lol 16 and 14 are waaaaag better than 13.
But yeah 15 sucks
16 is definitely lacking in endgame content, but the story/voice acting/gameplay is just so good that it makes up for it if you ask me.
Now 16 is out 13 looks like a Masterpiece and shows it's still a FF game. A lot of us didn't appreciate that we still got a FF game, we could still call it FF because it was.
16s better
16 is fantastic.
13 was the beginning of the end.. they have not had a good FF game since 12 =/
Sure they haven't.
7 remake and 16 are good. Very good
@@pogoacct8611 I didnt share the same experience. For me the remake was just a bunch of filler fetch quest. Then 16 was a action game, not what a FF fan would expect from a FF game or the type of game play such a player would enjoy.
@@jubjuba1982 FF has been an action game for almost a decade now (with record breaking sales)
Sooo it sounds more to me like this Franchise just isn't for you anymore.
@@pogoacct8611 I agree. They went the route that appeals to the gamers that like button mashing rather than strategy gaming. Very unfortunate they sold out.
I am from the team that loves FF-13.
The game indeed had some lacking QOL... (Like the cutscenes about chocobo, and the level up system)
But overall it was pretty good.
The FF licence died with FF15, not FF13.