Final Fantasy on a whole new level!

YES, Final Fantasy XIII is different. YES, there is no more FFVII. Yes, some things cherished no longer occur. And now I ask also. Is it bad that this game is different? Do we want a second FFVII? Is it really such a big loss that some things are no longer included? The answers must be yourself every reader. I just know that for me FFVII is unmatched and should stay that way. Would now get a new FF which the seventh part of the rank expires, I could save myself all my nostalgic memories in which I have this part over and over again and started. FFVII is a beautiful chapter in our "gamer life", but that should remain so. That's why I will not second FFVII. (A remake certainly, but no substitute!)

But now to the actual game.
The story is an absolute hit finally back. I remember darkly on Final Fantasy XII back ... almost non-existent character stories. Party members, of whom one not even know why they were there, and an end to what could not be more boring. This is clearly different here. Basically, you can nominate no real main character in XIII. Time the story is told from the perspective of vanilla, then from Snow's view, etc. Each character gets its great moments and the moment in the spotlight. And not just once. It come on within the first 10 hours of play story twists that you can experience from older parts only shortly before the end. The story itself is very nicely decorated. There is always time jumps where the character stories continued in the past, and understanding is why and why a group member of the group joined explains. However, one must admit, the story reinvents the wheel is not new. It goes back to two "nations" that make each other ready to try. We have on the one hand Cacoon who live in constant fear of the Pulse fal'Cie and l'Cie. On the other hand, there are Grand Pulse. Pulse is however no longer inhabited by humans, but by cruel beasts that are hard to beat in strength hardly. One could describe this world as harsh and dangerous wilderness. Cacoon is a small pseudo Planet hovering at a safe height above Pulse. This is possible through the power of Sanctum fal'Cie Eden. The Sanctum reigns over Cacoon and is the driving force in the fight against the Pulse l'Cie.

I could write page long about what a fal'Cie is exactly how L'Cie arise, etc. But that's one thing that is clearly too large to explain them here. Would also contain some spoilers on. In this regard, I can only recommend to anyone the data logs, which are released on a regular basis, read carefully. Much of the story is consistent only with these logs.

For the graph does not have to tell you. Except probably. she is really top! Here But beware: do not you play FFXIII with a HDMI cable, it may result in the cutscenes to unsightly stuttering. (So ​​at least my experience)

The combat system is as ingenious as simple. I have read arguments was limited equipment to the least. Let us remember times back.
Final Fantasy VII: Weapon + trinkets
Final Fantasy VIII: weapon and GF
Final Fantasy IX: Complete sets
Final Fantasy X: Weapon + trinkets
Final Fantasy X-2: costumes
Final Fantasy XII: Complete set.
And now suddenly in Final Fantasy XIII, the defense system is to be slimmed down? Hard to believe that such comments from people who originate the scold yourself "Fan". But back to the combat system ... At the beginning it's a bit boring ... One top skin, throws purely ne Potion, skin further on it. But from the moment you get the paradigms it is demanding. Boss fights are often so fast that you have to react within seconds, because otherwise the whole group goes down. The problem is, the current party leader dies, the game is over. Well, one can argue about it, but it's not really bad. You can start each battle immediately, without starting anew at the last save point.

The character development is very reminiscent of the nodular Board of FFX. Man has with every character on certain professions (In the course of the story, each character also gets any profession) that you separate from each other with KP can skillen. It is advisable to lay down a day job for each character. At the beginning you will still be able skillen cross border, but this is no longer so after advisable. This system is both simple and ingenious. It works, and no spikes of the crown you have to break to understand it. However, to be careful! Not every character is in every job equally well. Fang for example has outstanding attack values, but very meager magical skills. The profession Ravager (black magician) is thus not very optimal for you. However, nothing prevents you to skill this profession yet. And you have even if your characters are supposed to be perfect. It can be seen but fairly basic which professions are suitable for a character and which are not. If you look at the required KP at the first two or three points to unlock, you will notice the relatively high cost. The professions where the respective character is not as suitable, are more expensive.

Now I admit even with a few criticisms to come from people who have impossible played more like 10 hours.
~ No stores, you have to buy the items on the storage point.
Well, I do not want to reveal too much, but think again about the story after. Do you believe in all seriousness, it would be fine if the characters enter a store and one on "Hello, I want to buy something!" do?
~ Linear world.
True, at the beginning. However, I see everything that happens in a Final Fantasy before you have gathered the entire Party, as a prologue. Introduction to the game. After nearly 13 hours of play I've only had my party fully and behold: Open areas where you can move freely. If you close the story completely off, you also get again access to all areas on Gran Pulse and may continue to move there freely and complete side quests.
~ Too many cutscenes, too little side quests.
Yes sorry folks, but what exactly do you want? You want a good story. Ok ... This is told through cutscenes. But you do not want weeks and months before the boob tube sitzten to create everything? So -> fewer side quests. Apart from this, the X-Box version also so already 3 DVD's in the account. Here Final Fantasy is clearly liked the consoles overarching production victim. Would be the game even bigger, have X-Box User 4 to 5 DVD's and thus the price for this console implementation would rise too high.

Conclusion:
Final Fantasy XIII is 10 years again a Final Fantasy with which I am 100% satisfied! The story is true voices the characters, the system is right and the setting is just awesome. That's what makes a game. And not all the FFVII comparisons and minigames. By the way, a Final Fantasy would appear that the exact same system like FFVII, has only a different story, the rum screaming would be even greater. Therefore: Fits a little bit on what you desire. Remember that a request may well go backfires. ;)

From me there is a very strong buy recommendation!