DigitalDevilSummoner said:
With Mass Effect and Skyrim being all the rage, some people decided that every game should follow this "trend" and have choices and be open world just for the f*** of it. The very concept of FF XIII was to provide a closely directed game, that delivered the scenario the best way possible. You can't deliver that level of focus with an open world game. Let's not forget they never intented to make a traditional rpg game in the first place. |
I actually agree that linearity is a good thing. IT was only recently that I got into the nonlinear games like skyrim. before skyrim, the only nonlinear games I played were the Grand Theft Auto games, and I only played them becauseI got to screw around and kill hookers.
I actually prefer the guided linearity of most Final Fantasy titles to the open world of skyrim. I like a pointed story, I like enjoying a plot the way the writers intended...but there comes a point when it's not linear, it's strict and restrictive. Final Fantasy X was linear, but it allowed you the ability to explore, to check out other locations, do side quests along the way, and generally get to know people. there were towns, people to meet, shops to explore. It was a linear story, but it still gave the player options and choice.
Final Fantasy XIII was TOO linear. it wasn't just a single line for the story, it virtually was a corridor. with the exception of chapter 11 (which was still just branching linear paths), it was a matter of "You fight this enemy, then you fight this enemy, then you fight this boss, then see this cutscene. As I said in some previous rants about the game, it was an RPG on rails, or might as well have been. That is NOT what RPG's are about. Every person who played Final Fantasy XIII had the same experience. Played as the same characters playing the same 12 paradigms, killing the same bosses. It wasn't like previous games where you could chose your party, or could customize your weapons, or make your own armor set. IT was an incredibly restrictive game, and that IS a bad thing.
XIII-2 fixed this by letting you chose from hundreds of enemies to use as your ally, and letting you explore through time for the different locations in different eras. IT was pretty awesome for that while still having a direct path through the STORY. XIII-2 was far better in that respect.
My Console Library:
PS5, Switch, XSX
PS4, PS3, PS2, PS1, WiiU, Wii, GCN, N64 SNES, XBO, 360
3DS, DS, GBA, Vita, PSP, Android
