FF13 Sucks... here's why.

[Runa216]

You do know what the difference between Linear and Nonlinear is, right FinalFantasyXIII? I mean, yeah, the story is linear (one event follows another, and the story remains the same), but the GAME in Final Fantasy I through XII was all nonlinear.

The STORY of Skyrim is Linear, in that one event triggers the next, but the GAME allows you to go and do other stuff at your own will. Same with most Final Fantasy games. Take Final Fantasy VII for example (Overrated, but still good). Once you leave Midgar, the goal is to go to Junon, but you can do a lot of different things. you can focus on adding abilities to your enemy skill materia, you can visit the chocobo farm, you can head south and find yuffie, you can go fight midgar zolom, etc. You can explore the world map, you can do side quests, you can do a lot of different things. that is nonlinear gameplay, even if the story is Linear.

Contrary to popular belief, Final Fantasy X had similar elements. yeah, it's a bit more constrained than previous Final Fantasy games, but there are still lots of things you can do. you can play Blitzball, you can explore lost ruins, you can collect and hunt creatures, find your weapons and their unlock abilities, etc. Point is, it's linear, but it has nonlinear elements all the way through. There are side quests and minigames to be had pretty much from Luca onward. Also, the sphere grid followed similar patterns: Each character HAS an area and sequence to follow, but you can easily go about and do whatever the fuck you want, cross paths, explore, etc. The Expert Sphere grid intensifies this feel of freedom.

Final Fantasy XIII doesn't have that. If I beat a hard boss and decide I want to chill by playing a minigame, I cannot. There are no minigames. If I want to go explore Coccoon, I can't. if I want to search the world for rare items, I Can't. I can only do precisely what the designers decided I would do in the order they wanted me to. THAT is the difference between linear and nonlinear, at least as far as gameplay is concerned.

Let's go back to skyrim as an example of Nonlinear gameplay. The beginning and end of that game both have pretty constrained, linear sections. The opening is all tutorial, explaining how the menu works and introducing you to trace elements of story and gameplay. There's one entrance and one exit to Helgen, and one sequence of events; however, once you leave, you can do virtually anything you want, go wherever you want. You can go to riverwood, or you can go in the other direction and visit Falkreath. you could advance the story by heading to Whiterun, or you could go unlock the secrets of the Falmer. It's up to you.

Final Fantasy XIII is almost all tutorial. you don't even have the ability to chose your own party until 20 hours into the game. That's longer than most games, and that's how long the tutorial is! I'd argue 70% of that game is restricted, linear tutorial. That's linearity to a fault.

I'd be okay with it being that linear if the gameplay and story were well done, but they are not.

And as for Wright, based on your responses to others as well as my own, I think you once again misunderstand the subtle differences between objective and subjective measures. You even say:

"Giving you no breaks -> objective.
Not liking that you don't have breaks -> subjective"

So what you're saying is that if there are objectively bad things about the game, it doesn't mean it's bad. Stuff like "Not being able to control your allies" is objective, but doesn't mean it's a bad game. However, "Not liking that you can't control your allies" is subjective, and therefore...*head hurts*

You are inconsistent, to say the least.

But yes, elements like not being able to control your allies, having a remarkably limited ability pool, dying instantly if your team member dies, not being able to explore, the incredibly constrained crystarium, and complete and utter lack of freedom to do anything of your own volition are all objective reasons why it's a bad game. You can feel free to be okay with that and even LIKE the linearity, but given the medium it's in, those measures make it an objectively bad game.

Example: I love the transformers movies. the editing is terrible, the cinematography is a violent mess, the racism is ignorant and lowbrow, the writing is laughably bad, and the acting is also bad, but I still like them because BAMF! Explosions and pretty special effects! Robots! fights! Stupid humor! Hot chicks in low cut tops and high cut shorts all sweaty!

It's still objectively bad. I may have enjoyed it for what it was while being able to ignore its faults, but it's still bad. You and many others have the same leniency with Final Fantasy XIII. it has objectively bad elements that were poorly integrated, broken, or inappropriate writing and narrative for its form of media, but you're entitled to like it. If you are okay with reading an in-game encyclopedia to get most of the story, then that's all good for you. Reading hundreds of pages of exposition is great in a novel, it's terrible in a game. If you're okay with a battle system that's more style than substance, you're entitled to that, but it doesn't change the fact that the gameplay is shallow and gives you very little control over your character.

Do you see now, or are you so sure of the game's quality you can't see its faults for what they are: Faults.