Square-Enix is slowly removing all the elements that first attracted me to the series,and I personally can't accept a Final Fantasy without towns,exploration,world map and mini games. They sacrifice too much for the sake of Visuals and mainstream buyers.Also,the excessive use of cutscenes is not really my thing.

So I guess the game for me is going to be just decent.Something fun to play once,but not something that will win me.

For the record my favorite FFs are VI,VII and IV.

I'm going to guess good/decent. That's all Final Fantasy games have been to me since FF7.

To me, final fantasy is just another RPG series lately. Got no reason to think it'll be amazing or it'll suck...

I figure you can only judge a series by it's past 3 games.

FF12-Good
FF11-MMO
FF10-Don't remember/hardly played.

I'll tell you one thing though... if I had the chance i'd take a Robotrek sequel over it anyday at this point.

That's a game that's begging to have a spiritual sequel... has a lot that would really work for todays audiences

I disagree about that... I mean, i think the mainstream buyers probably like the Minigames more then anybody.   They break up the repetitiveness of the gameplay that all RPGs tend to have.  Don't feel like grinding or fighting battles with the same tactics you've been using for 15-20 levels?  Well play some Majhong or something!

I don't think you can really blame SE for this... I mean FF's for the longest time have in large part been defined by their visuals.  When the HD consoles were announced and SE committed thinking they were going to be the winners...(as 90% of the world did) they HAD to make sure they kicked ass graphically or opinion would suffer.

Considering the massive cost increase with HD graphics and the MANY different graphical assets and just longer time games need to run... they were kinda trapped.

I think it will be a decent game but far from the best JRPG. I guess the linearity puts me off a bit, and I don't find the characters very interesting.
I can't say my expectations has ever been high for the game, but there's just nothing about the game that truly makes it a must-play for me. I will probably play the game sometime though.

Well one thing's for sure,for you and for everyone: If you are a fan of Final Fantasy X and X-2 you are going to love this game.I,for one, hated them both (especially X-2).I'm not judging anyone,I'm just saying my personal opinion.My point is,I never had great expectations from this game,and wasn't surprised when SE announced that it's not even have to be called an RPG. Cause as I said above,all of the RPG elements of the series are slowly being removed.

Shirtless Snow?Give me a break.Cecil is much more complex and 3 dimensional,even if he's made of pixels.

I'm expecting to really enjoy it, I haven't heard anything that has worried me about it. A combination of FF10 and 12 with a fast paced battle system. Sounds good to me. I don't expect it to topple Final Fantasy VI or VIII for me, but it could make a run at XII (my 3rd favorite FF game). For me at least the order goes like...

6

8

12

7

10

4

5

1

9

2

3

I could be pleasantly surprised, but I'm expecting it to land somewhere between my 3rd and 5th favorite. Which sounds very specific, but it's just a guess based on what I know of it.

I'm going to guess that it'll be my 4th favorite RPG this generation. Specifically:

1. Fallout 3
2. Mass Effect 2
3. Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn
4. FFXIII
5. Tales of Symphonia
6. Valkyria Chronicles
7. Demon's Souls
8. Persona 4
9. Bowser's Inside Story
10. TWEWY

I believe that all big games garner huge amounts of hate on internet forums, no matter how great they are, assuming they aren't console exclusives.(See GTAIV)

With popularity, comes a counterculture.

Also, of note, FF is a series that changes with every entry. Most gamers(especially hardcore gamers) want their games to stay the same. They loved FFVII, and the farther FF gets away from that formula, the more they will complain. FFXIII isn't, nor could it have possibly been what they expected or hoped for. Just like FFVIII(my personal favorite game of the series).

What people don't realize is that FFVII dissapointed a lot of FFVI fanboys at the time as well. You can't really tell how great a game it is until years after its release(See the rise in popularity for the much hated VIII and IX in modern times, as compared to the mass lamentation after their release).

I do, however, understand why most reviewers will give this FF a lower review than it probably deserves. I have noticed a lot of caving to the fanbase in modern times, and it's actually hip for reviewers to seem "part of the crowd" and "harsh." In previous years, it was not, and FF is the perfect target. Especially considering the polarizing nature of the fact that the game was one time exclusive. Many reviewers will assert their own brand of justice for that little betrayal by Square Enix.

Truth is, the game will be quality to the core, all FF games have been, and the only qualms people will or ever should have with the games, is in the specific design choices, and not the way said choice were implemented. If you like quality in all areas of a game, and are willing to look past what particular tastes the game is actually targeting, then you'll love every game in the series, including this one.

If, however, you are a slave to your preferences, you are likely going to be disappointed by any game that doesn't cater to them, and FF likes to change that target with each entry since VII.

The FFX comparison really isn't true. FFX had plenty of real FF-sized towns. FFXIII has literally none. The few "towns" that exist are linear paths to continue the story without any interaction within them.

@ Zen good lord man really? A conspiracy theory that it gets low reviews cause it's on 360? Do you realize what you're typing? The 360, which has the highest review averages and the most dedicated review sources of any platform in history, is the reason this game is getting lower scores? Maybe it just isn't that great a game...

Not best game ever. But I believe it will win best game of the gen for me easily.

You deserve a standing ovation for this post!