For me summons should be the best attacks on every FF, in FF12 they were a letdown because there wasn't really any reason to use them. I won't buy FF13 if summons aren't any good

I have only summoned each one just once just so I could see the summon cutscene

So they are pretty much useless?

Summons in FF12 were very useful if you knew how to use them (I used them to get through a few hunts that would have been impossible otherwise)

Yes, they are useless. In fact, in some cases, using them is pretty much suicide.

Well I found them not helpful at all, they were weak, enemies could destroy them and the used the same meter that the best attack of the game used, so it was a no brainer that you were going to use the best attack over summons...

Bahamut owns :

@Huya I agree. The fact that it uses TPs and Quake seems to be better with less cost is making me rethink usage of summons. I have only used Odin once (15 hours in) just to see how it worked.

Summons are very useful so far for me, if you're against a pretty tough enemy that you're struggling to stagger they can pretty much do that by themselves, plus they cast Curaga and if you die, no game over cause they'll revive you then piss off. As has been mentioned they'll also revive and fully cure your other members if they're dead.

I think they're fine, depending on which one you use. Odin's a bit of a let down though he does have the one hit kill possibility. Bahamut is pretty badass.

No, summons help me revive my dead party members and stagger the Adamentoise!!