After playing the demo I agree with the score they gave it...

I still think XIII has the worst cast of characters in a Final Fantasy game that's why I'm not too excited for this game. I will probably pick it up when the price drops.

'The apparently open structure disguises a simple closed network of locked doors and narrow environments, '

Wasn't aware JRPGs are supposed to be sandbox games. FF12 was exactly like that too yet it was revered back in 06. Hell Fable 1-3 is like that but I still consider them quite open world in design. Keep in mind open world=/=sandbox.

The only thing that caught my eye was the lack of challenge, if true that's disappointing. FF13 was the only FF where i've seen the game over screen. Quite an easy franchise.

THE AUDIO VISUALS ARE NOT AS GOOD AS FF13, but il try it when its cheaper

another bad review for ffxiii-2. just like ffxiii a one way train wreck. enduring another 40 hours of a sub standard JRPG.

not surprising. The demo was shocking, and the voice acting horrible. Quick time events during ff cutscenes? Wtf has happened to final fantasy. I wish Hironobu sakaguchi was legally aloud to take his final fantasy creation with him to mistwalker when he left. Lost odyssey destroys ff13 in everyway except visuals. Even then the artwork was far better than the bland worlds and lack of direction in ff13.

The only reason why I haven't picked up Lost Odyssey yet is because it looked bland. We get the point Selnor, you don't like the game.

Couldn't have said it any better myself.

The main reason, why RPG's, western or not lack challenge. Is that you can grind easy. And do sidequests, which makes it easier because you get more experience.

Final Fantasy XIII put caps, on the leveling, so the difficulty was set. Which is why imo, the DS FF4, and FF13 were the only FF's where I died more than I could count on my hands (not counting sidequests obviously). Which, has/still is apparently a flaw in the franchise.

There's some games like Nocturne, SMT where you have to grind or you get killed. The main exception that pops into my head is demon soul's. Where you can beat most things through skill. Though grinding certainly makes it easier.

On the topic, edge gave FF10 a 6, the only one I think they've ever liked is FF12. Which they put as the 7th best game that year.

@brendude.
The visuals of worlds in ff13 looks nice. But there's no life to them. Lost odyssey gave you reason to care and the voice was much better. You could investigate the cities and towns to in lost odyssey. A shame most people won't play it as its not final fantasy.