There is something that really concerned me in the past months. I am a die hard  FF fan that so far liked or loved each FF game 1-14(i tried 11 and 14 but MMORPGs are generally not my thing). I am in love with FFXIII which is easily in my top 3 of all FF games. XIII-2 was not as great but still enjoyable enough to sink 100h+ into it.

Now LR comes along and apparently changes the FF formular completely. Different story progression with annoying timer, gameplay through quests, no xp from grinding, no turn based combat or even ATB/ATC, no parties.

Usually I embrace any change in an FF game because it enriches the formular and makes things fresh but this time it feels as if the changes are just there  for change's sake because some pseudo FF fans were bitching and moaning about the first games.

Now I already imported the game last year to test my Japanese skills like I did with XIII-2 and I played the english demo. It didn't woo me but it was still kind of solid enough to spark some kind oif excitement. I stopped playing the import after a while to not completely spoil my excitement and wait for the english release I can completely grasp.

Now the first english reviews are in. I fully expected it to get worse reviews that the previous games but what stumped me most were not the negative parts of the reviews but the positive. The 2 things that were universally praised were the combat system and the skill system that is heavily based on customization.

I don't like the combat system as it relies heavily on skill and less tactic which is not what I am looking for in an FF game. I am also not that big on customization in RPGs, especially not if I have to force my character into ugly clothes just for higher stats. So the only two things that were praised are the things that I don't like. So what is there for me?

I always defended FF because every game had something fun and unique to rely on and carry the shortcomings of a game. But LR looks like it consists of shortcomings and that even the last bastion of fun, which is the FF universe it is playing in, seems to be dull.

So please tell me that I'm too pessimistic and remind me why this game could be better than I think.

TL;DR I don't want LR to be the first FF that leaves a bad taste.

PS I'm trying very hard to not think about FFXV at all and what atrocity it could become.

You will get Cancer as soon as you start the game and will hate all jrpgs from SE

Oh sorry, Motivation... Lightning looks hawt in some of her outfits!

It's innovative with its class and battle system.

Wait. I know nothing about the game despite owning the other two. No parties? No turn based combat? No XP? What the heck!? If it's like Dragon's Dogma then it's a must buy. I need to watch a review, now.

I'm still gonna buy it. In fact, I wish I'd have pre-ordered but I forgot it was coming out so soon. I planned on it being a day one buy (despite that it may suck) but I'll have it by Friday.

I just cancelled my pre-order...

That's usually what keeps my interest in animes but I wonder if it will carry a whole game.

Then again, Serah's bikini added at least another 30h to FFXIII-2 :)

I preordered it, like I do with all FF games and got myself a last minute vacation for next week. I just hope It will carry my interest to the next week or the vacation was in vain. I usually binge my games so I should have already have about 30h on the clock by monday.

I have the same feeling too. I am a die Hard FF fan since the first one on the NES (I played and replayed and replayed ... that one again and again lol)
I have always gone through any FF games at least twice and it stopped at FF XIII-2.
Right now Tales of Xillia, Ys Memories of Celceta, Record of Agarest War series are saving my JRPG experience on the PS3. I do want to buy Lighting Returns but I will wait when it's around $30. Too scared to buy the game full price.

I didn't like the time thing, but the battle system is great. If you enjoyed previous games, then you will like it too.

But the battle system is very different from the previous games. Even if it were similar it is still just a 1:1 which should be about as entertaining as a 1:1 in a turn based battle.