Both FFXIII and SO4 have one thing in common: both are going to be the most scifi-oriented games in their respective series

12 didn't suck bro. Lemme tell ya, and this is what I use irl to talk to FF haters about, and don't take anything personally, I'm drunk, and I honestly don't hold anything against people who didn't like XII and VIII.

I have inside information on this subject. At first, I also hated FFXII, FFTactics, Vagrant Story, and FFVIII.

Then, after a long time had passed, I found myself going back to them just to give them another day in the sun, and this time, going strictly by a guide to finish the games(or multiple guides to be more precise).

I found that in all of those games, you needed to play a certain way from the very start to get that feeling of power and level increasing that you found in other games. Once you learned how the games were meant to be played(which I didn't learn in any of my initial playthroughs) they actually have very complex and rewarding battle systems.

For instance, the first step in VIII begins before you even head to the cave to defeat Infrit, where you should stand around outside and draw 100 fires, 100 cures, and 100 blizzards, which you can then junction to make yourself much more powerful. The purpose of FFVIII is basically to do limit breaks for every move in combat. Did you know that you can get to the end with only gaining like 1 level? It has a very high entry barrier, but with help, you'll have an amazing time with the game, I promise you this.

The thing about final fantasy is, it's never what we expect it to be. It's never gonna be FFVII or FFVI again(essentially the game game, despite perception of ff fanboys).

However, the new games are amazing as well, most people just get a bad first impression and never really learn how the game is meant to be played.

I'll be the first to say, FFXII has an average story and terrible character development. However, if given time, it has one of the best gameplay systems ever in a game. It's as good as Vagrant Story and FFTactics.

Believe it or not, that gameplay element has more than enough power to drive you through the whole game, it's very diablo 2 esque, which means that I clocked over 105 hours in the game and never even beat the weapon.

When I hear most people say FFXII sucks, or FFVIII sucks, I been there bro. I was right there with you, but luckily for myself, I had the feeling one day to say, "You know what, even though I thought it sucked, I bet there is something good there for me," and I went back and played it and I had the time of my life.

So, you can bet FFXIII isnt' gonna be what you, or most sony fanboys expect. However, there will be something there for me, and if that thing is as substantial as it was in FFXII, then I consider myself very lucky, because despite popular opinion and freshness of current games, FFXII still really blows MGS4 and GTAIV out of the water, when it comes to gameplay, depth, and sheer available playtime and fun.

That's the difference between the immediate gratification demanded by american gamers, and the subtle excellent tones perscribed by the best Japanese developers.

The most obvious exception is RE4, which despite its excellence is a very "american" japanese game.

Those are just my sentiments. I'm, again, very drunk.

@ZenfoldorVGI
Ageed. The story was great at first but after 10 hours, gets less interesting. The main characters other than Bathier weren't very interesting. The game is still great though. Why? Because the battle system is fun and gameplay is very enjoyable and very deep

Zen, you may be a drinker, but you are now my favourite person (this may not make sense unless you've seen the Adam West Batman move).

Well said. Very well said.

lol, sadly what I said is something you can't understand until you've hated a game, and then went back to play it again, and found something really special. It's not something that can be told or descirbed. It is very much an experience, and because of that, it is all the better for those who experience it, but very frusterating for those of us who feel the need to explain.

edit: btw, thank you, I very much appreciate the compliments.

The gameplay was the main reason why I hated it. FIrstly I like turnbased rpgs better than real time ones. Secondly The gambit system was horrible imo. I felt like I wasnlt playing the game.

Wait a minute. Why are some of you guys so damn excited for the FOURTH entry into an RPG series? mrstickball, have you ever played SO1/2/3? I mean, you obviously are very excited for this game, and looking at your games list, you clearly have a PS2. So you must have played the game, not liked it enough to add it to your games list, and yet are mysteriously excited for the fourth entry. Or you have never played it, and are getting excited about the fourth game in an RPG series for no particular reason. I mean, forgive me if I'm wrong, and you loved SO3 and just never added it to your list, but from what I can tell, it's one of the 2 scenarios I presented.