Official* HAF Video Game Thread

[curiosityandthecat]

I'm trying to decide on whether or not to get FFXIII.  Quick rundown of me, and hopefully you all can tell me if you think I'll like it.  To keep it short, I mainly play FPS, but love the occasional RTS and RPG.  I HATE micromanagement, and this is what has turned me off to a lot of RPGs in the past. Love Fable, ME1 and ME2. HATE WoW. Couldn't get into DA:O.

From what I've seen so far, FFXIII (as with most FF games?) is largely about the story and cutscenes. The fight sequences are turn-based, strategic in nature and don't require a lot of inventory management, and the game doesn't seem to revolve around item-gathering or leveling up too much; i.e. these things happen naturally as you play the game and you don't have to run off in a forest killing wild animals for XP.

I guess what I'm saying is, if the above paragraph is accurate, I'll like the game.  If I'm off about the micromanagement or item/XP bs then I might hate it.

Last thing: I am an absolute sucker for kick-ass story/plotlines, and truly epic cutscenes. I'm talking cinematic here. The endings for Halo 3, ME1 and ME2 come to mind. If a game might as well be a ridiculously long movie that is mindblowingly amazing with the occasional interactive bit, I'd be just as happy.

So....will I like it?

Ninjaedit: If yes, then a followup question: Since I'll have to wait a while (3+ mos) to get it anyway, should I get the XBox 360 version that's scaled down, or go ahead and get a PS3 for the game? I have other uses for a PS3 besides this one game, just haven't bit the bullet yet.

Get the PS3 version. The Xbox version is "adequate but a tad disappointing." (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digit ... i-face-off)

This FF game isn't turn-based. The battles are different than they've ever been before. Here's a rundown:

• Battles are their own environments, much like every console-based FF game other than XII (where the mobs and players wander the maps and the entire area is the battlefield). That is to say, you can see the mobs on the screen and (often times) choose whether or not to engage them. Once that happens, however, you enter a battle that is not part of the overall map.
• The flow of the battle is based on the ATB (Active Time Battles), in which your ATB meter (split into chunks) fills as time progresses. Different commands or abilities require different number of chunks of the bar to complete. There is also an Auto-Battle feature that chooses the most effective attack for the scenario.
• You cannot flee from a battle in the traditional sense. Used to be that you could enter a battle, fight a bit, steal some gil or items or whathaveyou and flee, retaining those items and maybe even some experience. No longer. Now you either finish the battle or Reset to a point just before the battle started.
• If your party Lead dies, it's game over. Doesn't matter if the other members of the party are still alive. However, you don't return to your last save, thankfully. You return to the same point you would have if you Reset the battle. Not sure what the difference is between Resetting and dying yet, but I'm sure there'll be something. Maybe a trophy for never dying, never resetting a battle, or never doing either. Not sure.

Experience, much like in FFX, is no longer a feature. It's actually much close to FFX in that you have a map of abilities and stat improvements that you traverse using points you gain from battle. Each node requires a certain number of points but you can basically just open the screen, hold X, and it will level you up accordingly. Finer control is there, but it's not technically necessary.

We're back to one weapon and one accessory as far as equipment goes. There's a class system called the Paradigm system that lets you change how your characters behave in battle and proper use of this is absolutely essential to success against more difficult mobs. Quickly finishing battles also scores you more points and better drops.

To address your concern about level or item farming, it's actually not an option, really. You can kill mobs over and over to get items to sell or use, but you can't super-charge your characters in advance of a difficult fight. So, yes, it occurs naturally throughout the game as you play. Honestly, battle in FFXIII seems to be secondary to environment, story and character relations.

The Final Fantasy series is known for its complex, flowing, touching stories. The cutscenes in FFX won god-knows how many awards. FFXIII is absolutely stunning. Stunning.

tl;dr Get the PS3 version. You'll love it.

[karadan]

Anyone ever play The Lost Planet? I'd kind of heard of it but never played it. I just found this trailer and wow, the sequel looks  :drool  

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/vi ... s-Stunning

[theTwiz]

tl;dr Get the PS3 version. You'll love it.

Thanks for taking the time to write this out, it really helped.  Sounds like it's all the things I was hoping it would be, and none of the things I was hoping it wouldn't. I'll be saving up for a PS3/FFXIII purchase in the coming months.

[LoneMateria]

Anyone here play the Super Mario Bros Wii?  If you haven't yet I have some advice for you.  If you have a significant other it is a BAD idea to play with them.  The game can be frustrating with new players and the fact that you can jump on your other players heads.  Causing the demise of your significant other on a regular basis in the game is both frustrating and bad for the relationship.  At the very least one of you two thinks the other is a complete f**king idiot ... which is bad for your relationship.

[theTwiz]

At the very least one of you two thinks the other is a complete f**king idiot ...

So it makes it like you're in a relationship?

[pinkocommie]

Anyone here play the Super Mario Bros Wii?  If you haven't yet I have some advice for you.  If you have a significant other it is a BAD idea to play with them.  The game can be frustrating with new players and the fact that you can jump on your other players heads.  Causing the demise of your significant other on a regular basis in the game is both frustrating and bad for the relationship.  At the very least one of you two thinks the other is a complete f**king idiot ... which is bad for your relationship.

I can't play that game on 2p with my son, he always whines and yells at me because of the head jumping and how basically you're going to kill your teammate from time to time because of the way the levels are and how the 2p game play works.   We find it way more fun just to play a 1p game and pass the controller back and forth, taking turns.  Much more rooting, far less yelling/whining/me refusing to play.  

[LoneMateria]

So it makes it like you're in a relationship?

You must have some bad relationships then.

I can't play that game on 2p with my son, he always whines and yells at me because of the head jumping and how basically you're going to kill your teammate from time to time because of the way the levels are and how the 2p game play works.   We find it way more fun just to play a 1p game and pass the controller back and forth, taking turns.  Much more rooting, far less yelling/whining/me refusing to play.  

Yeah, Heather and I have to develop some system to play this game.  Who ever has either fire or ice takes the front and the other one gets the back.  But the head jumping is frustrating ... because it always seems timed to when you will jump on an enemy right before he hits you.  I've been so pissed that I've ran through half of a level while she was in her bubble.

[Fallen Jedii]

Alright, I'm starting to get pissed off. My local game store is supposed to call me when they receive my copy of Heavy Rain (I was a late reserve). About a week and a half later, and still no call.

I think I'm just going to stop by soon and just ask because they should have a copy by now. I can't wait much longer to play this game.

[Fallen Jedii]

Purchased Heavy Rain two hours ago. God the beginning is depressing.

[ClicheGuevara]

Playing Metro 2033, so far it's really good!

[the hottness]

Anyone play the Splinter Cell: Conviction demo on XBL? It looks slick and the controls are all in order, but i can't help but feel like its missing something.

[theTwiz]

Anyone play the Splinter Cell: Conviction demo on XBL? It looks slick and the controls are all in order, but i can't help but feel like its missing something.

that's because it's the demo version ;)

[curiosityandthecat]

Purchased Heavy Rain two hours ago. God the beginning is depressing.

Isn't it though? Quantic Dream really pulled it off in making Heavy Rain an interactive drama rather than a "game".

Also, 30 hours into FFXIII and really enjoying it. Very different from previous games in a good way.  

[pinkocommie]

Purchased Heavy Rain two hours ago. God the beginning is depressing.

Isn't it though? Quantic Dream really pulled it off in making Heavy Rain an interactive drama rather than a "game".

Also, 30 hours into FFXIII and really enjoying it. Very different from previous games in a good way.  

[curiosityandthecat]

I finally moved on to chapter 12 after spending literally 30 hours doing the side missions and grinding at the end of chapter 11.  I anticipate beating the game this week, then immediately starting a new game to get the best weapons, all the hidden goodies, etc.  

So, does chapter 12 start when you get to Oerba? If so, I'll stay the hell away for a while, haha.