Review

Final Fantasy XIII-2 review

Final Fantasy XIII-2 arrives with the promise of correcting the transgressions of its predecessor. Our review takes a look at whether this game that wants so badly to be liked can forge new friendships.

Steve Watts

January 30, 2012 10:00 AM

Final Fantasy XIII left me of two minds. The satisfaction of managing its frenetic but elegant battle system stood on one side, in stark opposition to its maudlin, convoluted plot and overlong tutorial. To my surprise its sequel, Final Fantasy XIII-2, manages the seemingly unlikely feat of furthering the rift between the two. While the combat and adventure structure show improvements that directly address its predecessor's critics, the story manages to spiral deeper into an unintelligible narrative abyss. The result leaves me torn once again. Combat remains in many ways similar to the experience offered by Final Fantasy XIII. The game does, though, trust the player to grasp the concepts more quickly this time around. As in the original, it's best to worry about the big picture, focusing on shifting "Paradigms" for the right mix of jobs for the situation, and leave the Auto-Battle command to handle the minutiae of selecting skills and attacks. XIII-2 adds a few small tweaks to the formula that enhance strategic thinking, like Wound damage. These attacks inflict damage so severe that a character's HP can't recover from them with normal healing. They are easy to shrug off in the early game, but choosing when to heal Wounds and go on the defensive to prevent them becomes vital during tougher boss fights. A few story-based battles also make use of quick-time events, which aren't particularly thrilling but add a nice breather to the sometimes nerve-wracking task of constant Paradigm shifting. Party management sees deeper changes in this sequel. Final Fantasy XIII-2 sets two playable characters for the whole game, and that's it. This does serve to keep level upgrades and equipment simple. The third slot in the party is filled by a rotating cast of monsters, collected throughout the game. Each monster has only one job role, but a group of three can be readied to choose from to fill that slot in creating battle Paradigms. So, for instance, a Sentinel-type monster could be the third spot to pair with the two characters to create a defensive-heavy Paradigm of all Sentinels. The monster mechanic also adds a layer of depth to leveling up the team. Monsters follow a whole new upgrade path, growing their power by using consumable items--either won in battle or purchased from the shops. Plus, monsters are able to absorb the passive abilities of other monsters. With some careful planning, an already strong beast can be made into a wrecking machine by taking on a favorable combination of other monsters' abilities. Final Fantasy XIII-2 also offers a world filled with much more variety than its predecessor. With sprawling maps, NPCs to talk to, and various quests to take on, I was never at a loss for things to do. It certainly doesn't suffer from the narrow, locked corridors of XIII, and the various time periods look and feel different from each other while retaining an aesthetic that makes sense. The game deftly communicates these various time periods in the same fantasy style with distinct visual flair. It's too bad that the motivation intended to move me through that world, the story, felt so undercooked. I could enjoy its melodramatic camp and sometimes awkward script, but it weaves a far too tangled and disarranged web to hold my interest. Time travel, as a plot device, is extremely delicate, and difficult to do well. Final Fantasy XIII-2 uses it only clumsily to loosely tie together some events and not much else. The concept of multiple time travelers intersecting with each other at different, non-sequential points in their own journeys is an interesting one, but one inadequately explored. Most of the game revolves around resolving "paradoxes," but the word is often flippantly misused to signify monsters that have accidentally wondered into a particular time period. In fact, at one point when characters discuss a very literal paradox--a circular logic loop in which taking an action should negate that action--no one even seemed to notice. The paradox problem exemplifies the weakness in this winding plot: the science-fiction rules feel like they're being made up as they go. Every threat feels arbitrary, destined to be inevitably conquered with some new magical deus ex machina. I understood the broad strokes, the "what" and "where" of events, but the explanations of "why" vaguely smear science and spirituality into an indiscernible mélange.

Combat remains the best aspect of FF XIII-2

To cap it all off, this journey ultimately leads to an utterly unsatisfying conclusion that left me soured on the entire experience. The last few hours are easily the dullest and weakest of the game. The final area is frustrating and visually unappealing, the last few bosses undermine the strengths of the otherwise excellent combat system, and the story fizzles to a non-ending that feels like Square can't wait to milk me for more. It would all end in tragedy if not for the likable characters. I actually enjoyed Noel as the optimistic protagonist, a refreshing departure from stoic anti-heroes. His voice acting is some of the best I've heard in recent JRPGs, managing to sound charming and occasionally funny, even when he's handed a clunker of a line. Serah (previously a minor character as Lightning's shy younger sister and bizarrely young-looking bride to Snow) holds her own as a determined woman with her own hopes and dreams. It's just too bad they weren’t given anything more interesting to do. While playing Final Fantasy XIII-2, I could almost sense Square Enix trying to make up for the last game. It's a Greatest Hits compilation of popular elements from other titles: time travel, monster breeding, Chocobo races, a Coliseum, and more. It even includes a mini-game casino eerily reminiscent of the Golden Saucer from Final Fantasy VII. The game wants so badly to be liked, and Final Fantasy XIII-2 almost won me over, but only almost. It's difficult to care for the nostalgic touches when they serve only as window dressing to a story that implodes on itself. Fantastic though its combat system may be, Final Fantasy XIII-2 cannot break free from the shadow cast by the inability of its storytellers to understand the difference between convolution and complexity.

[This Final Fantasy XIII-2 review is based on the Xbox 360 version of the game, provided by publisher Square Enix.]

Steve Watts

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Shacknews

 reply
January 30, 2012 10:00 AM

Garnett Lee posted a new article, Final Fantasy XIII-2 review.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 arrives with the promise of correcting the transgressions of its predecessor. Our review takes a look at whether this game that wants so badly to be liked can forge new friendships.
- yourbuddypal
  
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  January 30, 2012 10:19 AM
  
  Great review. Every one I've read so far has the same general conclusion - the mechanics of the game all seem to be a lot more refined but the story is not compelling at all. That is a major disappointment that might cause me to skip on this, or maybe wait until I can get it for cheap.
- Mecha Tofu Pirate
  
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  January 30, 2012 10:22 AM
  
  FF really needs to just take a break
  - Prozium
    
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    January 30, 2012 10:53 AM
    
    The 5 years between the release of XI and XII wasn't a break? Or the 3 years between XII and XIII?
- flagg209
  
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  January 30, 2012 10:28 AM
  
  That's disappointing - but Garnett, I wonder what you would tell a person who actually liked the story of 13-1 - would they feel the same?
  - Garnett Lee
    
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    January 30, 2012 10:52 AM
    
    Well, Steve wrote the review (I had the author set incorrectly when I published it but have updated that) so I don't know what he'd say.
    
    From what I watched of Ariel beating it, which is a lot, I'm probably going to skip playing it myself. The haphazard time travel results in muddled quests. Noel and Serah don't really do anything for me either, which isn't helping matters.
  - SporkyReeve
    
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    January 30, 2012 11:35 AM
    
    Good question! I can only really speak for myself, as someone who found the plot in XIII pretty labored and exhausting. But if you did like the storytelling in XIII, this game carries a very similar tone. Fewer characters and less reading involved, but similar in most other respects. So hey, maybe you'd love it.
- Volatus32x
  
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  January 30, 2012 10:29 AM
  
  Can I turn the voice acting off?
- chadg033
  
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  January 30, 2012 10:38 AM
  
  Final Fantasy has really strayed from it's roots. It went from a series that I loved to a series that I don't give a shit for.
  - squigiliwams
    
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    January 30, 2012 11:01 AM
    
    Same. Last good one (for me, this is my opinion) was X. I just love straight up turn based shit. Give me a good story and some good turn based combat and let me do my thing for 40 hours.
    - Volatus32x
      
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      January 30, 2012 11:06 AM
      
      I loved XII and couldn't finish X. Ah well.
      - squigiliwams
        
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        January 30, 2012 11:13 AM
        
        I only played 12 for a few hours, I probably would like it more if i kept at it but i borrowed it to see if i was going to buy it in college, money was tight, and it didnt make the cut.
        
        Maybe ill go back and play it someday.
        
        tw3kr
        
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        January 30, 2012 4:39 PM
        
        It's one I want to back and finish, even though I was disappointed with it overall compared to earlier entries in the series.
- sreyes22
  
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  January 30, 2012 10:42 AM
  
  Its easy to see that they're trying to add all these elements from previously liked games, and just dumping them into newer titles without justification, so annoying.
  - yourbuddypal
    
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    January 30, 2012 10:52 AM
    
    One could argue why they chose to stray from such "proven" elements in the first place... If its an element that they originally created and were successful with, isnt it their right to use it as they please?
    - one random winner
      
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      January 30, 2012 10:54 AM
      
      They can, that doesn't mean the success (critical or financial) will be repeated.
- pgharavi
  
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  January 30, 2012 10:56 AM
  
  Just make a new Final Fantasy in the vein of the old games; e.g., FFIV, VI, or IX.
  
  They had charm, at least.
  - one random winner
    
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    January 30, 2012 10:58 AM
    
    They could remake FFVI in modern visuals and I would be stupid happy. Though I wouldn't want any voice acting.
    - pgharavi
      
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      January 30, 2012 11:01 AM
      
      That would be the greatest thing ever.
      - Volatus32x
        
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        January 30, 2012 11:01 AM
        
        Signed!
    - [deleted] 1152187837
      
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      January 30, 2012 6:37 PM
      
      [deleted]
  - tw3kr
    
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    January 30, 2012 4:42 PM
    
    I have really been pining for some old-school RPG's like that. I would like to see a developer like Squenix or Konami or someone make an XBLA/PSN-type franchise of classic stuff like this.
- cetra00
  
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  January 30, 2012 10:57 AM
  
  I'm surprised stuff like actual impact of conversation decisions and the fact that there are 9 endings aren't even mentioned.
  
  I'm willing to put up with a lackluster storyline as I'm interested in seeing a Final Fantasy game that seems to be willing to update a lot of it's mechanics to something that is more similar to western RPGs.
  - Volatus32x
    
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    January 30, 2012 10:59 AM
    
    XIII-2 has 9 endings??
    - cetra00
      
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      January 30, 2012 11:00 AM
      
      Yes, that was a key point SE made about the game. For the first time there are multiple endings and choices made through the game actually influence these endings.
      - one random winner
        
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        January 30, 2012 11:01 AM
        
        So they finally decided to integrate that bit from Chrono Trigger.
        
        Volatus32x
        
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        January 30, 2012 11:02 AM
        
        I guess, time travel and multiple endings...
        
        cetra00
        
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        January 30, 2012 11:06 AM
        
        It's actually pretty similar. You can cut off the game early with some endings like in Chrono Trigger. Though apparently FFXIII-2 has a true ending that can only be unlocked after completing the game once.
        
        Keep in mind this Final Fantasy is shorter than previous games (~40ish hours for first playthrough) as it seems to have been designed with high re-playability in mind for the multiple endings.
        
        fuzzydevil
        
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        January 30, 2012 2:26 PM
        
        From what I can gather there are only two endings available from the off, and one of them's the "real" ending. The others are only accessible in the post-game content after you've got the canonical ending, and the conversation options don't really make any real difference at all.
      - Garnett Lee
        
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        January 30, 2012 11:34 AM
        
        The other endings are fun, but the first ending is the canonical one.
  - SporkyReeve
    
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    January 30, 2012 11:39 AM
    
    Good points, cetra.
    
    To be honest, I usually found the dialogue choices pretty forgettable. Most of the time there was a clear "correct" answer (plot-wise), a silly answer, and two others. It was an alright effort to introduce a western concept, but they didn't really nail it. In the end it didn't really make me like the game any more or less than if they weren't there, so it didn't really stand out as something to reference in the review.
- [deleted] 716648330
  
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  January 30, 2012 11:09 AM
  
  [deleted]
- Vincent Grayson
  
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  January 30, 2012 11:37 AM
  
  I wish I had a working PS3. This is the first FF game in 15 years I haven't been able to get on launch day :(
  - dpgagnon
    
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    January 30, 2012 1:17 PM
    
    No 360, either? :(
    - Vincent Grayson
      
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      January 30, 2012 1:28 PM
      
      Nah, I got rid of my 360 some time ago when I realized there wasn't a single upcoming exclusive I had any interest in.
      
      The PS3 at least has things like The Last Guardian coming eventually, and that Level 5/Studio Ghibli JRPG, not to mention that I still play stuff like PixelJunk Monsters pretty regularly (or did, before it died).
      - dpgagnon
        
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        January 30, 2012 3:06 PM
        
        You really need to get yourself a new one. I would go crazy if I didn't have my PS3 or 360.
        
        Vincent Grayson
        
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        January 30, 2012 7:20 PM
        
        I'm moving in 4 months, so I'm planning on just waiting until then. It'll be one less thing to ship, and if I'm lucky, maybe there'll be a price drop or a good bundle by then.
- Zek
  
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  January 30, 2012 1:41 PM
  
  Honestly I enjoyed FFXIII except for the ultra slow start. The plot was stupid as hell of course but I expected that much going in and just didn't think about it too hard. It doesn't have a lot in common with the older games but I had fun with it, the combat system was among the best of the franchise IMO.
- jayacheess
  
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  January 30, 2012 6:33 PM
  
  I'm glad they addressed some of the gameplay junk, but I simply won't waste time playing another RPG when I don't give a shit about what happens. I really didn't enjoy anything that happened in 13 and I have no interest in participating in this 'universe' they've so haphazardly put together.
  
  I know I'll never see anything like Xenogears again, but I wish these guys would at least attempt to tell a story half as epic at some point. They're spending enough time and money putting everything else together.
  - jayacheess
    
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    January 30, 2012 6:35 PM
    
    Oh, and this game is at about 80% on aggregate sites, yet Famitsu in Japan gave it perfect 10's. When this kind of game is the standard for a perfect score in Japan, that tells you why we're not seeing better.
- radula
  
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  January 30, 2012 7:32 PM
  
  the demo for this was pretty fun. at first the grouping and monsters and skills are confusing as hell. got a bit better, as long as the introduction to the complexities is paced. the fights are fun. except when you miss the initial hit and they get the advantage.
- jrsX
  
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  January 30, 2012 8:02 PM
  
  there are only 2 party characters for the whole game?
  - azshack
    
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    January 31, 2012 11:28 PM
    
    You can add monsters to your party like Pokemon or something. And I think Lightning is a DLC.
    
    Honestly, I'd be just as happy with this system. Shuffling party members in XIII was a fucking pain in the ass because you had to remake all their paradigms every time you made a small adjustment. Unbelievable that no one added a way to save those in the shipping game.
- RuffasBluetain
  
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  January 30, 2012 8:20 PM
  
  Is Steve not allowed to post articles?
  - SporkyReeve
    
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    January 30, 2012 8:36 PM
    
    Ha ha, no, I can post just fine. When it comes to feature content like reviews, the article always goes through an editor, though, so usually Garnett or Andrew are the ones who physically put it into the system as part of their process. Thanks for your concern, though, it hits me right in the aorta.
- matrixneo42
  
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  July 17, 2012 7:13 AM
  
  Bring back the Final Fantasy Legend series to iOS!!! And also, a proper HD port of Final Fantasy 7 to the ipad.