Final Fantasy XIII Director Responds to Criticism
Final Fantasy XIII is aiming to be one the best selling RPGs of all time. The hype and marketing has been dizzying with some recent missteps and a lot of criticism expressed by long-time fans of the series. Most of the criticism has been aimed at the linearity of the game. Now, the director has officially responded to the bad flak it’s getting.
Final Fantasy XIII director Motomu Toriyama, has posted an official statement on the European FXIII website.
Hello there everyone.
The Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 editions of FFXIII have finally been fully mastered and we are now eagerly awaiting the countdown to the worldwide release. I have just returned from a three week global media tour where I was interviewed by media people from a huge number of places and sincerely appreciate all the excitement and expectation continuing to build for the release date coming from everyone outside of Japan. I have also truly felt the speed with which information moves these days from talking to all the people who have already picked up on the reception to FFXIII at home.
In particular there have been many who expressed opinions regarding the story driven nature of FFXIII making for a linear gameplay progression so I shall briefly talk about that concept here.The story of FFXIII plays out across two different worlds; the futuristic world of Cocoon, with its sprawling urban areas built inside a spherical planetoid and the primeval world of Gran Pulse populated by gigantic beasts the size of dinosaurs. The game system itself actually changes between these two worlds, with the first half of the game taking place in Cocoon being a very story driven experience, whereas the second half in Gran Pulse is an open world design with a more free style of gameplay.
In order to allow the player to become absorbed in the drama of the storytelling and the new and exciting world of Cocoon and be drawn to the characters without getting distracted or lost we have deliberately used a linear game design for the introduction sections so they can be enjoyed in the same manner as watching a film. We are aiming for a vibe while playing that is similar to the experience of an FPS style game, where the player rapidly progresses through a series of dramatic events and experiences one after the other on an imposing and atmospheric battlefield. This kind of design is also very beneficial for the player in allowing them to gradually and systematically learn the brand new battle system that this instalment brings to the series. It is set up such that the player will experience and try out each character’s possible roles in battle and naturally internalise the intensely tactical nature of the paradigm shift system.
I make a promise that even if you have never played a Final Fantasy game, or even an RPG before then you will still be able to appreciate FFXIII with no difficulty. I hope that you will pick up and play it and experience the fresh and unique gameplay that is only possible with Final Fantasy!
Despite the criticism the title has received, will you be picking up Final Fantasy XIII? Post your comments below!
24 Responses to “Final Fantasy XIII Director Responds to Criticism”
no
@sdg657
what are you saying “no” about? They said the first half of the world is linear and the 2nds exploring. which is what they have been saying since it was released.. except dumbass bloggers who only translate certain news made it seam like the whole games linear. Or stupid people who heard it from there friend, who heard it from someone else.. This is exactly what ive been saying from day one before they officially came out and said it..
@shadowjin
i think sdg657 is just answering the final question “despite the criticism…will you be picking up final fantasy XIII?”…its a pretty straight forward answer
I’m perfectly happy to wait until the game comes out, read the reviews and watch the videos, and then make up my mind. If the story and characters are on the same level as FFXII, then I won’t mind linearity. If not, then I’ll have to see what else it has to offer before making up my mind.
You know, I think people are slowly starting to get away from the “do you actually want to play something” and more towards is it what everyone else wants me to play. Personally I think it’s going to be a great game in its own right. I mean I think it will come after say…12 in the series for me.
Hell I still have batman, UC1/2, Demon Souls, Bioshock 2, WKC, Mini ninjas, Fallout 3, MGS4, Call of Jaurez to finish, and I seriously want to platinum ratchet and clank.
The only games I really have to play right now are this, Heavy Rain and to a lesser extent God of War. After that I’ll go back and finish the rest of the games I’ve yet to beat.
Day 1 for me.
Nah I’m not buying it, unless if it’s 3D.
I don’t know what it is, maybe is the console equality business because of the 360 port and all the contraversy surrounding it, maybe because it took so long for it to come out, maybe it’s that unattractive Leona Lewis song (we don’t need localization like that) or maybe it’s just everything else that’s coming out around that time frame. I for one won’t support a Multiplatform title if they are just as good First party games that are coming out around that time frame. My money is reserved for one Multiplatform game so far and that’s SSFIV. If SquareEnix wants my money, then they need to give me a reason to buy this game for my PS3, at least Batman: Arkhum Asylum had the exclusive Joker DLC, why would I invest my money on a game that’s being touted as virtually identical to another platform? What kind of incentive is that for me?
Sure I might get this game, but months MONTHS later. SquareEnix just needs to give a little more to the PS3 version, because it can support it. And 3D will do it for me.
never got into FF, but I hope it’s good for those waiting, and hope it sells consoles.
On to better final fantasy 13 news…
the scans of the 360 version were given out by SE (during that fiasco about the same images used)
the 360 version is running on 575p sub HD and it looks inferior and its something you can see without being nitpicky. Why hasnt the PSL posted the conclusion of the FF13 image story? I know xbox lifestyle is run by you guys but at least give closure to last weeks article. Theres official 360 pics given by SE and people are calling it “the reverse ghostbusters”.
I’ll be buying this one for sure.
@Xael: why should it be another version of the game for the PS3? It will be a great game imo, I don’t care if it comes out on X360 or not, I’ll get my PS3 version. The 360 version is good for people who have a X360, so they can try and play a great Square Enix game too. Maybe the PS3 can better graphics, but has any Final Fantasy game ever got bad graphics for it’s time? I don’t think so.. So I don’t think this one will be that worse…
@The question in the article: YES! Ofcourse I’ll buy it! The Collector’s Edition for my PS3 is already pre-ordered!
@shadowjin
Sorry shadow, but the first 60% of the game is linear, then about 15% exploring after than, and the final 25% is linear again. Don’t worry, I ask my friend that imported this game and those are the estimate he have me.
@shadowjin Second post
Sorry, but those other screen shots was bullshot again. Didn’t you notice the mouse pointer in one of those pictures?
and once again TheHater your an idiot. you asked your friend who imported it.. ive seen it, played it and have ASIAN friends who agree with my statement who loved the story… its sad you dont know Japanese and forced to get info 2nd hand. BTW the screen shots were officially released by SE shortly after there apology, you have no idea what your talking about.. how do i know? the mouse pointer was the old pictures. I know about 15 guys who imported it and 9 know japanese, the rest say the story sucks and the ones who understand the language says its good..(whats that say) Even Dale North from Destructoid pointed everything out good and bad.. the guy played and from start to finish. I would link you a few sites but since you dont know Japanese, you might need to ask your friend for a translation.
@TheHater
Sorry, but it makes you look like a gigantic douchebag to say sorry before you make a feeble attempt at proving someone wrong on the internet. If you are going to go out of your way to try and make someone look like an idiot, you should be REALLY careful to not make one of yourself without them even needing to reply. But he did, and he stomped your shit, it was awesome. props to shadowjin.
I have 0 interest in 13, just none. Versus on the other hand has me extremely interested and so does 14
lol seriously Shadowjin just got done saying in one of his earlier post that most people who complain about the game either got their information from some disgruntled reviewer or a friend of a friend and here comes theHater making a comment fitting the category of the latter. LOL good stuff
@DD34
I didn’t say the game was going to be bad, or not have graphics up to par with any other game, my point (in which you missed entirely) is that if both games are identical, then what can SquareEnix do to convince me to buy their game for the only next gen console I own, my PS3. If they can’t pursuade me to buy their game with extras or a new feature, then why should I even be interested anymore than all the great First party titles that SONY is prepping for my money?
I’m not a die hard FF fan, I started playing since FF8 didn’t play X-2 or XI and I refuse to play VII unless they do a remake for the PS3. SquareEnix knows they will get sales no matter what from DieHard fans, so their main focus should be on what to provide to those on the limbo about this game. And that’s what I’m getting at, what can Square do to make me want to get this game for my system of choice if they claim it to be identical to a lesser machine in content wise?
@Xael
Isn’t Shadow also getting his information from a friend of a friend and reviewers/previews? And i am not sure how me saying the game in linear is complaining. For all you know, I might love linear games.
@Xael
the funny part is, that TheHater always misses the part that i have said ive played it myself..My cousin has the game and he knows Japanese. Or do i have to be more specif and give details?Do i have to say i know Japanese? lol
@TheHater
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone
@shadowjin
Did I not write this “I think I will take the word of someone who played and finish the game at least twice over someone who just played it and haven’t beat it. “
Reminds me of FFX in that you follow the story verbatim (with exception that you can take as long as you wanted to in each area before moving on to the next) and then once you got Cid’s airship you were able to move around as freely as you wanted to. Just don’t approach Sin by accident like I did the first time through and you’ll be fine for several hours of fun.
@Xael and johhnyTruant5
a friend, of a friend, said its bad Because of a “bad” review this game got, the ones who usually go by games on review scores (Which is pathetic.) People complain , complain, yet they still buy the game despite their moaning about whats not in the game, ect. Ive see people do it all the time.. hate on Activision for MW2 and turn around and buy it on release day and play it nonstop, until something new comes out….(yes TheHater thats you).
Some end up hating it more. Not because the game itself, but because they went by a whole separate person’s experience, instead of experiencing it for themselves. For example so many people have mixed opinions on FF13 (which is fine) most are coping and pasting ego-traits. Most this generation don’t focus on what the game in itself has to offer, rather focus on the negative of what it doesn’t offer, because there friend said it. (completely blind of the good things the game offers).Therefore most people who hate this game, Hate it because they made themselves hate it, they are focusing on the negatives to them personally, and they get so blinded by it, they can’t see the good in the game. Ever hear of law of attraction? My opinions are based on actual gameplay (played) good reviews, the bad , my friends opinions who i know . Not just PSN “friends”.. Aswell as American sites but also Japanese.
Some guy reviewing in Kotaku said the game was linear 20hours into it and that his Japanese was not perfect… he also confessed that he has never played any final fantasy game. Yet, had nothing but negative things to say, everyone started having his opinion. He never had an update on whether he beat the game or not (probably not) because its a massive game and he tried to review it after 2-3 days. How can a guy who flat out said his Japanese wasn’t good, never played a Final Fantasy and was not a fan of RPG’s have some much control ?
It’s like reverse hype. You see people over-hyping games, even though they over-hype it, they extend the excitement to an extent, than your normal person. Dealings with emotional joy ect…
The problem is, Microsoft and their army of Amerian bloggers, in addition to their own internal bullshit and paid off industry gaming sites, will still uptalk everything positive about the 360, bury anything bad, and ensure anything that Sony does with the PS3 will automatically be considered a failure. look at the PSP-Go, it’s not selling, not because it’s not very good, or even over-expensive, it’s not selling because certain gaming blogs have brainwashed consumers into not liking it ( they heard it from a friend)…while its expensive and lacking a UMD drive is that a real reason to hate it? Why hasn’t anyone dogged the 360? Its lacking various things and still suffering from RROD and E-74……oh yeah, they have a 3 year warranty so there safe. (even if your replacing the POS 7 times in 3 years)
If it were a Microsoft portable gaming device, with digital only distribution, it would be the best thing since the wheel. Look at home much bloggers are over hyping project Fatal? (thats not a typo btw). Some consumers are too stupid to see when they are being played. If you look around very few sites point out the negatives in Natal.
i must say im never listening to another review again, for the last 3 years ive looked at reviews of games after ive bought them, and they are completely rediculous!!!
some of the best games i have ever played have been games that have been reviewed and given a low score, and it really bugs me when people come out and say “i wont buy that crap coz it got a bad review” even though the game could be great.. like how many people have actually played haze for longer than 5 minutes? how many have just gone by the review and never played it coz the review said it was bad? its actually a damn good multiplayer game but coz of those idiots who reviewed it badly, a good game went down and a good company got destroyed!!!!!
if you listen to reviews your an idiot, go hire the game for a night instead of going on someone elses word, everyone has different tastes, what do you think every reviewer has the exact same tastes as you? NO!!! make up your own mind by actually playing the games before you give them shit!!!!
RANT OVER!!
Am I going to buy it? Yes! Am I going to buy Versus? Yes!
Yeah I will buy it. The director says that the second part of the game isn’t linear while there’s people who played the game and said both parts of the game are linear. Either way, I’m buying this because it looks interesting to me
first HALF “similar to an fps” the reason i play ff i because i hate fps. the reason MOST people play rpgs is because they dont like fps. if i wanted a game “similar to an fps” i would buy an fps. i buy an rpg beacuse i like rpgs i just dont want a playable movie, is that so difficult for ss to understand? i will not be buying ff13 i will wait for 14. at least that will have some GAMEPLAY.