The Very Big Final Fantasy XIII Thread

[Kim]

Yeah, but if I was hating on the game for no reason but to hate the game, I don't think I'd give even Sazh any credit, nor would I be liking the combat as much as I did.

[bluestarultor]

Originally Posted by NonCon

Yeah, but if I was hating on the game for no reason but to hate the game, I don't think I'd give even Sazh any credit, nor would I be liking the combat as much as I did.

BTW, did you figure out the full-bar bonuses? If you shift from one Paradigm to a similar one with a bit charged in the bar, you get an automatic full bar right off the bat. It really helps to abuse the crap out of it.

[Kim]

Yeah, I noticed. Haven't really abused it yet, because when I have haste on my guys, the length of time to change paradigms, especially if it's the first change of the battle, is almost as long, or at least feels that way.

EDIT: Also, can anyone confirm/deny if I can go back to Pulse after Chapter 11?

[Ape Boy]

Originally Posted by NonCon

Yeah, I noticed. Haven't really abused it yet, because when I have haste on my guys, the length of time to change paradigms, especially if it's the first change of the battle, is almost as long, or at least feels that way.

EDIT: Also, can anyone confirm/deny if I can go back to Pulse after Chapter 11?

It becomes almost necessary to abuse the Switch for ATB technique against some of the more powerful enemies.

That's another thing I like about the game, is that it nurtures experimentation. Sure you may lose a fight until you figure out the best strategy, but you'll spawn seconds away from what killed you, pretty much welcoming you to try again.

RE: EDIT: From what I understand, you're able to travel all around Pulse through 12-13. That may be inaccurate, but you can roam Pulse post-game.

[bluestarultor]

Originally Posted by Ape Boy

It becomes almost necessary to abuse the Switch for ATB technique against some of the more powerful enemies.

QFT.

Sure you may lose a fight until you figure out the best strategy, but you'll spawn seconds away from what killed you, pretty much welcoming you to try again.

Also, skippable cutscenes. Lifesaver.

[Kim]

So, what are all y'all thoughts on the monster designs in this?

The animal monsters I'm okay with. The flying things, turtles, and wolves I'm more or less fine with, even though there are details I'm not too fond of, like the wolves have like giant fucking crab claws for a face, but otherwise I'm fine with them.

Everything else though... just doesn't work. The bombs are now giant dice? "Vampires" look like really, really dumb golems. Vetalas look like... well... they don't look like Hindu spirits that possess the dead, that's for sure. It doesn't earn any points with me for having a lot of the designs of the smaller ones making it near impossible to tell which way they're facing, yet making sneaking up on them a gameplay mechanic.

Love the animal ones, but everything else is... no good.

[bluestarultor]

Originally Posted by NonCon

So, what are all y'all thoughts on the monster designs in this?

The animal monsters I'm okay with. The flying things, turtles, and wolves I'm more or less fine with, even though there are details I'm not too fond of, like the wolves have like giant fucking crab claws for a face, but otherwise I'm fine with them.

Everything else though... just doesn't work. The bombs are now giant dice? "Vampires" look like really, really dumb golems. Vetalas look like... well... they don't look like Hindu spirits that possess the dead, that's for sure. It doesn't earn any points with me for having a lot of the designs of the smaller ones making it near impossible to tell which way they're facing, yet making sneaking up on them a gameplay mechanic.

Love the animal ones, but everything else is... no good.

It kind of bothered me that all the spirit/demon-named ones are all bird-footed red Injuns in the middle of a rain dance instead of resembling what they're supposed to, but then I remember that this is Japan, who don't give a flying fuck about Native Americans or frankly anyone who's not Japanese, and at least they look cool when they're kicking your ass. Very fluid motion.

Bombs I'll forgive in that all the Cocoon foes are supposed to be decked out with technology for... some reason, and they seem to burn through the paneling as you piss them off and become more Bomb-like.

I have to say my main complaint with the animal-based ones is the fact that all the scaled lizards seem to have the same technological underbelly that's full of air holes and such. I can dig it for the actual "tamed" ones used by the military, but it's just weird-looking when in Pulse. Also that the scales don't actually connect.

I'm loving the Behemoths, though. Well, the pants thing is a bit weird, as is the universal ability to whip out a techno-sword, again, also in Pulse, but visually, it's a pretty strong design and a decent update for the whole "gets pissed off and stands up" bit they've had on and off for a while.

For the humans, it bugs me that they seem able to take hits so well. They can sure as hell knock you on YOUR ass, but they don't even fall over when they die, which is kind of aggravating, because they aren't so badass that you're not slapping them around numerically. It really makes it feel like your party isn't connecting with their hits when a devastating sword slash doesn't even make them flinch until their health gets lower. I'm sorry, but pain is pain, here, and you're causing it with little to no reaction.

[Kerensky287]

I love all of the monster designs except for the bird things with mouths for asses.

Also, I think I could have done without the wheel-headed Shivas and that Eidolon in the one cutscene that had a ludicrous wing-hair thing going on.

[Kim]

I dunno. I think I'd be less annoyed at some of them if they didn't take something shit out of a volcano and call it a vampire. Or take a floating... something... and call it a vetala. It's like... Why call it that if it looks nothing like it?

[Ape Boy]

The Bombs don't look quite right to me. Everything else I'm cool with to liking a lot.