14 DAY TRIAL // Final Fantasy is without a doubt one of the most popular gaming franchises around, so the fact that its latest installment, FF XIII, has generated a huge amount of attention is no surprise. Everyone is dying to get their hands on it, but, for now, they'll just have to settle for Famitsu's review, the first one available. The Japanese magazine has quite a history of adulation for the series and, if we add to this the fact that, from all available pieces of information that were released by the game's publisher, Square Enix, the title announced itself as a true masterpiece, the review's end-result might surprise some. The game did not receive a poor score, not at all, but it didn't manage to obtain that perfect 40/40 either.
The end count for the game was a near miss, with 39 points collected out of 40 possible. Famitsu's review encompasses the opinion of four of its editors, so it's generally pretty hard for a game to reach perfection and earn 40 points. Among others that barely missed the cherry on top are Grand Theft Auto, Okami, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, while games that did go all the way are Dragon Quest IX, Monster Hunter Tri and Bayonetta. And these four all managed to do so this year. Even if 39/40 is something the title can easily be proud of, the reasons for which it failed to impress the magazine all the way to ecstasy are somewhat suspicious.
The praises that the game earned were for its gameplay and story. One editor wrote that, “The story being told is very deep and uniquely charming, not at all like FFs up to now. The battle system is innovative and has a lot of strategic elements. Being able to rewind back to just before the current battle is really nice.” The combat system and graphics were both praised, with the first believed to be “built both for beginners and seasoned players. Things proceed speedily and since you're always rated, every battle has a sense of tension to it. The ability to switch Optimas instantly and use a wide variety of skills and magic simultaneously in battle is exhilarating.”
But the same things that were praised by others were also regarded as a letdown by one of the editors, who wrote that, “Given the quality all around, it's a bit of a shame that the story is a straight path until the midgame. I'm also concerned about the lack of [gameplay] gimmicks before the midpoint.” Looking at these reasons, it looks more like Famitsu felt that its credibility was beginning to waver, with four “perfect” games already reviewed this year, and decided it was time to cut back on the lavish praise. Just how good the title is remains to be seen, but if the lack of “gimmicks”and linearity until half-way through it are the only bad things about the title, then it's sure to turn into an enthralling experience.