There’s been a resurgence for Final Fantasy 13 lately, after years of being called this series’ low point. Maybe it’s because fans don’t like how Final Fantasy 16 was a character-action game, or more gamers are gravitating towards linear titles; interest has grown for this formerly disgraced entry.
Granted, this 'disgraced' game that got two sequels in the PS3 and Xbox 360 generation, but hear us out.
Many criticized this thirteenth game for being too linear compared to previous entries. Some fans called it 'Final Hallway 13' because plenty of the game’s levels were lambasted, as players mostly proceeded forward and fought enemies in turn-based combat.
Fast forward to today, and gamers are enjoying Final Fantasy VII Remake despite being a pretty linear game where you only head forward. It even has that annoying AAA game cliche where you go through cracks and tight passageways that often feel like filler. While we wouldn’t call Final Fantasy 13 a perfect game, its linearity doesn’t look like a valid criticism in today’s gaming world.
Another valid criticism is its battle system, which only lets players control one of the characters. On paper, designing a turn-based battle system where you give commands to one character is odd and gives the JRPG an automated feeling. However, learning new skills and chipping away at the enemy’s stamina bar can be addictive, especially when it leads to combo maneuvers.
Interestingly, some of these systems are more accepted today, though they still have detractors. Nintendo’s Xenoblade series uses an automated battle system where players only control the special moves the characters do.
That sounds boring but can make for tense battles later, especially against gigantic bosses. With Pokémon Legends: Z-A using a similar combat system, it seems fans are more forgiving of this feature.
Visually, Final Fantasy 13 hasn’t aged a day and is one of the best-looking RPGs Square Enix has ever developed. This game perfected the odd mix of realism and anime Square Enix usually aims for. At some points, it even looks better than Final Fantasy 16 and FF7 Remake.
Some fans have said that Final Fantasy 13 was ahead of its time because of these features. Now that gamers have learned to enjoy linear games with automated battles; it seems like a no-brainer to call this JRPG a misunderstood masterpiece.
However, we think this game has some valid criticisms that prevented it from being more beloved. One example is how the story immediately bombards players with terms like fal'Cie and l'Cie without showing them what they are. This complicates following the story, especially since the narrative background is presented via flashbacks.
While the game’s battle system is pretty good, it was annoying that the story changed who the players controlled. We would have liked it if Lightning had been the sole controllable character, with different supporting characters who had different roles that complemented her fighting. Granted, the game lets players organize their party later, and Lightning gets used the most, but that’s too little, too late for some.
Even with all of that said, it’s safe to say that Final Fantasy 13 is a good game that’s more than deserving of anyone’s attention. This game would be a solid starting point for those weary of the genre. Fans who want the most out of this game should get the Xbox 360 version and play it on the Xbox Series, which has been enhanced to look even better.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Features and Final Fantasy page.