Famitsu scores Final Fantasy XIII

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Final Fantasy XIII has scored 39 out of 40 in its review in Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu, widely regarded as the largest Japanese gaming publication.

The score of 39 puts it above Final Fantasy XI, IX, and VII - all of which scored 38. Final Fantasy VI and VIII scored 37.

The game will therefore score the same as Final Fantasy X - 39 - but less than Final Fantasy XII's impressive perfect 40 in 2006.

Famitsu reviews games out of 40, with each game tackled by a team of four different reviewers. The missing point can be blamed on "a story that stays linear until the midway point" and "lack of gimmicks during the middle of the game."

On the flip side, the reviewers also comment that "the story is substantial like no FF before it" and "battles based around changing characters' roles are fresh and highly strategic."

The reivew also warns fans that FF13 is a must play. "You'll be sorry if you don't play this!", one reviewer concludes.

Source: uffsite
 
I guess it's the translation, but on IGN/FF13.net, the person who gave it a 9 wasn't pleased with the cluttered damage that flies around (I agree, don't like it either), and having resistance in calling it an "RPG-like-RPG". While one of the people who gave it a 10 commented on the story/script and something to do with not feeling like it's your own story, perhaps as if you're not there.

Either way, I'm glad it has a high score, and no game can be perfect, besides there's too much hype about it already and I don't think the scores will make it that much of a difference, probabaly to those who are on the fence about buying it, but even then doubt it.
 
Well, it sounds good if it got such a high score. Famitsu rarely rates games at 40 and so to achieve such a high one is positive for me. They're ratings usually coincide with my feelings for a game.

But then I get doubtful when I see they've rated FF12 with a 40. I think that game should be in the mid-low 30s IMO. I think it'll just come down to me playing the game and seeing how I feel about. Ratings are just a guideline for me.
 
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Famitsu always gives Final Fantasy games good scores. Even FFXII got a 40/40, which is widely regarded as one of the worst games in the series.
 
So FFXIII receives one point off the perfect score that FFXII and Dragon Quest IX received? That's interesting. Seeing as though Famitsu is so swayed to give more and more domestic games perfect scores lately (like Nintendogs and Monster Hunter Tri), I'd have thought FFXIII would get a perfect score.

Oh well, 39/40 is still a phenomenal score, and a sure sign that SE hasn't deteriorated in terms of game quality. It's definitely a game I'll be rushing off to get in March.
 
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Take any review with a pinch of salt, especially ones from Famitsu. Both the Dragon Quest series and Final Fantasy XII had very little western influence, the guy who gave it a 9 probably doesn't like the western influence as seen by him calling it an "RPG-like RPG".

It's clearly obvious from the trailers and gameplay footage that it pisses on Final Fantasy XII and that got given a 40 and it lacked EVERYTHING! Diabolical storyline, generic and narrow storyline, lack of depth throughout, poor battle system etc. They clearly don't have a clue. I'm not even gonna bother listening to IGN's comments; 360 biased arseholes.

All in all, buy the game and make your own opinion on it. The best way. :monster:
 
A little bit of researching into Famitsu's review scores has had some fruitful and interesting results. Bayonetta received the perfect score of 40/40. I don't know how good that game is- it's not out yet and I haven't played the demo. Famitsu is also unsurprisingly rather biased against the west in that all of their 40/40 games are Japanese including Nintendogs.

GTA IV was the only western game to have had 39/40. There's the controversy that Famitsu gave FFXII 40/40 when it was clearly not a perfect game. I just don't understand how Famitsu make their decisions sometimes. Their reviewers may not be used to western games- granted, but it bugs me how Nintendogs (as cute as it was- I don't consider it a perfect game) received the full score.
 
The thing with Famitsu is, the guy who have it a 9 has such a stupid reason >.>

Reviewer 2 - 9/10
There's a few niggling issues like battle damage being difficult to see, and the screen being cluttered, but the amount of enjoyment this game offers more than makes up for it. You'll be drawn into the world with visual, aural, and story aspects. I have a bit of resistance calling this an "RPG-like RPG" however.
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He marks it down simply because he thinks the screen is "cluttered" whereas the other 3 reviewers don't which to me, professional reviews shouldn't have personal preferences in them. Then he starts commenting on the important stuff like visuals, story etc. Guy doesn't have a clue :ffs:
 
I read on wikipedia that each reviewer takes on a different section of the game. Wikipedia isn't always reliable but that may be the reason the other reviewers don't mention it.

Still, I think it sounds like a stupid reason, but then again I haven't played the game so I don't know.
 
FinalHeart said:
Famitsu always gives Final Fantasy games good scores. Even FFXII got a 40/40, which is widely regarded as one of the worst games in the series.
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FFXII may be considered the worst FF in the fandom because it didn't have the same 'love story' gimmick but this thought is solely from the FF fans themselves and not from reviewers. I haven't seen a single U.S or International game reviews that pegged FF12 as the worst FF ever.

Famitsu may show a lot a leeway on the FF series but they never been completely wrong about a FF game being enjoyable.
 
This ratings only serves to make me more excited than ever. While it may be true that Famitsu have often rated Final Fantasy at such high, I would suppose there would be some reasoning behind that rating enough to overrule bias of any sort. With that in place, I'm very interested to know more about the game.

Can't wait for March to come now. That's quite a while though.
 
I ignore reviews these days. Final Fantasy games always get high scores, just because they're Final Fantasy. Same goes for almost every game with a Nintendo stamp on it. If I buy it, it will be because I enjoy RPGs and want to see what all the fuss is about, not because some Japanese magazine gave it a high score.
With the exception of Star Ocean 4, which I loved, no game that has come out in the last three years, in my opinion, warrants a score over 8.5/10, mostly because of the lack of difficulty in practically everything these days, and the abysmal length. Professionals are just opinionated people who happen to write for a magazine, they're nothing special. Its interesting to see what they think, but that is no real basis to form your own opinion around, methinks.
 
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Well, I just found this.


10: "Although the game is linear until the midway point, the story is substantial, like no FF before it, with its own distinctive appeal. The battles based around changing characters' roles are fresh and highly strategic. The tempo is speedy and you get very excited when fighting strong enemies. Being able to restart battles is a user-friendly feature I'm happy about.

9: "Unquestionably the highest echelon of event and movie scenes. Moreover, changing Optimas on a dime, the varied abilities and being able to use multiple magics at once bring real exhilaration to the battles. That high quality is unfortunately offset by a story that stays linear until the midway point. The lack of gimmicks during the middle of the game also worried me."

10: "The overwhelming graphics expressing every nook and cranny of this unique world, along with the praiseworthy direction, moved me!! The battle system is applicable both to beginners and micro-managers. The fights progress quickly, and have ratings, so you never grow tired and can always battle with a feeling of urgency. The melancholic story is also so dramatic, you can't tear your eyes away from it."

10: "I doff my hat to the overwhelming graphics and story. Since the game's various systems become denser as the story progresses, you find yourself pulled ever deeper into the experience. The summon battles take careful planning and strategy, so I was frustrated a few times, but the feeling of achievement when you win is something special. You'll be sorry if you don't play this!"
 
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