GameInformer

After spending 10 ours with FF XIII between march 9 12:30 and March 10 12:30 I can safely say that I absolutly love this game! It such a huge departure for the seres, but I love the changes they have made. The lack of towns doesn't bother me and i can appreciate not having to wonder around a giant town looking for one NPC to talk to in order to progress. I also Love the paradighm shift battle system because it takes the focus off micro managing your parties every move to focusing on the over all tactics of the battle. I also like how you don't have to worry about mp and how hp resets its self after each battle. The only thing you don't get refiled is TP (used for techniques and summons) but instead of having to use items you can get more tp by doing well in battle which is a great motivator for trying to get high ratings during battles.  The crystarium ( exp system) is similar to the license board (FFXII) or sphere grid (FFX) and works just as well as those systems. The linearity of this game  has been broughtup in many of the reviews of this game tat I have seen, and while it is compleatly and tottaly linear, I just don't see it as a problem. It focuses the game on the story and battle system which doesn't bother me at all. The story is good for the most part. I ike ligtning a lot as the protagonist, but ope is sooooooooooo F'n annoying. He is always whining about how hard everything is and isn't  particularly interesting character that's has been given an predictable arc. Other then Hope though I like the story though it probably won't be remembered as a series best. So ten hours i I can safely say that this game is worth a play through because it takes all the annoying (imo) parts of rpgs, like towns and item and health management and leaves with with a series best battle system and a good story. I wouldn't disagree with someone who says Square-enix has simplified the FF experience to attract new gamers, but I absolutly love that they have.