I missed out on most of the PS2 generation so this was my first FF since FF9. I know most people dislike this entry but I enjoyed it.
The soundtrack is utterly phenomenal, a work of genius and easily the best FF soundtrack ever in my opinion. What the composer accomplished is unreal, managing to blend a ton of genres together while still keeping a familiar motif.
I totally get the 'linear' criticism of the game, it feels like a tutorial for first 20 hours. The linearity is somehow refreshing though. You'd be naive to think other games aren't on 'rails'. They're just good at hiding it. FFXIII dispenses with the allusion and focuses on story, which to me is what is more important in an RPG. Storytelling and worldbuilding, not statistics and numbers. FFXIII is not a complete failure by all means, I consider it an underrated gem.
The soundtrack is utterly phenomenal, a work of genius and easily the best FF soundtrack ever in my opinion. What the composer accomplished is unreal, managing to blend a ton of genres together while still keeping a familiar motif.
I totally get the 'linear' criticism of the game, it feels like a tutorial for first 20 hours. The linearity is somehow refreshing though. You'd be naive to think other games aren't on 'rails'. They're just good at hiding it. FFXIII dispenses with the allusion and focuses on story, which to me is what is more important in an RPG. Storytelling and worldbuilding, not statistics and numbers. FFXIII is not a complete failure by all means, I consider it an underrated gem.