Review:
Final Fantasy XIII

What can I say about FFXIII, aside from HOLY HELL!?!?! Before I continue reviewing, let me say this one thing:

This game will be the reason why the Xbox 360 loses to the PS3.

Why? Well, it's simple. FFXIII shows off the PS3's capabilities. From full 1080P cutscenes to fitting all the content on one disc, it's clear to see that Sony has the upper hand. Also, have you seen any comparison videos? FFXIII looks like trash on the 360. And that's saying a lot. Granted, you likely won't notice the difference very much unless you're one of the few with a TV the size of a small movie theatre, but regardless, the differences are there, and more easily noticeable when you put the two side by side.

In any case, let's get down to business. Is FFXIII worth it? One word: Hell yes. Oops. That's two words. Oh well. I'm definitely partial to the Final Fantasy series. I've been a fanboy since I was a child, playing the first game cart on the NES (yes I still have that. Can we say collector's item?), and I've never looked back.

That doesn't mean I enjoy all FF games. In particular, VIII rubbed me the wrong way. But XIII makes some crucial changes that some might like, and others might not.

Similiar to FFX, XIII is much more linear than other pre-PS2 Final Fantasies. You can explore, but you're limited to a certain extent. Some gripe about this, but honestly, with the sheer amount of space you have to move around, the beautiful and elaborately detailed graphics that make up the XIII Universe (seriously check out any one area and it's more detailed than 99% of all games out now), and the story of the game, you really shouldn't be complaining. XIII is set in the fictional world of Gran Pulse, where the world is overrun by powerful and dangerous monsters.

There are two races: Fal'Cie and Humans. Fal'Cie are giant robot-like creatures that have so much power compared to a human being that they are revered and treated as Gods. At some point, humans forged an alliance with certain Fal'Cie, creating a floating city they called Cocoon, where the humans fled to escape the dangers of the world. Naturally, some humans stayed behind, but the vast majority went up into the sky, with the Fal'Cie providing for them. The Fal'Cie do everything, from the creation of food and water down to simply keeping the city airborne. Life in Cocoon is pretty laid back.