So you want to see Final Fantasy XIII in action?

by Andrew Yoon { Apr 15th 2009 at 10:00AM }

The Final Fantasy XIII demo has now been captured -- in full -- and placed on YouTube. Grab a controller and pretend you're playing the game! The videos highlight Square Enix's amazing CG, some real-time gameplay and a few terrific tunes. Obviously there are some spoilers, but for those who simply cannot wait until 2010, this is a very comprehensive first look at the game.

Check out the videos after the break.

Gallery: Final Fantasy XIII

[Thanks, Jack!]

Tags: final-fantasy, final-fantasy-13, final-fantasy-xiii, square-enix

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

Draco @ Apr 15th 2009 10:07AM

Damn you firewalls and blocking YouTube! I guess I'll check this out in another 8 hrs :(

Bowser Rogozhin @ Apr 15th 2009 10:11AM

Isn’t this a Final Fantasy game? Why would we need to grab a controller and pretend we’re playing when this is clearly the level of control you'll get with the final package.

dgknight500 @ Apr 15th 2009 10:55AM

hahah... god, I hate the FF12 gambits!

xtremeholymuffin @ Apr 15th 2009 11:43AM

Welcome to video games, Erluti.

It's also FUN.

xtremeholymuffin @ Apr 15th 2009 11:48AM

Wow, fuck you, Joystiq comment system

Josh @ Apr 15th 2009 12:53PM

*God*, you're bitter, Mr. Rogozhin. If you don't like it, you don't have to buy it.

So shut up.

p-diddy @ Apr 15th 2009 10:13AM

Final Fantasy? They still make these? I stopped playing FFs after disc 1 of FF8. Boring!

(though Tactics is still legit)

Flame on!

-p-

baby sea tuna @ Apr 15th 2009 11:01AM

I agree with the FFVIII hate, but I still made it all the way through IX before I lost interest in the series. This might be the one to bring me back into the fold, though.

I wonder what kind of Achievements it'll have...

Jerk Face @ Apr 15th 2009 11:04AM

God, Final Fantasy 8 was so fucking terrible. The plot made me bleed from bad places.

wicko @ Apr 15th 2009 11:13AM

Meh, I actually liked FF8, and its junction system is probably my favourite turnbased system.

Night Elve @ Apr 15th 2009 11:18AM

Well at the end it's a matter of what you like.

For me FF8 was awesome, I love that game.

Nmaster @ Apr 15th 2009 11:24AM

FF8 was epic. FF7 was the failure.

None compare to FF6.

Erluti @ Apr 15th 2009 11:36AM

Final Fantasy is the spork of media. It's cinematics aren't as good as watching a good movie, it's scrolling text isn't as good as reading a good book, and it's role-playing isn't as good as a real role-playing game.

Eh @ Apr 15th 2009 11:44AM

FF8 would have been a million times better if the main story was about Laguna and his wife instead of that idiot squall and that desperate bitch rinoa.

harusame @ Apr 15th 2009 11:57AM

ITT we vote down people who don't unconditionally love all Final Fantasy games.

Katattack @ Apr 15th 2009 1:18PM

Both FFVII and FFVIII are good games. I like FFVIII's in-game graphics and junctioning system better than FFVII (actually I remember being blown away with FFVIII's graphics). Overall, I prefer FFVII because I enjoyed the storyline, sidequests (sneaky Yuffie), and villalns more than FFVIII. If FFXIII lives up to these two FFs, I'll be a very happy gamer.

343 Guilty Fart @ Apr 15th 2009 3:11PM

Wow, I've only ever played the first one for the NES.

Jinsenken @ Apr 15th 2009 4:19PM

FFVIII is my 2nd favorite FF game. (#1 being tactics)

Any RPG that lets you literally turn off random battles early in the game is awesome. (Diablo Guardian Force)

FFVIII gets bonus points for not really penalizing you for turning them off. (Just junction high level magic and you're characters become Gods)

shadowraya @ Apr 15th 2009 10:13AM

cannot wait until 2010...

wicko @ Apr 15th 2009 11:00AM

You do realize that most of those turn based RPG's had an active mode where it doesn't wait for your input? It's off by default. Theres also games like Legend of Dragoon, where you have to hit buttons at certain times to do combos and counterattacks. Also, calling it archiac is bullshit. Action RPG's have been around for a long time too. The earliest one I can think (that i've played) is Star Ocean for the SNES.

I just don't see the appeal to action RPGs. So, now you can run around and possibly dodge attacks? But now you basically control one person and rely on the AI to do things right (I know you can switch between characters but the AI still comes into play).

wicko @ Apr 15th 2009 11:01AM

WTF, replied to the wrong person.. sorry.

pete @ Apr 15th 2009 1:37PM

hey wicko, your reply does not apply here

Flit @ Apr 15th 2009 6:03PM

Wouldn't be a Turn based RPG without a Black guy who dances while he's waiting for his turn...

tmacairjordan87 @ Apr 15th 2009 10:13AM

The CG was nice, but it was nice in 12 and that game sucked. Then they got to the gameplay, and it was back to "oh wait for me to attack you then I'll wait for you". Really frustrating to see that archaic gameplay still there.

FNG @ Apr 15th 2009 10:29AM

I agree 100%. I was really hoping for something along the lines of a fable 2 like battle system with real time spells and such. not this take turns shit.

NoughtSoClever @ Apr 15th 2009 10:32AM

You want to talk about archaic gameplay, I can't believe they still make games where you run around, aim, and shoot at things!

tmacairjordan87 @ Apr 15th 2009 10:33AM

Granted, it's not AS turn based as it has been in the past but the bottom line is...it's still turn based which is a problem. Right now I'm not even going to rent this but I could see myself caving in the future and renting it if only just for the achievements on 360.

But if the gameplay stays like that I'm going to have a hard time forcing myself to stay interested enough to beat it.

Martin @ Apr 15th 2009 10:34AM

Don't worry, it won't be truly turn-based. Whiny turds like you ruined that for those of us that enjoyed it.

tmacairjordan87 @ Apr 15th 2009 10:42AM

Wow was the personal attack necessary martin?

I fail to see how anyone would WANT to play a true turn based game anymore. All it does is slow down the game to a crawl and there's no real strategy or skill to it. You're hardest action is pretty much "Hmm this guy's a fire element....I think I'll use an Ice spell! Damn I'm smart" Games have evolved past that now, and the japanese refusal to change has resulted in their downfall this generation.

wicko @ Apr 15th 2009 10:50AM

I actually prefer turnbased RPGs. There are plenty of action RPG's out there, go play those.

samfish @ Apr 15th 2009 10:56AM

Someday tmac might understand that his opinion =/= fact and that people play games for different reasons than him.

dgknight500 @ Apr 15th 2009 11:11AM

How exactly is this turn-based? Lightning can move around as long as there's some blue left in her meter, and seeing as it recharges constantly it doesnt seem like turn based.... maybe some sort of pseudo turn-based, but even that would be a stretch....

jarhead906 @ Apr 15th 2009 11:27AM

@dgknight

This does seem to be mostly turn-based combat. I don't think the player is actually moving Lightning around. The characters on screen are automatically moving according to what commands you give them, which is creating a more fluid cinematic combat scene.

I think the blue meter you're talking about is the meter that tells you when a specific character can perform their next [selected] move or technique.

dgknight500 @ Apr 15th 2009 11:48AM

I don;t think so. If you noticed at the second video Lightning walks backwards a tiny bit like someone was controlling her. Her meter was filled halfway. Then she did a backflip and attacked, strafed to the left (which looked like another user controlled input) and did a fire spell. The blue meter kept decreasing and increasing the whole time....

Draco @ Apr 15th 2009 12:07PM

No everyone wants to play Oblivion, some of us like turn based games, there can be just as much strategy if not more involved in a turn based RPG then any action RPG. I'm disappointed that FF is moving so far away from turn based, some of us enjoy the simple life of TBRPG.

Action RPGs are nothing more then third person shooters with swords hell not even that difference every time. I'm concerned S-RPG's are moving in the same direction, Valkery Chronicles you can get shot as you move so you need to walk properly before taking an action, sometimes you just want to tell your unit to attack.

tmacairjordan87 @ Apr 15th 2009 12:49PM

I'm not claiming it's fact, I just said I personally can't understand how anyone would want to have almost no control over their character anymore. To me, there's absolutely zero benefit to having a turn based system in this generation as all you do is select attacks from a menu. The people agree with me too, as mediocre jrpg after another get crushed by all the recent western rpgs. I know this will sell a lot though, just because it's FF and it's multiplatform now.

I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes the most traded in game ever though as people realize "Hey, I played this game with worse graphics 15 years ago".

MystileArmor @ Apr 15th 2009 1:06PM

What's next? You're gonna complain chess is outdated as well since it's turn based and they won't change the gameplay?

pete @ Apr 15th 2009 1:33PM

Kenny Powers Fastball (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Apr 15th 2009 1:49PM

I enjoy turn based strategy RPGs. This looks pretty damn good to me and can't wait until the PS3 version drops here in North America. Considering it's been the lead platform since day 1 and they are porting the 360 version after it's finished we shouldn't have shoddy ports on either console.

Final Fantasy 13, FF13 VS, White Knight Chronicles & Demons Souls are all going to make me a very happy panda in the not to distant future. I'm actually going to import Demon Souls because I found out the entire game is in English! WKC is coming out later this year here in the states and of FF13 has an option for english menus and subtitles I'll import that one as well.

If you think this style of gameplay is archaic then don't purchase the title. I don't really disagree with that ascertion but it won't take away from my enjoyment of the series. I'm not sure why everyone always has to be so negative this generation.

WPstart @ Apr 15th 2009 1:55PM

I agree that turn-based can slow things down. I really enjoyed Final Fantasy X-2's battle system as it may have been turn-based, but it definately wasn't slow.

HamalSharatan @ Apr 15th 2009 2:29PM

tmacairjordan87, like somebody else said, people like you have spoiled this type of game for those who enjoyed it. Turn based it's great. Have you ever played Magic the Gathering or say... Chess? Those types of games work great being turn-based, and so does role playing video games. There's no need to abandon turn-based, ever.

tmacairjordan87 @ Apr 15th 2009 2:35PM

Judging from what I watched "people like me" didn't change anything, as the japanese continue to ram their head into a wall and make the same jrpgs all the time despite continously shrinking sales.

I wish "people like me" changed something though. It's time for these stale games to evolve past the ps1 era. You people sound like the RE fanboys before 4 and now after 5 when the controls need to be changed again

Shagittarius @ Apr 15th 2009 3:55PM

The problem isn't that turn-based games have no strategy, the problem is that they removed the difficulty and strategic level required so all the knuckle draggers could beat it.

heyo007 @ Apr 15th 2009 4:01PM

@Samfish: Not bloody likely, man.

fulluphigh @ Apr 15th 2009 4:16PM

ohhh final fantasy fanboys.... will you ever come to realize how antiquated your gameplay is?

if i wanted a turn-based game with such a slow speed, ide be playing a board game with real people instead.

Have you ever heard of tabletop gaming? And tons of people play board games. Where the hell did you think the term video game came from? Table top, board games brought to life by video.

Considering how much fun, and how incredibly popular many turn based, non-video games are, I'd say you're retarded. No, that wouldn't be polite. I'd say your "opinion" is retarded. But you didn't really express an opinion. You just said "I don't like turn based video games. I like turn based board games." Which almost makes sense.

Wait...

And tmac keeps almost making a good arguement, but then keeps ruining it by acting like an idiot. There's no denying that the whole concept of a Turn based game is archaic. It's as old as the concept of Games themselves. He almost makes another valid point, starting to complain about having limited control over your characters movement, before whining about there be no strategy involved. I don't think I have to say anything else there...

Then of course, he goes on to insult Japanese developers for not changing up there formula, while over here Western developers have been churning out the same mother fucking football game for 17 damn years. And guess what. They still sell like hot cakes, because people still find them a blast to play. Same God damned reason people still love Turn based RPGs, as opposed to FPS's where you can level up.

*Sigh*

Mazrael @ Apr 15th 2009 4:46PM

for the person who said it...

PS3 may be the console it was built in mind for.. but it's actually developed on PC using Crystal Tools, then adjusted for the PS3..

Looking forward to this one.. starting with a train then a boss fight, it looks promising.. odd theory I know..Loved VII, VIII not so much... missed out on the rest since, cos my PSone died, And the only 'Playstation' I've picked up since was the PSP.. dunno if my friend is getting her own copy or just going to use mine, which means I'll be having to wait for her to complete a disc before I can play :/ good job I have a couple of RPGs I still need to beat in the mean time....

sk8monroe81 @ Apr 15th 2009 5:08PM

tmac-
they made a FF13 for you too.
its called ff13 versus.

square is a bit smarter than you claim them to be.
they are offering 2 versions of their game this time to support the likes of turn based and non-turn based fans.

if you dont like JRPG's then why all the talk about them?
JRPG's have pretty much been the same since day 1.
just now some of them are implementing action orientated gameplay strategies.
action RPGS and JRPG's are separate game genres.
and there are turn based JRPG's and action JRPG's.
fable 2 is an action RPG.

and i personally tend to find they both can be hard and easy.
it depends on the game, not on the battle style IMO>

pete @ Apr 15th 2009 9:34PM

@fulluphigh

no, videogames IMPROVED on the limitations of board games. hence the non-turn-based majority of videogames on the market.

"Considering how much fun, and how incredibly popular many turn based, non-video games are, I'd say you're retarded"

Did you even read what i said??? let me copy and paste it here for you.
"if i wanted a turn-based game with such a slow speed, ide be playing a board game with real people instead."

there you have it, RETARD, i would rather play a boardgame than this shitty attempt at improving on the boardgame itself.