Notes appreciated, and in counter to it, the numbers I tossed were based on overall opinion of the game for what it is, not in comparison to say... Final Fantasy VII or XII. Alot of my actual feelings on the game do reflect previous Final Fantasy games from SquareEnix, that has been traditional with FF fans. The old debate about the best FF game wouldn't exist otherwise. Comparing the battle system of VII to Tactics is the same as comparing VII to Crisis Core. It's not the same, but both VII and Tactics are in my top 4 FF games.
My biggest issue does remain the battle system. The targeting is somewhat random, and doesn't always stay in place. I more or less find the battle system like a sloppy action game, that had good intent, but has bugs that need to be worked out. Still, I'm playing it, and enjoying it for what it is. My future opinion of RPGs from SE could quite easily change in the future if this is any hint to it.
Gameplay, 7, why? Well, it's good, but it's not great. It's perhaps slightly above the average button masher action game in respects that it has multiple elements to it. Getting around is really no change from VII, other than the world system with slightly reflects XII more than VII, but it's easily to use. However, the targeting is bad, and the system of switching through actions can be troublesome, ESPECIALLY when selecting items in a battle. pausing the battle to allow selecting an item, would have definately allowed it an 8. The materia system remains very familiar, almost unchanged. You can call it lack of innovation, or sticking to the roots. The DMW can get a little bothersome too as it constantly comes up giving you these action scenes which you can't skip. Watching them time and time again is kind of dull.
Graphics I need not explain, they're great, SquareEnix is general is good about that, and I am indeed impressed with what they've done.
The music a 7, why? Remember how the music of Devil May Cry 4 was repetitive? Well, this is the same, but it's much more bland imo. Not comparing it to DMC4 really, but my point is that the music grows old quickly. There's very little change, and the battle music makes me want to turn the sound off after a while! Still some of it is good, even if it is reworked versions of what Uematsu did.
Acting, a 6. Deserved it. Most characters sound like a telemarketer reading a script. It's emotionless other than Zack at times, and there's just no feeling between the voice acting and the characters. Still... I've seen worse... Much worse.
Story a 7. It's good, entertaining, but it's not classic. Above average, but not something to give an award to.
Now if I was comparing this to say... Final Fantasy VII.
Gameplay: 3 (omg, real time! Where's my party?)
Graphics: 10 (crushed VII with an iron fist)
Music: 6 (continued music, FF battle music missing)
Acting: N/A (no acting in FF VII)
Story: 2 (what, I'm the bad guy now?!?)
Lastly, in my defense, my comments before I tossed any numbers...
Quote:
|
Overall, while I can slap SquareEnix for making a game that doesn't feel very much like an RPG, I have to hold back because historically, each game is always fairly unique. I suppose people are more interested in real time button mashers, and SE might just gain a whole new crowd with CRISIS CORE. Fortunately, I beat the life out of Devil May Cry 4 shortly after it was released, and took some of the rust of my button mashing skills, and got a little current experience with action games. I don't feel overwhelmed, but it's a big change in the way Final Fantasy feels.
|
Regardless, from somebody who does this 100x more than I do, feedback is appreciated in all respects. Without feedback of any kind, there would be little opening for progression.
If it will sway my wording in the future, I cannot say, but I do understand what you meant. Undeniable though, many FFVII fans would have thought this to follow in the footsteps of VII, but it doesn't. It is as agreed, a completely different kind of game.