Review: Final Fantasy XIII (Playstation 3)

Final Fantasy XIII is the newest title in one of the most popular JRPG franchises in the world.  Available on the Playstation 3 and XBox 360, Final Fantasy XIII boasts a fast-paced battle system, massive summons, and new world to discover.  The only question now is: Is it any good?  Let's find out.  Grab your sword and get ready to save the world (again).

First Impressions: Final Fantasy XIII

Most JRPGs are slow to get going, that's why you always hear people say, "Don't worry, it gets good after that."  What other genre would we give such latitude to?  I personally give JRPGs 8 hours to hook me, if they haven't done it by then it's usually a good bet that they never will.  I've been playing Final Fantasy XIII for around 15 hours now and I'm ready to weigh in with a few thoughts (minor gameplay spoilers up through Palumpolum to follow):

The [Personal] History of Video Games: JRPGs

Final Fantasy VII made me a gamer.  No, it wasn't the first game I played, but it was the game that made me serious about playing them.  I remember being in awe of the TV Spots that were shown with its release, I had never seen such a thing, they seemed so epic (I probably shouldn't have shattered that illusion by looking them upon youtube).  The first time I played the game was in 1999 when I visited a friend who lived in North Carolina.  He didn't own the game, his brother did, and I spent a disproportionate amount of my two week vactaion trying to beat it.

Bioware and the Art of Sex

The problem with sex in video games is that more often than not it reinforces stereotypes about gamers.  Despite all the claims of maturity, sex is still primarily presented in an exploitive manner meant to titilate the prepubescent boy within.  I say 'boy' because games are still primarily marketed towards the male consumer (unless the pale skin of Kratos get you excited, I suppose).  Even when men are presented as objects of desire, the element of attraction is usually grounded in some aspect of the personality rather than physical appearance.  Look at the perspective male romances in Mass Effect 2: Two of them are aliens and, depending on your tastes, not particularly attractive ones at that.  Whether you find Jack or Tali attractive, it's hard to deny that their character designs have some degree of sex appeal.