Square Enix power hour

I haven't really had time to really play either of the games lately I have been prepping for my week in San Fran at GDC. However, I have played both of them enough to give my review on both of them in detail. I will try not to give away any spoilers if possible, but expect a few mishaps here and there.

Bravely Default:
This is Square Enix at its finest in the last couple of years. Ever since FFX-2 the entire franchise has slowly been wavering with the graphic department at its helm. Bravely Default forgoes all the hype of new graphical fidelity to return to true Square Enix roots. The art of storytelling and solid turn based combat. Bravely Default delivers wonderfully on all fronts, yes even graphically. 

The game delivers beautifully in story it created memorable characters all of which had one could emotionally commit to. Unlike the hollow characters of FFXIII, each of BD's character has depth and intrigue. While the story itself might be cliche and sort of overdone it is perfect for the genre of the game and the story it seeks to tell is masterfully written to hide as much of the boring old trope as much as possible. Of the 3 chapters I have played I have never found myself not absorbed by the atmosphere of the writing. It oozes of eastern cliches and tropes though, so western audiences might find it hard to relate at times.

I'll touch upon the musical score as well. It's pretty normal cookie cutter theme mixed with traditional FF style battle/boss music. But ever score is well composed and masterfully performed so that even in this tired age of repeating the same old stuff it feels fresh and welcoming.

Gameplay works solidly and wonderfully introducing a mix of new flavor into the old turn based style of combat. It delivers wonderfully with its pseudo ATB style combat giving fresh prespective on the word turn based, while not taking anything away. The brave system works wonderfully in combat. However, I wish Square had not introduced the Bravely Second function, while the usage can be obtained through regular gameplay an unnatural microtransaction system was implemented into the game that I felt was both detrimental to Square and its fanbase. It screams of the fact that Square wants more money and it feels horribly tacked on and an "easymode" to the game. Pacing is neither too fast or too slow and the amount of content you burn through is regulated nicely by the rebuilding of Norende.

FFXIII: Lightning Returns

The counter opposite to what everything Bravely Default stands for Lightning Returns is a masquerade of a good game. Certainly combat was successfully implemented but the focus on all of the new systems completely drained the game of any other polish. 

The combat system feels fresh and new and while it draws upon the old ATB charge style. It doesn't feel slow or clumsy. However, Final Fantasy has always been about the story of a group. Not one person, the combat system isolates Lightning and complete degrades what value main characters like Snow and Hope. Sure the schemata system helps to alleviate the problems of not having a squad for combat. But, it is also what kills it. Instead of being a strategy game of planning when to properly execute big combos. The game feels reactionary style of switching between "dresses." It feels like a revamped version of FFX-2's dress spheres. I didn't like that system to begin with so this opinion is biased; however, I feel it doesn't lend itself to telling a story of struggles. 

The story may perhaps be the aspect that suffered most. Connections built in the other games have been completely shattered and any semblance of a deep character Lightning was is completely crushed in this version of the series. In an effort to push out yet another game with the titles of "Final Fantasy" Square has destroyed what those of us loved about the franchise.

Musical scores all still well composed thankfully. However, sound effects such as walking on water or metal feels incredibly artificial as its a looped one sound montone. Normally a good sound effects track will loop between 2-4 sound clips to produce a realistc reconstruction of what it might be like to listen to people walking on streets, etc... but FFXIII: :LR fails to deliver in immersion of the character and the world thus making the game feel artificial.


As a wrap up I personally would like to ask Square to move in the direction of Bravely Default. well told stories even if they're not of traditional the FF franchise just suit Square so much better. It doesn't hurt to try new things. But, I'd ask them to get a competent team of story writers before attempting any future changes to the long running franchise. I hope you've enjoyed my return to reviewing with this special double feature review.