Eoghan & Cathy Civ 4 EXTRAVAGANZA

Love/hate #26 Final Fantasy XIII on Steam (updates)

Here we go. I bought FF13 on the 360 when it came out in the tender spring of 2010, I was barely 18. First purchase on release probably ever, or at least since N64 games came out. I think I got Majora's Mask on release, back in 2000 or whenever that was!

Anyway, FF13. I played it for maybe a month and got to maybe Chapter 6 or 7. I cannae recall but there was a load of Behemoths I think and the difficulty had plateaud. I was not enjoying it but a few of the soundtracks were staples of mine in work study and play for years afterward, to this day. So, super linear, no NPCs, no hope, stuck before a particular boss and just not enjoying it I abandoned FF13. I think I briefly picked it up once or twice in the intervening years but 2010 was the last time I played it properly... until now!

I will be following a guide I published to complete this monstrosity and go back to FF10 and get the 100% in that. Clear FF13, clear FF10, maybe clear FFX-2 and FF9 (some few achievements left in that) THEN I will allow myself to play Final Fantasy XV, da boyz driving a car about. Maybe if I grow to like FF13 somehow I will pick up the sequels. And then, one day, the FF7 remake, when it eventually gets onto PC.

I actually don't mind the auto-battle too much. It's not too far removed from previosu series' entries really, where I prefer to whale on enemies anyway. FF7? Attack. Mime. Summon. FF8? Attack. Renzokuken. FF9? All melee users. FF10? Wakka Tidus Auron. FF12? Auto battle anyway.

These are the worst. The worst characters are in this (so far) but there is hope (not Hope, screw that guy).

It looks so fucking good. I love Lightning, what a badass.

After reading a few guides, the Paradigms and auto battling makes a bit more sense. Weaker ravagers do higher chain damage, allowing for Commandoes etc to do more damage when the enemies are staggered. Not exactly looking forward to the next few chapters of tutorial but maybe this playthrough I will make it to the 'amazing' Chapter 10 where everything opens up.

Main party is Lightning-Snow-Vanille for the moment but Snow just left to stay and try and dig out his fiance who was turned into a giant crystal. Japan.

Some pretty good, seamless shifts between gameplay and movies. FF10 was funny in that it had like three different 'levels' of graphics for cut scenes and regular gameplay. FF12 had two, maybe. This one looks good throughout.

So it's going pretty well so far. Should be able to bag all 35 achievements or very close to that in one run. Hopefully. Apparently all but 7 are easy to get, those remaining 7 require special attention. But apparently nothing is 'missable' and there are no obnoxious 'kill 1000000 enemies' or anything like in the original FF8 release on Steam.

First game over, of many probably. It's not 'hard' so far, it's more just getting a hang of paradigm shifts and timing.

It's growing on me. A bit.

I do like trying to ambush enemies for sweet, sweet stagger.

Libra, stagger, Commando Ravagers... Later, Saboteurs and Syngergists (the trick to keeping up good battles).

Yeah babe, knock him out. Snow being beaten up is great.

The boss.

Ah yes, The Space Pope. Can't wait to murder him again.

I do like the more recent FF turn toward being super Japanese and futuristic.

It's Sazh time. I actually like Sazh but this guide I'm following has him rated pretty low (I guess because he only has 'support' roles).

It's growing on me. Maybe it's the guide, maybe it's the fairly likeable voice actor cast, flaws of the characters and all.

A linear tube. Haven't seen one yet in this game.. ha

I don't remember playing this in 2010. But it was fun.

It's all about the paradigms. Timing. Stagger. The right role at the right time. Don't be afraid to use support roles when needed. Learning the enemy, even if it's just Libra Libra Libra.

Her one is less dumb than Snow's.

Is Sazh me? I don't care if he isn't in the top tier, I like him and especially like his gun akimbo.

Punchable enemy #2? Is this the first evil Cid?

The 13 days...

It's Hope time... he actually didn't embarrass himself.

OK all these do add a lot to the main quest.

Ugh.

This was a nice culmination of everything. Fully levelled up, getting the hang of paradigms, etc. Didn't get a good rating as I mistimed the stagger twice and timed out but oh well. Didn't have to retry.

THIS I remember. The Sunleth Waterscape is a tune I have listened to since 2010 so we're on track.