RPG Discussion (Formerly; Earthbound or Chrono Trigger?)

[water dog]

I hated that 'you learn abilities from the weapons you have!', what a pain.

uhh thats actually one of the best ability systems ive ever seen, though it owuld work better in an MMO.

FFXI...Haven't played it, but it borrows story elements from the classic series (crystal plotline, jobs) and some new stuff (like Gods)

lemme help you here

FFXI was made in conjunction with IX and X (tey were all being developed at the same time). FFIX was meant to go back to FFs roots before they continued to make more sci-fi garbage, FFX was meant to be the foundation for what they would be going for with future FFs, and XI was meant to be an MMO... which it was. FFXI, much like IX, touches back at the roots with having a very medieval feel with significantly more technological advancements. At first the plot was very bare-bones and yawn inducing but with the release of Rise of the Zilarts, the world was expanded so much more explaining all the odd structures you find while adventuring around the world and setting the basis for all the apocalypse stirring events. Chains of Promathea is proclaimed by players to have one of the best stories in FF history, it legitimately makes you feel like you have averted the apocalypse without throwing you in the position of the chosen one. Treasures of Aht Urgan and Wings of the Goddess were made more of expanding content (since CoP didn't add much content other than a GREAT story) but had cute little stories with them as well. WotG's cut scenes are beautiful though.

FFXIII...I have just started, the story seems deep, the characters aren't that bad but the fighting system so far is a joke (got 5 hours, still LOTS to go). Again, FF12 was "back to roots" (in a sense) and FF13 was a departure.

The characters are made pretty shallow on purpose-- Lightning is made cold and distant because...

Spoiler

... she develops her character along with Hope. Hope is shallow as well-- after seeing his mother die before his eyes he becomes a blind revenge machine. Yawn. Lightning and Hope become interesting characters when they are forced together. Lightning begins notice how much Hope is now like her and recognizes how stupid it is to act as a cold avenger. Slowly but surely she convinces Hope as well as herself that they need to let go of what was taken form them and become legitimate people with legitimate feelings. It's actually really cute, and at first I hated Lightning and Hope as characters but now they are 2 of my favorites.

That being said, Lightning was meant to be the female counterpart of Cloud, and she was at first. But she did the one thing Cloud failed to do-- develop any sort of character.