Same here. Without XV, I would have thought Final Fantasy would be the next Sonic style series, where it still exists as a shadow of it's former self (pun intended).
-
Ever wanted an RSS feed of all your favorite gaming news sites? Go check out our new Gaming Headlines feed! Read more about it here.
Fabula Nova Crystallis Showdown: Final Fantasy XIII vs Final Fantasy XV - which mismanaged project ended up being the better one?
- Thread starter Samiya
- Start date
- Square Enix
Same here. Without XV, I would have thought Final Fantasy would be the next Sonic style series, where it still exists as a shadow of it's former self (pun intended).
It's XIII for me. Once the battle system opens up, which tbf does take a minute, it's such a joy to play. It also just feels like a more cohesive, less compromised experience overall. Even after all its changes over the years FFXV is still very Hodgepodge: The Video Game.
XIII I only played for the first time last year, need to return to it but really enjoyed the combat system, unlike XV's. I will say though despite the internet raging about both games, I find them both "fine" - don't really have any strong sentiments either way. XIII has great music though.
FFXIII gets my vote. Those games are better overall IMO.
The combat in XV is not good for me. It's repetitive and bland and the item system takes any and all challenge out of the game. The fishing in the game was the part about the game I enjoyed the most. It shouldn't be that way.
The combat in XV is not good for me. It's repetitive and bland and the item system takes any and all challenge out of the game. The fishing in the game was the part about the game I enjoyed the most. It shouldn't be that way.
i haven't played 15 yet so i'll have to get back to you after i do
i'm currently playing type-0 and it is definitely a lot worse than 13
i'm currently playing type-0 and it is definitely a lot worse than 13
As a Trilogy, 13 by far. It wraps up nicely too.
As a single game, kinda just barely XV. The Journey is fun, even if filled with holes.
As a single game, kinda just barely XV. The Journey is fun, even if filled with holes.
The actual open world design and side quest progression I find to be rather underwhelming.
I also think it was kind of an odd design choice where you can wind up locked out of banter between the characters if you stay in lodging rather than camping while staying in lodging gives you far more experience boosts.
Initially I really disliked my time with FFXIII. I didn't get too far but made it about 10 hours in, and thought the battle system was boring as hell, story was incredibly meh and of course the linearity.
But then I decided to try it again a few weeks ago and man, my opinion changed. I went from disliking it to absolutely hating it. That game is shit.
FFXV wins out just because I haven't played it and it doesn't upset me.
But then I decided to try it again a few weeks ago and man, my opinion changed. I went from disliking it to absolutely hating it. That game is shit.
FFXV wins out just because I haven't played it and it doesn't upset me.
I love 13's combat, but I'm surprised it so close because I assumed everyone hated the series. lol
I don't understand how can the polls be so close. Final Fantasy XIII only has the combat going for it. Oh, and Lightning is shoved down our throats for a generation. Final Fantasy XV has a better story even if parts are skipped. Its more coherent than I'Cle in XIII. XV is just way better than XIII even with its shortcomings. Not even close.
I mean it's a popularity contest between the finished and polished not particularly great game and the unfinished and unpolished somewhat better game.
Personally, I'd probably go with XV by itself but as a trilogy XIII is just so much more fun but also not really fair to compare. XIII-2 is a refinement of already amazing combat, wonderful music, a shitton of side content and a cool villain at the expense of narrative. Lightning Strikes Thrice feels like a valkyrie profile game mixed with majoras mask and a killer combat system, and also somehow manages to do diversity in environment and small but dense open worlds better than anything in XV despite being extremely budget.
I found XV the most enjoyable when I was thinking about what it could have been rather than what it is. I also think people forget how barren and devoid of content the base game was before all the DLC, extra missions and collabs, story scenes, royal edition and episode ardyn was. What it was sold as vs. what it actually was was not so dissimilar from the cyberpunk 2077 fiasco. Basically not one shot of footage from trailers as close as a year or so out from launch ended up in the game and the dev team kept putting out CG concept trailers (right before launch!!) making the story out to be something radically different from what ended up in the game. The final product was a hot mess with some redeeming elements and a charming main cast sprinkled in there, but in many ways felt like a step back from the cohesiveness and polish of not only XIII but both of its sequels.
So its very much a pick your poison kind of poll, with I'd guess a lot of people picking the game they didn't hate as much lol. It's so depressing to think that between XIII trilogy, XV, type 0 it was a solid decade plus of just incredibly compromised games in one way or another. Except for XIV 2.0+ I guess.
With a few years to think about it and even try to revisit both games, I'm gonna say XIII and the script used to be flipped at the time XV came out.
When XV came out, I personally celebrated it as "FF's return to form." Now, to be honest, I did really enjoy my time with XV at launch, but ever since I finished it, it's been incredibly hard to go back and enjoy it again (and I've tried, as mid-gen console updates rolled out, as PC version launched), etc... Also, its obvious incompletion (relying on a movie to tell big parts of the narrative, for instance) has only ended up being more and more disappointing in the long run for me. I don't HATE XV, but my viewpoint of it has cooled greatly since.
Now, I only thought of XV as the "return to form" because upon first contact, I loathed both XIII and XIV 1.0. I played and enjoyed XIV 2.0 for just a few months but not enough to kinda credit it with "restoring" Final Fantasy to good graces.
However, upon revisiting XIII and kind of going through a lot of attitude and perspective changes around what I expect from a game, nevermind a game bearing the name Final Fantasy, since my first contact with it, it's... Not horrible. Like, it's still probably my least favorite number-bearing FF game, but I don't think it's bad anymore. If they could have gracefully introduced the entire suite of mechanics much earlier and perhaps not tried to tell a story in such a scattershot manner, I think I'd feel a lot better (those aspects of the game still kinda drag it down for me), but since its initial release, I've revisited it and followed conversations from people who liked it to begin with and I'm convinced that it's a much better game than I initially gave it credit for, even if it doesn't quite stand out to me as one of the best FF games in the series.
When XV came out, I personally celebrated it as "FF's return to form." Now, to be honest, I did really enjoy my time with XV at launch, but ever since I finished it, it's been incredibly hard to go back and enjoy it again (and I've tried, as mid-gen console updates rolled out, as PC version launched), etc... Also, its obvious incompletion (relying on a movie to tell big parts of the narrative, for instance) has only ended up being more and more disappointing in the long run for me. I don't HATE XV, but my viewpoint of it has cooled greatly since.
Now, I only thought of XV as the "return to form" because upon first contact, I loathed both XIII and XIV 1.0. I played and enjoyed XIV 2.0 for just a few months but not enough to kinda credit it with "restoring" Final Fantasy to good graces.
However, upon revisiting XIII and kind of going through a lot of attitude and perspective changes around what I expect from a game, nevermind a game bearing the name Final Fantasy, since my first contact with it, it's... Not horrible. Like, it's still probably my least favorite number-bearing FF game, but I don't think it's bad anymore. If they could have gracefully introduced the entire suite of mechanics much earlier and perhaps not tried to tell a story in such a scattershot manner, I think I'd feel a lot better (those aspects of the game still kinda drag it down for me), but since its initial release, I've revisited it and followed conversations from people who liked it to begin with and I'm convinced that it's a much better game than I initially gave it credit for, even if it doesn't quite stand out to me as one of the best FF games in the series.
Yeah it's weird. I guess XIII-2 and XV post launch is probably the only fair comparison? lol
Maybe a fairer poll would be which game had the weirder ending. lol
XV by far. The story wasn't great or even told well after all the hype but at least it has a more interesting world, less cringe worthy cast and minimal bullshit. I also highly commend them for sticking with the game and fixing it for free, including the story. I will be replaying it down the line.
XIII is the reason I fell off Final Fantasy, and then they had the audacity to make 2 more sequels.
XIII is the reason I fell off Final Fantasy, and then they had the audacity to make 2 more sequels.
I was actually able to finish XV, so that one wins for me...but both were deeply disappointing in their own ways.
Both trash but FFXIII was absolutely soulless. Lightning is the dullest main FF character ever and being given 3 games is…wow. Her amazingly cool design only highlights how dull she really is.
FFXV just felt like something that has more heart, even if it was still bad.
God damn I really hope FFXVI is a return to form because FF has not been it for a while.
FFXV just felt like something that has more heart, even if it was still bad.
God damn I really hope FFXVI is a return to form because FF has not been it for a while.
I finished 13. Finished 13-2. Lightning is an awesome character.
I didn't finish 15. 15 felt like an empty version of an Assasins Creed game.
13 got my vote.
I didn't finish 15. 15 felt like an empty version of an Assasins Creed game.
13 got my vote.
There were aspects of FF15 I really liked, and the game was beautiful.
But man, even now I couldn't tell you what the fuck was going on in that game, such a convoluted mess of a story.
13 was no A Tale of Two Cities, but at least I knew what was happening.
But man, even now I couldn't tell you what the fuck was going on in that game, such a convoluted mess of a story.
13 was no A Tale of Two Cities, but at least I knew what was happening.
I'll have to give it to XIII, XV's obvious missing chunks of gameplay, environments, and story is something I cannot accept.
FF15 for me. It's an unfinished mess of a game, but I at least gave a shit about it's cast of characters and could relate to them along the playthrough. It also isn't bogged down with a bunch of nonsensical terminology and things dumped into data logs (even though big events happened off screen).
The game world also at least feels like it's alive in some way. FF13 was like...hallway after hallway leading up to an open field, and then back to hallways, with basically no interaction with any lifeform outside of the main cast (and Cid's crew I guess, but it's been so long that I'm fuzzy on that).
More than anything, I despise FF13's combat system. I could probably stomach everything else about the game if the combat system was good, but it has to be one of the worst RPG battle systems I've experienced, especially considering the way it's drip fed to you through the playthrough.
The game world also at least feels like it's alive in some way. FF13 was like...hallway after hallway leading up to an open field, and then back to hallways, with basically no interaction with any lifeform outside of the main cast (and Cid's crew I guess, but it's been so long that I'm fuzzy on that).
More than anything, I despise FF13's combat system. I could probably stomach everything else about the game if the combat system was good, but it has to be one of the worst RPG battle systems I've experienced, especially considering the way it's drip fed to you through the playthrough.
I don't really like Final Fantasy XIII, but I completely hate Final Fantasy XV, so I voted for FFXIII as the "better" game.
In FFXIII, the story and characters are trash, to the point that they almost enter "so bad it's good" territory; the combat, while not for me, is competently made, but it takes way too long (like, 25 hours into the game) for the player to have full control over the battle system, and that's just indefensible.
In FFXV, the story is somehow even worse, since it's poorly developed, has lame characters, and now Square asks the player to get DLC and watch a movie and anime on top of everything else. The combat in the game is horrendous and totally brainless, one of the worst systems I've seen in any action RPG. While I thought the tunnels in FFXIII were bad, it turns out I find the tunnels far preferable to the boring emptiness of FFXV's open world.
In FFXIII, the story and characters are trash, to the point that they almost enter "so bad it's good" territory; the combat, while not for me, is competently made, but it takes way too long (like, 25 hours into the game) for the player to have full control over the battle system, and that's just indefensible.
In FFXV, the story is somehow even worse, since it's poorly developed, has lame characters, and now Square asks the player to get DLC and watch a movie and anime on top of everything else. The combat in the game is horrendous and totally brainless, one of the worst systems I've seen in any action RPG. While I thought the tunnels in FFXIII were bad, it turns out I find the tunnels far preferable to the boring emptiness of FFXV's open world.
FFXIII is more polished. But the core just isn't particularly compelling.
FFXV is far less polished with significantly more ups, IMO.
FFXV is far less polished with significantly more ups, IMO.
This is pretty accurate tbh, I don't think FFXV is particularly great...but I have a serious dislike of the FFXIII trilogy (FFXIII-2 was actually alright I guess).
I'm going to say XV, but only because I went into that with the expectation that "It's probably going to be awful". With XIII, however, I bought a PS3 solely for that game (Even though 12 is dogshit and you can't convince me otherwise) and it pretty much turned me off a franchise I'd loved for years.
XIII felt so soulless except Vanille and Sazh. At least the Chocobros have fun interactions and the first half of the game is genuinely fun.
XIII may be a more complete and competent end to end product but I enjoyed FFXV way more despite its glaring flaws.
XIII may be a more complete and competent end to end product but I enjoyed FFXV way more despite its glaring flaws.
I unabashedly love FFXV. One of my favorite games of last gen. I spent so much time wandering around its world.
FFXIII was alright, but the story and pacing made it a bit of a slog. A beautiful slog.
I only played a bit of XIII-2, and never touched Lightning Returns.
FFXIII was alright, but the story and pacing made it a bit of a slog. A beautiful slog.
I only played a bit of XIII-2, and never touched Lightning Returns.
Last edited:
Honestly, it just makes me happy to see XIII get love these days. Four years ago, the poll would have been much more in XV's favor.
Yea same. At least for the most part but i enjoyed teh other characters for what they were but Vanille and Sazh had a lot of good concepts to work with as far as their arcs went even though most people just couldn't stand Vanille's VA direction which was never an issue for me but I totally get if it was for others.
Played through both games two times and XIII is a better game overall. XIII-2 is one of my favorite games in the series.
I didn't enjoy XV when I played for the first time but I had a good time with it on my second playthrough when they finished releasing all the content.
I didn't enjoy XV when I played for the first time but I had a good time with it on my second playthrough when they finished releasing all the content.
Despite some rough edges, and the fact that the latter half of the game was clearly rushed, FFXV's overall concept clicked super well with me; a road trip with the boys. I really liked the cast, the battle system was super fun, and the music was outstanding. The photo mode was such a nice little addition too - especially with how it helps build even more of that "road trip" feeling.
FFXIII was....just kind of a mess. Beautiful looking game with a helluva soundtrack, but that story was all over the damn place and I wasn't a huge fan of the paradigm system.
FFXIII was....just kind of a mess. Beautiful looking game with a helluva soundtrack, but that story was all over the damn place and I wasn't a huge fan of the paradigm system.
FFXV was incomplete and structured awfully. However, I did have fun with it at certain points and finished it.
FFXIII was a slog that when it finally opened up and let you use the battle system, I just didn't care anymore.
So FFXV but that's not a ringing endorsement.
FFXIII was a slog that when it finally opened up and let you use the battle system, I just didn't care anymore.
So FFXV but that's not a ringing endorsement.
Yeah FFXV was a fun ride but no replay value for me. Also, after 80 hours I still do not know what exactly was going on, with random important looking characters popping up here an there.
FF13's story was fascinating once you get into it. Surprisingly the endgame stuff was very fun, e.g. 5 star all hunts etc.
Both are bad. I hope they don't make one of those ever again.
FF13's story was fascinating once you get into it. Surprisingly the endgame stuff was very fun, e.g. 5 star all hunts etc.
Both are bad. I hope they don't make one of those ever again.
While FFXV is nowhere near perfect, it was atleast an enjoyable experience with the right expectations. FFXIII is a disaster.