Im getting way late with my reviews, but this one required special attention because of the franchise that it is. anyway! lets get started.

3/5 Smilies!


Pros:
-Simply unbelievable graphics.
-Streamlined and more action rpg style battles.
-Ability to see your enemies before you actually have to fight them
-Deep storytelling expected of the final fantasy franchise.

Cons:
-the battle system doesn't really make you feel in control of your characters.
-There is rare to none npc interaction, though there are missions in towns, open free to roam areas are rare, and of those they are small.
- The leveling system is almost like final fantasy 7's famed level system, but without the diversity or depth.
-Theres not alot of ways to really make the characters your own.


The Good:
first off anyone that has seen the trailer or the commercials know just how pretty this game is. It is pretty much just like watching a movie, with very little difference between the cut-scenes and the actual game. Always a good thing. Now though it doesnt sound like a big update, the ability to see, flank, and attack your enemies at your leasure, (or not at all,) instead of just suddenly being thrown into a battle is a great change.
Lastly, and most importantly if your talking about this franchise, the story follows final fantasies steller reputation for story telling, and though it seems to follow the same old routine of final fantasy storytelling, it is done in a modern and fresh way, a great thing.

The Bad:
Unfortunately, there are bads to this game, most importantly, the battle system. The biggest selling point to why it took so long was that the battle system was revamped into a more action style. But...it really hasn't. Though people are running around all over the place making it seem like a real battle if you watch it, just playing it for a couple hours makes you realize its just a much more fast paced, open-ended turn based battle system. Not a horrid thing or even a negative, what makes it a negative is the fact that you don't really get to choose the actions your main character takes. You can technically do it, but because of how fast actions take place, you'll be using the auto action button pretty much all the time. Meaning you'll be watching all these great animations with not a lick of actual control.
Another iffy problem is that there isn't much going on other then the characters stories, no wandering, no npcs to really interact with other then killing them, its all fairly linear. In other franchises that can pass, in this one, where even the first wasn't at all linear, its almost sacrilegious.
The leveling system is also a minus, though it is set up so you have the specialize, in reality if you clear every enemy from every level you dont have to, and if you dont clear every level, the game is nigh unbeatable.
Similarly, the equipment has been streamlined to the bare minimum. Combined with the lack of decision making in the leveling, it just feels like these characters just are, instead of being able to be influenced by you in any real way.

The Ugly:
Though it looks like it doesn't deserve the three, in all reality everything you expect in and need in a final fantasy is here, deep stories, deep characters, and since final fantasy 7, trend setting graphics. Plus, though the negatives detract from the experience, they can easily be fixed. What is really disappointing is the gaming community has been waiting so long for this game, to be given something that doesn't really measure up. Granted, the standards for final fantasies are unbelievable, before this game for the most part they have met and surpassed those standards. This is one of those rare final fantasies that is just...ok.