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Why I'm Buying Final Fantasy XIII for the PS3
No, it's Not Because of Trophies
by Sarah
Next month, as you may or may not have heard every single goddamn day for weeks, Final Fantasy XIII will hit store shelves in North America after more than three years of waiting. For the first time ever, a core title in the Final Fantasy series will be available on multiple platforms at launch, providing gamers with both the PS3 and 360 a unique conundrum: which system to buy it for? In the past, it was easy. For over a decade, the games have been coming out on Sony consoles and only Sony consoles, with the occasional PC port during the PS1 generation. Before that, the Final Fantasy titles were released on Nintendo’s SNES and NES. Now we have a choice, and since the different console versions of FFXIII should be exactly the same, it will be interesting to see how multiplatform gamers make their decisions. I’ve already made mine: I’m buying Final Fantasy XIII for the PS3.
When Square Enix announced that FFXIII was coming to the Xbox 360 at E3 08, I know that some gamers were excited about the prospect of collecting Achievements for the RPG. I’m not an Achievement whore, though, and don’t tend to make buying decisions based on my Gamerscore. Don’t get me wrong, I care about Trophies even less than Achievements, but the prospect of a few hundred more Gamerpoints wasn’t enough to change my mind. In my head, I was already buying Final Fantasy XIII on the PS3. I had envisioned it, I had planned it, and when I bought my PS3 in 2007, part of the reason was knowing I would be prepared for Square Enix’s biggest franchise. Since I already planned to buy it on the PS3, there didn’t seem to be any real reason to do otherwise.
That doesn’t mean I didn’t waver at all when Squenix made that fateful announcement; I didn’t immediately dismiss the 360 version of the game. I briefly thought about switching over, and starting a new ritual. There was something else holding me back, though: tradition. My first Final Fantasy game was FFVII on the PS1, and since then I’ve bought every new title in the core series on launch day for either the PS1 or PS2. Why change now? I might as well just keep the tradition going. Sure, that loyalty might sound silly, or even hypocritical, considering I changed over to the 360 for GTA IV and Resident Evil 5. To me, though, Final Fantasy and the PlayStation have always been synonymous, and it can’t hurt to keep it that way.
No matter what version Square Enix sends for review purposes, I still want a copy for my own collection, and on March 9, I will be picking up a copy of Final Fantasy XIII on the PlayStation 3. It’s not about fanboyism, it’s not about Achievements vs. Trophies, and it’s not even about the fact that the 360 version comes on three discs. It really just boils down to tradition. For me, Final Fantasy is traditionally a series published on Sony platforms, and since the franchise has given me hundreds of hours of enjoyment on the PS1 and PS2, I decided to buy FFXIII for the PS3.
Comments
I agree completely with you. I, too, picked up my PS3 for upcoming Final Fantasy titles. (The other reason was White Knight Chronicles, since I saw that trailer before the system was even out yet.)
Good decision to stick with tradition on this one, Sarah. Good job!
Yea, I agree on the tradition bit. It just wouldn't feel right to use a 360 controller while playing a FF game.
i too will be picking up the game for the ps3, just because it feels right. also, i really enjoy my ps3, unlike some people i know. COOOP!
I'm buying it for the PS3 because;
a) One Blu-Ray instead of three DVDs
b) Tradition
c) I bought this damn $300 PS3, so I figure I should play something on it other than PS1 games and PAIN!
So, Veg, you're telling everyone that you waited until the ultimate price drop to get in on the PS3? Wow. At least you have one now. That's a good thing! As for Coop and his... unwillingness to accept that the PS3 is much more than a bluray player and heavy paper weight.
I did wait until it was as cheap (and as slim) as possible. As for the paperweight thing, for me, the PS3 is a Blu-Ray player and heavy paper weight that also plays Uncharted, God of War, and MLB: The Show, and allows me to browse the internet on my TV. I'm still not 100% on board, mostly because of the ridiculous update/download/install processes that end up taking up way too much of my gaming time, but I see the value.
That's really good. Thanks for hopping on!
I think I'm gonna play devil's advocate here and pick it up for the 360. Since there's NO difference in gameplay, graphics, or content, and I don't give a shit about controllers or tradition (no offense to those that do, I totally respect/understand your views), I figured I might as well boost my gamerscore, right?
I think that's fine, Tim.
Hey, how did I get pulled into this? I love my PS3, but, given the opportunity, prefer multiplatform games on the Xbox 360.
AKA, go screw yall selveses.
Thanks, Coop, for those warm wishes!
I stopped reading at GD. Come on lady, be more mature than that. There was a time wemon never cursed not that long ago.
@Smokey: Agreed. Mouth like a sailor, this one. Stupid wemon.
final fantasy 1-6 on nintendo systems, 7-12 on Sony systems and 13-18 on microsoft systems. Perfect 7 for each. Things change times change, who knows what will really happen in the future. I may get it on the 360 barring that it is totally terrible in that case I'll buy it on the PS3. I really hoping that there really is no difference between the 2, then everyone can just enjoy a great game.
Happy Gaming Yall
I mean 6 for each
I can't decide... I just can't do it.
When I go to EBgames... I'm going to flip a coin.
@ Kiz:
Don't go into the green! Don't go into the green! Three red lights await you! Nnnnooooooooooooo!