Giant Bomb talks Final Fantasy XIII's combat system.

[Dodie16]

Sorry if this post seems a bit disjointed. I was typing stuff I was excited/intrigued about while watching the vid.

So you can choose who you want to lead your party? Like you could in XII? Awesome! Also, I'm liking that the characters are pretty much fully customizable, but I sort of wish you could still pick what type of weapon to give your characters, but I suppose that since the characters have thier own trademark weapons, it makes them have some more distinguishable characteristics about them. I'm not complaining.

The 3-d sphere grid looks a bit complicated, but I probably just have to get used to it first, just like I had to do in X. Once I got used to that though, I really liked it. Maybe since it's similar to X, I'll pick up on it faster in XIII.

The environments looks freaking gorgeous, and I'm glad that you can approach enemies on the field instead of random battles, that way you can just fight when you want to fight. One question: Can you move your lead character freely around the field or is everyone's movements in battle pretty much automatic? It might have been explained in the video and I just missed that part.

Ooohhh... I heard the part where that Brad guy said that the battles were pretty tough. He said that his party was defeated just from fighting the random monsters. Sounds like I'm going to be doing a lot of grinding in this game to get my characters' stats up so they can have a decent chance, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Well, I already told myself that I was picking up this game as soon as it was released, so I was already excited for it. Now, that I caught a glimpse at how the leveling works and how the battles flow, I'll say that my excitement has not dwindled in the slightest.

[Zargabaath]

So you can choose who you want to lead your party? Like you could in XII?

For the first half of the game the party leader is predetermined; I don't know if it is always the same character (that are available) every playthrough or that it (the game) can switch the lead up. Now, where the video showed is at a point when the player can choose their lead. If the lead is always the same for that segment I believe the developers did that so the player would get accustomed to the character - to perhaps create a bond with each character.

Also, I'm liking that the characters are pretty much fully customizable,...

As the guy said, uncertainly, there are set classes that each character has more affinity too and there is one class that the character has the most affinity out of all the classes. So while the player can have Hope be a "Commando", he is not a specialist at it.

One question: Can you move your lead character freely around the field or is everyone's movements in battle pretty much automatic? It might have been explained in the video and I just missed that part.

I don't believe it was explained and I am unsure about that as well, but I think the lead character's movements are automatic.

Ooohhh... I heard the part where that Brad guy said that the battles were pretty tough. He said that his party was defeated just from fighting the random monsters. Sounds like I'm going to be doing a lot of grinding in this game to get my characters' stats up so they can have a decent chance, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Yes, this game is about dying... frequently. I've seen many people perish at least 6 times against Odin and many other bosses and even at normal monsters - the developers have said that this is the hardest Final Fantasy, possibly excluding FF XI since that is another sub-genre.

Also, *snicker* *snicker* there are level caps or should I say Crystarium caps. While you can grind CP eventually you would need the next part of the Crystarium board unlocked which can only be done by advancing the story - this game focuses a lot on skill rather than overpowering.

[Alpha]

Also, *snicker* *snicker* there are level caps or should I say Crystarium caps. While you can grind CP eventually you would need the next part of the Crystarium board unlocked which can only be done by advancing the story - this game focuses a lot on skill rather than overpowering.

I think that's a really interesting idea. But I was kind of confused by just how much this Chystarium Board resembles the Sphere Grid.

Just looking at it, it looks like battle is too complicated. Numbers are flying at you from everywhere. I think I prefer my gaming relaxed, nice and slow, to chill out after a long day. If I have to think too much, enjoyment will have to go down. I'll still give it a shot, however.

[Che]

Best combat/leveling system to date in the series, by far.

[Ernest]

Best combat/leveling system to date in the series, by far.

Let's not jump the gun. He was a little vague on the roles of the non-controlled characters, despite his efforts.

It's a good video though.

Im getting worried due to a couple of websites (namely one GT editor who'd acquired the import) having negative feedback on the battle system, but then it was the same with XII, which rocked.

So yeah, should be good.