Lightning Returns GS Review - 5

A 5 is for a game that is mediocre while a 7 would be for a good game. Looking at metacritic they really aren't much of an outlier

So you just like to make up your own scores ?

So do I :P

Uh Huh? Most games are in development long before you hear of them. I don't think the story is the main criticism of the games anyway....so what does it matter if they want a three game story?

They could have crafted another story but had the same problems.

get ready for one of the worst endings ever, the writing in the whole trilogy it's so painful to listen and read, I MEAN WTF?!

wow what a shocker, more trash from japanese development that lost almost all relevance 15 years ago and is chugging along on reputation and one good game every 2 or three years.

I wasn't talking about just one game. Anyway....if other sites are saying 7....then one site saying 5 shouldn't be the defining score. I don't go by review scores anyway.....I think it's silly...but I've always found GS scores to be suspect.

We all do. I've felt for years that GS over-rates console shooter rehashes and sometimes under-rates JRPGs. Guess it all depends on one's own personal preferences and previous experiences.

And to think I even considered making an hype thread.

Yes but other sites are saying 60, and 50, and 40 as well. Just saying they aren't too far out there. The average at the moment is 68, so yes it seems close to a 7 game though Metacritic doesn't do a straight average they use some weird weighting system

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAhahahaha and Rightfully so.

Lightning is a TERRIBLE character, HORRIBLY monotone with NO Emotion. The crappy score is perfect for what she is, CRAP lol

@princessgomez92 Where you at? Lol Dodging this thread huh? Normally you'd be all in these threads but it seems you're awol on this one for some reason lol

Rofl, rofl, just rofl.

Hmm, not sure I get what you're saying on the first point. I understand that games are often in development before they are announced. Oddly enough, this wasn't the case with FFXIII as they didn't even have the engine up and running until a couple of years after the first trailer. XIII-2 and 3 certainly weren't under development when they announced Fabula Nova Crystallis. That's all beside the point though. They confirmed that they would be milking this universe years before the first game was even in full on production. At least they warned I guess lol.

And yeah, I didn't want to go into full rant mode and break down every poor aspect. The story isn't the only criticism, though it is a major one.

All I'm really saying is that they thought they had some hot shit on their hands before the first damn game was even in full swing production. And instead of a different course of action after the not so great reception, they just continued to try and make this XIII stuff work. They even made excuses for almost a year after XIII released instead of just sucking it up and moving on. They had this artsy "you don't understand our vision!" attitude towards critics and gamers alike.

eh if your just going soly by the negative opinions then yea sure.

No, because this one was reviewed by Kevin. So it stands as a 5 Game.

But JRPGs have barely evolved this gen, or made changes for the better.

Hmmm, the same could be said for online shooters as well, lol

The only JRPG that looks interesting to me though is Ni No Kuni and that did pretty well on this site if I remember correctly. But you are right, you can't live your gaming life by copying other people's opinions (i.e. scores) there will always be differences. And anything with hype or a huge marketing budget is sure to get a good score without question. Because game reviewers get swag, or a launch party or doritos or something.

You forgot about the Kevin/Carolyn factor...

Nope, not negative opinions, not even opinions. It's fact. Lightning is an emotionless uncreative character. Find a spot where Lightning actually had some emotion or character. I'll wait

I read articles and reviews about FF all the time. I try to like it. But everytime I try, its JRPG, emo, crap.

Couldn't agree more... like seriously... we need a new Parasite Eve and Brave Fencer Mushashi

No because carolyn would have rated it higher because it's a female protagonist, I actually think Kevin is the only worthy reviewer in this site who's spot on.

That went right over your head. No need to duck.

Or Chrono...

Who knows, it might be a good thing. They'd probably take these old IPs and turn them into something un-recognizable. Just put out any kind of trash and slap a classic name on it.

Finally, we can put this trilogy behind us.

Over a 15 point Metacritic gap between Bravely Default and Lightning Returns. Hopefully the sales reflect that and Square finally gets the message.

True.... thought a lot of people loved it they did kept tomb Raider away from it's original game genre.

doesint matter what I put your going to disagree regardless.Lighting is restrained when it comes to full on emotion though I saw she did care about her sister.

we did get a new parasite eve with some great gameplay.The story was crap however.

Yeah, SE seems great as a publisher. It's their internal developments that seem to be coming up short. Maybe now that this XIII stuff is behind us there might be better days ahead. I like to think that they just had a weak gen and they'll be back on the ball soon.

lol at FFXIII and its pointless sequels.

Meanwhile I am enjoying Bravely Default a lot (even with its bad voice acting).

Can they please move on from the XIII games then?

Technically we still have one more game coming, just re-branded as FFXV lol.

At least it's only loosely based in the same universe according to SE. Plus different director, play style and all that. Still looks like shit to me, but I'm willing to wait and see how it turns out before completely disregarding it.

Not sure why they even bothered making two sequels to ff13 when the reception was mediocre at best.

And when people were begging for ffv13, they pushed it back for almost a decade.

It's like they're actively trying to piss off their fans.

@nini200:

Me, I was just playing games.

People someone hit the nail on the head. Imagine a new chrono trigger. With great graphics and a time travel element. Instead what do we get? The least adventurous RPG of all time, with the most miserable characters. Three times over. Thanks SE.

No, if you can show me a moment where Lightning actually had emotion, I'll actually sort of stop my dislike for the character as much. Thing is, you can't find such a moment.

@Bigboi500: So if it's a 7 it magically becomes a 9 but if it's an 8 it stays at 8. Right that's not confusing.

Well, um, you should get mad >.<

I have to say as bad as Lightning it as a character (and she is, she's awful.) she's not even the third worst in this series. That's how colossally bad it is. Hope is the worst. Christ. Hope, Vanille, that sister of hers. Who the **** wrote this? Stephanie Meyer?

I was about to say don't forget Snow... but I guess I should really just say don't forget everyone, because pretty much everyone sucked.

@ConanTheStoner: I had forgotten Snow. Ever existed. Not a good sign.

Now the question is will FF 15 end up being good or bad? It's funny how the Enix part is still good with the Dragon Quest games but the Square part is terrible with the Final Fantasy games though it could be because the creator of Dragon Quest is still working on them while the FF creator left a long time ago.

Knack? Expose? the game had no hype and most people werent interested.

Ryse on the other hand was being hyped and claimed to be AAAE.

Nah, I don't care about scores.

And since we're talking about Metacritic as well, there's also scores in the 80's. Just saying.

i'll get it from the bargain bin

A: I'm joking. Lighten up.

B: Ryse's hype was as fake as Lightning's boobjob in this game. You wanna count a few lems boasting about Ryse's visuals. Then you might as well take the cows that went all "cerny's on board!!!!" during Knack's previews as true hype.

If you want to play a JRPG you would like, try Persona.

I expected a 5 or 6 and got exactly that. This game is better than Ryse tho!

Which is exactly why I fear XV may well be even worse than XIII. The 5/10 score for Lightning Returns doesn't surprise me at all, in fact I thought it may well have been lower than that.

@charizard1605: is the vita one ok? my other buddy, from LI who has the X1 and PS4 and every other console ever fvckin made, said download, chronotrigger for vita.

what are you talking about? RYSE was been hyped AAAE for about a year lems were supremely confident about it being an XBOX One exclusive that would reach AAA status the fastest across the board.

There were hype threads claiming it.

Yeah I have a feeling that game will be crap too from what I've seen.

Square just can't seem to recapture the magic these days, they're trying too hard to fit in with the rest of the world instead of doing what made their games great