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A really long movie. Those zany Japanese developers really like making us sit through long winded (and usually nonsensical) cinematics, don’t they? Metal Gear Solid 4 and Bayonetta being the most recent examples of what I like to call ‘would you like a game to go with your movie?’ syndrome. Well, it seems as if Final Fantasy XIII will be setting the bar even higher with the announcement that FFXIII will contain around ten hours of cut scenes. That’s like, six films (or 2/3 the length of the longest film of all time. Seriously. Look it up.)
I’m sorry but that’s too long for me, especially when, if memory serves me correctly, most of these cinematics would have been much more enjoyable as playable moments. There were plenty scenes in MGS4 and Bayonetta, especially the latter, where I would’ve much rather had the option of actually playing the cinematic instead of sitting back and watching the action. Are we forgetting the point of video games? By the time the next generation arrives in all its motion-controlling glory will the average game have cinematics as long as any of the three games I mentioned above? I sure hope not.
Forgive me as I tend to rant about things that annoy me (don’t even get me started about horror games on the Wii), but since I have little desire to play FFXIII in the first place this really doesn’t apply to me in the first place. And before Final Fantasy Fanatics (now that has a ring to it) start angrily typing their replies to my dislike of the franchise, it’s the turn based combat that turns me off, the rest of the series is fantastic, I just can’t get past taking turns to fight.
Final Fantasy XIII releases on the PS3 and Xbox 360 on March 9th, 2010.
Article from Gamersyndrome.com
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I ruthlessly tear apart the English language by lending my "talents" to a handful of websites including Cheat Code Central, Game Zone and Bloody Disgusting, all while working on acquiring a degree in Video Game Design. Oh, and I'm also desperately searching for a social life. 
Is this news? or a reaaaaaally short feature. Maybe its my love of final fantasy, or my distain for people who kill a game off before they’ve played it, but this seems a truly pointless post.
Firstly, the 10 hours video time is only relative to what is 60hours of playthrough, so were talking about no more than 15% of the game being cutscenes. Thats relative to many, many video game titles. As you’ve pointed out, you’ve a distain for turn based combat as it is – it begs the question why your covering the game. Allow someone prepaired to give it a fair review the opertunity to cover the game.
Finally, how you can talk about a movie based video game without talking about Heavy Rain is beyond me.
I really dont mind 10 hours of movie time.. to liitle and people complain the game maker was lazy and to much people will complain again.. its a double edge sword
@hanmike: This is a news post with some of my opinion thrown in. If you don’t agree that’s your prerogative I was merely giving my opinion on what I consider to be an annoying trend in gaming. I also haven’t ‘killed the game off’, I merely think 10 hours of cinematics is too long regardless of the game’s length. I understand your need to defend a series you enjoy but relax, I’m not attacking FFXIII, I’m simply using the news that it’ll contain 10 hours of cinematics as an example of a growing trend.
As for why I’m covering the game, I’m a writer, which means I have to cover a lot of games, even ones I’m not terribly interested in. I’ve covered the game in the past numerous times without hating on it at all so I’ve given it a fair amount of nonjudgmental bias, this news just interested me.
Your point on Heavy Rain is moot seeing as the developers, Quantum Dream, wanted to make it less a game and more like an interactive film.
Did you hear that this game was rated the best game of all time by Famitsu readers?
Certainly a game to look forward to.
I heard the cutscenes were 25 hours long, I have a source as well. So many people putting out contradictory facts about this game on the internet!
I didn’t know that! I tend to agree with Famitsu’s scores so that certainly helps to get me more interested in checking it out. I just know that if I could get passed the combat that I would love the series because it truly is a gorgeous world they’ve created.
25 hours is insane, though I guess as long as they’re skippable it’s not a problem for people like me. I’ve heard varying reports on the amount of cinematics ranging from 8 to 40, if you can believe that. I tried to find the blog that reported on the latter amount but failed; there’s no way there can be 40 hours of cut scenes.
People would just waste away on their couches in a final fantasy-like trance, drooling about chocobos and what not.
Games that have the story unfold in the middle of the gameplay is the best way to go. Anyone that’s played MGS2 knows Olga having the odd monologue during her boss fight.
Sure, some gamer somewhere will bring down a bosses lifebar before they finish talking, but that’s easily remedied.
They better be Skippable though, remember Seymour’s first fight in FFX!? I nearly broke out champagne when I cleared him on my first attempt on an NSG challenge!