The latest Final Fantasy and the first on this generation of consoles is excellent but not the be all end all RPG which I kind of thought it would be.
The overbearing linearity had me as well as others scratching my head. It actually takes a huge step back exploration wise from other RPGs on the system and other games in the series. The majority of the game is a string of corridors more or less tied together with some cut scenes and battles. The battle system also takes too long to unfold. We are given pieces of the battle system and item modification over the course of the first twenty hours or so which is far too long.
Now on the plus side, the linearity does give us a very focused experience with battles and story advancement. Not a whole lot of tedious level grinding and unnecessary map exploration that some games in the series had. Fortunately, ts definitely a Final Fantasy game as far as story and gameplay go. We get a very creative and epic storyline with a host of memorable characters that you really get attached too. And once the battle system unfolds completely its among the best in the series.
All in all, it’s undoubtedly a Final Fantasy game. Most of the trademark elements shine through despite the baffling linearity. We get a more focused experience story wise but the freedom of exploration and sandbox gameplay fun isn’t there. I completely forgot to mention the graphics, and yes they’re breathtaking and certainly up to par with what the systems capable of.
I was a huge fan of Final Fantasy 7. Really really great game.