*FINAL GRADE: 7.3 OUT OF 10* br * NEW GAME+ OFFERS NNNNOTHING NEW NNNOTHING NEW (IN FACT, THERE ARE SECRET DUNGEONS BUT YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE PLAYING AFTERWARD AND NOT DO NG+ FROM THE BEGINNING) AND I ALSO FOUND ON THIS SECOND PLAYTHROUGH THAT THE GAME WAS SO MUCH MORE PAINFULLY TEDIOUS AND A GRIND TO JUST GET THROUGH br ALSO, THAT ZEGNATUS KEEP WAS ONE OF THE MOST NEEDLESS BORING FILLERS I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED br COLISEUM COULD HAVE BEEN A FUN WAY TO SHAKE THINGS UP BUT IT HAS 0 TO DO WITH ACTIVE COMBAT br DLC RELEASE OF THE CHOCOCIRCUS OR WHATEVER: SAME THING br THE 4 INSTALLMENT DLCs COME WAYYY TOO LATE br IN THIS PLAYTHROUGH I KINDA CHANGE THINGS UP BY CHANGING FROM ENGLISH AUDIO TO JAPANESE; I ACTUALLY DIDN'T LIKE THE LATTER br ALSO TRIED TO MILK THE ONE-SHOTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SINCE THEY WERE 1+ AP PER KILL* br br OK I'LL START WITH THE BAD STUFF: br OBSCENELY LONG LOADING TIMES- STARING AT A CAR DRIVING AROUND IS NOT SOMETHING ANYONE WOULD ENJOY, SO FAST TRAVEL IS THERE TO BE CONVENIENT - BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE WAITING ABOUT 2 MINUTES EVERY TIME br br CAMERA ANGLING (ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WITH MANY TREES; CAN'T SEE ANYTHING) SLOPPILY DONE br br WHEREAS EVERY PRECEDING FINAL FANTASY WAS ALL ABOUT ADDING DEPTH TO CHARACTERS AND PROGRESSING A STORYLINE, THIS HAD THE REVERSE APPROACH - VERY LITTLE (ALL UNINTERESTING) DEPTH TO NOCTIS AND ZERO FOR THE REST br WHICH BRINGS ME TO: YOU HAD CINDY AND ARANEA, BUT NONE OF THEM PLAYABLE CHARACTERS - INSTEAD YOU HAVE 2 TOGGAF LOOKING METROSEXUAL TYPES!? WHY!? br br I FEEL LIKE I SPENT 85 OF THIS GAME GOING AFTER ICONS ON A MAP (MOSTLY HUNTS) AND THE STORYLINE MISSIONS WERE UNDERWHELMING FOR THE MOST PART br br GOOD STUFF: STELLAR GRAPHICS AND SUMMONS, IF YOU CAN SOMEHOW LOOK PAST THE CAMERA ANGLING ISSUES, THE COMBAT SYSTEM WAS PRETTY GOOD! br ALSO HAD SOME OF THE MOST PHENOMENAL SOUNDTRACKS EVER! br br I THINK THIS GAME TRIED TO BE EXTREMELY AMBITIOUS BUT THE WHOLE THING WAS CUT SHORT - AS IN BY HALF - BECAUSE OF OTHER CONSTRAINTS WHICH EXPLAINS THE ALMOST RANDOMNESS AND DISCONNECT IN THE STORYLINE br br CURRENTLY PLAYING NEW GAME+ MODE; NOT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE BUT I WILL HAVE A FINAL GRADE ONCE I FULLY FULLY COMPLETE THE GAME INCLUDING THE ULTRA OPTIONAL BOSSES! br br 7.