To say that the original Final Fantasy XIII was controversial would be something of an understatement. The game's incredibly rigid structure, while great at delivering a gorgeous cinematic experience, alienated longtime Final Fantasy fans who enjoy the thrill of experimentation and discovery.

+ Fixes pretty much every point of contention from; + ...and the game's still packed with astonishing graphics and music

? How does the last survivor of humanity manage to look so well-dressed

Final Fantasy back on track It is hard to write about a Final Fantasy game, without referencing the game that brought Japanese Role Playing Games to the attention of all western gamers.

Awesome Graphics; better than FFXIII in every way; not as linear as predecessor

battles are still "spam the A button for a win

I just got this game reserved it and everything and i can honestly say i don't regret it. It fixs almost every problem with the first 13 except the storyline which is a little confusing at first.The gameplay is also improved and i love the new monster hunting feature.

I’m one of those guys who actually liked Final Fantasy XIII. So, sue me. I thought changing up the style and offering a different take on the FF universe was a breath of fresh air. Don’t get me wrong...

+ Great combat system; + Wonderful presentation; + Good voice acting; + Beautiful visuals; + Tons to do and explore

Story drags at times; Confusion on where to go next may pop up

Whether you loved or hated Final Fantasy XIII, anyone who cares about its sequel wants to know how it compares: is it better than FFXII...

More freedom; more exploration; more discovery; Story driven by characters; Battle system still rules

No summons; Some difficulty dips and spikes; Only two party members

" Final Fantasy XIII-2 " does exactly what it sets out to do, addressing XIII's issues of combat difficult, linearity of world design and lack of towns. It creates a deep and rich world that can easily draw you in if you let it, even with its giddy childlike cast of characters.

Ever since Final Fantasy VII was released in North America in 1997, the series has become the archetype of what every RPG should be. This reputation carried across many releases, and when Squaresoft (which subsequently became Square Enix) announced their titles it became a foregone conclusion that...

I rarely found myself frustrated or confused in the story, and I am confident that most fans of the series will find it far superior as well. I remember originally it was rumored to be a three part series, so I'm still anxious for more!

You'll be disappointed if you approach Final Fantasy XIII-2 expecting another hundred-hour epic like the original. The main quest should only take you about 30 hours, and the endgame, while solid in its own right, won't give you what Final Fantasy XIII did.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 isn't a full blown return to the classic Final Fantasy games many people know and love, but it is certainly a step in the right direction and offers a great deal more invention, exploration and good, old fashioned fun than its predecessor.