This Game Reminded me How Great Final Fantasy is

[xShapelessx]

Dont get me wrong - I LOVE this game. very cool aesthetic, music and vibes, I like a lot of things about it. That said, it is far more shallow than something like FF 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12. Overall, the journey just feels much more shallow and short by comparison. The world map exploration is kind of lame and uninteresting. As much as I like the battles, I find myself eye rolling when I get into encounters as well. Cannot fully pinpoint what it is. I like the characters a lot as well. This game does a lot right, but no matter what it doesnt escape the feel of a cheaper, more compact little game. Even something shorter like Chrono Trigger is packed to the brim with meaning in every facet of its design and feels 10 x more fleshed out.

Yes I realize the budget was probably way different and I get that. Game is really good, but yes I do believe overrated after 60 + hours of gameplay. Story is stronger than some of those FF titles as well in some regards, as well as overall cinematic presentation, but I wouldnt say better game, or party based rpg.

Things I really dont like about 33:

- Shoulder cam (What is this gears of war)

- Areas to explore on map consist of static mobs standing in one spot waiting for you to engage and single screen areas generally that give you some kind of music track. Some extra dungeon type areas that are actually very short and end with big boss standing in the middle of open "arena" area at the end of tunnels and hallways. Predictable and boring for the most part. We have like a small side arena with the Gestral that was ultimately lame and these "beaches" with really poorly implemented stunt missions where you climb and jump for a bathing suit skin.

- Map is ugly and all areas look the same. Its just my personal preference, but I just dont like the colorful apocalypse look. It reminds me of Far Cry New Dawn or something. Overall I do like the art style of the characters and such though. It's more of a world design issue for me. I do however like the lore and all the story related stuff behind it. The parachutes on the beaches and old expedition notes. Very nice touch.

- Music is amazing generally, but that act 2 song is a whiney, annoying atrocity.
I vastly prefer the music of old Final Fantasy games and Chrono Trigger/Cross. I need my rpg music to have some kind of celtic twist. Im so used to that. Oh and special shout out to the Wild Arms 3 soundtrack.

- The reliance on having to parry or dodge everything is eventually kind of a pain. it might be for some of you souls/parry gods, but not me (and I did beat Demons souls + DS 1 - 3 and Elden Ring), but I kind of prefer that chill jrpg turn based or ATB version of things without having to constantly worry about dodging. I like pouring time into my characters via grinding and watching the events unfold based on strategies I have applied, vs having to take an active part in dodging a one shot attack. I wouldnt mind a small element of parry/dodge, (like LOD), but here it is integral to the experience to become a parry god almost and I ultimately didn't enjoy that.

- What the H.E.L.L is the point of the grapple hook? Super boring, uninspired and pointless to even have those sections.

- They actually didnt make much use of any platforming, even though your character can jump, run and climb ledges. Why even have the ability to jump in this game? It's all very tacked on and felt rushed.

These are some games that I think do the party rpg thing better. More fleshed out, better music, and a more overall fulfilling adventure/experience:

Chrono Trigger and Cross

Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9, 10, 12

Wild Arms 2 and 3

Suikoden (ALL)

Dragon Warrior VII (I admit music in this one isn't its strong suit, but its memorable)

Final Fantasy Tactics

Golden Sun 1 and 2 as a full back to back package

There are others I may add as I recall.

This is all my personal opinion.

[FWDKILLER]

2/10 game is a turd. cash grab and they succeeded.

[Jester]

Dude is a mixture of missing the point and bias preference.

[Ratsplat]

Anyone that is not me, with a mouse Icon, and not level 0 private will take the mimes. Thanks.

[Ward]

opposite for me. made me realize how far off square enix have fallen off with FF.

[This PC]

I think FF and Clair Obscur are different things looking to achieve different outcomes, they both have their places, a lot of FF's are worst than 33, a few are better.

Only suikoden 2 really is solid enough to stand a chance to 33. Dragon Warrior 7, not really rofl, FF12's story is a mess, excellent gameplay tho, chrono cross is kindof a mess.

Most of your points are also like.. meaningless ? You don't like to parry, cool story bro, most are fine with it. I was doing this ♥♥♥♥ on mario rpg and legend of dragoons I was like 10. :D

Like, nobody who's serious would say all suikodens are better than this rofl, some are really crass, suikoden 2 is my favorite game but the series as a whole has stumbled a lot, kinda like wild arms.

I feel like your point is grossly biased, also probably informed by nostalgia and rose tinted glasses. >//<

[Lionheartwolf]

I think this game is the peak example of how nostalgia is done right. This game does everything to pay homage to the RPGs and even movies we had growing up without being too on the nose.

It makes you feel the same way you might have when you played FFVII in 1997. I think this is the closest this generation has to having that specific feeling we had with those games. Sure, it has flaws but so did those games. Where technical limitations meant old school developers had to get creative, we now have an underequipped studio getting creative to provide an experience we'll above their pay grade.

In short if this was me from 1997 playing those game today I would hold this game in the same high regard I held games like Final Fantasy. I do believe this should be a game that survives the test of time where so many RPGs in the past have not. French Final Fantasy is the future.

[WOKEGOD]

Originally posted by xShapelessx:

- The reliance on having to parry or dodge everything is eventually kind of a pain. it might be for some of you souls/parry gods, but not me (and I did beat Demons souls + DS 1 - 3 and Elden Ring), but I kind of prefer that chill jrpg turn based or ATB version of things without having to constantly worry about dodging. I like pouring time into my characters via grinding and watching the events unfold based on strategies I have applied, vs having to take an active part in dodging a one shot attack. I wouldnt mind a small element of parry/dodge, (like LOD), but here it is integral to the experience to become a parry god almost and I ultimately didn't enjoy that.

This sole part is what made this game a success don't get me wrong. It's always a hot deal for devs to cook something unique like combine mechanics from two irrelevant genre into one game and they succeeded in doing so. Imagine its just your average chill JRPG where you grind xp to destroy one boss rinse and repeat... it may be your cup of milk but pretty sure it wouldn't be as success as they are now if they follow that route and being a dev they'd take priority at what capture audiences the most.

[Tenshu]

Originally posted by This PC:

Like, nobody who's serious would say all suikodens are better than this rofl, some are really crass, suikoden 2 is my favorite game but the series as a whole has stumbled a lot, kinda like wild arms.

Even Suikoden fans aren't sure whether they want 3 to be remastered next or not. I prefer the story of the first, but the second is an upgrade in every other way... unfortunately both games are terribly easy without the player really meaning to break them.

[Azusa]

Nothing wrong with putting on the rose tinted glasses and remembering the great RPGs of yesteryear, but let's not forget what Final Fantasy has turned into after those great games of 2+ decades ago.

I wish there was some more complexity in Expedition 33 too, I'd like the game even more if it was more pure RPG, and a bit less beep-bop-boop QTE simulator. But flaws and all. it's still vastly better than anything Squenix has dumped out under the FF label in over 10 years.

[Ogami]

Originally posted by Tenshu:

Even Suikoden fans aren't sure whether they want 3 to be remastered next or not. I prefer the story of the first, but the second is an upgrade in every other way... unfortunately both games are terribly easy without the player really meaning to break them.

Seriously. I think the OP has major nostalgia googles on.
There is like ONE brilliant Suikoden game which is 2, then two "good" ones (1 and 5), one mediocre one (3) and one garbage one (4).
Most of the spinoff games ( tactics, tierkreis and so on) are also bad.

Final Fantasy did not have a good entry since 12, thats nearly 20 years ago.
And even before that some were MEH at best, like 10 and 10-2 ( yes i dont like 10, sue me. one of the dumbest settings in JRPG history. Underwater handball gtfo).

[Havok]

Originally posted by Ward:

opposite for me. made me realize how far off square enix have fallen off with FF.

Same. I was never really a fan of turn based games in general, but e33 showed me its not the genre, its the games that weren't good.

Originally posted by FWDKILLER:

2/10 game is a turd. cash grab and they succeeded.

You made your point clear, refund and leave. If you don't like the game, why are you in the forums all the time? Looks like it lives pretty rent free in your head.

[xShapelessx]

Originally posted by Ogami:

Originally posted by Tenshu:

Even Suikoden fans aren't sure whether they want 3 to be remastered next or not. I prefer the story of the first, but the second is an upgrade in every other way... unfortunately both games are terribly easy without the player really meaning to break them.

Seriously. I think the OP has major nostalgia googles on.
There is like ONE brilliant Suikoden game which is 2, then two "good" ones (1 and 5), one mediocre one (3) and one garbage one (4).
Most of the spinoff games ( tactics, tierkreis and so on) are also bad.

Final Fantasy did not have a good entry since 12, thats nearly 20 years ago.
And even before that some were MEH at best, like 10 and 10-2 ( yes i dont like 10, sue me. one of the dumbest settings in JRPG history. Underwater handball gtfo).

lol youre delusional. Suikoden 3 is amazing and absolutely a fan favourite

[xShapelessx]

I certainly expected the fanboys to come out all aggressive against my very chill post where I literally said it was just my opinion. Not shocked. It usually takes a day or two for normal people to start commenting where they start agreeing with my points. The game isnt as perfect as you all let on. Good 7 or 8/10 game for sure, but not in every aspect. There are way better jrpgs.

Also calling suikoden 3 mid or bad, is all the proof needed to not have to take anything you say seriously.

Oh, and I LITERALLY said multiple times this game (33) has a more interesting story and better cinematic presentation than most, if not all ff games. What more praise do you want? It hits a point where you cannot say anything real about the game because it is so heavily praised by fanboys.

[xShapelessx]

Originally posted by xShapelessx:

Originally posted by Ogami:

Seriously. I think the OP has major nostalgia googles on.
There is like ONE brilliant Suikoden game which is 2, then two "good" ones (1 and 5), one mediocre one (3) and one garbage one (4).
Most of the spinoff games ( tactics, tierkreis and so on) are also bad.

Final Fantasy did not have a good entry since 12, thats nearly 20 years ago.
And even before that some were MEH at best, like 10 and 10-2 ( yes i dont like 10, sue me. one of the dumbest settings in JRPG history. Underwater handball gtfo).

lol youre delusional. Suikoden 3 is amazing and absolutely a fan favourite

I am essentially talking Suikoden 1 - 5 with a focus being on 1 - 3. Get a life. Only a goofball would assume I was saying "Suikoden tactics" is superior. Im not Neil De Grasse Tyson giving a ted talk on science. Sorry I wasnt more clear lol

[Tenshu]

Originally posted by xShapelessx:

I certainly expected the fanboys to come out all aggressive against my very chill post where I literally said it was just my opinion. Not shocked. It usually takes a day or two for normal people to start commenting where they start agreeing with my points. The game isnt as perfect as you all let on. Good 7 or 8/10 game for sure, but not in every aspect. There are way better jrpgs.

Also calling suikoden 3 mid or bad is all the proof needed to not have to take anything you say seriously.

Huh, consider that nerve touched I guess.
Suikoden 3 was... ok. Attempts were made. Suikoden fans back then saw the many flaws in the narrative and snorted some powerful copium by pinning the blame on Konami meddling in the development and "firing" Murayama only for the man himself to debunk those claims and say he left after Suikoden 3 was finished, in saying that anything wrong with Suikoden 3 was all him (he stated after S2, Konami gave him free reign over S3, the trusted him). Some fans still latch onto the blame Konami narrative and like I said, the S3 fans are pretty much divided now on whether 3 would need to be remastered or remade altogether.