Is the entire game "on rails"?

[cluthz]

Hi.
I'm currently only about 2 hours in the game, but so far the game has been "on rails".
You fight two pack of mobs and follow a path that has absolutely no ways to diverge from and the get a cutscene, then rinse and repeat.
Is the entire game like this?
Are there more open areas and actually things to explore?

I've played some of the old FF games, and one of the big things in those was the vast world to explore. I often got of track and had no idea where to go, but so far in FFXIII there have been no way to do anything by your own.

[😎Macula😎]

thats tutorial so pay close attention because thats not whole game like that

[Staz]

75% of the game is a rail. But come on, FF X and X-2 was the same thing, the only difference is that in X and X-2, you haved the possibility to explore each zone whenever you want, in FF XIII, except one place freely explorable, when you have finished a chapter, you can't come in the area again.

[Terranova667]

for the first 20 hrs or so it's pretty much like that it's a long streached out tutorial of sorts, then the game opens up

[Scarlet Crusade]

Originally posted by cha0tic:

The game starts to open a bit after 3 hours when you can finally use the Paradigm system and stuff. But the game is mostly a tutorial until 20 hours in when you can finally use every Role for any character you want instead of pre-determined set-ups.

Though if you do silly things like use Hope as a Commando, you're doing it wrong.

[cluthz]

Originally posted by Hellscovern:

for the first 20 hrs or so it's pretty much like that it's a long streached out tutorial of sorts, then the game opens up

Ok, 20 hours with "rails" sounds a bit boring, but I'll give it a shot.

Exploration is a big deal for me when it comes to RPGs so after 2 hours with one of the most linear paths I've ever seen I was about to give up :)

As for other FF games, I have not played X and X-2 so I have no reference there, but I did play FF1 back in the days and FF3, I have also played FF12 a tiny bit on the PS2 a a friends house, but that is like 6-7 years ago :p

[Cowkiller]

FF 13 and FF XIII-2 are said to be both linear games Lightning returns is said to be open world but only played 4-6 hrs sofar loving it

[Cowkiller]

still the game has 8 hrs of movies to watch now that is worth playing a linear game just to see

[Mycrosys]

Originally posted by Hellscovern:

for the first 20 hrs or so it's pretty much like that it's a long streached out tutorial of sorts, then the game opens up

This. The Tutorial is about 20-25h in, after that you get to chose your Team and their specs till the end of the game. When you finish the game (takes anywhere between 35-45h on your first run) you will have several big maps that open the post game content which is more or less open world exploration on several maps. There are about another 50-60h of Gameplay there, otherwise for the story, you will be mainly running down linear corridors/dungeons.

[Defiance]

The game is extremely linear until chapter 11 where there it becomes semi-open world and exploration elements and side missions get introduced, until then there's no way to get off the main path.

[😎Macula😎]

its kinda typical with FF games at first some areas aren't fully unlocked untill near end so this shouldn't be a problem

[☂Aqua☂]

It's 30 hours of "on rails" gameplay,but don't mind the game just gets better every Chapter

[A State Of Trance]

I don't recommend playing this game if open-world exploration is a huge deal for you.

[paladin181]

Do you ever control more than one character or does the game play everyone for you the entire way through...? Can't say I'm thrilled with the AI. At least in 12 you could pause and give orders.

[A State Of Trance]

You only control the main character at the time. The game is more about shifting your paradigm at the right time and in the right combo's to succeed. I personally love the combat. I didn't think I would enjoy only having control of 1 character but I'm having a blast so it does the job for me.

[Cat Daddy]

Originally posted by Macula:

thats tutorial so pay close attention because thats not whole game like that

thats a joke right? the WHOLE games a bloody tutorial!

90% of it is controlled for you and only and i mean ONLY at the very end do you get SOMETHING like a proper battle system etc..........then the game ends.........and we get crappy 13 part 2...........which is somehow worse.............then 13 part 3.............which....i just dont even have words for