Final Fantasy Type-0 HD, the updated version of the PSP title, hits Xbox One and PS4 tomorrow.
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In terms of scale, Type-0 HD boasts one of the largest casts of characters in the FF series, with 14 main kids the players can choose and the requisite hundreds of various NPCs and enemies you can interact with. It's big, ambitious, dark and gritty, with a focus on down and dirty stakes of war and all its consequences. But is it any good? Let's see what the folks who know better have to say.
Kotaku is very clear about it: "Final Fantasy Type-0 is not a great game. It's too rough, too messy, too bad at coherent story-telling to live up to the standards set by Final Fantasys of old. But it's a very good game, with satisfying, challenging combat, a lovely soundtrack, and a healthy dose of that Final Fantasy vibe we haven't seen in a console game for quite some time now. I liked Type-0 way more than I probably should have, and I expect that I'll be replaying it for a while to come..." They finish the review with a resounding "YES, you should play this game."
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But maybe wait for a rental. The cast of characters seem like they are reminiscent of the Dwarves in The Hobbit movies, a few are developed but, as Kotaku says the "cast of 14 might not be ideal for storytelling, but it sure is great for fighting."
IGN awarded the game a solid 8 out of 10, and opened with a small anecdote about the wave of emotions you will experience during the course of the 40+ hour game. "Type-0's gritty tone, fast-paced action, and strategic approach to time management is a welcome change of pace from the usual Final Fantasy experience. Though an exasperating camera and clunky mission controls sometimes dampened my fun, I enjoyed meeting the Class Zero cadets and guiding them through battle. There's definitely no other class quite like them."
The reviewers cites that the story can be, at times, confusing and too much non-game material was required to understand just how in the heck things ended.
Destructoid was equally kind, with a note towards the combat of the game. "The real draw here though is the action-oriented combat, which features all of the staples you've come to love over the years -- lock-on, dodging, magic, physical attacks, and synergy between party members. It's crazy to see how much detail was put into each individual action, as every character has his or her own nuanced movements. For example, Ace has a teleport-style dodge, and can put up a magical defensive barrier to protect himself from attacks. Another character might have a faster melee skillset and focus on rushdown attacks, preferring a rough and tough block over the barrier." They cite that the unique skills of every member is really what makes the game work.
Game Informer, on the other hand, was unimpressed by both the story and the combat system. "Nods to the broader Final Fantasy lore provide a nostalgic hit, and there's lots of content to explore in Type-0. However, without a more engaging combat experience or a story that I could care about, Class Zero's adventure failed to reignite anything but a glimmer of my Final Fantasy fandom. "
The small but mighty site Technobuffalo is wary of overly hyped games, of which Type-0 HD was most assuredly one. Hardly a week went by without some new trailer being released showing off all the ways the series has turned a new corner. "The truth is that Final Fantasy Type-0 is just a nice side-project, one which is and always has existed to flesh out the bigger picture of Final Fantasy XIII's polarizing lore. It was a quaint little 2011 experiment in Japan to see if Final Fantasy could thrive on a Monster Hunter formula, and it was a hidden grail that generated more mystical hype in the States than anything else for being "the one we never got.""
There is something here for everyone. You can forge your own path tomorrow when Final Fantasy Type-0 HD hits shelves.
