Lightning Returns: I finally decided to start this game, just beat the prologue because that's often how I do these things for some reason (play prologue, even if it's short -> stop playing.)
My first impressions?
Gameplay: Ok, so it's an ARPG without actually being an ARPG...I'm not sure I'm fond of this. Why can't they just do what Crisis Core did? It got the same point across but simplified with less menu mess on the bottom! I guess I'm judging too early, but it feels like a streamlined ARPG, and I'm not sure I dig that, because, again, Crisis Core sort of did the same thing but felt more engaging, and less buttom mash-y.
Plot: Ok, ignoring the cluster **** action sequence beginning, here's what I've got:
A female protagonist sent by the gods to save a world that is inevitably going to die in a short amount of time. Said female protagonist wields a sword, and has not much in the way of emotions. Also said God is the SUPREME GOD, who let's face it, is going to either be the main villain or the "ultimate" villain (no, I haven't read spoilers, but after reading the Datalog, they pretty much put a huge "THIS IS THE FINAL BOSS!" sign on him, despite trying their best to pretend he's not. I'll be legitimately shocked if he's not the final boss.) Oh, and it seems "Saving" is synonymous with "Pull soul of person's body effectively killing them" making people not want to immediately "be saved." Also, sounds like the game is less linear and more mission based in terms of plot development too, as well as being "World Driven."
You know, sounds kind of original...I could dig this idea...OH WAIT:
...yeah, unless the game makes a huge left turn from the direction it's currently taking, it's freaking Valkyrie Profile but with Toriyama's paint job on it, so Lenneth becomes Lightning, the Norse setting becomes Cyber Dystopia, and Freya's Divine Phases are replaced with Hope and a super computer. Sorry if I sound negative, but all the parallels just kept popping up.
Then again, I suppose it's only logical this game is Valkyrie Profile considering what they did to Lightning in the previous game, design wise, and the usage of Valhalla there.
Characters: Ok, so Lightning = Lenneth, except without the charisma Lenneth had. I like Lightning in FF13 mind you (her role in FF13-2 is too minor to gauge beyond "All style, no substance"), but they're trying to treat her as someone she's not...a character I like more than Lightning at that! Snow is emo...I get it, it's 500 years later, so that could change a man, but damn it, DON'T GIVE US EMO SNOW! Hopefully they actually answer the question of what the hell Snow was doing in FF13-2, because they kind of left that in the dark (He's running around, as a l'Cie, doing...?) And Lumina...ok, on one hand, it is nice to see an energetic, happy go lucky antagonistic character...on the otherhand, they gave her way too much personality. Like even when she's talking to herself, she's giving way too many vibes of "^_^!!!!!!" I dunno; feels like they were aiming for a Joker-esque "Despite being the villain, she lightens up every scene she's in by stealing it!" but considering how much insanity is going on in the opening, she sort of falls short at the scene stealing, and instead her bright personality is just a real whiplash compared to "THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF YO!" opening, and not in a way that compliments the game.
Hopefully the game improves after the prologue, but it's not giving a good first impression. As a reminder, I like FF13 and FF13-2, so I don't want the finale to end up sucking but...*shrugs*
