Not only does FFXIII have stunning graphics, it also has a compelling story. I say this because I imported the game & am a fluent Japanese speaker. I for one, loved the story and am pleased with it. The reviewer was just nit picking at the little things, probably because he couldn't find anything serious to flaunt or point out. Another problem i had w/ his review was that although he said it himself, "It’s obvious that each shrub and wall in the place has been designed with great care, but it doesn't feel like a real place" but the only problem was that it didn't "feel" real, WTF?! I can go on and on about where Ryan Winterhalter(the reviewer) doesn't provide a valid reason to downgrade the game, but I shant. IN ALL, I totally disagree with the reviewer & encourage everyone to give this game a chance. Just because one person didn't like it doesn't mean that you won't.

I know that all reviewers are looking at games subjectively rather than objectively - based on other games they've played in the past. If a person is a 'professional' reviewer, then there is an element of cynicism in their assessment 'make-up' and I believe that this is just so in this case.

As a past editor of a paper magazine in a niche market, I'm aware from what juxtaposition a reviewer might come from having done a fair whack of reviewing myself in the past in that and other magazines.

I am looking at Final Fantasy XIII, the model itself rather than Final Fantasy per se. As a 'user' that is, I play on my Slim-line PS3 Console, in my spare time and Final Fantasy XIII is just one of a line of previous incarnations of Final Fantasy such as FFVII, FFVIII, FFX, FFX-2, FFXII, and then of course, Final Fantasy XIII. This one exploits PS3's main benefits, namely its higher resolution, speed and dexterity, and for my money (since I paid for it), it was worth every penny and hour I've put into learning to use this system. I'm more than happy to award it 10/10 even 20/10 if such a thing were possible on the premise that Final Fantasy XIII has me on the edge of my seat as I move from one scenario to the next.

To justify that statement, may I give you a list of other games I play on the PS3 too (Darksiders; Fifa 10; Star Ocean - The Last Hope; Star Wars - The Force Unleashed; Shaun White Snowboarding; Avatar - The Game; Assasins Creed; Assasins Creed II; Dragon Age Origins; Quake Wars; Mirror's Edge; Fallout 3; Oblivion. Then I have to add the games (a lot) from the PS2 Console (which I have) plus the Wii, Gamecube, and past games on M/soft Windows before I switched to Linux. So what I'm really saying is that I'm not a newbie console player wet behind the ears having played Doom and all its ilk on the PC and elsewhere. The two games that stand out are Final Fantasy XII (PS2) and Final Fantasy XIII (PS3), and unless I buy some future game that changes my mind, I am of this moment enamoured with Final Fantasy XIII (and its limited Edition Book, just as I was with the gold-blocked, leather affect, Limited Edition Book for Final Fantasy XII too (and other versions of Final Fantasy Guides). linuxfanatik