I been playing this and it's a damn solid game, and I like that they actually make the boss battles challenging unlike most of the final fantasy bosses I can kill by repeatedly hitting the X button.
I do feel like it technically seems to be a little shaky. In that it wants to be just a little more game than the 360 can handle. The only reason I notice this is because it's basically trying to replicate itself as a high def version of Final Fantasy 10.
Now, dont' get me wrong... Final Fantasy 10 is my favorite video game, period. Not just my favorite Final Fantasy, favorite RPG, or favorite PS2 game... my favorite game ever. So a Final Fantasy 10 clone is going to be a great experience for me. At the same time... it's TOO much like it... beyond the point of celebrating it and to the point of ripping it off, like the way the camera moves in the battle screen... the way the characters move... well, damn near everything.
And by that measure, it's gonna get compared. And technically, it doesn't run as silky smooth as FFX ran, which is why it feels like it is either pushing the 360 too hard or it was a little rushed in development. I'm going to lean toward the second, because Mistwalker is churning out these games very quickly - which is probably why they're not very original.
Don't get me wrong, I'm being hard on it because I'm comparing it to my favorite game ever. It has a few edges on FFX. The most major being no freaking grid system to levelup. The second that it's harder. The third, I like using the right trigger, little timing game. And of course the sprint button deserves major props.
The story doesn't seem as good though. The characters aren't as likable, and the music isn't as good. I don't like how much of a scavenger hunt it is either, and how they severely gimp leveling up if you want to.
The problem here is it's so much like FFX that it's worse in comparison which is the only way I can actually rate it.
But... it's still the best RPG out on PS3/360/Wii by far. It's the only RPG that 10 years from now you'll go back and play again for fun. For a Final Fantasy fan it's a no brainer buy. I'm not gonna say it's Final Fantasy quality, but it's damn near it, and the closest we'll get until at least 2009.
I would maybe put this in my top 10 for RPGs.
For reference:
1) Final Fantasy 10
2) Suikoden 2
3) Final Fantasy 7
4) Final Fantasy 6
5) Lufia 2
6) Final Fantasy 9
7) Final Fantasy 4
8) Lufia 1
9) Suikoden 1
10) ??? I dunno... FF12, Robotrek, Pokemon, Suikoden 3... Lost Odyssey not quite there but around that level. If it didn't remind me TOO much of Final Fantasy 10, and it was a little smoother running I'd say give it to L.O... but this how I see it now.
For Reference, not counting action/rpgs in my list, no Kingdom hearts, ext.