Final Fantasy XIII on sale today

By Tom Bramwell Published 9 March, 2010

PS3 and 360 RPG hits elves. Shelves.

Square Enix has sent out a reminder that Final Fantasy XIII goes on sale in the US and Europe today on PS3 and Xbox 360.

The European versions of games usually hit the shelves on Fridays, so it seems sensible to pass on the reminder. Consider yourself reminded.

Final Fantasy XIII sees players thrown into conflict in the floating utopia of Cocoon, where all sorts of s*** goes down.

Check out our whopping Final Fantasy XIII review for an explanation. We gave it 8/10 in the end.

And if you own both consoles and you're not sure which version to buy, check out Digital Foundry's extensive Final Fantasy XIII face-off. (Short answer: PS3 by a mile.)

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (44) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Cadence #1 2 years ago

    This will have to wait, I have too many other games to complete first!! There really has been a deluge of great stuff coming out the past few months.
    Edited by 1 at 09/03/10 @ 08:41

  • andywilkie35 #2 2 years ago

    Got this yesterday and played through the first 5 hours. Loved every second so far.

  • menage #3 2 years ago

    Will wait for pricedrop.

  • Widge #4 2 years ago

    This better be hitting my inbox today.

  • Vedfolner #5 2 years ago

    Well, Edge gave it 5/10 which must mean that this is epic. After all they gave Heavy Rain 7/10 and that was one of the best games I've ever played.

  • Slipstream #6 2 years ago

    Got mine yesterday also and it truly is epic, th fst paced battle system is sublim, and finally being able to play it myself means I can understand the Paradigm Shift system perfectly, and it's beautiful, changing character classes on the fly to say, recover the group in a dire situation, and then reverting back to dealing some heavy damage, love it.

    I thought the auto attack option was gonna kill the system but I see now it's a nessasary fucntion to maintain the silky smooth pace of the battles.

  • cyacomini #7 2 years ago

    I'll be waiting for this to hit the £19.99 'sweet spot' before grabbing this one - loved FF7 but haven't really enjoyed any since.

    And whilst I do understand why people should go for the PS3 version if they have the choice. I'll still be picking it up on 360 really just for the achievements - I'm only using 720p so not too fussed about having a 'gimped' version ;)

  • Vanmunt #8 2 years ago

    @vedfolner

    I am a long standing edge reader and I am getting a bit fed up with the direction it is going. The reviews are a month late, or just plain stupid. A friend told me to pick up Games TM about a two years ago and every month from then it has been a better read than Edge.

  • TruSmiles #9 2 years ago

    Got it last night from ASDA! Cheapest version I've seen.

  • Goodfella #10 2 years ago

    Got my copy yesterday from Shopto. Played about 5 hours so far and absolutely love it. I'm certain fans of FFXII will be disappointed but from someone who didn't like FFXII at all the series has redeemed itself for me with this new game.

  • Vedfolner #11 2 years ago

    @Vanmunt

    I've subscribed to Edge Magazine for five or six years now - the features are nice, but the reviews can be really odd. So I will certainly check out your recommendation. Do you know if Games TM accept foreign subscribers? I live in Denmark.

  • xentar #12 2 years ago

    I never really understood FF before, all too complicated for my liking but playing XIII and having a blast. may even try to revisit older games in the series on my PS2

  • dudefella #13 2 years ago

    Edge reviews are a load of balls. Dragon Age 5/10. Heavy Rain 7/10. Fallout 3 7/10 (lowest on metacritic!).


    I'm not saying they need to conform to the masses but these are just some batshit scores, man. Criticizing FF13 for its story and giving Bayonetta a 10, really?

    GamesTM has better reviews but unfortunately Edge still has better features, imo, so I'm still torn on which one to get every month :(

  • Vanmunt #14 2 years ago

    @Ved

    I would imagine so, they are definately worth a look.

    @dude

    Thats why I still subscribe to both.... just can't bring myself to cancel Edge..

  • menage #15 2 years ago

    @dudefella

    Well, Bayonetta's story is quite optional (as in, skip it and enjoy the asskicking), while in FF it's essential imo. I don't think the story was the reason they gave it a 5 either. More the 20 hour grind at the start.,

    Also, I think Bayo's story was quite fun, in a corny kind of batshit insane way.

    Edited by 1 at 09/03/10 @ 10:02

  • Bigglesworth #16 2 years ago

    Happy Final Fantasy Day, everyone!

  • Timbercottage #17 2 years ago

    Meh

  • sfp_noodle #18 2 years ago

    been playing this game for a good 6 hours and i have to say its not looking good. ive yet to 'get' whats actually going on and the futuristic sci-fi setting feels incredibly out of line with previous FF games. not only tht but ive found myself travelling for long sections of samey terrain fighting what appear to be rather pointless battles. its darn pretty to look at mind, especially on the ps3 but tht just isnt enough sadly. i have to agree with the review in tht it has tried so hard to appeal to everyone tht it ends up alienating the very fans tht gave it its worldwide success.

    i admit i was going to buy, and did buy this regardless of review scores as ive played and loved every FF game since 7. i agree with the people who say tht this game would have got a much lower score if it wasnt final fantasy in the title. prince of persia had more, and better gameplay than this so in tht respect this shud be scored lower at 5. but since the production values are thru the roof ill be generous and award it a 6/10.

    to any FF fans, i strongly advise u to hold off for a price drop in order to avoid disappointment. i know most ppl will buy it anyway based on its history, but honestly, this is far more a movie than the metal gear solid games ever were. a true dissappointment with a big sad smiley face :(
    Edited by 1 at 09/03/10 @ 11:08

  • SL33PY #19 2 years ago

    Thank you for all the comments, they have been insightfull. I think I'll pass at FFXIII atm. Still need to get Heavy Rain (for shame)

    I have a huge backlog of games I still need to play.

  • Pac #20 2 years ago

    I got this yesterday, I am about 6 hours in and I quite enjoy it. For the first 2 or 3 hours the battle system is woefully simple but it seems to open up (slowly) as you progress.

    Completely agree about the Edge score being too harsh. The actual words of the review led me to expect a 7 or 8 but then they stick a 5 on the end. Perhaps they should just drop the scores altogether as they have kind of lost their meaning.

    Edit: Woeful spelling
    Edited by 1 at 09/03/10 @ 11:39

  • menage #21 2 years ago

    Damn, what part of a 20 hour slog until it get's even remotely interesting or open didn't you get in that 5 review.

    I could complete a damn fine game ilike ME2 in that time..

  • GamesConnoisseur #22 2 years ago

    People always just focus on the numbers and not WHAT Edge said about the game, playing up to chapter 2 and I have to say I m already feeling the tedium of the boredom settling in. Too easy and smashing X or for the sake variety, go to abilities and occasionally use items.

    Come on are we all too idiot? I know the first good few hours are long tutorial, if there was a hard mode, I ll love it all the more! I m liking the visuals, story but just too dummy proof.

    We need to ensure Square Enix hears all our cries of frustrations and so there ll caters better for all audiences.
    Edited by 1 at 09/03/10 @ 12:19

  • Goodfella #23 2 years ago

    Boo hoo, you hate it, I love it. It has always been the same with FF games, they can never please everyone.FFVII pissed off all the so-called hardcore fans who played the earlier NES/SNES games, it will continue to happen as long as they make them.

    I hated FFXII, lots of people loved it.Get over it. Now it's my turn to enjoy an FF game again with FFXIII. :p

  • redneon Verified Programmer, SUMO Digital #24 2 years ago

    I'm in the same boat as a lot of people. I'm loving this one so far and I hated XII. There definitely seems to be a connection :)

  • Beano #25 2 years ago

    Got it yesterday (for PS3 of course) and have played it aprox 5 hours - enjoying it a lot so far. Looks incredible and productions values are crazy. Very linear and the first two hours is mostly tutorial, but it's really getting more complex now and meeting harder enemies.
    Edge's hateful 5/10 seems more like an effort to get attention than anything else. Edge is not what they used to be - a shame.

  • GamesConnoisseur #26 2 years ago

    Sure there will be always those who cries for traditional games or being rock hard, I m not one of those as I love innovative and new things. FFXIII going forward in term of visual, story telling and action based combat... yes. But would like to be challenged a bit more, or the illusion of being challenging.

    Could have got the balance more proportionately with regards to tutorial, allowing players to be able to use wider range of options rather than spread them over 20 hours!

    Anyway I would hate to be a party pooper as I know people are going to want to enjoy it to the max and go for it, just speaking out so those who felt the same know they are not alone! Dont anyone DARE to trade in the game, as there are too much to like and just a matter of being patience!

    Know I will love it more as the game goes on.
    Edited by 2 at 09/03/10 @ 12:47

  • Beano #27 2 years ago

    "And whilst I do understand why people should go for the PS3 version if they have the choice. I'll still be picking it up on 360 really just for the achievements - I'm only using 720p so not too fussed about having a 'gimped' version ;) "

    Maybe you should read DF's article again.

  • metalangel #28 2 years ago

    PC Gamer have Super Bust A Move 45% in a review that still has of grinding my teeth... not so much that the game was bad (far from it) but because it "wasn't 3D" and "didn't help push forward the boundaries of PC gaming".

  • Pac #29 2 years ago

    @menage

    I completed ME2 in less than a week. What is your point? It was too short :)

    You could pick any number of comments out of that rather confusing Edge review such as " a battle system that stands among the genre’s finest".

    I am not trying to blindly defend FF XIII as I am still only a fraction of the way through it. However I would point out that Edge seems to penalise some games on a whim whilst completely ignoring glaring faults in others.

    E.g. I am actually a big fan of Bayonetta but it is not without its faults and that got a perfect 10.

  • Vanmunt #30 2 years ago

    10's are thrown around far to easy these days.....

  • icematt12 #31 2 years ago

    I'm interested by FF games, just don't seem to enjoy them much. Barely played VII and X, will keep an eye on XIII. Maybe when the price is dropped, got enough to keep me busy for a while anyway.

  • menage #32 2 years ago

    @Pac

    Well, if it takes 20 hours to get where you need to be I'm not jumping for joy to even start a game.

    Then again. I also slogged through Dragon Age for 30 hours until I reallized it was shit (I just wanted it to be good, but actually it was a boring drab mess) so maybe 20 hours isn't bad.

  • Pac #33 2 years ago

    @menage

    I also invested a similar amount of time in Dragon Age and the appeal is certainly begining to wane. Even on the PC it has some pretty annoying graphical and technical issues. I wanted to like it so badly I ignored them too.

    At least you have the prospect of FF XIII getting better along the way.

    Just play Yakuza 3 at the same time. Then you will have more involving combat and fantastic scenery :)

  • GamesConnoisseur #34 2 years ago

    Mass Effect 2 did dumb down too after the first one, but its only allows you to focus more on the flows of combat more easily and yet remain quite challenging and plenty of stuff to do. Important quests can be done in any order and to your preferences, side quests if you fancy those to buff up your party and even so not really necessary to finish the game.

    Cant help but both ME2 and FFXIII would continues to be discussion points as to how franchise can be moved forward, what balance could be improved on and so forth. I m leaning to the design choices for ME2 but of course FFXIII got wow factors in greater abundances.

    The arguments for RPG of the year gonna be interesting! Still just chill and enjoy both games if you can!

  • muscleblade #35 2 years ago

    I usually agree with Edge. ME2 and Bayonetta (360 version obviously) are the two best games this gen imo.

    You can never trust a reviewers opinion as if its your own though. I know i would hate FFIV because i hate grinding. Thats why ME2 is the first RPG i actually love ( i enjoyed the first but it wasnt without issues).

  • cyacomini #36 2 years ago

    @ Beano

    Read it twice now - even printed it so I could enjoy with a coffee in the staff room ;)

  • Beano #37 2 years ago

    @cyacomini : Then you should know that the game runs in sub-HD resolution on 360 and has downsampled video - so still a issue for 720p users :)

  • cyacomini #38 2 years ago

    Don't care enough really - few games out already running sub-HD and nobody seems too bothered, Halo 3 being a good example.

    I'd just prefer to grab the extra gamerscore that's all, only have 1 or 2 trophies on my PS3 and don't really have any inclination to gather any more, well until GoW3 & Last Guardian arrive at least.

    I only really buy the exclusives I want on PS - always buy the multiplats on 360, gimped or not.

  • Emmit_Assassin #39 2 years ago

    This will have to wait, as its sat in my missus' bedside table (she thinks I've no idea where it is). She's got it in her head I'm not 30 next month, but 15, and I have to wait until my birthday for my present...

    I'll tell you what, it's a good job she's good at other things...

  • Sunyavadin #40 2 years ago

    I cancelled my preorder after seeing a lot of reviews saying the same things about it, and put my money on Resonance of Fate instead...

  • Emmit_Assassin #41 2 years ago

    @Pac

    ME2 in less than a week? Get a frickin life! Leave your bedroom to piss, will you?!

    I spent almost every night on it for several hours at a time and did it in a week and a half! 37 hours I think it was.

  • collateral89 #42 2 years ago

    i got it 4 35pound from asda

  • GiarcYekrub #43 2 years ago

    I've not got round to complete XII yet

  • patchbox360 #44 2 years ago

    'I cancelled my preorder after seeing a lot of reviews saying the same things about it, and put my money on Resonance of Fate instead...'

    haha made me laugh