Marcomix
@marcomix.bsky.social
Jack of all trades artist and game dev!
https://marcomixgames.itch.io/
https://marcomixtoons.wixsite.com/gavingrants
https://marcomixgames.itch.io/
https://marcomixtoons.wixsite.com/gavingrants
If you're looking for something with unique hybrid RPG combat and somehow have a way of playing it (I've heard the PC port is pretty terrible), I'd say give it a shot. It might surprise you!
November 14, 2025 at 2:48 AM
If you're looking for something with unique hybrid RPG combat and somehow have a way of playing it (I've heard the PC port is pretty terrible), I'd say give it a shot. It might surprise you!
They all struggle in their own way, and it was really satisfying to see them find their own answers one by one. I'm not sure I've seen such a well-rounded FF cast in that way before! Nobody gets left out.
November 14, 2025 at 2:48 AM
They all struggle in their own way, and it was really satisfying to see them find their own answers one by one. I'm not sure I've seen such a well-rounded FF cast in that way before! Nobody gets left out.
So there we have it. I totally understand the game's reputation, but I think it's actually pretty great with some time put into it. I was particularly impressed with how intricate the main characters' motivations were, twisted by grief and anger at their situation, having to work it out on the road.
November 14, 2025 at 2:48 AM
So there we have it. I totally understand the game's reputation, but I think it's actually pretty great with some time put into it. I was particularly impressed with how intricate the main characters' motivations were, twisted by grief and anger at their situation, having to work it out on the road.
The stubborn camera also makes itself annoying, constantly wanting to reset itself behind you as you're exploring. I genuinely believe that the maligned hallways of FFXIII are where the game's at its best--more time getting into battles and story and less time jogging around sluggishly.
November 14, 2025 at 2:48 AM
The stubborn camera also makes itself annoying, constantly wanting to reset itself behind you as you're exploring. I genuinely believe that the maligned hallways of FFXIII are where the game's at its best--more time getting into battles and story and less time jogging around sluggishly.
Add to this the tedious side quest system where only one can be active at a time, and they're also the only way to unlock fast travel points... It's wild to me that this section of the game should have been FFXIII at its best, but when I had the opportunity to return for side quests I skipped it.
November 14, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Add to this the tedious side quest system where only one can be active at a time, and they're also the only way to unlock fast travel points... It's wild to me that this section of the game should have been FFXIII at its best, but when I had the opportunity to return for side quests I skipped it.
And like, while this game is known for its hallways, there is a big open zone section of the game full of side content!! It's just getting around is really tedious at your max speed of a light jog, and to my knowledge only this one area has (optional, needs to be unlocked) chocobo riding!
November 14, 2025 at 2:48 AM
And like, while this game is known for its hallways, there is a big open zone section of the game full of side content!! It's just getting around is really tedious at your max speed of a light jog, and to my knowledge only this one area has (optional, needs to be unlocked) chocobo riding!
Of course it isn't without flaw. The biggest misstep is that the paradigm deck resets to default every time you switch up your party members. It got annoying to constantly reorder everything so I eventually settled on a team for the last act and never switched them out.
November 14, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Of course it isn't without flaw. The biggest misstep is that the paradigm deck resets to default every time you switch up your party members. It got annoying to constantly reorder everything so I eventually settled on a team for the last act and never switched them out.
But to get to this point, of understanding the paradigm system and not getting overwhelmed by setting it all yourself... I understand to an extent why the game is so slow to start. At first it only gives you a preset party so that you always have a combination that's well-balanced for the story.
November 14, 2025 at 2:48 AM
But to get to this point, of understanding the paradigm system and not getting overwhelmed by setting it all yourself... I understand to an extent why the game is so slow to start. At first it only gives you a preset party so that you always have a combination that's well-balanced for the story.
It's super flashy, too. Most staggered enemies can be launched into the air, after which everyone will juggle them, piling on the stagger multiplier and stacking up the damage. It's so satisfying dismantling threatening encounters this way. Even some bosses can be juggled!
youtu.be/X915usCu07w
youtu.be/X915usCu07w
FFXIII lets you do this to bosses sometimes
YouTube video by Marcomix
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 2:48 AM
It's super flashy, too. Most staggered enemies can be launched into the air, after which everyone will juggle them, piling on the stagger multiplier and stacking up the damage. It's so satisfying dismantling threatening encounters this way. Even some bosses can be juggled!
youtu.be/X915usCu07w
youtu.be/X915usCu07w
This is where the combat really shines. It abstracts RPG combat even further than usual, being about predicting the flow of battle and checkmating your enemies with efficient team composition. You'll keep finding new niches you want a paradigm for, but with only 6 slots you have to decide carefully.
November 13, 2025 at 8:37 PM
This is where the combat really shines. It abstracts RPG combat even further than usual, being about predicting the flow of battle and checkmating your enemies with efficient team composition. You'll keep finding new niches you want a paradigm for, but with only 6 slots you have to decide carefully.
The types of encounter vary a lot, so figuring out your priorities with the paradigm deck is a skill you have to hone throughout the adventure. You absolutely will die to generic enemies without the right planning! But dying puts you right were you were before the fight, encouraging experimentation.
November 13, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The types of encounter vary a lot, so figuring out your priorities with the paradigm deck is a skill you have to hone throughout the adventure. You absolutely will die to generic enemies without the right planning! But dying puts you right were you were before the fight, encouraging experimentation.
Out of battle, you set up this deck of up to six party configurations, and in battle, you swap between them on the fly. This area had tough enemies that could easily kill me, so I'd go in as Bully to weaken them and empower myself, swap to Tri-disaster to stagger, then punish with Aggression.
November 13, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Out of battle, you set up this deck of up to six party configurations, and in battle, you swap between them on the fly. This area had tough enemies that could easily kill me, so I'd go in as Bully to weaken them and empower myself, swap to Tri-disaster to stagger, then punish with Aggression.
There are six roles in the game. Commando pressures with physical attacks, Ravager staggers enemies with magic, Synergist buffs, Saboteur debuffs, Sentinel draws aggro and Medic heals/cures status effects. Not everyone is great in every role, and they can't do it all at once: enter the Paradigms.
November 13, 2025 at 8:37 PM
There are six roles in the game. Commando pressures with physical attacks, Ravager staggers enemies with magic, Synergist buffs, Saboteur debuffs, Sentinel draws aggro and Medic heals/cures status effects. Not everyone is great in every role, and they can't do it all at once: enter the Paradigms.
The combat is where I've heard the most complaints: that it plays itself. It's true that by default the game has an auto-battle setting on, and if you want you can play the whole game using this setting, but it only accounts for micromanagement. Where FFXIII's combat shines is the macromanagement.
November 13, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The combat is where I've heard the most complaints: that it plays itself. It's true that by default the game has an auto-battle setting on, and if you want you can play the whole game using this setting, but it only accounts for micromanagement. Where FFXIII's combat shines is the macromanagement.
Often the Datalog spells out the subtext of the story scenes if you're feeling really lost about what just happened, and the glossary elaborates on world details never explained otherwise. There's this incredible page about how a chocobo TV show led to their mass adoption by underprepared families.
November 13, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Often the Datalog spells out the subtext of the story scenes if you're feeling really lost about what just happened, and the glossary elaborates on world details never explained otherwise. There's this incredible page about how a chocobo TV show led to their mass adoption by underprepared families.
But the game's presentation accounts for this. For one, the cutscenes and acting are great, but there's often several threads going on at once. They knew it was overwhelming, because the game features a Datalog: a story synopsis step-by-step, term glossary, and enemy bestiary all in one.
November 13, 2025 at 8:37 PM
But the game's presentation accounts for this. For one, the cutscenes and acting are great, but there's often several threads going on at once. They knew it was overwhelming, because the game features a Datalog: a story synopsis step-by-step, term glossary, and enemy bestiary all in one.
It's this mishmash of confidence that makes the game so off-putting from the start. Running down narrow walkways suspended unfathomably high up in the air, as characters bring up words like fal'Cie, l'Cie, cieth so casually. Cutscene after battle after cutscene after perspective shift; it's a lot!
November 13, 2025 at 8:37 PM
It's this mishmash of confidence that makes the game so off-putting from the start. Running down narrow walkways suspended unfathomably high up in the air, as characters bring up words like fal'Cie, l'Cie, cieth so casually. Cutscene after battle after cutscene after perspective shift; it's a lot!
I played through this earlier this year. it has entire pitfall mazes and you can drop rocks a tile ahead to slowly figure out the path lol
November 12, 2025 at 6:51 AM
I played through this earlier this year. it has entire pitfall mazes and you can drop rocks a tile ahead to slowly figure out the path lol
well that's just cheeks
November 11, 2025 at 7:36 PM
well that's just cheeks
lately around this time of year I get a covid and flu shot at the same time. pretty brutal day after but I'll take the hit
November 11, 2025 at 6:13 AM
lately around this time of year I get a covid and flu shot at the same time. pretty brutal day after but I'll take the hit
you're the only person I follow who posts about it so from my perspective it just sounds like a hateful disaster game lol
November 10, 2025 at 3:06 AM
you're the only person I follow who posts about it so from my perspective it just sounds like a hateful disaster game lol
while it could never compare I've definitely had some "too sick to sleep" nights in the past. gotta take those snoozes when they happen
November 9, 2025 at 7:08 AM
while it could never compare I've definitely had some "too sick to sleep" nights in the past. gotta take those snoozes when they happen