LogFAQs > #967154970

spikethedevil posted...

X handles being linear well with various open areas, actual towns and NPCS while XIII is just corridors for 12 of its 13 chapters. @WaterLink

Honestly I liked the way XIII handled that. You get key items which unlocks different shops which sells you items or upgrade materials or weapons and they're available at every save station going forward as you unlock them no matter where you are. Much better than the "certain shops in certain locations are the only ones that sell these items so you have to backtrack all the way there to stock up or grind for money to buy it now while you're here" mechanic.

Most NPC dialogue in JRPGs are throwaway lines anyway so they kept it in the datalog that updated as you go so you can always read up on it. Those are always mindless chores I'm glad they streamlined that if I'm being honest. My only complaint about 13 is how long it took for it to give you full control of your party and fully open up the battle system. The first 9 or 10 chapters were a gradual tutorial, which I've played Trails in the Sky so I'm used to it. But once you got to Pulse and could willy nilly switch your party leader and active team it was game on and I really loved it.