This week we witness the unveiling of probably one the most widely anticipated titles of the decade; Final Fantasy XIII. This title was really first teased at way back in 2006, so the lengthy road to release has been overwhelming. However, that wait is finally over and we will all sit down to surely what will be the gaming event of the last few years.

Released in December over in Japan, Final Fantasy XIII has actually amassed a little controversy since its unveling, and the reviews received for the title haven’t quite been the full aces developers Square Enix have been hoping for. The primary reason for this being that Final Fantasy XIII has somewhat significantly revised the fundamental gameplay associated with the series, and certainly the RPG style on the whole. Gone are NPCs, interactive cities and an instantly open world.

As an alternative, Final Fantasy XIII is a lot more linear and storyline driven. Users comply with quite a strictly set route for the initial 25 hours or so of gaming. Succeeding this, the gameplay branches out and players are free to observe their very own decisions a little more. This has been a major gripe for some, whereas others welcome the more direct and cinematic approach. It actually does depend on your inclination.

One component which has been vastly highly praised is the battle system, which is made up of an revolutionary mesh of X and XII. Users are actually encouraged to ‘stack’ attacks, and the more you can stack increases as you level up. Furthermore, in Final Fantasy XIII there are numerous different roles your characters can play, including healer and tank, and players are free to shift these roles during fights.

It goes without saying that the visuals on this title are awesome. Presentation has always been Square Enix’s strongpoint, and the series has always offered top range visuals. As the first of the series to hit the next gen machines,Final Fantasy XIII is, no doubt, the prettiest looking videogame ever. The cut scenes are so detailed and attractive you’ll want to stare at them for hours, and the in-game visuals are enough to rival the FMVs of lesser titles.

Add an undoubtedly grand storyline, and you have the biggest title of the year. It might be a little different to what you’re familiar with, but overall Final Fantasy XIII is simply what everybody’s been ready for. Masterful battle, achingly attractive visuals and a guartenteed 60+ hours of gameplay mean Final Fantasy is back with a vengeance. Let the journey begin.