Xbox 360 Final Fantasy XIII inferior to PS3 version?
Review copies of Final Fantasy XIII are being sent out to various publication outlets. Early reports and impressions have started rolling in with some indication that the Xbox 360 version of Final Fantasy XIII might be slightly inferior.
It’s a topic that’s undoubtedly going to get quite a bit of attention, so I might as well discuss it now. I talked about how the PS3’s version of Bayonetta was inferior to the Xbox 360’s version earlier on. It seems like the situation may be reversed this time around for Final Fantasy XIII.
The guys over at U.K. publication, NowGamer, received review codes for both the Xbox 360 and PS3 version of Final Fantasy XIII recently. After playing both versions side by side, the site listed out some visual differences.
Here are some of the comments from the site about the Xbox 360 version:
- While facial detail appears largely unchanged, the characters’ clothes appear at first glance to be lacking finer details, with notably lower resolution textures.
- Incidental environmental objects and enemies appear less detailed, both in texture and geometry.
- The game’s CG is extremely compressed and pales alongside the stunning HD goodness which blu-ray offers.
The site states:
Ultimately, no matter what you’re playing it on we wouldn’t discourage anyone from deciding to buy it if they’re already planning to. However, if you have a choice, the PS3 version has the edge.
The site indicates that “sacrifices have clearly been made.†I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some sacrifices made as Square Enix developed the game for a few years with heads down thinking the only platform would be the PS3. However, a last minute business decision was made to port it over to the Xbox 360.
With Square Enix releasing a batch of doctored Xbox 360 screenshots of Final Fantasy XIII in a presskit recently, its clear that the company is adamant at conveying the message that both versions of the game are identical. I think I will hold judgment until I get my hands on the review codes. I’m sure both Lens of Truth and DigitalFoundry will undoubtedly analyze the game to death and have a field day.
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66 Responses to “Xbox 360 Final Fantasy XIII inferior to PS3 version?”
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February 17th, 2010
Let’s hear it then Carl. The come back comment with the capital SLIGHTLY better thrown in and the Bayonetta situation and how it’s only the FMV’s blah blah blah lol
February 17th, 2010
hah!
February 17th, 2010
PS3 CGI, cloth textures, and environmental bump mapping is superior in every way imaginable… teh 360 version is UNPLAYABLE, we only get to play .000000000000000000000000000000000001% of FFXIII now because they had to dumb it down for 360… where is my 10 extra hours of CGI????? PS3 RULES 4EVAH!!!
i.e.: “hah!”… “lol”
February 17th, 2010
I’m still going to buy the 360 version. This doesn’t change my mind at all.
Maybe once the price comes down, and it will, I will pick up a copy for PS3.
Sale patterns in Japan were pretty interesting. it sold alot of copies but people started trading it in like crazy. With so many used copies sitting on the shelves prices dropped quickly.
Would be interesting if that happened here
February 17th, 2010
FFXII characters’ hair colors remind me of Cindy Lauper and her song “M$oney Changes Everything”
DJ Gunstar here:
This next song is for the people at Microsoft & SquareEnix. It’s Chubby Checkers “Limbo Rock: How Low Can You Go?”
February 17th, 2010
@twilight
speaking of Bayonetta, after the install patch, is there a great difference between the two versions any longer?
@Fahkin
You don’t own a PS3?
What I hear is that there isn’t a good rental system in Japan, so many people use the return/used games system there to rent, so to speak….
@Carlb,
The MS defense force is in full swing once again I see. Does it actually hurt you when something positive works in favor of the PS3?
Which version are you getting?
February 17th, 2010
“Which version are you getting?”
360 because his POS PS3 doesn’t work right.
February 17th, 2010
He broke his PS3!
I guess urinating into the back does damage it
February 17th, 2010
That’s why I only push solids into mine!
February 17th, 2010
I think I might just avoid the game completely or buy it used, and just wait for FFvsXIII.
I have no issues boycotting people like SE after boycotting Activision, last thing I bought was CoD:WaW after a friend insisting on me to buy it and play with him.
Mind you, I was a paying customer for FFXI(MMORPG) since Nov. 2004, and this was their way of doing new updates and adding new gear/what the gear has on it, etc:
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/6606/alexanderx.jpg
I kid you not, it was like a random generator/rolling dice… FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING! They couldn’t make a better gear(minus the occasional pieces) than what they made in the first actual game and in the first expansions for over 3 years… NA and EU people had to b*tch and moan to be heard by SE unlike the JP’s.
And they only listened to the fans when they lost revenues in 2008 or 2009 by like 13% and kept losing them since then.
I could rant and vent more, but meh. I don’t think I’ll get into FFXIV after that.
Hahaha phranc, priceless.
February 17th, 2010
Phranctoast,
I took the system over my friend’s house and got the patch. It speeds it up a little bit but is not that big of a difference.
February 17th, 2010
@Sorral
SE is going to kill the FF11 this year to make room for FF14….
FF13 might be a good game, but after years of waiting for this game, years of seeing the same girl (Lighting), same screen shots, same videos/trailers, etc….the FF13 hype has died quite a bit. A few years ago FF13 would have been the most anticipated game of the year, but ppl has gotten tired of the same BS from SE.
February 17th, 2010
Day one purchase for me!
A really strong part of me wants to wait and buy it used. They cut out half the game to accommodate the DVD port… but I’ve been waiting for the game FOREVER. And besides it does look like it’s going to be good.
February 17th, 2010
I’m going to buy FFVII first to see if it is a game I would like.
I missed this series just like GOW.
But not until I finish GOW I, II and III first.
February 17th, 2010
I’m undecided on FF13. I’m not really into RPG’s even though I enjoyed FF7, FF10, and some of FF12. Just not my genre. I’m picking up two new games today (Darksiders and Bayonetta) and between them, and Bioshock 2, and Assassins Creed 2 I have plenty to play prior to God of War 3. I think in fact I don’t have enough time for them all.
February 17th, 2010
Well, regardless of what CarlB, happy, or CAD, can say, bottomline is ff13 on the ps3 is the definitive version to get.
But more importantly, it just goes to show how much really square enix did have to “hold back” the ps3 version in order for the 360 version to be identical. Allow me to elaborate.
Bayonetta. Inferior version for ps3. Why? Easy, the developers. Bayonetta only looks better on ps3 due to developer limitation, NOT hardware limitations, as is the case with ff13
Why does it differ? Easy, we can all agree that, unlike most developers, square at least knows how to port their games. The fact that the 360 version looks as good as it does, however inferior to its ps3 counterpart, is still a testament to its developers. So we can eliminate developer limitation. Which means the 360 is running at the max potential S-E’s developers can bring out of it…hence the 360 itself was the limiting factor aka its a hardware limitation..
the icing on the cake tho, is the knowledge the ps3 version had to be scaled back…which means, if square would have developed ff13 with only the ps3 in mind…it could have looked even better, had more content, or both or whatever the case may be, the bottomline tho is this: when ps3 owners do play this game, i ll alwayw be thinking in the back of my head: it could look even better, while 360 owners will be thinking, damn, full 1080p cut scenes…yeah I wish ours weren’t compressed 720p cut scenes…
Anywhoo, that’s my theory based on well, common sense and nothing lol, enjoy your humpday people
February 17th, 2010
@twilight
I hear the patch eliminated the loading that was “annoying”, like when you pick up an item it doesn’t take 5 seconds to view it etc……
February 17th, 2010
Note: bayonetta looks better on 360…yeah no edit button…doh!
February 17th, 2010
jojo with another winning post!!!
February 17th, 2010
jojo has been on a roll lately!
February 17th, 2010
Thanks all, just trying to put in my 2cents…awaiting a comment on how ps3fanboys, stick together or whatnot…which would reek of irony and hypocrisy being as sticking together is what a community does, community being a thing xbox fans tout LIVE has over PSN…
February 17th, 2010
In any case the games short comings don’t sound like a Bayonetta case at all which was a real bad port of the game. it was visually a disaster. There have been too many 360 screens/Video’s shown off and they all looked good. E3 09 Showing was all 360. If the PS3 is a little crisper great but it’s no deal breaker even with 3 Disk. Install to the HD and what was the problem again. But only a lazy ass would complain.
February 17th, 2010
Too bad I don’t care for the game.
February 17th, 2010
“There have been too many 360 screens/Video’s shown off and they all looked good.”
they look good for a 360 game
Halo is not even rendered at 720p (compressed)
February 17th, 2010
Gawd I hate Final Fantasy,
I prefer pokemon.
February 17th, 2010
DAMN!
Xbox 360 version of Final Fantasy XIII “might” be “slightly” inferior.
The original version was made for playstaion so of course it is.
I’m not a follower of the series but I can’t see this effecting 360 game sales unless it’s horrible but the fact that it was square enix who put so much time porting it over and not someone like EA I’m pretty sure it ain’t gonna be to shabby!
February 17th, 2010
Virus – “I prefer pokemon”
which one, soul silver or heart gold?
February 17th, 2010
@phranc
I own a PS3, I just don’t play it as much. I pretty much have PS3 only exclusive games for it like Demon’s Souls, MGS4, Resistence… stuff like that.
Most multi-plat games don’t have any real differences. Some might have some minor ones like playing as the Joker in the challenge levels in Batman… but that didn’t interest me anyway.
Basically I have had my 360 the longest and have the most games for it, so i end up sticking with that.
February 17th, 2010
@Fahkin
Well now that its proven that the superior version is the PS3 version I see no reason why anyone would pick up the 360 version unless:
-You prefer achievements to trophies
-The controller is really a deciding factor
-If the 360 version is cheaper.
-Installing three DVD’s to run the game faster is fine for you and you have enough space.
Theres not even an online element where you can say you want the 360 version because it the version you can play with your 360 owning friends.
Quite frankly…I’m at a loss….. ?????
February 17th, 2010
gotta give it to CON, he has a sense of humour, him,virus and carlb are the only xbots i like. . . . lol
February 17th, 2010
gotta give it to CON, he has a sense of humour, him,virus and carlb are the only xbots i like. . . . lol
February 17th, 2010
@phranc
My 360 is always hooked up, but my PS3 isn’t.
I have like 80+ 360 games but about 6-7 PS3 games. I obviously don’t play my PS3 as much as I play my 360.
I obviously have a much higher amount of achievements compared to trophies. By the time I bought a PS3 I already had about 50 games for 360 and I spent alot of time playing games like gears of war and Modern Warfare.
I also play games with my girlfriend and 360 just seems to accomodate us better in that aspect.
None of my offline friends own a PS3 lol.
Oh yeah, I do kinda like the 360 controller better. More comfortable for my big mits.
I could install FFXIII if I wanted to… why not? I did it with Mass Effect 2.
So there you have it… I kinda prefer my 360 over the PS3, and its just always there. I’m too lazy to hook up the PS3. I need more electrial outlets lol.
As I said, i’m going to own both the 360 and PS3 copies eventually anyway.
February 17th, 2010
“The MS defense force is in full swing once again I see.”
I know phranc, those idiots wouldn’t know obvious superiority and perfection x10 (such as the PS3 version of this game possesses) if it hit them upside the head with a 2×4 of gameplay reality. Not like us proud PS3 owners. It’s obvious their core gameplay experience will be ruined forever if they pickup that broken copy of FFXIII. They are literally going to be crying themselves to sleep dreaming nightly of the “1080p cutscenes” and button nicks they could have seen if only they had the “right” console. Reviewers of course will give the 360 version of FFXIII a failing grade and it will only get a score of 1 on Metacritic due to it only having 8 bit graphics, no faces on the characters, and blank backgrounds. This truly spells the end of 360 and Microsoft. No gamer will tolerate this and they all will throw their 360′s into the dumpster. Whilst marching en masse on the way to their local retailer they will chant “L’cie… Lightning!” and try not to let the baby chocobos riding in their new afros fall out… only to find that no more PS3′s are available due to a worldwide shortage because every person imaginable on the face of the planet has an unequivocal lust for anything PS3. Even if they only have huts with no electricity they will want to have one just to be in the presence of it’s unmatched glory and beauty. Angels will sing in harmony throughout heaven.
http://www.thatvideogameblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/final-fantasy-xiii-chocobo.jpg
SDF in effect phranc.
“Which version are you getting?”
Neither if you mean buying, GameFly ships here in Japan (FPO AP), so I might rent either once it’s available, but I’m still playing Mass Effect 2 on 360 right now, then returning to Darksiders.
“360 because his POS PS3 doesn’t work right.”
Nooooo. My PS3 is PERFECT, and it will last until the end of time man, “to infinity and BEYOND!” My PS3 is now worth 100X it’s weight in PURE GOLD now because their is a worldwide shortage and it ULTRA RARE. If you see one a store shelf snap a pic of it quick.
Seriously though, there is nothing wrong with my PS3, I’ve just crossed the pond, set up, and been playing Mass Effect 2 on 360.
February 17th, 2010
I wonder why someone would take time to write a big essay full of worthless bullshit
you could have just said the last line and end it there.
February 17th, 2010
so true what carlb said about the 360 owners and final fantasy 13
lol
February 17th, 2010
Carls attempt at sarcasm?
February 18th, 2010
Outside this blorge it’s pretty obvious nobody gives a shit about this fanboy stuff.
MW2 ps3 sales are a prime example. If the game’s good go buy it.
February 18th, 2010
“Carls attempt at sarcasm?”
FAILED
February 18th, 2010
“Halo is not even rendered at 720p (compressed)”
…and FPS fans everywhere shunned it because it wasn’t even 720p
February 18th, 2010
Phranctoast,
All loading issues were fixed.
February 18th, 2010
“All loading issues were fixed.”
awesome
February 18th, 2010
“Which version are you getting?â€
Neither if you mean buying”
of course, since FF13 is a PS3 exclusive in Japan.
are you sure gamefly ships to Japan though ?
February 18th, 2010
I already got my first game in country, no problem.
February 18th, 2010
And I can buy the 360 version at the PX (also in Japan).
February 18th, 2010
sure……
February 18th, 2010
-Final Fantasy 360 version is not HD, 520p [Comfirmed]
“A user known as MazingerDUDE, who performs tasks for well respected analysis website Digital Foundry, has revealed that through a study of recent Xbox 360 and PS3 screenshots, that the 360 version actually runs at 576p, which is not HD resolution.”
-Lost Planet 2: Significant amount of content was cut [due to 360 limitations] to try to make it all fit into 1 DVD.
February 18th, 2010
-Lost Planet 2: Significant amount of content was cut [due to 360 limitations] to try to make it all fit into 1 DVD.
LOL.. I emailed them that story.
February 18th, 2010
anymore stories you want to share
lol
February 18th, 2010
@carlB…
Damn…you used to bring up good points carl…you’ve been reduced to…whatever the hell it is you posted..I mean its not your fault the PS3 version is significantly better…but since you own a ps3, why throw a fit? You have access to the better version..you are not held back by the 360s hardware..
February 18th, 2010
Yeah, Sarcasm isn’t too becoming for him.
He’s been the first one touting the superiority of the 360 version of Bayonetta for the last month and a half.
It almost makes it look as if the news made him butt hurt.
February 18th, 2010
hahaha…
the 3 rules of xbots!
February 18th, 2010
CON
yeah true, its just funny all the fights that break out here lol
February 18th, 2010
Carl is just mixing up his posting style. This week he’s playing the ‘obvious’ Ivan
(and yes, I’m serious)
February 18th, 2010
the week before he was playing the obvios Kev.
February 18th, 2010
Intelligent man that SW.
“touting the superiority of the 360 version of Bayonetta”
if there was significant load times, slower frame rates, and broken gameplay I would gladly claim the PS3 version of FFXIII “superior in everyway in imaginable” as one did earlier, but I just don’t see cutscene quality and some textures/slight environmental differences making that big of a difference as the initial differences in the versions of Bayonetta. But the 360 version hasn’t come out yet and none of us has played the game, so I’m open to the possibility it could, I just highly doubt it.
February 18th, 2010
the whole game is inferior….not just cut scene. cinematics cut scenes, in-engine cut scenes, environments, clothers, resolution, texture, 3 dics, etc.
February 19th, 2010
You’re still not talking about the core gameplay roca, as was obviously the case initially with the two versions of Bayonetta. Again, cutscenes and slight differences in textures, environment, etc. neither break gameplay or make for a monumentally superior gameplay experience, as was the case with the 360 version of Bayonetta upon it’s release.
February 19th, 2010
“You’re still not talking about the core gameplay roca”
what part of “the whole game runs at sub HD res” dont you understand
February 19th, 2010
If it was the PS3 version that was worse off you can bet Carl would leave out the ‘slightly’ bit.
February 19th, 2010
Wow so the PS3 version does not run at 1080P LOL it at 720P Native.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/189792/final_fantasy_xiii_fact_check_what_we_know_so_far.html/
February 19th, 2010
spamming for a game you even said you do not care….dont turn into CarlB
February 19th, 2010
Yeah ok CAD, you just keep swapping your discs like a good girl.
February 19th, 2010
“If it was the PS3 version that was worse off you can bet Carl would leave out the ’slightly’ bit.”
Well, if it’s good enough for you to do with PS3, I guess it’s good enough for me to 360. However, I think we both can agree, Bayonetta was not as ‘slight’ in it’s differences upon it’s release, they were major.
“When in doubt, ask someone on the development team. In this case, the game’s battle director Yuji Abe (from a February 12 interview on the official PlayStation blog).
Q: What is the native video resolution and audio format on the PS3?
A: Final Fantasy XIII runs in 720p and Dolby Digital 5.1
For those who thought the PS3 version displayed the cut scenes at 1080p and the in-game bits at 720p, or that the whole thing runs in 1080p native, I read Abe’s clarification as: “Bzzzt, wrong.”
http://www.pcworld.com/article/189792-2/final_fantasy_xiii_fact_check_what_we_know_so_far.html
Oh, that’s a classic find CAD, and hilarious to read after hearing every single PBot in hear brag that their version was 1080p. Brilliant.
February 20th, 2010
Given the insane amount of money M$ splurge on exclusives content for multi-platform games, does M$ also pay developers to make “inferior” PS3 versions of these games?
February 22nd, 2010
Nice, so your saying “M$” has been successful enough in it’s strategy monetarily to buy out third party developers to make inferior versions of their games? Classic.
February 26th, 2010
i originally came here with the intent of finding out if there were any major differences between the two versions of FFXIII thinking it would help me decide which version to buy on launch, but I am blown away by how many PS3 fanboys are still around, not to mention chimed in on this topic, so i feel as if i have to set something straight:
XBOX360 BEATS THE LIVING SHIT OUT OF PS3 BY A WIIIIIIDE MARGIN!!!
and before u chime in with how i’m a 360 fanboy, u all should i happen to own a 360 and ps3(had a wii, but sold it after twilight princess since i only bought it to play that), and have had every symstem minus saturn and most handhelds. and yes, that includes playstation and ps2, on which i played every FF from 7 to 12, including the mmo. so trust me when i say i loved my playstations, and am not a fanboy of any one system, i love/d them all.
first off, ps3 has BOMBED sales wise versus wii AND 360 from day one(minus a spike during the holidays since everyone already has 360 and/or wii and didn’t have much to want for christmas, so most people just figured i’ll buy/ask for a ps3 for the hell of it).
second, sony lost almost all worthwhile ps3 exclusives it had from the old systems, such as Devil May Cry, Resident Evil(which in all fairness, it lost a while ago, but was at one point ps exclusive), and Final Fantasy. Yet Microsoft still has it’s mains like Halo and Gears. Plus CoD is still mostly played on 360. Tbh, i have never met anyone who plays modern warfare 1 or 2 on anything but 360.
third, 360s live. and yes i know it’s brought up all the time in these 360 vs ps3 arguments, but hell, all u ps3 fanboys ever have to use in your argument is graphics, so it’s more then fair. live WHOOPS ps3′s service(whatever the hell it is. honestly, i’ve heard such bad things i’ve never done more with it then sign up since i’ve had my ps3), and nobody can argue that.
and the last thing i’m going to bring up(and trust me, i could go on easily, but the rest is either opinion based or small enough of an issue to not be worth typing atm) is the one thing i ALWAYS hear from people who have both systems: “i have like 50+ games for 360 and like 5 or so for ps3″. i never hear the contrary either, and i do mean NEVER. between 360′s exclusives being better then ps3′s, the fact that most multi-platform games are better on 360, the live for said games being better on 360, the fact more people most of us know in r/l having 360, and the fact that most ps3 and 360 owners who argue which controller is better for what game agree 360′s is better for fps, and the best games are such explains why.
so that’s it, i’ve made my point, and having done so i bid u all good day. oh, and don’t expect a response after you sony fanboys “tear apart” my “flawed arguments” as u feel you’ve done. unlike most of u i have better things to do with my time then check an internet article’s comments every few minutes to defend myself. in fact, i think i’ll go play some 360:P