Final Fantasy 13 Is Good

[Cecile Lilien]

EDIT: OP originally asked for opinions about the Fantasy variation, but that part got deleted from the question after a moderation. I decided to keep the following part as it is backed by statistics and engine evaluations.]

However, for every play style and type of Caro-Kann player, there is a line that suits him.The ultra-solid ones will play 3. ..e6 and not let you have any crazy fun (this is also the most frequently played move on master level). The most principled ones will take and follow up with a quick e5, destroying White's center. This is probably the best variation for Black (and recommended by GM Erwin L'Ami) , but not the most practical one, as Black needs to know a little. As soon as you follow theory only for 6 moves (1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 dxe4 4. fxe4 e5 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Bc4 Nd7), Black already wins 53% of the games vs. White's 41% on club level (lichess DB 2000+) and scores very well on master level.I play the very practical and still objectively good 3. ..Qb6 where Black already wins more games than White on all levels (incl. masters).Looking at my own games, I have a score of 65% against the fantasy, so it's hardly a line I need to be afraid of.

Let's compare the Fantasy variation with other sharp lines against the Caro-Kann. There is the Panov attack ( that objectively does not promise White anything but does offer attacking chances. I think the lines do not differ much both in objective and practical value. However, the Panov with 5. Nc3 is definitely more challenging than the alternative 5. Bg5 and scores well against me.

If you were to choose one of both variations as your main weapon, I would rather choose the Panov than the Fantasy variation. In the Panov, White makes sure the center opens up and develops some initiative.The line is more "solid" than the Fantasy and scores well both on amateur and master levels. Also, you'll gain experience with a very important structure (IQP), deepening your chess understanding.

Then there is the advance variation which is one of the objectively best ways to fight the Caro-Kann defense. Contrary to both previously mentioned lines, White does not need to make any positional concessions and keeps a healthy advantage.There are two sub-variations that come to mind: the Short variation (main line of the advance!) and the Tal variation with an early h4.

Especially lines where White sacrifices the pawn on b2 can become wild and exciting and very sharp. Black needs to be very careful, keep move orders in mind and is constantly under pressure. Most of the time, Black is advised to refrain from taking on b2, due to the excellent compensation White gets for the pawn and the precision that is needed from Black afterward. However, Black cannot always avoid taking on b2:

If you are very ambitious, you might consider playing the advance variation as your main line and use the Fantasy as a surprise alternative/blitz weapon.If you want to cut down on theory, you can of course also play the other lines. Just try them online and find out what you like best.

It's 1993 and I'm standing in front of a gigantic wall of video games at my local video rental store. I scored a perfect four stars on my weekly writing test, which meant that my parents would let me rent a game and buy me a Happy Meal.

It's 2023 and I'm downloading a pre-release copy of Final Fantasy XVI in a hotel room. Someone thinks it's an okay idea to let me review it. The more I play, the more my heart fills with a childlike joy. I tell my wife, "Sweetheart, I can't believe I'm playing this game right now."

Although it struggles to find an identity early on, it grows into itself beautifully, with endlessly entertaining combat and a compelling storyline. It's not quite a flawless masterpiece, but Final Fantasy XVI certainly stands out as one of Square Enix's strongest outings since the turn of the century.

Final Fantasy has always been defined by its storytelling, and XVI uniquely balances two main influences. On the one hand, you have typical Final Fantasy elements: a clear juxtaposition between good and evil, fantastical creatures like chocobos and moogles, maybe the best iteration of Cid ever, and an especially captivating antagonist. On the other hand, you have a heavy dose of Game of Thrones, which Producer Naoki Yoshida required the development team to watch.

For the most part, these influences blend together into a gripping narrative. But Final Fantasy XVI's weakest moments come when it leans too heavily on Game of Thrones tropes. If you've ever watched the famed HBO series, you'll see many parallels. Blood everywhere? Check. Political intrigue? Double check. Exposition-ridden Sex? You betcha.

Yoshida has also drawn ire for comments he made about representation in the game last year: "Due to the underlying geographical, technological, and geopolitical constraints of this setting, Valisthea was never going to realistically be as diverse as say a modern-day Earth." While he's since clarified these remarks, it's true that the game doesn't feature as many people of color as rival big-budget RPGs like Hogwarts Legacy or Diablo IV.

But despite its blemishes, Final Fantasy XVI tells an amazing tale about the lengths we'll go to fight for those we love and for what we believe is right. Its characters are complex, their relationships are well-developed, and the romance between Clive and his childhood friend Jill is so touching that it made me weep a total of five times (no shame in admitting that).

Fans of games like Devil May Cry 5 and Dragons Dogma will immediately feel at home thanks to the contributions of Capcom veteran and XVI's Combat Director, Ryota Suzuki. While it's not as deep as DMC5, it's just as flashy, satisfying, and consistently fun, while also welcoming to newcomers of the action genre.

Similar to fighting games, Clive can string together attacks into myriad combos. You'll earn new abilities at a steady clip throughout the game to keep things from getting stale. I punctuated countless victories by quietly exclaiming to myself "Helllllll yeah" after landing a series of combos on a staggered enemy.

You'll also occasionally get treated to Eikon battles, where massive mythological beings face off. The simplified controls don't provide much of a challenge, but the epic confrontations show off spectacular, cinematic animation at its finest.

Square Enix took their time to polish Final Fantasy XVI and it shows. Navigating the not-quite-open-world zones of Valisthea, browsing menus, and equipping gear and abilities all feels buttery smooth. But a bounty of innovative quality of life features streamline the game, my favorite being the Active Time Lore (ATL) system.

At nearly any point you can hold the touchpad to pull up a small constellation of entries on relevant characters, locations, or events. They're roughly equivalent to footnotes in a complicated fantasy novel, and I really hope other development teams take note (looking at you, Kingdom Hearts).

The game also allows you to simplify combat with special accessories. If it feels too overwhelming, equip an auto-dodge ring provided at the beginning of the game and mash the attack button. Equip another to easily execute combos with perfect timing.

When it comes to inventory management and crafting though, you likely won't need any help, as they've been simplified almost to a fault. As long as you finish side quests, open treasure chests, and pick up materials along the mostly linear path, you can easily craft each newly-unlocked Blacksmith piece without dealing with a crowded inventory.

I wanted to relive the story to better understand its nuanced character development. I wanted to hear the astounding soundtrack from beginning to end, and once again appreciate its virtuosic range, power, and beauty. I wanted to launch enemies up into the air, juggle them, and then slam them into the ground before finishing them off with a perfectly timed spell. It's all just so, so good.

If you're a Final Fantasy fan and worry that the game's beginning feels too much like a Game of Thrones clone, stick with it. And for all you newcomers out there, XVI might be the most approachable entry in the series yet. Who knows, maybe you'll fall in love with it as much as I did.

Description : Each century a demon and an angel with special powers are born. These are required to keep the balance between good and bad on Earth. But can the current two handle all of this?

Even then, as a Final Fantasy 7 fan, I already got the best, most thorough adaptation of the best part of the game. There's still a good chance I'll like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. I'm invested in the series' alternate take on the events of FF7, and I love the way these characters are portrayed in this new version. But, unless Final Fantasy Rebirth has some unexpected detours back to Midgar, it just won't reach the same heights. It can't. The Plate fell, after all.

I am essentially a Caro-Kann only player (thanks to Hanging Pawns) and nowadays I am running into the fantasy once in a while. I used to play the dxe4 line in somewhat of a clueless manner so obviously I found myself in trouble quite soon. I came across these 2 lines but I am a bit conflicted as to choose which one to effectively respond against the fantasy.

I agree with @IronStream1. This is my go to weapon because I used to play the french. Sometimes it can transpose. It can't be bad to explore other middlegame structures to increase your general chess understanding.

Agreed. Whenever I play the 3.dxe4 or 3.g6 lines, I usually find my light square bishop sitting on the backrank till the early middlegame, which in turns avoids my rooks from being connected and I find myself in dark waters.

With the e6 line I can at least maintain a solid position and try to develop my LSB in a somewhat of a French Winawer style( I am referring to getting my bishop to a4 or a6, of course with proper considerations of the position at hand)

3a8082e126