I have been a Final Fantasy fan since the beginning and I must say that from the first original game to around FF10, the series has been plummeting down big-time. The MMOs are too much and FF12 and this semi-stinker FF13 have really diverged from what FF really conveyed. I think the CG and tech have overshadowed what made these games great, which is the story. Anyways, I found that trudging through this game was a chore and a bore getting killed left and right because I wasn't strong enough or the stupid paradigm system failed me or I stumbled into an area I could access but then got lost as to what to do (even though the game was pretty much all linear; go from point A to B; which in my opinion is not an RPG anymore, thats an action-adventure) However, after getting this Guide, I found it alot easier to get through this game with ease and could actually concentrate on story (as if the story even mattered anyways!) and even setup the paradigms (which is still a stupid system; bring back ATB or its not RPG!!!)

Note to Square Enix: remember those games you had called Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy VII......well, do you remember???? or is it just about selling product branded with the FF logo and making profit? Because I'll tell you one thing, if you return the series back to the way those three were made, in terms of story with the improved graphics and tech available now, you don't even need to think about profit margins etc.............the margin will be crushed by all that moving product.
..........just a thought.........

Just finished watching and I can honestly say the graphics were superb! The best combo of CG and drawn Anime I've seen since the original, having watched countless other titles between. This storyline does diverge quite a bit from the original and if you have ever watched the original there will be parts in this movie where you will kinda scratch your head and go "wait they are already at that part where this happened??" But if after that, you ignore that thought and just let the movie run its course and watch, you will be satisfied and, like me, eagerly waiting for the concluding two movies coming soon in the next couple of years. The extras included in this Blu-ray are top notch also. I especially like the concept art segments.
In conclusion, I give the original series a 9/10 and I would give this series the same 9/10. It's like your first car compared that luxury car you buy years later. Both are your baby, its just the luxury car improved greatly what you already liked and added a couple extras and improved performance.

The review's title pretty much says it all. I've seen the original and have the DVD's and this one adds more to what already was a great Anime.