20 Great Games That Still Get Unjustified Hate

In 2009, Final Fantasy XIII made everyone marvel at its cutting-edge graphics… and then immediately caused an uproar of hate comments and criticism for having a dull, nonsensical plot and a linear level design that spit on the expansive open worlds of its predecessors.

The thing was, Final Fantasy XIII was simply unlike any other Final Fantasy before it. And when you judge it not as a successor to the older titles, but as a new direction for the series, you realize that the linearity is actually its strongest point.

Final Fantasy XIII was among one of the first 3D Final Fantasy titles that prioritized linearity as opposed to a JRPG open world. This allowed it not only to flesh out its story but also to make the combat more dynamic by focusing on individual stages instead of overarching locations with random mobs, which in turn made the game’s boss battles some of the best encounters in the series.

The game also features the Paradigm System that allows you to create custom roles for your party, instead of pre-selected jobs, which to this day is one of the most in-depth and satisfying party creators in the series.

The plot might feel convoluted at times (as does any other Final Fantasy plot, really), but combat-wise, it’s a great addition to the series.