Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy XIII-2's ending obviously begged for a sequel. Just when everything seemed to be wrapping up, the plot threw a curveball to make room for another game. Square has no intention of repeating the downer that ended the previous game. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIIIwill not only end the trilogy, but will also offer a happy ending.
The latest issue of Japanese magazine Famitsu (via Andriasang) shares plenty of new details on the game. It will have just one ending, and it will be a positive one, putting a sense of finality on the whole thing. Square says this game will be "world driven," in that it will involve changing and interacting with the world. Other plot details include the idea that characters from XIII-2 haven't died, since chaos prevents them from getting old. That's a handy trick to bring back characters. Hope will return too, but he'll act as a guide character for Lightning.
From a gameplay perspective, the clock mechanic revealed in the announcement is actually a constantly running clock based in real time. One day equals 1-2 hours of real time, with some variation due to increases or decreases in time. That means it should take somewhere between 13-26 hours to complete a playthrough, though your actions could make the game end before the 13-day limit is up. Sometimes, even helping an NPC could decrease the life of the world. The game is meant to be played multiple times.
In battle, you'll be playing as Lightning alone, and freely moving around the battle field. You'll rely on an ATB gauge for battle, but instead of menu commands, you'll select abilities mapped to buttons. All in all, it sounds much more like an action game than most of Square's previous efforts.
Square Enix has confirmed that Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII will go live in 2013.
The latest iteration of the popular franchise features a brand-new story, world and characters, as well as an enhanced gameplay system. Final Fantasy XIII also stars Lightning as a solo playable character - allowing her to freely roam the new world
Although additional Lightning details are understandably scarce, IGN has confirmed that the main story takes place hundreds of years after Final Fantasy XIII-2, set in a world called Novus Partus - which is composed of four islands connected by monorail in "gothic, mechanical and fantasy” style.
Perhaps the most interesting change to Lightning Returns is the prominently displayed doomsday countdown, with the world set to end after only 13 days. In addition, any action a player takes, such as riding the monorail from place to place, will influence the countdown.
Interestingly, Lightning is apparently the only playable character, allowing "unparalleled control" over the customization of her looks and combat style.
Meanwhile, the battle system has been significantly modded, boasting elements such as direct control of Lightning's movement and attacks, along with a real-time block system and time-based moves designed to accurately drain the doomsday counter.
As expected, Lightning Returns will be the final chapter of Lightning’s saga, which kicked off in Final Fantasy XIII way back in 2010.
In related news, Square Enix is also rolling out a 35,000 yen ($445) Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box on December 18, exactly twenty-five years after the original Final Fantasy went on sale in Japan.
The Ultimate Box includes the first thirteen numbered Final Fantasy games, with Final Fantasy I, II, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and IX for the PlayStation, X, XI, and XII for the PlayStation 2, XIII for the PlayStation 3 and Final Fantasy III on a PlayStation Portable UMD.
The box is also loaded with a number of limited edition extras, such as a a free item download code for Final Fantasy XIV, a two-disc selection of music from the games and a collection of artwork by acclaimed FF artist Yoshitaka Amano.
