"Lightning Returns" Concludes Final Fantasy XIII
By Jiro, December 29th, 2012
The first official trailer for Lightning Returns has been released along with a treasure trove of screenshots, feeding fans of the series just enough information to keep interested. The third and final chapter in the Final Fantasy XIII tale is set to be a very different from its predecessors.
In Lightning Returns, the titular heroine arrives in the city of Luxerion, tasked with saving the world on a very tight deadline: she has just 13 days. Time plays a major role in the game, with the passage of time changing the behaviours of NPCs as well as when and what events and scenes are experienced. Clocks feature prominently around Luxerion, a strongly religious city. Additionally, Lightning's actions can delay or even hasten the impending doom, putting a lot of pressure on the choices the player's make. Lightning Returns has been designed for maximum replay value, with many of the scenes requiring a second or third play-through to view. It's yet another shift from the linear story delivered in the two previous games.
What evil threatens the world is still unknown at this point, but it could be linked to the local peacekeeping organisation known as The Order which has charged Lightning with investigating serial murders, or even the presence of a strange cult-like group wearing white, hooded robes. Lightning's investigations will require a more stealthy approach too, opening up a completely new gameplay element.
Navigating Luxerion is far removed from the linear corridors Final Fantasy XIII was critiqued for having. Lightning is now able to roam free, using parkour-inspired movements to travel in all directions. Whether these movements are button activated or automatic processes is undetermined, but it adds a greater layer of exploration that some felt was sorely missing from the original game. Lightning is also able to use the Luxerion monorail network to travel around the city, speeding up her travel time.
Combat has changed significantly as well. With only Lightning present in battles, a new ATB system has been implemented. Commands are no longer locked to classes; instead, four commands can be assigned to the face buttons, creating a more action-oriented system with a greater level of depth. With the new world of comes new monsters too; there are a number of completely new enemies complementing the old favourites.
Lightning's final installment is shaping up to be a unique step forward in the Final Fantasy series, with Square Enix showing that it's trying hard to please both fans and critics alike. If nothing else, it's a beauty to behold, and Lightning's new design should help keep players engaged while the branching storyline unfolds. Whether the Final Fantasy XIII series has interested you or not, Lightning Returns is looking very promising.
| | gleed99
01.22.2013 12:21am
I think it looks like the setting and style is highly inspired by the assassin's Creed games.
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| | Scribe
01.14.2013 10:41pm
Only one party member? This should be interesting!
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| | Id82
01.11.2013 9:08am
So nice to have some new updates on this site :)
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