Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
The Final Fantasy series have always been known for their epic storylines, superb gameplay and finality, knowing that the next roman numeral will have completely different storylines and characters. As the XIII¡¯th Final Fantasy saga finally comes to a conclusion, does Lightening go out with a bang or a sputter.
1. The end of the World is XIII
The Final Fantasy series have always been known for their epic storylines, superb gameplay and finality, knowing that the next roman numeral will have completely different storylines and characters. As the XIII¡¯th Final Fantasy saga finally comes to a conclusion, does Lightening go out with a bang or a sputter.
You play as Lightning, the surly, pretty and badass female warrior and protagonist of XIII, who along with her friends has fought, lost, fought again, then gotten lost across two previous games, only to return after 500 years to find the world will end in thirteen days. God has chosen Lightening to be the chosen one to save the souls from destruction.
2. Confusion Fantasy
The story of XIII is an extremely confusing one. Filled with unpronounceable names, the kind with lots of apostrophes in it. Lightning Returns is no less confusing. Somehow the story warps and confuses from one scenario to another, which just seem too pointless. When the main theme, which is, the fact that the world is ending, is communicated in just one casual conversation. The game is an excellent collection of ideas that could have been better executed.
3. Fan Service and Melodramatic characters.
Fans of the series will be happy to know that lots of characters from the XIII canon will return. Those even you thought dead. Though for some reason, when confronted with eventual death, all the characters seem to get an extra josh of mellodrama. Expect a lot of cutesy voices, ragey male characters that seem to go through all the stages of puberty with every scene. The previous Final Fantasy games seem to always retain a sense of character, keeping itself in quality check. However, Lightening Returns goes all out. Thankfully Lightning's deadpan humour and style of talking saves the day.
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4. The World
Chaos is devouring everything in it¡¯s path, and there are just a few islands of human civilisation left as hubs for you to explore. It¡¯s interesting to see Square Enix exploring ideas on how humanity will react knowing the end is nigh. So situations like the Last party, where people go out into eternal darkness partying it up or different religions popping up to promote prayer or anarchy. These are fantastic ideas not fully realised. As you walk about hubs, the people you meet are too one dimensional.
5. Tick Tock
Why does everyone wait till the very last minute to do their mundane quests? Also, why do they need the ¡°savior¡± to do it for them. It¡¯s not like theres a clock ticking. However, its Lightning's job to usher the souls into the next world, by hook or by crook. While most quests are mundane, there are a few big interesting ones to do around each hub. There is a time limit, and if you feel the day is coming to a close you can use your god given powers to stop time.
6. Costume Change fighting
The best part of Lightening Returns, that makes up for all the mixed stuff in the last few slides, is the battle system. Breaking all Final Fantasy norms of party members to aid you in turn based battle, you are alone as Lightning against all the forces of chaos itself. All you have at your disposal is your costume changes, called Schemata.
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7. Schemata
Lightning can equip upto three Schema, which are costumes with their own stats, powers, weapons, accessories and styles. You collect Schema by doing quests, fighting and exploring and customising them to unlock their full potential is the key. Like you can't equip fighting heavy weaponry to a mage Schema and vice versa. When in combat, you can switch instantly from Schema to Schema chaining attacks and spells, as well as effectively blocking. Think of it as a superspeed Bollywood song, instead of dancing around coconut groves you fight gigantic monsters from the deep. All Lightning's Schema have their own fashion sense, ranging from the cool, to the sexy, to the weirdly grotesque to the dinner dress variety.
8. ATB Battle
Lightning is free to move around the combat arena. With moves, spells and blocks mapped to various buttons. The key is nailing your opponents weakness, making it stagger, once staggered they are open for a sound beating, where you can go into Overdrive and slow time. You can unleash special moves, but they cost Energy Points. The battle system is incredibly deep and superb fun, making you look forward to boring quest after another. More than makes up for any of the games failings.
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9. Graphics and Sound
In typical Square Enix fashion, the cutscenes are beautiful. The trademark XIII crystalline sparkles adorn the menus. The character graphics in game are beautiful, With Lightening and friends rendered in glorious detail. However the rest of the environments look low res. Making the whole game look sparse and very Playstation 2 era. Not one of Square Enix¡¯s finest.
10. Conclusion
The conclusion of XIII is by no means epic, in fact it stumbles right up to a pretty good ending. However it¡¯s the battle system that matters in this game. Wonderfully fresh, exciting and adrenaline pumping for a role playing game. You don¡¯t need to have followed the XIII saga to enjoy the game, Lightning Returns works as a standalone. Recommended if you¡¯re a fan of the series and want some closure.