Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII Demo Second Hand Impressions

[† cloud1414]

The Nico Nico live stream of Square Enix's Lighthing Saga presentation cut off just before the best part: an actual first look at the gameplay in Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII.

After high level introductions to the game from Motomu Toriyama, Yuji Abe, and Isamu Kamikokuryo, which you can see here, Square Enix turned off the cameras, told everyone in the audience to do the same, then showed a first trailer. This was followed by a gameplay demonstration.

Famitsu.com and Dengeki PlayStation delivered summaries of the trailer and demo.

The trailer provided an introduction to the game's world and its time progression system. One sequence showed a time counter: "00/02:54:23." Famitsu speculates that by clearing quests, you can increase this timer.

Another sequence showed Lightning, dressed in a new outfit, in pursuit of the criminal in a murder incident. She pursues a group of suspicious people, making use of cover actions -- hiding behind walls, for instance. During the presentation, Toriyama explained that you can perform some sneaking actions using simple controls.

The demo play segment, performed live on the PlayStation 3, showed a battle sequence. You can customize Lightning's weapon, shield, costume and abilities. These customizations can be stored and switched between as you battle. The combinations also have names -- Blast Witch, or Holy Liberator for instance -- and there seems to be a visual transformation sequence. All this makes the customization combination system sound like the Paradigms of past XIII games, but it's not clear if the naming is the same.

Like your typical FF game, the battle system has an ATB gauge which fills up as time progresses. But there are some action-style elements here, as you can now assign skills to buttons. Famitsu also says that you can assign some actions, including an evasion action, to a button.

Larger enemies appear to have multiple "break" states. The earliest such state is "Knockdown." This lets you steal from the downed foe. The final break state is Overclock. This freezes time. The demo play demonstrated Overclock by freezing a Behemoth that Lightning had launched into midair. Lightning then pummeled it with attacks.

As we reported earlier, the demo version was based off an alpha build. The textures and voices were all placeholder (the voices were from the development staff).

Famitsu says that it will have an exclusive interview with the development staff in its September 6 issue.

http://andriasang.co...mo_impressions/

Edited September 2, 2012 by cloud1414

[ukanthuk]

Thanks for this.

[MABFanForLife]

Everything I've heard so far about this game makes it look extremely promising.

First, more Lightning. No need to say more.

Second, the battle system is completely revamped from the previous 13 titles. No parties. From the sounds of how different accessories create different actions in battle makes it sound like the battle system from FF 10-2. And the way that the character moves makes it sound like a bit of a Kingdom Hearts battle system, as well.

The concept of the "world-ending clock" ticking down adds a nice twist and the fact that all your actions can either add or take away the amount of time on it.

Again, all in all from what I've heard of it so far, this game looks very promising. Be interesting to see if Caius makes an appearance as the villian since he wasn't properly defeated in 13-2. Gonna be looking forward to when this gets released next year.

Edited September 5, 2012 by MABFanForLife

[† cloud1414]

Well the game is supposed to be a few hundered years after 13-2 so who knows whats going on. Thats what I got from FFU.

[CardGames]

What?!

But... but... I wanted Snow, Hope, and Noel as party members...

[† Apollo]

Oops, I didn't even know anything about this. Thanks for sharing!!!

[MABFanForLife]

Hopefully, we won't see as drastic a change in Lightning as we saw from XIII to XIII-2. That always bugged the hell out me.

Seriously, the whole plot of XIII revolved around the fact that Lightning didn't want to be the servant to the Fal'Cie. Then, literally after she stops the Fal'Cie and saves the world, she pledges to serve Etro. WTF? Serve the Fal'Cie: Bad. Be kidnapped from your sister, brought to a world where time doesn't exist, be forced to constantly fight for the sake of some goddess: Good. WTF? I never got that part. Such an unrealistic change in Lightning's personality.

[† Apollo]

Hopefully, we won't see as drastic a change in Lightning as we saw from XIII to XIII-2. That always bugged the hell out me.

Seriously, the whole plot of XIII revolved around the fact that Lightning didn't want to be the servant to the Fal'Cie. Then, literally after she stops the Fal'Cie and saves the world, she pledges to serve Etro. WTF? Serve the Fal'Cie: Bad. Be kidnapped from your sister, brought to a world where time doesn't exist, be forced to constantly fight for the sake of some goddess: Good. WTF? I never got that part. Such an unrealistic change in Lightning's personality.

Yeah, the change in Lightning's personality kind of bothered me too.

Edited September 27, 2012 by Apollo

[enarose]

I hope to god that they get a decent game this time. I love Final Fantasy but the whole 13 series has not been their brightest idea. I love the characters but the story lacks something... The battle systems also kinda sucked also. Personally I couldn't stand the first one because it was so linear and most of the game was just cut scenes but part 2 was much better but the ending made me mad. I really hope this has a happier ending. Seriously how did they end the second game like that?

Anyways, I'm excited for Lightning being back. She kicks butt.