Don’t pack up your PlayStation 3 just yet, as Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII continues to look like a title worth buying. No, we’re not playing some kind of sick prank – check out the ten minutes of gameplay footage embedded below to see what we mean. The clip shows pink-haired protagonist Lightning running through massive open world environments, swatting blobs with super-powered swords while Chocobos innocently ride by.
The role-playing game is due out tomorrow in Japan, but you’ll need to keep your current generation console hooked up until at least 14th February to experience it overseas. We could think of worse ways to spend Valentine’s Day than in the company of Lightning, Vanille, and Snow. Wait, did we say that last name out loud? Oh boy...
[source youtube.com]
Comments 20
I genuinely think this looks really good.
Also Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 I think is releasing the same day. UGH! Gonna have to spend $120 plus tax for 2 very good games (Unless Newegg has some deals where i can buy them for $48 like i did with Tekken Tag 2 and Resident Evil 6)
@get2sammyb Gameplay-wise perhaps... But I can't see it doing anything to fix the other problems that plague the XIII games - namely the atrocious cast and woeful storytelling.
It is pretty though. 6/10.
@ShogunRok Oh no, I completely agree that the cast are detestable, and I don't see that changing at all. The open world, visuals, and combat system look really good to me, though. Surely that bodes well for FF15?
I will wait for the inevitable Trilogy Compilation/Collection with all the 3 games before jumping out buying all the games one by one.
My wallet is slowly screaming for mercy every night, so I most hold dowm my cash flow.
I actually liked the cast, i don't know why so many fans dislike Vanille? I like her upbeat; cheerful personality. When i was playing FF XIII (the original) the scene after Vanille gets her summon, i was thinking of how "real" the characters are, where u could possibly relate to how they are feeling (generally speaking)
@get2sammyb I was thinking the same thing. I'm loving the open environments and the look of the battle system - now I just want these to be incorporated into a Final Fantasy game that isn't bogged down by a terrible narrative. FFXV might just be that game.
@Sonicfan11589
I completely agree with you. I enjoyed the cast and it wouldn't be a good JRPG without a crazy narrative. I enjoyed both XIII and XIII-2 and I'm looking forward to finish the trilogy.
Till today I though I was the only one that liked 13 and 13-2. I really look forward to 13-3 and Lords of Shadow 2. Unless one of them get ported to PS4 (or the latest Atelier game arrives after them) they may be my last PS3 games.
Worst way to spend Valentine's day is at home playing Solitaire
Glad to see quite a few people enjoying XIII and XIII-2's story. I also think they are great. I had a change of heart regarding Hope whom I didn't like at first. Snow however, still annoys me even after 150+hrs spent on these games. @belmont No you are not the only one that likes the games. If you go over to novacrystallis (basically a dedicated FF news site), people have been going nuts over Lightning Returns over the last months.
@ShogunRok I wouldn't hold my breathe that FFXV will be your cup-of-tea. I think it's more of a changing of taste/expectations in gaming. FFVII's story would be bashed today as well. I also think there is a bit of cultural barrier. The contrast between Western/Eastern styles has never been more apparent than this Gen. Before the PS2 era most of the well known games (especially RPGs) were made by Japan so it's not like gamers really had a choice.
@heero2001 In Japan people also think that XIII and especially XIII-2 are pretty bad.
@heero2001 I'm afraid that Final Fantasy will lose the fans it actually has left if FFXV isn't on par with the most well known of the franchise. It at least has to be much better than XIII for many jaded fans to even take a second look. And with its development time, it could really be make or break for the series.
@Gemuarto XIII-2 is still the second best selling PS3 game in Japan (the first being XIII) so they don't hate it that much, divisive yes, hate no. When you have a fanbase as large and as passionate as FF then of course you are always going to get people who strongly dislike any game. I think reactions in Japan have been pretty normal for a new game. I mean every game since X has basically been like this. X-2 was pretty divisive, so was was XI, the first MMO. XII was especially bad. The difference between Japan and West is that the media perception in Japan is very positive while not so much here. I attribute that partly to SE's terrible PR department overseas (seriously, start bribing people already).
I can see why the 13 series have devided the fans but I really don't find them that different from previous installments. A cast that included strange, atrocious, good and bad characters that somehow were gathered by a common goal to save their beloved while struggling with their personal demos. While some of them matured along the way they eventually somehow got involved with the end of the world. The narration of the story was good on both games even, though the first was linear and the second not, and you actually cared to see what happens next. Too bad the ending of 13-2 was somewhat predictable though. As far as gameplay is concerned this new system is just a very fast edition of the traditional atb system allowing for faster battles. Visually both games are stunning.
@heero2001 It's brand power, man. And FFXIII-2 proved that brand lost many souls thanks to FFXIII.
@belmont Before, it was divided like - what is your favourite Final Fantasy. Now it's divided like - FFXIII is playble - not playable.
FFXIII another game I got bored of after a couple of hours. Previously I had only played VII. I ended up wondering what on earth they had been doing for the last ten years? Rubbish. VII I enjoyed, shame.
@belmont
I completely agree with you. FF always had divisive games (anyone remember FFVIII?), but, for some reason, XIII is under heavy fire.
I loved all the games of the series and I only didn't play XI and XIV because I don't have time to invest in MMO.
I'm definetely looking forward to Lightning Returns.
I enjoyed FF13/13-2 as well. Vanille and hope were awful but i liked everyone else.
Havnt watched many vids of this one tho. Im more tempted to get a realm reborn
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