Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

Unreleased

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is the direct sequel to Final Fantasy XIII-2, part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis: Final Fantasy series. Intended to end the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy, it features Lightning as the protagonist. The game takes place hundreds of years in the future and will feature "a brand-new story, world, characters, and an enhanced gameplay system", according to Square Enix.

Gameplay
Players will take control of Final Fantasy XIII's main character, Lightning, as the sole playable character. The battle system will be a heavily modified version of the Command Synergy Battle system the two previous games used and will feature real time features, such as freely taking control of Lightning's movements and attacks, and a real time block system. Players will be able to assign four commands to the controller's face buttons, allowing her to execute actions with precise timing. The battle system will feature an ATB gauge.

Lightning will be fully customizable and will have a wide array of costumes, weapons, and different battle styles. The game also plays on the world driven concept with a "doomsday clock" element with Lightning needing to stop the world's destruction within thirteen days. She can turn back the clock by defeating enemies or performing certain actions. Sometimes, if Lightning helps people, it will reduce the life of the world. The game has a feature called the "Overclock", which allows Lightning to slow the time for everything except her, at the cost of consuming time from the thirteen day limit.

Story
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII will conclude the story of Lightning and put her in her final battle. The game will follow Lightning's quest to save the world as it will face Armageddon in thirteen days. The game takes place hundreds of years after Final Fantasy XIII-2. Director Motomu Toriyama has stated that Lightning is much stronger now, and is a 'considerably more refined person'. It has been stated that unlike its predecessor, the game will feature just one ending. It has been confirmed that the characters from Final Fantasy XIII-2 will return, and Hope Estheim will aid Lightning by sending her messages via wireless com. In the game, Lightning will enter the final battle against a fate brought about by a new deity. It has also been revealed that Snow will make a returning appearance in an unknown role.

Setting
The game is set in a world called Novus Partus (Latin for "New Offspring," "New Birth," or "Rebirth"), a world created when Gran Pulse and Valhalla came together. It is composed of four islands (two natural and two cityscape) surrounded by a sea of chaos and connected by a monorail system. The game is said to contain traditional RPG elements such as dungeons, towns, and shops. The world is said to end in thirteen days, and it's up to Lightning to save it. Keywords for the world's design are "gothic, mechanical, and fantasy." According to director Motomu Toriyama, the world will face constant changes by the hand of a new weather system and day/night cycles, with monsters also becoming more vicious at night time. The world is said to be finely detailed and changes in real time along with the passing of day and night and is said to have links to the real world, and "will see setups with the world of Final Fantasy entering into our everyday lives."

NPCs dress up in a variety of ways: some wear long robe-like black and white garbs with golden masks and mechanical backpacks, while others like thieves dress up in a "cyber-style."

Novus Partus will contain a complete mix of architecture, ranging from medieval-style architecture to the modern slums in Luxerion, the largest city in Novus Partus. The city will have clocks in various points so the player can see the progression of time.

Etro's Shrine is also present in Novus Partus, and behind it floats Bhunivelze, the new Cocoon.

The world is the most vicious setting that has been seen in the Fabula Nova Crystallis: Final Fantasy series, due to the results of chaos having infected the planet long ago.

The people from Final Fantasy XIII-2 are not dead due to the effects of chaos having rendered the world timeless, thus nobody ages.

Development
Square Enix registered a domain name for Final Fantasy XIII-3 on September 7, 2011, but no development plans were announced. A representative of Square Enix noted that the filing was to protect the Final Fantasy XIII IP and was not indicative of a new title.

The Final Fantasy XIII-2 Ultimania Omega book released on June 21st 2012, contains an interview with Yoshinori Kitase and Motomu Toriyama that sees the pair suggesting a successor to Final Fantasy XIII-2. Kitase stated (the last part about Lightning’s DLC Episode) that "explaining 'XXX Years Later' would be pointless. It might seem that the line 'To Be Continued...' means that Lightning’s chapter will continue in more download content, but we are doing it in a different interpretation".

In a scenario interview with Toriyama and Watanabe Toriyama said that although Final Fantasy XIII-2 didn't bring the happy ending for Lightning he promised before in Final Fantasy XIII Ultimania Omega, he hopes to tell more stories from the Fabula Nova Crystallis.

At the end of July 2012, Final Fantasy XIII producer Yoshinori Kitase has told the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu that work on the "Lightning Saga Project" has already begun. On August 22nd, Square Enix launched an official website regarding the Lightning Saga.

At the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary event, the Final Fantasy XIII stage took place at 11.30 on September 1st, titled 'Final Fantasy XIII Lightning Saga: New Developments Presentation', where Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII was announced. Motomu Toriyama, Yuji Abe, and Isamu Kamikokuryo each presented an element of what the game would be about yet only disclosed that Lightning's new appearance, designed by Tetsuya Nomura, will play on her light, speed, and elegance.

As of September 4th, 2012, the game was confirmed to be 30% complete. As Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is the third title on the current generation hardware, Motomu Toriyama has said it to be the most complete and polished game in the Final Fantasy series.

On October 10th, 2012, Nomura reported that he has finished the designs of the outfits for Lightning and Snow Villiers and that his work in the game had been completed.

According to Kitase, the logo was stylized differently from the traditional Final Fantasy logo in order to present the "newness" of the game.

Art Direction
A number of artists are involved with crafting the world, particularly the city of Luxerion with careful detailing in crafting specific sofas, chairs and telephone booths. Isamu Kamikokuryo revealed the gothic feel and the monochromatic color scheme of Luxerion were chosen to represent a surreal twilight.

Kamikokuryo said the concept of a dying world in which technology is slowly deteriorating was the foundation of the artwork. Motifs from 19th century London during the Industrial Revolution, Asia, and the Middle East will appear in Novus Partus depending on the location. In order to contrast the high-level modern civilization depicted in Final Fantasy XIII, Lightning Returns will have a more retro feel.

Producer Yoshinori Kitase has explained that the title logo was revamped because the team wanted to convey the "newness" of the installment compared to previous Final Fantasy games. The intention was to use an emblem with sharp edges and a symmetrical design.

Staff

 * Producer: Yoshinori Kitase
 * Director: Motomu Toriyama
 * Game Design Director: Yuji Abe
 * Art Director: Isamu Kamikokuryo
 * Character Design: Tetsuya Nomura

Trivia

 * The winner of Square Enix's "Final Fantasy Superfan" contest will have their name credited in Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII.