Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

Balthier: I'm afraid the jury's still out on that one.

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Template:Infobox CVG 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. Instead of selecting commands, Players will be pressing buttons that correspond to the individual abilities. However, their will also be timing-based mechanics. Even though the battle system is of an Action-RPG, it will feature an ATB gauge. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII will also feature a rich battle experience with tougher enemy types and boss battles. The key will be to destroy various body parts on the monsters. Lightning will also have an increased variety of movements, as well with monsters. Similar to Kingdom Hearts, Lightning will be able to climb, jump, take cover behind walls and objects, climb over and hang off ledges, and a variety of other movements both in and out of battle.

Lightning will be fully customizable and will have a wide array of costumes, weapons, and different battle styles. Specifically, Styles will allow players to put together various equipment which will create different skills and attributes for battle. Players can then preset different Styles and change between them in this way. Abe states that there is a lot of freedom in terms of customization, so that the player can create a well-balanced character or an all-powerful one. 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 come back, 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.

The game will feature a heavy influence on Bhunivelze, the god who created the other fal'Cie gods - Pulse, Lindezi and Etro. Whereas other games in the series have focused on the others, this game will focus on Bhunivelze's awakenin. The people of Luxerion will worship him and want him to create a new world.

Setting

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The game's setting, Novus Partus.

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. Novus Partus is said to be an open-world with many platforming elements. 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."

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Designs of NPCs from Luxerion.

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.

In a developer interview with Famitsu on September 6th, 2012, Kamikokuryo stated that Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is using newly designed assets to build the game. Novus Partus is being built from the ground-up from many drawings, as well. Graphically, Lightning herself also looks quite beautiful now.

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. In terms of technology, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII shares the same elements from Final Fantasy Versus XIII, while sharing a few gameplay and design elements of Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII-2, as well.

On November 22nd, 2012, Yoshinori Kitase posted on the Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Facebook and Twitter accounts giving a development update. Kitase stated that the first part of the game has been implemented to a certain extent and that they have been collecting play test feedback. Using that, they will continue to strengthen the game. They'll repeat this several times over in order to polish the quality of the final product in a variety of ways.

Art Direction

Concept artwork.

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
• Main Character Design: Tetsuya Nomura

Gallery

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Trivia

• The winner of Square Enix's "Final Fantasy Superfan" contest will have their name credited in Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII.
• On November 15th, 2012, official Facebook and Twitter accounts were updated in which it was promised that these two accounts will be updated daily. It was said that the development team is nearing the moment in which they can show the world publicly.

External Links

• Official Japanese site
• Square Enix page
• Official Twitter
• Official Facebook

References

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