Square Enix is getting ready to do something they have never done before with its flagship series—a third sequel. The series tenth entry earned a direct sequel which was the first for a Final Fantasy game. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is going a step higher. The game is set 500 years after the canon ending of Final Fantasy XIII-2. Lightning wakes up from her self-induced crystal stasis to find the world in turmoil. Chaos reigns and all of Cocoon is on the verge of collapse. Lightning is called upon to set things right. And she’s got 13 days to do it. No pressure, right?
Lightning Returns moves the series from its tried and true turn-based gameplay for gameplay inspired by action adventure games with Lightning as the sole character. Lightning can jump, climb ladders, and hang on ledges like in games such as Tomb Raider. Elements from previous Final Fantasy titles like the Active Time Bar and the Paradigm system from the two previous Final Fantasy XIII titles make a return hear along with the dressphere feature from FFX-2. Lightning is set to have nearly twenty different outfits. Don’t expect one of them to be a songstress; I doubt that will happen. However, it seems that this will not take away from the action as it did with Final Fantasy X-2 where the characters changed into their outfits via Sailor Moon. Instead, the Schemata system will be accessible while Lightning is in combat so there’s no changing sequence. Think Dante’s ability to switch styles on the fly in Devil May Cry 4 and there you go. This is a nice concept because not only will fans of the FFXIII series or the Final Fantasy series in general will play this game but it also will potentially draw in fans of action adventure platform titles like Devil May Cry or Tomb Raider. This does look like it’ll be a fun title. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII releases in Japan in time for the holiday season. For the rest of us, look for it as a Valentine’s gift.
Speaking of Final Fantasy X, that series is due out in a HD collection release later in the year for the PS3 and PS Vita.
Final Fantasy XIII E3 trailer
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD
