[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by Chewy

Youtube video

SQUARE ENIX UNVEILS
LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII

Coming to Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 in 2013

LONDON (September 1st, 2012) – Square Enix Ltd., the publishers of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in Europe and across PAL territories, today unveiled the concluding chapter to the story of the iconic and popular character, Lightning, at a fan-filled 25th anniversary event of the FINAL FANTASY® franchise held in Tokyo, Japan.

LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY XIII is a new FINAL FANTASY adventure that gives the player direct control over iconic heroine Lightning in a constantly moving, expansive environment, on a quest to save a doomed world from complete destruction. How will you spend your final days?

"We are pleased to reveal that Lightning is returning as the playable character in this title, and are excited to see how fans react to the more direct battle system and expansive environment that can be explored at will" said Producer Yoshinori Kitase.

Motomu Toriyama, Director added; "Increased levels of player freedom, customisation and connectivity with the real world, will ensure that this concluding chapter will be an exhilarating finale to Lightning's story."

LIGHTNING UNDER YOUR CONTROL

Lightning will be the playable character - with a highly evolved range of techniques for battles and exploring the environment. Customise Lightning with a large range of different outfits and weapons; that affect not only the way she looks, but also her actions and abilities.


ACTION-ORIENTED COMBAT

A new battle system gives a level of direct control over the action unlike any FINAL FANTASY game, while having iconic elements that are known and loved throughout the series too.
A CONSTANTLY MOVING, BEAUTIFUL WORLD

Stunning artistic direction depicts a doomed world filled with choice and diversity. Living, expansive environments featuring a rising and setting sun, provide unique experiences for every player.
USE YOUR TIME WELL

A world on a course for total annihilation presents unique challenges; where certain areas, missions, and people will only be available during selected periods. How will you use your remaining time?
A CONNECTED EXPERIENCE

Stay connected to FINAL FANTASY and its characters, with unique features that link the in-game world to the real world.

LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII is due for release in 2013.

[Tom4784]

I am completely unimpressed. From what I've heard they've gone for a Majora's Mask style of gameplay in that you're constantly against the clock which goes against this whole exploration angle they're going for. I'm also completely bored of Lightning, she's just a giant mess of cliches now and focusing the game solely around her has definitely salted my interest. Square just loves to run their characters into the ground.

There's a small possibility I might change my mind when I see more of it but at the moment I just wished they ended it properly at X-2 because nothing about this menagerie of **** ideas appeals to me at all.

[Scarlett.]

Apparently there is ways to delay and turn the countdown clock back, I'm excited for this, especially the way the described the new world. In the picture of the world, you can see New Cocoon in the background.

[Tom4784]

You could do that in Majora's Mask, I still hated that game though. It just sounds like a mess and the lack of even an announcement trailer doesn't bode well. Why are they hiding the gameplay if it's due out next year? What's so bad about it that they didn't show any footage whatsoever of it at an announcement they've been hyping up for months?

My expectations aren't high.

[Scarlett.]

From what I gather they only really announced it, because it's the whole FF 25th Anniversary, that said, they said there will be more information and stuff soon.

[Scarlett.]

From the sounds of this article
http://www.1up.com/previews/lightnin...ii-first-looks
Something was shown, but not to the general public just yet

[Tom4784]

Meh, I'm still not convinced. The time idea is awful and constantly restarting just makes it sound like the game length isn't that long and they're just making you play it over and over to stretch it out like the Lightning DLC.

That alone is enough to put me off never mind the other questionable decisions.

[Scarlett.]

I have to admit when I heard that, I got a "eeeehhhh" feeling, but I'll wait and see how it pans out

[Mystic Mock]

It sounds interesting if not a little bit repetitive after a bit, it shall be interesting to see how Square pulls this off.

[Scarlett.]

Square Enix has revealed new details about Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII in the latest issue of Famitsu magazine.

The game will feature Lightning as the sole playable character, and will be the last game in her story. Unlike Final Fantasy XIII-2, it will only have one ending, which Square Enix assures fans will be a happy ending.

The example was given that if Final Fantasy XIII is a story-driven game, and Final Fantasy XIII-2 is a character-driven game, then Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII would be considered a world-driven game. Players will have to adapt to the game's various ecosystems and characters will behave according to their own schedules.

Though Lightning will have greater freedom of movement during combat, battles will not be entirely action focused. For example, the series' signature active-time battle gauge will be used and some elements of the battle system will be timing-based. However, there will not be a battle menu, with actions instead assigned directly to buttons.

The game will take place during the last 13 days before the end of the world, with each in-game day said to take between one to two hours of real time. Time can be increased or decreased based on the player's actions, with even the possibility of ending the world before the 13-day limit. As such, the game is meant to be played multiple times and will not take dozens of hours to complete.

Square Enix also revealed that though Lightning Returns takes place many years after the events of its predecessors, the characters from Final Fantasy XIII-2 will return and won't have aged. Specifically, Hope is mentioned as offering guidance to Lightning through wireless communication.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII was announced during a 25th anniversary celebration for the series, and will be released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 next year.

Glad other characters are returning

[Scarlett.]

New look Lightning

[Novo]

I'm not really interested in lightning at all, I loved the story of FFXIII-2 though, Noel and Serah were great characters

[Scarlett.]

Apparently the other characters will be returning, but we wont be playing as them.

[Tom4784]

Thank god you'll be able to change how she's dressed. She looks like a bad cosplayer.

[Novo]

Awful news, think they could have made the storyline much better and opened up more doors for FFXIII-3 if they kept Serah alive and had the playable characters being Noel, Serah and Lightning but in different time periods switching back and forth, i'll probably still get it just because it's Final Fantasy

[Scarlett.]

I'm hoping her original XIII outfit will be available

[Novo]

I did like the ending of FFXIII-2 though, everything seemed to fit into place and make sense after it was over

[Scarlett.]

Youtube video

[Tom4784]

Best thing about the trailer is that it's given birth to my new favourite gif.

[Scarlett.]

Lightning's catwoman glasses xD

[Scarlett.]

Looks like Chocolina is back!

[Scarlett.]

[Scarlett.]

New trailer!

Youtube video

[Tom4784]

Meh, basically the same as the other trailer but recut. I'm struggling to care.

[Scarlett.]

There's not much about the story so far, all we basically know is there is a city and the world is ending, they need to tell us more.