Final Fantasy XIII-2 Review
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Platform(s): Playstation 3, Xbox 360
Release Date: Out Now
Many fans of the Final Fantasy series had complaints with how Final Fantasy XIII was done. Some criticising the linearity of the game and that compared to previous titles there was no real open world to explore. Others argued that the games characters were too over the top to be able to connect with, and some just downright hated the new combat system that was introduced. All of these complaints and issues from fans were taken into account for Final Fantasy XIII-2 and Square Enix has delivered a most satisfying sequel.
Final Fantasy XIII-2 is set three years after the events of Final Fantasy XIII and shows things ended differently than players experienced in the ending to Final Fantasy XIII. Lightning has gone missing and only her sister Sarah remembers seeing Lightning after Cocoon was saved. Sarah is soon met by Noel Kreiss. A hunter from the distant future who tells Sarah he is sent back in time by Lightning to protect Sarah and bring her to Valhalla in order to aid Lightning. This Final Fantasy game is centred around time travelling and showing players the different types of realities and paradoxes that can be found throughout reality and how changing how things play out can have effects in the future either for the better or for worse. This moves away from the linearity of the previous title as the option of multiple realities to be explored gives players much more freedom in where they go and how they affect the timeline.
In terms of presentation the game is visually beautiful and character rendering and detail, along with backgrounds, music and atmosphere for each individual part of the game are done in an amazing amount of detail that is sure to have any player new or old look at the stunning visual spectacle of the ingame graphics in awe. The game introduces quick time events during cut scenes also that give the player a bit more interactivity rather than sitting back and watching a climatic end to a boss fight they actually get to do these quick time events and feel the sense of accomplishment when a boss is taken down in a cut scene.
Gameplay has also been tweaked in this game. One new gameplay element, called the Mog Clock, has been added, where the player must attack monsters on the field before the time is up to get the upper hand in the ensuing battle. When the player attacks a monster, the screen lights up and the scene switches to a battlefield, marking the start of a battle. Non-player characters (such as the remnant PSICOM operatives) will react to the monsters that appear in the field and weaken them before a fight.
The story as with all Final Fantasy games is a very strong and compelling part of the game that draws in the players from the start, makes them care about the characters they play as and see the character progression as the story advances along up and down the many different paths players may take up to the games thrilling conclusion. The game also contains a number of endings that the player can experience which adds to replay value upon completing the main story. A number of appearances are made by characters from Final Fantasy XIII who support the overall story along with some familiar locations as well. Downloadable content has already been released featuring Sazh from Final Fantasy XIII. Further downloadable content is scheduled for release, one featuring Lightning and another featuring Snow.
Overall Final Fantasy XIII-2 is an amazing sequel to its predecessor and unlike Final Fantasy X-2 delivers an amazing story that players will enjoy playing through that is not cheesy. The entire experience is compelling and the combat is very fluid and enjoyable. The only downside I would have to criticise about the game is the re use of certain locations with just slight differences such as weather or some small difference that adds no real new areas feels a little cheap in my opinion but it is a very small issue within the game and players will ignore it as they play through. I would highly recommend it as a must play.
SCORE 9/10
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