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How Final Fantasy XIII-2 Will Be Different From Final Fantasy XIII

By Spencer . June 16, 2011 . 1:31pm

How Final Fantasy XIII 2 Will Be Different From Final Fantasy XIII While it sold well, Final Fantasy XIII came under fire from fans who felt the game was too linear. When I met with Yoshinori Kitase, Producer on Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII-2, I asked him if the reception of Final Fantasy XIII affected development of the sequel.

 

"We made Final Fantasy XIII with the concept of a story driven game. So much so, some gamers were not very happy with it and criticized XIII and said the game progression was too linear and the world could be more populated," Kitase replied rather honestly. "With Final Fantasy XIII-2, we wanted to present a completely different experience with this game. There is more exploration and elements in the environment to interact with."

 

Final Fantasy XIII-2 was designed with multiple playthroughs in mind, Kitase explained. The game will have multiple endings for players to discover, as well. Check back tomorrow for more on Final Fantasy XIII-2 when our interview goes live.


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  • CrazyKnives

    ‘How Final Fantasy XIII-2 Will Be Different From Final Fantasy XIII’
    A crappier plot.

    Sorry I’m really not digging the alternate realities thing. I’m not buying it.

    • http://twitter.com/#!/kaishou Kaishou

      Funny how you know the plot of a game that was announced last month. I’m simply amazed.

      • CrazyKnives

        It was kinda of a joke, I’m not claiming I know the plot or anything all I said was that I’m not liking the way the story is going so far.
        I’ll clarify next time.

  • http://twitter.com/#!/Leafy_Cam Leafhopper

    So now it will have a story that will be lacking but more free roam?

    Good show Square, I thought only Capcom was bad at balancing games.

    Joking aside this story better not suck lol.

  • Eddie

    All I can say is I hope they get back on track not with just Final Fantasy 13 but with all their games.

    • http://twitter.com/#!/Leafy_Cam Leafhopper

      That would be nice as well.

    • thebanditking

      agreed Square-Enix needs to get back to the roots of their franchises and focus on what made their NES-PS1 era RPGs so memorable.

      • http://www.facebook.com/keishenra Kyle D. Johnson

        Elaborate, please.

        Don’t get me wrong, I feel similarly, but times are changing. What’s memorable to us isn’t necessarily the same for everyone. It’s like our gaming generation (assuming both of us are of similar ages) is blinded by nostalgia a bit, and it hinders the experience, no?

    • Xeahnort

      Square Enix just can’t make a good game anymore.

      • http://myfigurecollection.net/collection/ashgail Ashgail

        Their PSP releases would like to have a word with you

        • http://thrust-the-sky.deviantart.com/ WildArms

          And the world ends with you

          • solbalmung

            THE WORLD ENDS WITH YOU FTW!! Srsly, that’s a masterpiece of a game, do want a sequel D: !!

          • http://thrust-the-sky.deviantart.com/ WildArms

            Yes! Certainly!, that game made me love my DS 1000 times more too, it was so awesome, and only possible thanks to the DS xD

      • alastor3

        that reply was one of the most stupid thing I have ever heard

        • Xeahnort

          Face it ! They’ve been going downhill as a company for a long time now and they still in business thanks to Tetsuya Nomura and yuji horii´s dragon quest

          Do you really think Square-enix can do a decent game after losing key members such as Sakaguchi, Uematsu, etc…

          • alastor3

            The World Ends with You!!!But I agree that Square are making worst games over the last few years but that doesn’t mean they can’t make good game anymore

    • http://www.facebook.com/jstack Jon Stachewicz

      On track?  All FFXIII WAS was a track

      • Eddie

        LMAO

      • http://twitter.com/#!/Leafy_Cam Leafhopper

        If it wasnt for the combat it could be a railshooter.

    • godmars

      Not going to do it until they first realize mistakes, like they did with FFXIV, and don’t repeat them.

      XIII-2 comes off as more a correction while vsXIII might turn in a repeat.

  • http://tristsantithesis.tumblr.com/ Tsunayoshi Sawada

    Oh come on now! Multiple endings?! Now even more reason to follow the guide word for word, and I will have to actually plan out the path. I hope the trophy list isnt too terribly challenging to get platinum status either. 

    • http://www.facebook.com/hotshotvegetarian Tyler Kight

      Wow, can’t say I’ve ever heard someone complain about multiple endings in an RPG.  Don’t ever play Chrono Trigger then…

      • Ryos

        The only time I’ve disliked multiple endings is those true endings that require you to beat every minigame around and answer every particular question correct sort of deals.  Otherwise, the only thing bad about multiple endings is that if you WANT to see them all without resorting to YouTube, you have to replay the game…but really, should it be a bad thing not to play a game once and then retire it?

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000301072427 Mark Shaver

      Or you could go through the game once on your own skill and then use the guide once you’ve had the experience for yourself. Just a thought.

      • http://tristsantithesis.tumblr.com/ Tsunayoshi Sawada

        I like to go through and get as many trophies and in game goods on the first playthrough as possible. Playing an RPG without a guide, impossible. 

        • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000301072427 Mark Shaver

          The only time I ever used a SG in an RPG (On a first playthrough) was when I had to fight this boss in the Silver Canyon with just Zephyr and Vashyron. It’s not impossible, it just takes more than the minimal amount of effort to do it.

          Can’t say I’m not knocking your playstyle, because I am, but you’re entitled to it. It’s just not impossible.

      • Istillduno

        I just wish every RPG these days wouldn’t make so many things missable, seems like every time I go through I’m having to go round humping all the walls with the a button just to make sure I don’t find myself on a “Lol too late, go new game plus noob” when trying to do a sidequest later.

        And even then sometimes these missables will be triggered in places which you’ve previously been through but had no reason to backtrack to.

        It’s just so damn unwieldy and not everyone has time to go through a game multiple times because they didn’t know they had to speak to bob who only appears after x happens but before y happens to get jim who is needed for the true ending. (Glares at basicly any Idea Factory game)

  • Rihawf

    Let’s see…Old characters as DLC. Probably.
    New features, sweet.

  • karasuKumo

    Honestly I haven’t seen these improvements in the gameplay trailer. It’s the first gameplay we’ve seen so I guess it’s still pretty early. Just not going to get my hopes up for it.

  • Letiumtide

    I don’t know if I can call “read the additional info to fully understand the what’s going on!” a story. 

  • godmars

    Don’t really care, I just feel insulted by this game.

    Bad enough Square put out XIII then only made excuses, now this XIII-2 is coming out seemingly in address of those unaddressed issues. With Versus getting pushed back for anyone’s trouble.

    I mean am I the only – now former Square fan – who’s a bit suspicious that they put XIII-2 together as quickly as they? That maybe such happened from discarded ideas from XIII the devs couldn’t introduce because management (Wada) wanted specific results? And now “in apology” we’re expected to buy the game, at least in part, they should have made in the first place?   

    • OneOkami

      In regards to putting this game together “quickly”, to be fair, you have to consider that they didn’t have to build and optimize a brand new engine for this, they didn’t have to design a completely new universe, backstory and cast, and they didn’t have to conceptualize and create all the art.  All that stuff takes time.  Having pre-existing assets spared them a lot of it.

      All that being said, I’ll be the first to agree that indeed Versus’ development has been ridiculous.

    • karasuKumo

      Agree completely, that trailer might as well have been a showcase for all of XIII’s models. I’m pretty sure the beach area from XIII appeared, almost all the enemies are old and the one new enemy you couldn’t even see. They didn’t even bother to change NORA’s clothes but made Serah look really odd. They gave everything a weird futuristic look for some reason but gave lightning old school armor. I seriously cannot understand SE’s designs anymore.

      My last hopes as a SE fan are Type-0 and Versus, they better be amazing!

  • joesz

    “Multiple endings?” “facepalm’”

    It seems that every Japanese developer is trying to apply this nowadays.

  • imaguni

    I think it’s a little too early to make a call on the possibility of multiple endings, haha. It really depends on how much they impact the story in the end, and that’s something we’ll only know about when/if we play XIII-2. I’ll wait for the interview tomorrow to say more, I’m looking forward to it!

  • OneOkami

    I really don’t mind the multiple endings.  It enhances the replay factor of the game.  Its not like this is the first time they’ve done this, either.  I rather enjoyed my 2nd playthrough of Final Fantasy X-2 (much more than the first) en route to 100% completion and the perfect ending.

  • SetzerGabbiani

    So basically, this is really Final Fantasy XIII.  The other game was just a demo.

    I kid, I kid.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Gambit-John-Quitoriano/548928476 ‘Gambit’ John Quitoriano

    FFXIII was story driven, but it was driven by sheer stupidity. Obviously shallow plot with an even shallower cast of characters. FFXIII-2 is going to do what FFXIII did times 2. And thats not exactly the best way to ‘revive’ RPGs’. Developers should just look back and understand why games like Xenogears, Planescape Torment, and etc. were so amazing.

    • Darkrise

      Xenogears remake for Ps3 ^^

      • SetzerGabbiani

        But with a fleshed out disk 2.  No Evangelion like storytelling from Fei Fong Wong.

    • Sam Jones

      Looks like they are looking back at past successes though - http://www.diedagain.com/final-fantasy-xiii-2-takes-a-page-from-modern-and-classic-rpgs - which is nice to see. 

  • Luna Kazemaru

    Ok whats up with Multiple endings in everything now? Whats next FPS’s going to start pulling that off now?

    • http://thrust-the-sky.deviantart.com/ WildArms

      Multiples ending is the best, you end in the way you feel more confortable with! without wanting to kill someone if you disliked the ending, and adds more replayability.

      And its just cool, you dont know what kind of endings there may be, its better that than a possible sucky and/or open ending

      • http://twitter.com/#!/GuiltyRaioh ShinkaRaioh

        It depends, multiple Endings in VNs and smaller RPGs? Yes, surely a great thing, even more if there are endings concerning love interests and all. Though I don’t really like to play through a game with a guide in hand just so I won’t miss a point to get the ending I want, it’s even more inconvenient in big RPGs and I’m honest most endings in those games are really really similar with only minor differences or differences you do not care about, so “I’m” going for the perfect ending from the get go. Naturally there are exceptions, but exceptions prove the rule, lol.

        • http://thrust-the-sky.deviantart.com/ WildArms

          Oh, but those are different endings im talking about xD, for example, you are saying like if it was, uhh… like Disgaea that you need to do some specific stuff where you 100% need a guide, or where there is a perfect, normal, bad ending, i like it more when they arent exactly categorized.

          The endings im talking about are when there are multiple endings that, where you decide to go with what you want to go, good example is dragon age, you just do what you want, also, Ar tonelico games where you go for the girl you want, or even infamous where you can be either good or bad. Or multiple endigns like persona 4 too (it really depends on your judgement if you want to end at THAT (spoiler) ending or not), or P3 with the social link stuff, you could even call it a “customizeable” way to get multiple endings xD, since you relate to the people you want to be the most, and get more scenes with them.

          For all of these i didnt used a guide, and it was really fun to hear what others did xD, those are the endings im refering to.

          • http://twitter.com/#!/GuiltyRaioh ShinkaRaioh

            Yes I know, those are the endings I’m liking too and not using a guide, maybe for references in Ar Tonelico, but yeah those endings are great, as they give you a variety of events that are different for the story and the endgame. The endings I do not like and always use a guide for are the generic good bad and true ending games, they just don’t differ too much as that I would go through the hassle of getting all endings, so I just get the true or good one and be happy with it.

          • http://thrust-the-sky.deviantart.com/ WildArms

            Yes i also dislike those kind of things, and im not that completionist to even try to get other endings on disgaea after getting the one i got.

            STILL THERE ARE SOME GAME’S ENDING THAT ARE just too unfair with the player… FSFJSFIfs T-T

      • http://tristsantithesis.tumblr.com/ Tsunayoshi Sawada

        I cant really think of many people who have time to keep playing games to get through all the multiple endings, especially if its in some time consuming manner where you have to resort to needing a save file manager to keep track of what you did.  Multiple Endings is alright in fighters and quick RPGs, but something as time consuming as Final Fantasy…just no. Instead of multiple endings, why not more sidequests or put that time and energy into making the story better?

        • http://thrust-the-sky.deviantart.com/ WildArms

          Making the story better? What game are we talking about? Because the games with multiple endings ive played, their stories have been good…

          And even if you dont plan to go through the game again, is still cool to see what other people did and what kind of endings are the other, through internet with youtube or w/e, but you still feel the ending you got is more personal since is the one you got to see with your choices

          • http://twitter.com/#!/GuiltyRaioh ShinkaRaioh

            Nah, he’s talking about this game here I assume, where I would agree, so far I can’t tell if the whole story will be good or not, but the risk for it to fail because of multiple endings is higher(don’t ask me why I just have some kind of feeling~), and people like to point that out for a very very long time, and loud. Also yes more side quests would be great~

          • http://thrust-the-sky.deviantart.com/ WildArms

            I wish they could have used a completely new cast of characters, even if lighting was the main theme of the game -_-

    • http://tristsantithesis.tumblr.com/ Tsunayoshi Sawada

      I think in games where one needs to make morality choices it make sense, but I think too many are adding multiple endings.

  • cmurph666

    With a game called Final Fantasy XIII-2, I’d expect a lot of returning elements from Final Fantasy XIII.

    • eilegz

      agree a little exploration its ok, the battle system its excellent, be able to use more characters than the main on the team would be good too. i dont want too much changes, i enjoyed xiii, the idea of multiple ending end up screwing the game history since there its no proper ending…

  • http://profiles.google.com/zferolie A.J. Ferolie

    I liked 13, not so much for the story, but for the characters. I loved Lightning. Best Female lead in a JRPG in awhile. I don’t want to say in FF history, since I have not played 6 (I REALLY want to). Fang and Vanille were cool, even if Vanille got too bubbly at times. Hope was the only one I was annoyed by, but he grew by the end, and that was a good thing.

    was 13 my favorite FF game? No. I don’t have a favorite one. They were all good at something, though 4 is very good, as was 7.

    I am really looking forward to this game, and want to see how it turns out.

    Though, I want more info on Verses and Type 0. Those games look AWESOME

  • babyboidevil

    ok ok multiple endings awesome enix is going back to their old school roots (star ocean 2)
    Its funny to hear everyone complain about the time it is taking to make this everything is already made it just a matter of making it work in a story now, plus all that cut out content from the first one.  hopefully we will see some true square and enix for the old days in this game.
    I know im one of the only ppl that like 13 and look forward to this but they need to stop messing around and making verses

  • Xeahnort

    Meh. I think FF XIII-2 will be another JRPG difficult to swallow, Stunning cg movies, no conception of good storytelling and annoying characters with zero charisma.

  • SirRichard

    Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not sure they’ve really addressed the linearity. From the previews I’ve read, the E3 demo’s exploration bit went like this:

    - The corridor splits into a forked path.
    - Down one is a monster that will lovingly pat you on the cheek and show you the game over screen.
    - Down the other is a MacGuffin designed to “weaken the monster”; for all intents and purposes, it doesn’t actually give you an advantage in the battle, it just lets you actually fight the monster.
    - The correct sequence of events is run down the corridor to the fork, go down the corridor without the game over screen at the end, get a Mac Guffin that turns the game over screen into a boss fight, walk back up the corridor and then go down the monster’s corridor.

    That’s not exactly exploration. It’s only one example, I know, but it doesn’t inspire confidence.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000301072427 Mark Shaver

      Well, to be fair, they did state that you CAN defeat Atlas without getting the Artifact, meaning that you can just grind and beat him.  It may take a little time (That’s what grinding does) but it CAN be done, meaning there is some semblance of choice. It’s a lot like in FFX. When you fight Sin on the airship, if you get Anima, the fight becomes child’s play. However, he can be defeated without her.

      • SirRichard

        That brings up a different issue, though; the choice comes down to running about and killing the same four or five enemies over and over again (probably resorting to Autobattle to speed it up) or do the corridor antics, neither of which are particularly appealing choices.

        Bah, I long for the days when I wasn’t so negative about Square Enix’s antics.

        • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000301072427 Mark Shaver

          Yeah, but the same can be said about any JRPG. Wrpgs don’t really have the same limits because they usually have low limit caps, though they’re enemies are no less generic.

  • Enma_Kozato

    Was I the only one traumatized by the openness of 12? Most likely yes.

    And someone explain to me how 13 had a shallow plot.

    • Nucleus Mania

      Perhaps it was not shallow. It does seem deeply thought out and creative.

      The only problem, for me, is that it was boring.

      It just wasn’t an entirely engrossing story. No interesting antagonist I would be pumped to fight, no main characters I grew familiar and fond of, no towns and locations to be excited to explore….As I’m writing I’m thinking of FFVII, btw…and FFVIII, and FFIX. Comparing them to those, XIII truly does seem to be an unlucky number, and VII the luckiest of them all.

      I could go on about reasons why I think XIII was so boring if you want me to.

      • Enma_Kozato

        I’m not asking how it was boring because you couldn’t go exploring or didn’t attempt to see where each character was coming from.

        BTW the only FF games I’ve played are 9, 10, 12, 13, so your nostalgia trip is lost on me.

      • badmoogle

        Well XIV was unlucky too.:p

    • Darkrise

      All I can say is, most people I knew who played it just labelled the story as cheesy BS, too much emotion, unrealistic, plain retarded and that SE should just get into making CG movies. =/

      • Enma_Kozato

        I caught the cheese. I caught the heavy amounts of emotion, but unrealistic…? Who plays a game for it being realistic?

  • runesong

    CHOO CHOO!  All aboard the hate train!  CHOO CHOO!

    *watches the train pass by*

    Yeah, uhm, I think I’ll just walk.

    Although I may belong to a minority of players, I enjoyed the hell out of XIII.  And yes, that means I loved the story, the characters, the music (my favorite FF soundtrack  thanks to the masterful Masashi Hamauzu), & the combat.  I certainly agree that it took too long for the game to reach Pulse and really open up, but I just don’t get people that say Final Fantasy isn’t good anymore.   

    Outside of XIV (yes, I’ll give you that) I can’t think of a main series FF that *wasn’t* good.

    Anyhow, I can’t wait for XIII-2.  Getting a taste of those characters with new gameplay and design will be a fun experience.  Day 1 for me!!

    • Yu_TheKing

      I feel the same way. All this hate going when the game wasn’t that bad. I enjoyed the majority of it too. Now I wanna see what other new surprises they have in store.

      • runesong

        Woo hoo!  Maybe we can start the new “actually, Final Fantasy is still awesome” movement.

        *high-five*

        • http://profiles.google.com/zferolie A.J. Ferolie

          I agree. I do not get the hate it gets. There are so many worse games out there. I just think people didn’t think it was as good was other the other games, thats why it’s awful.

          Final Fantasy is still awesome, but I admit, I love the tales series much more

          • runesong

            Power to the ”actually, Final Fantasy is still awesome” movement!!

            *raises a chocobo flag in the air*

        • Revorse

          I support the hell outta this new movement!

      • http://tristsantithesis.tumblr.com/ Tsunayoshi Sawada

        I enjoyed the game too, I just wish they werent going in this multiple ending direction. This is Final Fantasy, not Mass Effect 3…

        • http://thrust-the-sky.deviantart.com/ WildArms

          Ar tonelico 3 (the one you are playing now) has multiple endings, and its not mass effect 3.

          I dont know if you noticed but FF games are ALWAYS different as the number goes up (excluding the online ones, and the 2D ones, since their fighting system was pretty much the same) So from FF7~14, One FF is different from other unless is a direct sequel (FFX-2 or this one), and just the characters are the same, they changed A LOT in FFX-2 too, especially in battles.

          So they are always making new stuff, or using stuff that already existed and havent been used yet in FF. The reason why i liked FF13 is because it was different, even if the characters didnt attract me that much, the game had a different tone from other games, this long linear game, might get tedious at times, but i havent played another game like this one. I approve the multi ending system since its something new, and will give a different taste (maybe even more weight to options you decide) to the game…

          Tsun, all i say is that you should wait to see more of this multi ending stuff before saying you dislike it or are not too fond of it.

          Who knows? Maybe its just a stupid choice in the last 3 hours of gameplay so it wouldnt be that much of a big deal -__-

        • vrakanox

          Have to disagree on that friend :)

        • http://twitter.com/#!/kaishou Kaishou

          Multiple ending is their solution for their linearity. If they think back at their previous final fantasy game (specifically 6, 7, 8 and 9) they would get an idea of what people would expect in a final fantasy game. I also enjoyed playing XIII (in fact im playing it again on the 360 version. Completed it within 51 hours).

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000301072427 Mark Shaver

      Agreed. I’m actually getting ready to start a new game on my PS3 (I had it on 360, beat it and, long story short, I need the ps3 save more) and, outside of a few certain areas (Those damn Motorbikes with just Hope and Snow >.>), I’m pumped to try and play it in a different way this time.

      • Aoshi00

        Wait for the easy mode patch (in June or July?) and those bikes and some other annoying enemies would be much more manageable :)  I played the Jpn ver. on PS3 the first time and didn’t feel like replaying the whole thing in Eng again on PS3, then I got FF13 Int’l on 360 and only toggled on easy mostly during the last couple of chapters (the roof top fighting those bikes or after Gran Pulse), and it helps save a lot of frustration, some enemies took forever to break.. the fight strategy still carry out the same way, just less dragged on..

        • http://www.siliconera.com Spencer

          Easy mode is coming on July 21, the same day FFXIII is re-released for PS3 in Japan. However, Square Enix USA have not said anything about it so I can’t say for sure if there is a localized version or not. We’ll poke around though!

          • Aoshi00

            Right.. gotcha.. when I heard about the patch I assumed they would do it for both Jpn and US ver simultaneously…  well, I was glad to be able to beat it in Eng w/ the Int’l ver.  As much as I had a love-hate relationship w/ 13, I couldn’t help but look forward to 13-2, hopefully it would turn out well w/ more exploration.  I actually enjoyed X-2 quite much even though they took it to a different direction after X…

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000301072427 Mark Shaver

            Yeah, That’s the same thing I was trying to find out more about. If the US does get he Easy mode, I’d just wait til July 21st-ish, but if not, there’s no point in waiting.

      • runesong

        I’ve been meaning to do the same thing. (except I beat it on my first run)  That part with Snow and Hope was rough, although the difficulty of FFXIII is one of my favorite things about it!

    • http://www.siliconera.com Spencer

      Finally some balance in the world. I think the most vocal fans, for anything, tend to be the most critical. I remember when FF7 came out and people who grew up on FFIV/VI moaned about it and that game is cherished by a different generation.

      That’s the thing about Final Fantasy… each installment is wildly different, fans latch on to different games in the series.

      • runesong

        I couldn’t agree more.  And really, that’s the beauty of Final Fantasy….  Square is bold enough to mix up the gameplay with each installment (for better or worse depending on who you ask), and for me, that means there’s always something new to look forward to.

        I definitely understand that many people have a strong preference towards a particular method of gameplay, but I think gaming is most fulfilling when you broaden your horizons and remain eager to try something new, ya know?

    • http://twitter.com/Paradox_me Paradox me

      I came into this article assuming that I’d be the one making this post. It’s nice that I don’t have to do all the work these days. :P

      XII is the only main series game that I’ve played* that didn’t quite sit well with me, and even then I can’t call it bad. Just, different.

      *Only title I haven’t played is XIV.

    • vrakanox

      Well I’m really glad you enjoyed it. I personally thought it was too linear and thought the characters were a bit weak. But I enjoyed it enough to beat it and I would never say it was a “bad” game.

      One thing we have in common though. I’m really looking forward to XIII-2. It seems like the things I disliked about FFXIII are going to be changed. Can’t wait.

      • runesong

        I can certainly appreciate your perspective.  I really admire Square for trying to take player feedback and turn it into an even better game!

    • IB2004

      Well I guess they don’t like the new the generation. G1-ff1-ff3. G2-ff4-ff6. G3-ff7-ff9. G4-ff10-ff12. G5-ff13-ff14 maybe ff15

  • puchinri

    Even if the concept of a game is to be story-driven, that should never excuse it from being linear. I think FF9 was very character and story-driven, and it was also far from linear.

    Glad they’re improving on that part though. It’ll be interesting to see how things flesh out.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Javon-Hernandez/706489182 Javon Hernandez

    I just want them to fix the boring ass battle system. I couldn’t care less about the worlds.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=566414057 Leslie Philippeaux

    Let Square Enix just be grateful that this wasnt are first FF we ever played……

  • skymap

    Nearly every FF, including the most popular ones, are story focused. They also offer side content during that linear story. Square-Enix is overestimating the impact of WRPGs on the market and believe that the market simply no longer wants a standard Final Fantasy.

    They don’t realize that what they had produced was not only limited, but it’s limitations were OBVIOUS. Story focused FF games are fine, just don’t design them like sidescrollers and people will complain … slightly less.

    I don’t think any good will really come of this.

  • eilegz

    i just hope this dont end up like mass effect which its a mess, exploration its ok but annoying decisions and crappy “choice” design do not make the game better

  • http://twitter.com/Xuiz enorka miho

    Well, as much as I like FFXIII… I really can’t say whole heartedly that something is not missing in the recent Final Fantasy.. I think maybe there are serious lack of some witty dialogues… And some wacky characters… Sigh… I think they
    should really let Nojima,major scenario writer of FFX, FFVIII,FFVII and the only writer for FF VII: CC (the most epic FF after SE merge) , to write the whole darn story without being interfered… He is the only soul left who knows what is Final Fantasy after sakaguchi left.. Tetsuya Nomura is too much on his Kingdom Heart series…But speaking of which, sakaguchi’s story always need someone to polish it to be epic…

  • Merulana

    The multiple endings sound interesting. I really don’t mind them. I actually think that they’re kind of enjoyable. I like being able to make certain decisions that will affect the story. Hopefully, they’ll show us some more about how they plan to improve the exploration.

    I can sort of understand why FFXIII was so linear. They were enemies of Cocoon. They can’t exactly stay in a town that long. I never really got that far in the game though. I got pretty bored. The battle system just wasn’t my cup of tea. Although, the soundtrack was great. Some really talented musicians.

  • Crimson_Cloud

    I think that even if they tried really hard they could never archive the awesomeness of characters that gives alive-like feeling like Tales of series do.  Square’s characters lately tend to be… how should I put it… boring? All they do is brag to each-other and all the talk is watered down to soap-opera drama. The characters should talk about something else so I can feel their personality.

  • d19xx

    I enjoyed XIII despite how linear it is. Since XIII-2 will fix that, I’m positive I’ll enjoy this one more. 

    However, I’m more interested in Type-0 than than this at the moment. But localization looks unlikely at the moment:

    http://www.gamingunion.net/news/kitase-unsure-of-final-fantasy-type-0-western-release–5423.html

    • PurpleDoom

      Personally, that came off more to me as “We’re not sure if we’re going to release this on UMD, as a download, or some other option” than “we don’t know if it’s getting localized.” If it is the latter, that would be awfully strange since I’m fairly certain every Final Fantasy on a console within the past several years has gotten localized.

  • kroufonz

    i don’t mind multiple end as long they have one “true end”

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GD6TBU4U3KAFZHD2U4BCCMQQ6Q LalalaGirl

    Despite all of the negative comments about XIII, I thought it was a good game. A good Final Fantasy? That’s up to you. But standalone, this game received a bit too much criticism. 

    I’m excited to hear more about XIII-2. Thanks for the news!

  • PrinceHeir

    hope they improve a lot for this :D

  • Jirin

    I enjoyed FFXIII, but I’m glad as hell they made the world more open in this one.  This greatly increases my chances of buying it.

    Also, I hope Kitase is aware of the need of skippable tutorials.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Shiloh-Emerald/100001426346359 Shiloh Emerald

    I still really liked FFXIII. But I am looking forward to the open world and moogles and NPCs.

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/ArcadeInfinity scott

    That answer sure sounds vague to me, as far as FFXIII-2 and Type-0 and all future SquareEnix games are concerned, i’m not pre-ordering anymore until they have a chance to step back and get someone competant to write their stories, develop better characters, and fix gameplay issues.

    And i’ll wait for an un-biased publication to review it. FFXIII scoring a 39/40 from Famitsu? Gimme a fuckin’ break.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Leon-Hart/100002316814779 Leon Hart

    one thing to say.

    will see how this turn out when it come’s to my hands during the japanese release.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Leon-Hart/100002316814779 Leon Hart

    one thing to say is  Am’ gonna love the beastmaster system.

    putting monsters in to your party is uber win.

  • doomspeller10

    This seems convincing, provided it’s not multi-ending as in Final Fantasy V, (that was ok for the 90s) but multi-ending as in (at least) Chrono Trigger (I’m not referring to number of endings, but quality/variety/creativity). Looking forward to it.
    Any words on versus would be nice though.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Christopher-Carmona/100000347329518 Christopher Carmona

    Too bad XIII was my cousin’s first Final Fantasy game. Well, he was introduced to the cast of VII/VIII/X via Kingdom Hearts, and thinks he knows everything about them (lol), but still. 

    He refuses to play any FF game under XIII because according to him, he doesn’t like the graphics, the gameplay is too hard, he gets lost, and the fact that he’s not automatically healed after every battle. He has FFVII and FFVIII on his PS3 but never finished past the first boss. Its just not fair. 

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2WNP7FYA3VYJQKEYYV5GXH3K5Y yahoo-2WNP7FYA3VYJQKEYYV5GXH3K5Y

    How can you even have a Final Fantasy game without Hironobu Sakaguchi-sama and Nobuo Uematsu-sama? I don’t think it’s right, but money has to be made after all.  

  • http://twitter.com/manasteel88 Mana

    “We made Final Fantasy XIII with the concept of a story driven game. So much so, some gamers were not very happy with it and criticized XIII and said the game progression was too linear and the world could be more populated,”

    We also criticized the story and the characters.  If this game had an AMAZING story, I don’t think 13 would have gotten nearly as much criticism.  Having a story unfold is fine, but forcing me to play 10 hours before I vaguely understand what’s going on with some people that have no depth is asking way too much.

    I just have to point out that it wasn’t just the linearity that was at fault.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Truong-Le/1804733811 Truong Le

    I doubt that SE still knows how to make FF games.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Kevin-Taylor/1489929171 Kevin Taylor

    couldn’t they used all that money and remade final fantasy 7 instead, wtf =(

    • http://tristsantithesis.tumblr.com/ Tsunayoshi Sawada

      Reusing the same assests (and unused ones) and what appears to be the exact same character models is probably less costly than rebuilding FF7. Because honestly, as an PSOne game, the game would need to be completely rebuilt from the scratch, like MGS1 will have to be.

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