Final Fantasy XIII-2: Difference between revisions
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{{Video game reviews |
{{Video game reviews |
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| MC = |
| MC = |
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| GR = 85 |
| GR = {{nowrap|85% (360) <small>(2 reviews)</small>}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy XIII-2|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox360/619314-final-fantasy-xiii-2/index.html|accessdate=January 12, 2012|publisher=GameRankings}}</ref><br />{{nowrap|80% (PS3) <small>(2 reviews)</small>}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy XIII-2|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps3/619315-final-fantasy-xiii-2/index.html|accessdate=January 12, 2012|publisher=GameRankings}}</ref> |
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|rev1 = ''[[Dengeki PlayStation]]'' |
| rev1 = ''[[Dengeki PlayStation]]'' |
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| rev1Score =S<ref name="dengeki"/> |
| rev1Score =S<ref name="dengeki"/> |
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| Fam = 40/40<ref name="famitsu"/> |
| Fam = 40 / 40<ref name="famitsu"/> |
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| GI = 8 |
| GI = 8 / 10<ref name="mc_xiii-2"/> |
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| OXM = 9 |
| OXM = 9 / 10<ref name="officialxboxmag"/> |
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| PSM = 8 / 10<ref name="mc_ps3"/> |
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Pre-release anticipation has been varied from East to West. ''Final Fantasy XIII-2'' was a runner-up for [[1UP.com]]'s "Best Xbox 360 Game of the Tokyo Game Show 2011," but did not earn a mention in the PS3 category, despite being playable on the platform.<ref>{{cite web|title=1UP Best of Tokyo Game Show 2011|url=http://www.1up.com/features/1up-tokyo-game-show-2011|publisher=[[1UP.com]]|accessdate=5 November 2011}}</ref> However, it was still listed as one of "The Top PS3 Games of 2012."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Top PS3 Games of 2012|url=http://www.1up.com/features/top-ps3-games-2012|publisher=[[1UP.com]]|accessdate=January 13, 2012|author=Leone, Matt}}</ref> In Japan, the game finally climbed to number one on ''[[Famitsu]]'' Magazine's Most Anticipated List after ''[[Final Fantasy Type-0]]'' was released in October 27, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy XIII-2 is Japan’s Most Wanted Game|url=http://rpgland.com/news/final-fantasy-xiii-2-is-japans-most-wanted-game|accessdate=5 November 2011}}</ref> |
Pre-release anticipation has been varied from East to West. ''Final Fantasy XIII-2'' was a runner-up for [[1UP.com]]'s "Best Xbox 360 Game of the Tokyo Game Show 2011," but did not earn a mention in the PS3 category, despite being playable on the platform.<ref>{{cite web|title=1UP Best of Tokyo Game Show 2011|url=http://www.1up.com/features/1up-tokyo-game-show-2011|publisher=[[1UP.com]]|accessdate=5 November 2011}}</ref> However, it was still listed as one of "The Top PS3 Games of 2012."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Top PS3 Games of 2012|url=http://www.1up.com/features/top-ps3-games-2012|publisher=[[1UP.com]]|accessdate=January 13, 2012|author=Leone, Matt}}</ref> In Japan, the game finally climbed to number one on ''[[Famitsu]]'' Magazine's Most Anticipated List after ''[[Final Fantasy Type-0]]'' was released in October 27, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy XIII-2 is Japan’s Most Wanted Game|url=http://rpgland.com/news/final-fantasy-xiii-2-is-japans-most-wanted-game|accessdate=5 November 2011}}</ref> |
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''Final Fantasy XIII-2'' has received perfect scores from the Japanese magazines ''Famitsu'' and ''[[Dengeki PlayStation]]''. Famitsu editor Ranbu Yoshida said, "It feels like a very different game from its predecessor; the story changes depending on where you choose to go in your time-traveling journey, and it's easy to lose yourself in changing and redoing areas you've previously finished." While assistant editor Norihiro Fujiwara wrote, "The setting and presentation is fantastic, and the issues people brought up with the first game -- its linearity, its lack of meaty gameplay -- are a thing of the past. You're sucked into the game right from the beginning, and the story's very easy to get into."<ref name="famitsu">{{cite web|title=Japan review check Final Fantasy XIII-2|url=http://www.1up.com/news/japan-review-check-final-fantasy_2|publisher=1UP.com|accessdate=December 6, 2011}}</ref> ''Dengeki'' has given the game an S rating, the highest rating that is achievable in the magazine.<ref name="dengeki">{{cite web|title=Team Final Fantasy XIII-2 Shares Some Final Words with Dengeki PlayStation|url=http://andriasang.com/comz7j/ffxiii2_dengeki/|publisher=Andriasang|author=Gantayat, Anoop|date=December 6, 2011|accessdate=December 22, 2011}}</ref> ''[[Official Xbox Magazine]]'' has given the game a score of 9.0 out of 10, stating that it "repairs almost every problem with ''Final Fantasy XIII'', delivering an experience that feels like what that original game should have been"<ref name="officialxboxmag">{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy XIII-2 review: 'It repairs almost every problem' - OXM US gives sequel a 9.0|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/331332/final-fantasy-xiii-2-review-it-repairs-almost-every-problem/|work=[[Computer and Video Games]]|publisher=[[ComputerAndVideoGames.com]]|accessdate=7 January 2012|date=6 January 2012}}</ref> and that "''FFXIII-2'' will restore your excitement for the franchise's future."<ref name="mc_xiii-2">{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy XIII-2 (Xbox 360)|url=http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/final-fantasy-xiii-2|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|accessdate=12 January 2012}}</ref> ''[[Game Informer]]'' has given the game a score of 8 out of 10, praising the player-driven progression, entertaining combat and other adjustments that make it one of their "favorite RPGs from a mechanical perspective," but with criticism directed at the story.<ref name="mc_xiii-2"/> |
''Final Fantasy XIII-2'' has received perfect scores from the Japanese magazines ''Famitsu'' and ''[[Dengeki PlayStation]]''. Famitsu editor Ranbu Yoshida said, "It feels like a very different game from its predecessor; the story changes depending on where you choose to go in your time-traveling journey, and it's easy to lose yourself in changing and redoing areas you've previously finished." While assistant editor Norihiro Fujiwara wrote, "The setting and presentation is fantastic, and the issues people brought up with the first game -- its linearity, its lack of meaty gameplay -- are a thing of the past. You're sucked into the game right from the beginning, and the story's very easy to get into."<ref name="famitsu">{{cite web|title=Japan review check Final Fantasy XIII-2|url=http://www.1up.com/news/japan-review-check-final-fantasy_2|publisher=1UP.com|accessdate=December 6, 2011}}</ref> ''Dengeki'' has given the game an S rating, the highest rating that is achievable in the magazine.<ref name="dengeki">{{cite web|title=Team Final Fantasy XIII-2 Shares Some Final Words with Dengeki PlayStation|url=http://andriasang.com/comz7j/ffxiii2_dengeki/|publisher=Andriasang|author=Gantayat, Anoop|date=December 6, 2011|accessdate=December 22, 2011}}</ref> |
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The game has also received positive reviews from Western magazines. ''[[Official Xbox Magazine]]'' has given the game a score of 9.0 out of 10, stating that it "repairs almost every problem with ''Final Fantasy XIII'', delivering an experience that feels like what that original game should have been"<ref name="officialxboxmag">{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy XIII-2 review: 'It repairs almost every problem' - OXM US gives sequel a 9.0|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/331332/final-fantasy-xiii-2-review-it-repairs-almost-every-problem/|work=[[Computer and Video Games]]|publisher=[[ComputerAndVideoGames.com]]|accessdate=7 January 2012|date=6 January 2012}}</ref> and that "''FFXIII-2'' will restore your excitement for the franchise's future."<ref name="mc_xiii-2">{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy XIII-2 (Xbox 360)|url=http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/final-fantasy-xiii-2|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|accessdate=12 January 2012}}</ref> ''[[Game Informer]]'' has given the game a score of 8 out of 10, praising the player-driven progression, entertaining combat and other adjustments that make it one of their "favorite RPGs from a mechanical perspective," but with criticism directed at the story.<ref name="mc_xiii-2"/> ''[[PlayStation: The Official Magazine]]'', on the other hand, gave it the same score of 8 out of 10 for the opposite reason: they praised the story as an "emotional tale" with "a superb cast of characters" and "so much heart" but criticized the "shallow filler content" and "artificial mechanics."<ref name="mc_ps3">{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PlayStation 3)|url=http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/final-fantasy-xiii-2|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|accessdate=23 January 2012}}</ref> |
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During its first week of release in Japan, ''Final Fantasy XIII-2'' sold 524,000 copies with the PlayStation 3 version topping the charts. The Xbox 360 version only reached 48th, largely due to the low number of Xbox 360 customers in Japan. Initial sales have been notably lower than what they were for the game's predecessor which sold 1.5 million units in its first week.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy XIII-2 PS3 Sold 60% of Stock|url=http://andriasang.com/comzh1/ffxiii2_sellthrough/|publisher=Andriasang|accessdate=December 22, 2011}}</ref> By the end of the year, the game had sold 697,146 units, becoming the fifth bestselling game from Japan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Japanese Video Game Market Down 8% in 2011|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-01-06/japanese-video-game-market-down-8-percent-in-2011|publisher=Anime News Network|date=January 6, 2012|accessdate=January 7, 2012}}</ref> |
During its first week of release in Japan, ''Final Fantasy XIII-2'' sold 524,000 copies with the PlayStation 3 version topping the charts. The Xbox 360 version only reached 48th, largely due to the low number of Xbox 360 customers in Japan. Initial sales have been notably lower than what they were for the game's predecessor which sold 1.5 million units in its first week.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy XIII-2 PS3 Sold 60% of Stock|url=http://andriasang.com/comzh1/ffxiii2_sellthrough/|publisher=Andriasang|accessdate=December 22, 2011}}</ref> By the end of the year, the game had sold 697,146 units, becoming the fifth bestselling game from Japan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Japanese Video Game Market Down 8% in 2011|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-01-06/japanese-video-game-market-down-8-percent-in-2011|publisher=Anime News Network|date=January 6, 2012|accessdate=January 7, 2012}}</ref> |
Revision as of 16:45, 25 January 2012
Final Fantasy XIII-2 | |
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File:FFXIII2NTSCcover.jpg Cover art featuring Lightning; the game's logo, designed by Yoshitaka Amano, depicts her to the right of the game's antagonist, Caius. | |
Developer(s) | Square Enix Product Development Division 1[3] tri-Ace[4] |
Publisher(s) | Square Enix |
Director(s) | Motomu Toriyama[5] |
Producer(s) | Yoshinori Kitase[5] |
Artist(s) | Isamu Kamikokuryo[5] Tetsuya Nomura[5] |
Writer(s) | Daisuke Watanabe[5] |
Composer(s) | Masashi Hamauzu[5] Naoshi Mizuta[5] Mitsuto Suzuki[5] |
Series | Final Fantasy Fabula Nova Crystallis |
Engine | Crystal Tools |
Platform(s) | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
Release | |
Genre(s) | Role-playing game |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Final Fantasy XIII-2 (ファイナルファンタジーXIII-2, Fainaru Fantajī Sātīn Tsū) is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It was produced by Square Enix's 1st Production Department, with help from external developer tri-Ace.[3][4] It is a direct sequel to the 2009 role playing game, Final Fantasy XIII, taking place three years after its events. Lightning, the protagonist of the original game, has disappeared into an unknown world. Her younger sister Serah Farron, a returning character, and a young man named Noel Kreiss attempt to find Lightning.
The game was released in Japan on December 15, 2011. It is due for release on January 31, 2012 in North America, February 2, 2012 in Australia and February 3, 2012 in Europe.[6] Square Enix Europe has stated that the game "exceeds Final Fantasy XIII in every aspect" and that it has an evolved battle system of the original game.[7] The game's theme song for the Japanese Xbox 360 and all Western releases is "New World" by Charice, while the Japanese PlayStation 3 release is "Yakusoku no Basho" (約束の場所, "The Place of Promise") by Mai Fukui.[8]
Gameplay
Combat System
As in Final Fantasy XIII, the game will use a variation of the Active Time Battle (ATB) system known as the Command Synergy Battle system, which makes use of the Paradigm Shift system. The system will address issues with those used in the previous game.[9] There will also be a feature that allows the player to control the difficulty of battles.[9] During battles, players will be put through quick time events called "Cinematic Action" which will allow them to deal higher damage to foes and gain the upper hand in certain battles.[10] The player can tame monsters and use them as party members in battles. This also leads to a new "Feral Link" feature being in the game; as the player attacks an enemy while a tamed monster is in their party, the Feral Link bar fills up and when it is full the player can make their current tamed monster do a special attack on the enemy via a quick time event.
Mog Clock
Monsters no longer freely roam the map like in Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy XIII, they're instead randomly generated like in the previous Final Fantasy games. When a random encounter occurs, an interface called the "Mog Clock" appears in the middle of the bottom half of the screen and a dial appears under the player. The introduction of this Mog Clock feature grants the player various bonuses (or penalties) depending on the time it takes them to enter a battle with the enemy.[11]
Live Trigger
The player will be presented with a series of "dialogue trees" when talking to non-player characters (NPCs). These choices offer the player different things to say at certain story scenes and to different NPCs.[12] The game will feature multiple endings, but these are not affected by the decisions made in the Live Trigger. The director Motomu Toriyama has stated that the Live Trigger system is in place "more for enjoying conversation rather than for the branching story" and that the multiple endings will be affected by a different system. The introduction of the Live Trigger system is simply for allowing the player to have unique things to say during story scenes and conversations with NPCs. The dialogue selections will also change each time the game is played.[13]
Temporal Rift
Players will be presented with puzzle-like problems in a void between dimensions. When they completely solve the current anomaly, they will be able to resolve a paradox happening in the real world. The temporal rifts are composed of a tiny minigame in which the main characters must traverse a room from one end to the other atop falling platforms. [citation needed]
Historia Crux System
The Historia Crux system allows players to jump through various time gates throughout XIII-2. Players will see a drastic change based on their choices. This would also go towards the multiple endings of the game.[14] This time travel system adds a significant element of nonlinear gameplay. It allows players to travel through “time-space locations,” ranging from hundreds of years in the future to hundreds of years in the past, allowing them to turn back time in order to explore different plot possibilities in each location.[15] The game's time travel elements have been compared to the role-playing games Chrono Trigger[16] and Radiant Historia.[15]
Plot
Setting
The actual story will delve deeper into the Fabula Nova Crystallis mythology, and this time focus on the Goddess Etro.[9] The worlds of Gran Pulse and Cocoon in Final Fantasy XIII return in Final Fantasy XIII-2.[17] Players will be able to revisit old areas as well as new areas at various time periods, showing changes in appearance. Lake Bresha is now called the Bresha Ruins, and there is no longer a crystallized lake to cross. A re-created version of the city of Bodhum has been made on Pulse, known as New Bodhum, home of the former citizens from Bodhum. The Yaschas Massif on Pulse reappears with its ruins now inhabited by Cocoon soldiers and scientists like the Bresha Ruins. The Sunleth Waterscape is no longer a lush-green nature reserve. The Archlyte Steppe is now inhabited by hunters. Serendipity is a floating casino city packed with minigames like Slots and Chocobo Racing. The city of Academia replaces Eden as the new capital city, and is Hope Estheim's new hometown. Augusta Tower, a high tech area with a maze-like interior. Fang and Vanille's former hometown of Oerba is on the verge of being consumed by a black hole. The trash-filled Vile Peaks are now covered in snow. Valhalla, the realm of death and chaos at the edge of time in the distant future, otherwise known as "the invisible world" is also a playable area.
Characters
Final Fantasy XIII-2 has two new main playable characters: Serah Farron, Lightning's younger sister, and Noel Kreiss, a mysterious young time traveler from 700 years in the future who uses dual combinable swords.[13] He is the last surviving human from his time, and he seeks to change that fate. Lightning, the main protagonist of Final Fantasy XIII, will have brief playable appearances as she serves as a knight protecting the Goddess Etro's shrine in Valhalla from Caius. Serah appeared as an NPC in XIII and is given a much larger role in this game as she goes on a journey with Noel and her new Moogle companion named Mog to find her sister.
Other new characters include Caius Ballad, a mysterious purple-haired man in dark purple and black clothes from the future who is the game's main antagonist.[9] He is also Noel's former friend and mentor, Lightning's fated rival, and the immortal guardian of the timeline. His companion Paddra Nsu-Yeul, a mysterious Pulsian seeress with strong connections to him and Serah referenced in Final Fantasy XIII, as the author of two Analects made during Fang and Vanille's time over 500 years in the past, and Alyssa Zaidelle, a young girl with short blonde hair in yellow and red clothes who works as part of the Academy organization as Hope's assistant. In addition, the six main playable characters and NORA from Final Fantasy XIII will make reappearances in Final Fantasy XIII-2.[13]
Snow Villiers and Hope Estheim return with drastically new appearances. Hope returns as the 24-year-old leader of the Academy, a scientific expedition group that studies the world's history, looks for a new energy source for Cocoon to replace its dead fal'Cie, and plans to build a future in which the world does not rely on the fal'Cie. Snow reappears in darker clothes and no longer wears a bandanna to cover his hair. He is somehow transformed back into a Pulse l'Cie, and returns in the Sunleth Waterscape as an uncontrollable guest character. He saves Serah and Noel from a giant Flan-type monster before the latter berates him for always believing himself to be "The Hero" and seemingly abandoning Serah. Sazh returns taking part in activities to better Gran Pulse, but nothing else is currently known about his role. Oerba Dia Vanille and Oerba Yun Fang are also confirmed to return, but nothing is known about their roles.
Story
Final Fantasy XIII-2 begins 3 years after Final Fantasy XIII. Vanille and Fang transform into Ragnarok to prevent Cocoon's collision with Gran Pulse by turning themselves and the structure into a crystal pillar. Freed of her l'Cie status along with Snow, Hope, and Sazh, Lightning is reunited with her sister Serah as she awakens from crystal stasis. However, Orphan's defeat and Cocoon's fall have an unintentional side-effect which makes Lightning disappear to Valhalla. As a result, with the exception of Serah, many think that Lightning is dead or she sacrificed herself alongside Vanille and Fang. Two years later, many of the survivors of Cocoon's fall begin rebuilding their lives on Gran Pulse with Serah living in the newly constructed town of New Bodhum. One day, Snow disappears after leaving Serah to find Lightning for her.
One year later, New Bodhum is overrun by monsters. Serah is saved from the ambush by a mysterious youth named Noel, who claims to have met Lightning. Accepting his offer of bringing her to her sister, Serah sets off through time and space to find out what has happened to Lightning, while learning more about Noel and the mysterious enemy, Caius.[18]
Development
Due to global demand and the development staff's desire to further Lightning's character, development began for a sequel to Final Fantasy XIII,[17] with input from both inside and outside of Square Enix, as well as overseas.[9]
Talk of a sequel came as early as January 2010; the game's art director mentioned in an interview that the amount of working art assets that were cut from the final product was enough to make up an entire game.[19] In March 2010, during an interview with Kitase, producer for the game, he was asked about the possibility of a sequel. In response, he replied: “If we could do a XIII-2, we could direct all our attention to the story and refine what we have already built.”[20] On December 15, 2010, Tetsuya Nomura, main character designer for the original game, released a drawing of Lightning, along with the words “She must not be forgotten”.[21] On January 11, 2011, Square Enix registered the domain name FinalFantasy13-2game.com via a proxy company that it had used to register websites for several other unannounced games at the time, including MindJack and Nier.[22]
The game was officially announced at the Square Enix 1st Production Department Premier in Tokyo on January 18, 2011. The teaser trailer showed Lightning, outfitted in armor, drawing her weapon and engaging a mysterious male warrior. The teaser was officially released on January 20, 2011, and can be viewed on the game's official websites.[23][24][25] Motomu Toriyama, who was also the director and scenario designer of the original game, returns as director alongside producer Yoshinori Kitase, who was the producer of the original game. Tetsuya Nomura returns as the character designer, though he will only be responsible for designing the faces of new and returning characters. The clothing of all new and returning characters is being designed by other artists.[26] The armor worn by Lightning was designed by Isamu Kamikokuryo, the art director of the original game who returns to the role for the sequel.[26] The clothing of Noel, Serah and the male character shown in the teaser trailer were designed by Yusuke Naora, who was the character designer of The Last Remnant.[26][27] The Moogle was designed by Toshitaka Matsuda.[27] Additionally, developer tri-Ace was contracted to help out with aspects of game design, art and programming.[4]
Unlike Final Fantasy X-2, which had a more cheerful and humorous feel than Final Fantasy X, the overall tone of the story of Final Fantasy XIII-2 will be darker and more mysterious than the original.[9] Director Motomu Toriyama said that considering Vanille and Fang are gone and the world is in a state where Cocoon had fallen, there's no way for the new story to be totally peaceful. Yoshinori Kitase, the producer, has said the story will have the serious feel of a true numbered entry in the Final Fantasy series.[9]
On June 2, 2011, two in-game screenshots from the English version of the game were released in relation to E3. They showed Serah as a returning character with a new costume and a new male character named Noel. One of the screens showed Serah and Noel engaged in battle, with Serah as the playable party leader.[28] GameSpot released an exclusive teaser trailer for the game the next day, showing more characters and a glimpse of the battle system.[29] There were two demos presented at E3: One where Serah and Noel deal with a giant boss called Atlas and other having Lightning riding her Eidolon Odin and fighting an alternate existence of the Eidolon Bahamut.
In August 2011, a new trailer was released at the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle.[30] It depicted further gameplay and cutscenes, as well as a figure appearing to be Hope from Final Fantasy XIII, using his Airwing boomerang to aid Serah and Noel.
In September 2011, two new trailers were released for the 2011 Tokyo Game Show, one entitled "Promise", the other entitled "Despair". Both were released in English and Japanese. New footage included Hope and Snow returning from the previous game, and the appearance of Paddra Nsu-Yeul. Extensive footage of Caius in battle with Lightning was also shown.
October 2011 saw the release of yet another trailer, titled Change the Future, made specially for New York Comic Con. This trailer elaborated on how Lightning went to Valhalla, and further showcased Caius, Yeul, Snow, and Hope.
Also, in October 2011, a 7 minute trailer entitled New Adventures chronicled much of the new battle system and elaborated on the new Historia Crux system.
Another trailer released in December 2011 titled Battle in Valhalla further showcased Caius and his abilities, and showed numerous shots of Lightning in battle with him. To promote the game's upcoming release, AKB48 member, Yuko Oshima, was appointed the leader of a group of thirteen official test players.[31]
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
GameRankings | 85% (360) (2 reviews)[32] 80% (PS3) (2 reviews)[33] |
Publication | Score |
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Famitsu | 40 / 40[35] |
Game Informer | 8 / 10[36] |
Official Xbox Magazine (US) | 9 / 10[37] |
PlayStation: The Official Magazine | 8 / 10[38] |
Dengeki PlayStation | S[34] |
Pre-release anticipation has been varied from East to West. Final Fantasy XIII-2 was a runner-up for 1UP.com's "Best Xbox 360 Game of the Tokyo Game Show 2011," but did not earn a mention in the PS3 category, despite being playable on the platform.[39] However, it was still listed as one of "The Top PS3 Games of 2012."[40] In Japan, the game finally climbed to number one on Famitsu Magazine's Most Anticipated List after Final Fantasy Type-0 was released in October 27, 2011.[41]
Final Fantasy XIII-2 has received perfect scores from the Japanese magazines Famitsu and Dengeki PlayStation. Famitsu editor Ranbu Yoshida said, "It feels like a very different game from its predecessor; the story changes depending on where you choose to go in your time-traveling journey, and it's easy to lose yourself in changing and redoing areas you've previously finished." While assistant editor Norihiro Fujiwara wrote, "The setting and presentation is fantastic, and the issues people brought up with the first game -- its linearity, its lack of meaty gameplay -- are a thing of the past. You're sucked into the game right from the beginning, and the story's very easy to get into."[35] Dengeki has given the game an S rating, the highest rating that is achievable in the magazine.[34]
The game has also received positive reviews from Western magazines. Official Xbox Magazine has given the game a score of 9.0 out of 10, stating that it "repairs almost every problem with Final Fantasy XIII, delivering an experience that feels like what that original game should have been"[37] and that "FFXIII-2 will restore your excitement for the franchise's future."[36] Game Informer has given the game a score of 8 out of 10, praising the player-driven progression, entertaining combat and other adjustments that make it one of their "favorite RPGs from a mechanical perspective," but with criticism directed at the story.[36] PlayStation: The Official Magazine, on the other hand, gave it the same score of 8 out of 10 for the opposite reason: they praised the story as an "emotional tale" with "a superb cast of characters" and "so much heart" but criticized the "shallow filler content" and "artificial mechanics."[38]
During its first week of release in Japan, Final Fantasy XIII-2 sold 524,000 copies with the PlayStation 3 version topping the charts. The Xbox 360 version only reached 48th, largely due to the low number of Xbox 360 customers in Japan. Initial sales have been notably lower than what they were for the game's predecessor which sold 1.5 million units in its first week.[42] By the end of the year, the game had sold 697,146 units, becoming the fifth bestselling game from Japan.[43]
References
- ^ a b "Final Fantasy XIII-2 dated, special edition PS3 announced".
{{cite web}}
: Text "accessdateSseptember 14, 2011" ignored (help) - ^ "Final Fantasy XIII-2".
- ^ a b "「Final Fantasy XIII-2」が2011年発売予定,「Agito」は「Final Fantasy 零式」と名称変更して2011年夏発売。「Square Enix 1st Production Department Premiere」をTwitterで実況". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Aetas, Inc. January 18, 2011. Archived from the original on January 19, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ^ a b c http://www.siliconera.com/2011/12/18/tri-ace-helped-out-with-final-fantasy-xiii-2/
- ^ a b c d e f g h "STAFF". FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 Official Website. Square Enix. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
- ^ "Final Fantasy XIII-2 Release Date For US Confirmed". Game Breakers.
- ^ Andy Robinson (January 18, 2011). "Final Fantasy XIII-2 'exceeds FFXIII in every aspect'". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
- ^ "Final Fantasy XIII-2 theme songs revealed". Gematsu.
- ^ a b c d e f g Gantayat, Anoop (26 January 2011). "Toriyama and Kitase Discuss Final Fantasy XIII-2". News. andriasang. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
- ^ "FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 E3 trailer". Square Enix. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
- ^ "E3 2011: Final Fantasy XIII-2". Shack News. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ "Direct-feed Final Fantasy XIII-2 footage". Gematsu. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ a b c Gantayat, Anoop (14 June 2011). "More Final Fantasy XIII-2 Bits From Dengeki". News. andriasang. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
- ^ "Final Fantasy XIII-2: Historia Crux, Noel's origins, and Lightning's role". Gematsu. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ a b Schreier, Jason (September 8, 2011). "Time-Travel Gameplay Could Save Final Fantasy XIII-2". Wired. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ Yoon, Andrew (September 8, 2011). "Final Fantasy XIII-2's time travel explained". Shacknews. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ a b Gantayat, Anoop (28 January 2011). "Kitase and Toriyama Talk FFXIII-2 and Fabula Nova Crystallis". News. andriasang. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
- ^ "GAMING WORLDS COLLIDE AS SQUARE ENIX UNVEILS E3 2011 TITLES" (Press release). Square Enix. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
- ^ Brian Ashcraft (January 13, 2010). "Interview: There Is Enough Discarded Final Fantasy XIII To Make Another Game". Kotaku. Gawker Media. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
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External links
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