Final Fantasy XIII - Discussion and Progress thread

[Kaiser Zero]

At last a new trailer is up with game play!!! And it looks hawt!

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[John Marston]

Woot! I was waiting for this thread to be made lol (I was too lazy XD) The game does look smexy and it may be my first RPG in a long time!

Sucks that it's delayed in america though.

[Nikita]

TBH, i so cannot wait for this game...i was debating if i want to get it or not, but meh, it looks so freakin' flippin' hawt!! ME WANNY NOW!!! GIMMIE, GIMMIE, GIMMIE!!!

[Kamen Rider Joker]

http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww119/TFblogmaster/FZ%20FFXIII/final_fantasy_xiii_logo.jpg

What is it:

The Thirteenth installment of the FINAL FANTASY role playing game series. The first installment on High Depth systems, XIII promises to be the best looking game in the series to date. Accompanying the fancy graphics is a reworked ATB (Active time Battle) system and an emotionally charged plot.

Plot:

The plot revolves around fal'Cie, beings made from crystals inside them. fal'Cie mark people for a greater purpose, these people are called l'Cie. l'Cie are tasked with a objective, called a Focus, from the fal'Cie but are not directly told the objective. To find and achieve said goal, l'Cie gain the ability to summon Eidolons (summon monsters). But the power comes at a cost, if the l'Cie do not complete there focus in time, they become a monster called a Cie Corpse.

Thirteen Centuries ago, a fal'Cie created a haven known as Cocoon, to give mankind a paradise in the sky. Over time, Cocoons citizen's came to see the surface of the world they hovered over as a some sort of hell called Pulse. The Wilderness of Pulse has strange effects on people causing Cocoon's Government, Sanctum, quarantines and exiles anyone effected by it. Our story begins with such a sting. . .

Characters:

Lightning:
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww119/TFblogmaster/FZ%20FFXIII/Lightning.jpg
The first character of the game revealed, Lightning was once a member of Cocoon's military. She discarded her real name in a attempt to emotionally toughen herself in order to protect her little sister after their parents died. Isn't very feminine. Gains the ability to summon the Eidolon, Odin. Odin become a horse for Lightning to mount in Gestalt mode, and also gives her a pair of swords to duel wield.


Snow Villers:
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww119/TFblogmaster/FZ%20FFXIII/Snow.jpg
Leader of an Anti-government group called Team Nora. Snow is a very large man and is capable of running while carrying two people. He gains the ability to summon the Shiva Twins, Nix and Styria. The Shiva twins become a Motorcyle for Snow to use in Gestalt mode.

Oerba Dia Vanille:
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww119/TFblogmaster/FZ%20FFXIII/vanille.jpg
Vanille herald's from Pulse, and is the most sympathetic character of the party. She narrates many of the game's events. She gains the ability to summon the many armed Hecatoncheir, whose arms become machine guns in Gestalt Mode.

Sahz Katzroy:
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww119/TFblogmaster/FZ%20FFXIII/Sahz.jpg
A middle-aged black man with an Afro with some ties to Lightning from her military days. Sahz is a single father to his son Dajh, whose mother died three years ago. Sahz main motivation for the game is reuniting with his son. He gains the ability to summon Brynhildr, a female fire-elemental knight orginal to this game. Brynhilder becomes a race car in Gestalt Mode.


Hope Estheim:
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww119/TFblogmaster/FZ%20FFXIII/Hope.jpg
Hope's mother was caught up in the latest PSICOM sting of people effected by Pulse. She ending up joining with Snow, joining the fight and dying. After becoming a l'Cie and being forced to travel with Snow hasn't made things any better for Hope. He has the ability to summon Alexander. Fittingly, Alexander becomes a fortress in Gestalt mode and fires at enemies with Multiple Cannons.

Oreba Yun Fang:
http://i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww119/TFblogmaster/FZ%20FFXIII/Fang.jpg
Despite being a l'Cie from Pulse, she actually works for Cocoon's Sanctum. Not much else is known about Fang, though a recent interview with Tetsuya Nomura, she was orginally scripted to be a male character. She gains the summon Bahamut, which gains flight in Gestalt mode.


Battle System:
The Battle System is a Modified version of the series staple battle system, the Active Time Battle. The player will be able to stack multiple commands into a slot and attack the enemy with the command combo. Chain your combo's well enough and you will be able to break state your enemy, turning them red and allowing you to do massive amounts of damage to them. A player controls one character at a time as the battle rages on, while the computer handle the rest. Instead of the Gambit system from FF XII, XIII uses a system called "Paradigm Shift", that allows players to switch the party member's role in battle on the fly. (IE, become more defensive, attack all out, and the such.) As Magic cannot be used outside of battle, you are automatically healed after every battle.

Leveling Up:

FF XIII takes an approach similiar to Final Fantasy X in regards to building up your characters. Instead of XP, you can CP (Crystallium Points) that can be used to gain abilities and upgrade stats.

Summons:

Summons work in a similar manner as they have since Final Fantasy X, with the Summon joining the summoner while the remaining characters in the party disappear. Unique to XIII though, is the Gestalt mode. When activated, Summons transform in a way that allow for a greater connection with the summoner. This changes the way the battle plays out, but how much yet is unsure.

When is it out:

Final Fantasy XIII releases Dec. 17th in Japan on the PS3 only, and March 9, 2010 in the rest of the world for both the PS3 and the XBOX 360.
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That's all the really important info I have at the moment, further information kinda relies on the game being released. But now I have a proposition for you all, an Achievement/Trophy Race. A friendly competition to see who can get all the Achievements/Trophies in the game first, for bragging rights. I'm getting the game for both systems, and I'm willing to do participate on both consoles. Meaning I'd have to do everything TWICE, depending on the achievement/Trophies. But that will depend on what you guys want to do.

Well that's it. Tiz out!

Edit: LOL Post 666 Get! Post is mostly done at the moment. If anyone as a better screenshot of Sahz, want any additional more spoilerly information in this post, or just have some misc FFXIII screenshots you want to share, go ahead and PM me.

[Nikita]

i'm actually stoked for this game! i was never introduced to FF until about 2 years ago when my friend told me about XII. I love XII alot mainly b/c that was my first FF game i have ever played! yes, i said it, i have now broken my FF cherry! lol....

This game looks tight tho! The graphics are gonna be amazing since it's gonna be on the PS3. I can't believe its on the 360. I could've sworn Square Enix said no for microsoft. I guess i'm wrong since tiz said it's multi...that really sucks tho...i was hoping for it to be exclusive for PS3 players. Meh, doesn't matter since i'm gonna be getting this game in March! I'm glad it's no longer July since that's what it kept saying...tho it was suppose to be out last year and the year before that. hopefully it's all hyped to be!! since Square Enix kept teasing us!

[Admiral Acksident]

XIII's gonna be awesome. I've always loved the Final Fantasy Series (My first FF was VII >.>)

XII is an awesome game, for me because of the massive fanservice thrown in with the massively awesome storyline and gameplay (Gilgamesh: Nuff said!)

My main worry about XIII is that the storyline won't be up to hash (Though i thought that before i cracked open the case to start playing XII (3rd favorite FF, btw.) and 10... and 9... and 8....

[Kaiser Zero]

i'm actually stoked for this game! i was never introduced to FF until about 2 years ago when my friend told me about XII. I love XII alot mainly b/c that was my first FF game i have ever played! yes, i said it, i have now broken my FF cherry! lol....

This game looks tight tho! The graphics are gonna be amazing since it's gonna be on the PS3. I can't believe its on the 360. I could've sworn Square Enix said no for microsoft. I guess i'm wrong since tiz said it's multi...that really sucks tho...i was hoping for it to be exclusive for PS3 players. Meh, doesn't matter since i'm gonna be getting this game in March! I'm glad it's no longer July since that's what it kept saying...tho it was suppose to be out last year and the year before that. hopefully it's all hyped to be!! since Square Enix kept teasing us!


There still is an exclusive FFXIII game going to PS3, XIII Versus.

None the less i'll be up for a race I guess.

[Noel Kreiss]

Awesome, another FF Game to be stoked for. I have been waiting for a new FF Based game since Dissidia.

Seeing previews Lightning seems like a mix between Cloud and Terra. She seems as bad ass as cloud, but a girl like Terra, which ain't a bad thing because we needed another female protagonist.

[Stefani]

Im so stoked for this game! My first FF was X thanks to Tiz xD. It's also my favorite, probably because it was my first as well. I also love VII and VIII so there's no doubt that I'm going to love this one too.

The Graphics look crazy awesome and the characters sound cool, too. I'll probably be getting it for the PS3 though I'm still not sure. I'm just happy to hear it's out in March! I was looking at it on amazon a few months ago and it said like December 31st of next year so March makes me way happy!

[Kamen Rider Joker]

Awesome, another FF Game to be stoked for. I have been waiting for a new FF Based game since Dissidia.

Seeing previews Lightning seems like a mix between Cloud and Terra. She seems as bad ass as cloud, but a girl like Terra, which ain't a bad thing because we needed another female protagonist.

XD I dunno about Terra, Lightning strikes me more of a character like Celes then Terra. Though the Cloud thing is very intentional, Nomura basically designed her to be the female version of Cloud!

And yeah Angie, Final Fantasy XIII being multiplatform outside of Japan was announced at the 2008 E3. I believe it was mostly a business decision based on how the PS3 was faring outside of Japan at the time, and spreading it out to outreach to more people and take less of a loss on the software itself. It has lived most of it's life as a PS3 Exclusive though, with work on the port to the other HD system not stating until most of the primary work was finished on the PS3 build. I believe Square's Crystal Tool Engine is to blame (LOL like it's a bad thing) for the quick turn around. Not to mention the near instantious work on localization (Both the Japanese and English audio tracks were done at the same time. Added bonus, I believe the games will be lip synced to the audio track of the region, so no awkward trying to match up voice with lips, or worse, obviously unsynched dialogue to mouths.

Off-Topic, I like how the leveling up sounds. Sounds like X's sphere grid, though I hope it takes more of XII License Board turn. . . Zodiac Style. I want a bit more of character differences than starting stats and the Eidolon they get. Let them dabble in a little bit of everything yes, but still give characters a focus. Give Snow access to higher Monk/Black belt type skills while the others only get slightly above entry level skills. Give Hope White Magic, Vanille Black. Character differences should be more than cosmetic. Also make battles harder, especially if we have auto-healing after every battle. (Oh shit, forgot to add that to Battle System info! Sorry guys, Editing now!)

[Nikita]

Yeah, i figured it would. I mean everything exclusive is going multi!! well almost...but soon enough the exclusive will be multi...but doesn't that defeat the purpose of exclusives now??? >_> hmm..oh well..lol...

I'm just hoping FF XIII Versus will come out as well. That game would be awesome. Playing as one of the FF characters from all the FF games....playing as Sephiroth, or cloud or even Tidus!! I just want to beat up Tidus b/c he annoyed me in X...lol...:p

[Kamen Rider Joker]

. . . That's Dissidia, a PSP game. Versus XIII is like the Kingdom Hearts gameplay style married with a brooding bishounen and realistic clothing.

[Admiral Acksident]

Isn't one of the FFXIII games going to have Agito in the title?

[Kamen Rider Joker]

Yes, Final Fantasy XIII Agito. It has nothing to do with the Kamen Rider show besides sharing the name. At least we will get to play it, since it jumped ship from a cell phone game to a full fledged PSP game.

[Admiral Acksident]

Still, that makes me wanna try to re-find the Final Fantasy Font (I believe it's Runic MT Condensed) and make a funny banner of that. XD

[Kamen Rider Joker]

Some Screenshots to look at. Remember the game comes out in two weeks in Japan, and by then we will be under three months to go!

http://www.andriasang.com/e/galleries/2009/12/03/ffxiii/

Yeah I'm being Mr. Hype Generator, but screw it, It's like the game I've been looking forward to since Final Fantasy X. Sorry Soukichi/Will Henshin, XII was a good game, It just never clicked with me personally.

Unless we are talking about Balthier, god damn was he awesome.

[Admiral Acksident]

Hey, Everyone is entitled to thier opinions. I'm that way with FFVII, actually. Good game, but not even on my top five list.

[Kamen Rider Joker]

Famitsu review of the game has leaked out. 39/40 is the final verdict. The one point dock is for some minor game play issues, like hard to see damage numbers and the screen getting too crowded.

[Urza Planeswalker]

Dang a 39 though? That's still pretty epic. But I can't wait to play this game. I mean daggone.

[Admiral Acksident]

Makes me want this game even more :D

[Kamen Rider Joker]

http://www.novacrystallis.com/?p=76

Non-Secret Trophies for XIII have been leaked. There's about sixteen secret Bronze trophies (Though I suspect some of those are actually a higher level grade trophy) that are mostly suspected to be story checkpoint related. Though I do have my doubts, some of them HAVE to be hidden boss related.

And looking at that list of Trophies (And most likely will be the Achieve's on 360), I'd say a Trophy/Achieve race is fully possible for most skill levels. Though I know the collect all weapons and Accessories one is going to be a harsh mistress for me.

[Kaiser Zero]

Joy another collect all weapons/accessories one. Square you've been notorious for making them a pain! *shakes first*

[Kamen Rider Joker]

Come on Jayse, You know Square is HARDLY the worst offender for those. . .


THAT would Mistwalker games! *Kicks Lost Odyssey collectathon achievement*

[Kaiser Zero]

..............Why did you have to bring that one up! I have to finish that damn thing up!! I must for pride!

[Kamen Rider Joker]

I'm on the same damn boat! I've literally followed a god damn list of places to look for shit, AND HAVN'T GOT IT YET!

Who the hell thought it was a good idea to get that anal about shit?

[Kaiser Zero]

I used the official guide!! I have a feeling it's in the damn sea, I hit the auction long ago and nothing!

[Kamen Rider Joker]

I might have to *ugh* start a new game for that one. I may of strayed from the guide early game, and I'm dreading a backtrackathon with no clue where to look.

And since this is the FFXIII thread, I got a spoiler for ya, since the game has been somewhat released early

Cid is a boss you gotta fight

[Kamen Rider Joker]

Game has been fully leaked (By like One day Japan Time) and here's some non-spoilery details I gleaned from watching some live streams:

Game LOOKS amazing, especially in it's menu's of all things. Trust me, you'll know.

Auto-Healing is indeed in the game, but seriously, monsters have gotten a pair of balls and are willing to kick you in the pants.

Oh and the Opening cutscene before you gain any real control? I'm calling it the most BADASS Opening of a Final Fantasy yet, Beating VI and VIII.

[Kaiser Zero]

Linkage?

[Kamen Rider Joker]

http://www.justin.tv/nanayan

Spoilers are to be expected of course!

[Kaiser Zero]

Time to break out the thread!

I should be playing it but NO! UPS is slow (I know it's because I want but still!!) Anywho anyone else waiting??

[Kamen Rider Joker]

I am waitings and waitings for precious, my precious.


*jumps at sound of motor, sighs at it's a prius*

[Kaiser Zero]

A little update to where I am.

Just hit chapter 8 really not all the far but right now just getting CP but I shall resume the story soon!

BTW I can't stand Sazh and Vanille isn't to far behind!

[Kaiser Zero]

Update once more!

Okay after ummmm the events after the in Nautilus I think a little better of Sazh (after the break out even more)

Right now i'm at the start of chapter 10.

Any favorite characters??

[Kamen Rider Joker]

I've always liked Sahz personally, he's felt the most human to me. The issue with him was that he was stuck with just Vanille for wayyyyy to long, it made me cry.

But I also like Snow and Fang, for just being Awesome and never drowning in the despair everyone else sinks into so much.

[Stefani]

I've had my game since midnight on it's release but I just now have gotten the chance to play it because of school :( nearing the end of the quarter so it's always pure hell. Anyway, I'm not that far as I just started playing about an hour and a half ago but I really like it so far! :)

The battle system is one of the better ones in my opinion. I love turn based so I can think of what to do but this isn't bad either. It's kind of turn based but with a sense of real time kinda like merging the battle systems of the turn based FFs with FF7 for the PSP's battle system. I like it better than just flat out fighting straight through.

I like the characters that I have met which right now I've just gotten past a bit of Snow's introduction. I liked Sahz - he makes me laugh with his chocobo chick living in his afro haha. Anyway, back to playing. No favorite character so far. I don't really know the characters that well yet.

[Sonic]

On Chapter 3, will update more as I play through it.

[Kamen Rider Joker]

I'm now in the final Dungeon, I'll probably finish by the end of today (Wednesday) and I'll post my final impressions later.