Final Fantasy XIII-2 Sequel to XIII

[JayVe]

From Siliconera (http://www.siliconera.com/2011/01/18/final-fantasy-xiii-2-coming-to-ps3-and-xbox-360/)
It’s official, Final Fantasy XIII is getting a direct sequel. Final Fantasy XIII-2 is in development and it’s multiplatform. At their Production 1 press conference Square Enix announced Final Fantasy XIII-2 will be available for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Motomu Toriyama, director of Final Fantasy XIII, took the stage to talk about Final Fantasy XIII-2. He’s reprising his role as the director. With six million units sold worldwide, Toriyama says he came to unveil a sequel.

According to Toriyama, many fans have voiced their request for a sequel. Toriyama promises another dramatic story with Lightning as the main character. A new character, perhaps the one in the logo, is Lightning’s rival. Final Fantasy XIII-2 is in simultaneous development for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

From Kotaku (http://kotaku.com/5736409/final-fantasy-xiii-gets-a-second-chance-with-a-second-game):
After years of build-up and waiting, Final Fantasy XIII was released to mediocre reviews. The game was a disappointment. If at first you don't succeed, try again.

Regardless of fan bickering or indifference, the game was a monster hit for Square Enix, moving over six million copies.

The game's developer, Square Enix, is working on Final Fantasy XIII-2, a direct sequel to Final Fantasy XIII.

Square Enix has only unveiled the game's logo, which showed Final Fantasy XIII heroine Lightning as well as a new, unnamed character. It is thought that this character is Lightning's rival.

Unlike Final Fantasy XIII, which was originally only slated for the PS3, Final Fantasy XIII-2 is penciled in for both the PS3 and the Xbox 360, right off the bat. The game won't have the wait that Final Fantasy XIII did. According to Square Enix, it will be released in 2011.

[JayVe]

Personally, I thought Final Fantasy XIII was one of the worst games this generation; full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. ...

[scythe]

Makes sense. They cut a game's worth of content (http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/13/square-enix-cut-a-games-worth-of-content-from-final-fantasy-xii/) from XIII. Not utilizing those assets would just be a waste of money.

I know it's popular to hate on XIII, but honestly I really enjoyed it. Some of the game mechanics (like leader death == game over) were annoying, and the story was a bit weak but I guess I'm one of the few that enjoyed the elimination of towns and the more focused gameplay. It's not the greatest Final Fantasy ever, but I'll be damned if I'm not excited for a sequel. And the fact that it's coming out this year is kick-ass.

[frederec]

I was one of the many disappointed by FFXIII, but I still bought it and beat it, so I'm part of the problem. If this gets amazing reviews, I'll get it. But if it's like the original, I'll wait until it gets very cheap, which wouldn't take long.

[LarsenNET]

I'm one of the few here that loved FFXIII. One of my favorites of the year so I can't wait.

[Narradisall]

I know it's popular to hate on XIII, but honestly I really enjoyed it.

It's not popular, it's just most peoples opinions based on what was provided.

I'm only disappointed by the OP in that while we're getting FFXIII-2 (this year?) there has still not been much headway on Versus.

I'm sure XIII-2 will be another roaring sales success, but I think I will skip it unless I hear some amazing reviews.

[Dukefrukem]

Cut it out... you mean I have to fucking finish XIII????

[Narradisall]

Cut it out... you mean I have to fucking finish XIII????

If you skip the cut scenes that's only like 35 minutes of gameplay....

... I keed, I keed, it's 40 minutes. :D

[Dukefrukem]

This must be where all that content went that was cut out of the first game.

[JayVe]

I don't dislike FFXIII because it is trendy. I don't like it because I didn't enjoy it.

It was very pretty though.

[Gorvi]

I enjoyed XIII quite a bit, so this has me excited. I didn't really understand a lot of the complaints, FFXIII is incredibly similar to FFX, with the exception of towns along the way. The elimination was noticeable, but not nearly the deal breaker for me as it was for others. Hell, Gran Pulse is essentially The Calm Lands from FFX.

The slow burn of introducing the battle system was the only thing that I can really fault the game for. Heck, I even thought the story was one of the better told RPG stories out there.

EDIT: I agree that this coming with still nothing firm for Versus XIII is disappointing.

[jpublic]

I'm with you Gorvi - I thought FFXIII was a really fun, well-crafted experience.

[frederec]

The slow burn of introducing the battle system was the only thing that I can really fault the game for. Heck, I even thought the story was one of the better told RPG stories out there.


And this covers my two biggest complaints. I felt the "slow burn" was way too slow. And unlike you, I thought the story was told terribly. I never felt involved in either the characters or what was going on with them.

[JayVe]

Maybe Final Fantasy XIII will be a new yearly franchise... like Call of Duty, Raving Rabbids, or Madden!

[Gorvi]

And this covers my two biggest complaints. I felt the "slow burn" was way too slow. And unlike you, I thought the story was told terribly. I never felt involved in either the characters or what was going on with them.
Yeah, the battle system thing I can understand, they really did hold your hand for far too long. It's a fun system once you have all of the pieces in place, but when you think about it what's there wouldn't have held progression for a full game, so I can in a way understand why they did it. They just didn't have enough. Only 5 different "classes" is a low for an FF game. They boiled it down to DD, Tank, Magic DD, Enfeebler, and Healer, usually you have some variation in those roles and classes that blend some together or approach them differently.

As for the story that's of course a matter of opinion. It was nice to see a strong female lead again, and the only character that really got on my nerves was Vanille. But I can understand not liking it. Of course, some of the complaints that I've heard about the story (not necessarily around here) seem to stem from just not paying attention to what's going on, as in not understanding things that are pretty clearly explained (l'cie, cith, etc...).

[JayVe]

New thread is now on the home page as news. (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?t=21311)

[Xydarc]

Final Fantasy XIII is my favorite FF, and Lightning was my favorite character. JOYGASM!

[frederec]

Yeah, the battle system thing I can understand, they really did hold your hand for far too long. It's a fun system once you have all of the pieces in place, but when you think about it what's there wouldn't have held progression for a full game, so I can in a way understand why they did it. They just didn't have enough. Only 5 different "classes" is a low for an FF game. They boiled it down to DD, Tank, Magic DD, Enfeebler, and Healer, usually you have some variation in those roles and classes that blend some together or approach them differently.


I think I would have preferred an (optional) tutorial when fights are introduced, rather than the painstaking drip of an introduction into new events. It bugged me that you didn't even get anything out of battles (money, experience, anything) until you're about an hour in. It didn't really give me a good first impression.


As for the story that's of course a matter of opinion. It was nice to see a strong female lead again, and the only character that really got on my nerves was Vanille. But I can understand not liking it. Of course, some of the complaints that I've heard about the story (not necessarily around here) seem to stem from just not paying attention to what's going on, as in not understanding things that are pretty clearly explained (l'cie, cith, etc...).

I agree entirely. Which is why I like to harass you about your enjoyment of FFXIII, but I can't fault you for it (much). A lot of our disagreement is just difference of opinion.

[jpublic]

I found the 'classes' in FFXIII interesting considering the path they've taken in games:

1) Fixed Classes
2) Fixed Classes
3) Jobs
4) Fixed Classes
5) Jobs
6) Fixed Classes with customizable Magic/Summons
7) All combat classes with customizable Magic/Summons
8) All combat classes with customizable stats/magic/summons
9) Fixed Classes with customizable skills
10) Fixed Classes at start moving to customization at end.
12) Wholy customizable characters
13) Fixed 'set' of classes for each character, with skills/stats/magic customizable.

Although Gorvi, I would have extended that list: Tank, DPS Melee, DPS Magic, Debuffer, Buffer, Healer.


I also find it interesting how in FFX we had a strong narrative limiting freedom, in FFXII we had (IMO) a somewhat weaker narrative but massive freedom, and then in FFXIII we had a extremely strong narrative and almost no freedom.


Edit: But then, I find Square's design culture to be bizarre in the extreme. It's like there's factions within the company - one pushing to turn the games into movies, another pushing for extreme freedom, yet another pushing for old-school game concepts, and another pushing for risky innovation. How else can you explain the games they've released this generation having such a mixed response for every one?

[Gorvi]

Although Gorvi, I would have extended that list: Tank, DPS Melee, DPS Magic, Debuffer, Buffer, Healer.
Ahh, ok, I knew I was forgetting one, thanks!

[Deadend]

What the fuck? Shouldn't Square be working on games they announced 5 years ago instead of announcing new games? Or maybe this should have been episodic DLC for FFXIII owners.

I'm not going to like this game as I don't like the way that Square makes games with every aspect being utterly disconnected.