Final Fantasy XIII is absolutely the section that required the longest period of development in the series, but the developers’ efforts were well rewarded, much to the beauty of being able to sell seven million copies. The result, however, was not the best and has generated a fierce debate that mainly attributed to the excessive linearity. Thus collecting valuable feedback of the users, will soon be available in Europe. Final Fantasy XIII-2 , which, in addition to represent its sequel, it is proposed to remedy all the defects that caused harsh criticism from gamers around the globe. With a demo released on the Playstation Network and Xbox Live, so we could taste something for publication scheduled for January 31, 2012.
The demo version of Final Fantasy XIII-2 will take us for about an hour in Cocoon where, accompanied by Noel and Serah, we will discover some of the most important new features over its predecessor. First, there was noted a willingness to resolve, or at least mitigate, the excessive linearity. In this regard, if we throw an eye on the radar, not known as a minor corridor but a map with a couple of alternative routes. Hope is definitely good to have a freedom that encourages exploration. However, the test session was not able to give this feeling.
Of course, there has been a step forward but not enough for a title on the cover bearing the logo of Final Fantasy. In fact, the possibilities are scarce, multiple paths quite short and therefore is not pushed to the discovery of hidden objects. But we are still talking about a small percentage of the entire code, and certainly our opinion cannot be considered valid for the complete product. What is certain is that it is a bad card.
To give some variety to the gameplay, however, there is the presence of multiple dungeons in which we recover all the crystals and reach the exit. The difficulty lies in the floor: the various tiles disappear when hovered. In the full game also, there should be other puzzles but basically it will be time mazes, or extradimensional areas scattered in the void beyond the portals. To get out we just pass the tests to which we will be subjected. But that time? To answer we need to introduce an innovation not present in the demo.
Historia Crux is a tool that will allow us to move back and forth in time, thus going to change many of the game environments. Will become our hub, a highway of the space-time continuum through which it travels between past and future. This timeline will not be tied to entire eras with scenarios, but dedicated to individual areas that will be placed in different periods unlocked. This will allow the narrative to take a character far from linear, taking us into the future first and then go back to the events recounted in Final Fantasy XIII .
There are also locations where enemies, weather and background music vary according to time. In short, a back and forth that will surely give a boost to the plot, and the ability to complete the title living alternate endings. Returning to our discussion, the greater emphasis placed in the exploratory phase, which could also affect the visibility of enemies: now we will see them appear out of nowhere to our side with a chance to escape from their reach to avoid a collision, or to hit to start the battle with the bonus of preemptive attack.
The battle system, apparently speeded up, also sees some changes already known to the mechanics of grafted Final Fantasy XIII. The demo allowed us to put hands on the new Optimus, through which you can develop more diversified strategies while continuing to customize and change the set-up as before. This time, however, we have at our side a monster. At the end of the battles you happen to get the rewards of a crystal of the defeated enemy: from that moment it will be selectable in our group. Each will have its own characteristics, just like the characters and differ from each other because of their instinctive technique.
Loading a bar to the sound of an attack or by using special objects, you can activate the special move of the monster. It starts as a very rapid QTE ( Quick Time Event ) – another new feature inserted to give a certain level of spectacle to the boss battles – whose degree of success will determine the effectiveness of the attack. From this point of view, it opens so many possibilities, so many as the number of enemies in the game. Even the monsters rise in levels but, unlike the characters, that within the Crystallium need experience points are upgradable using objects of different kinds of rewards available between the end of battle or directly purchased from a shop in Final Fantasy XIII- 2 replaced by Chocholina, a beautiful girl, where you can buy weapons, items, and various upgrades. Finally, it should be noted that the equipment presents time due to a gradient tactic ‘ Equip Limit.
The latest version shown in this demonstration is the Trigger Live, according to a system of dynamic dialogues: frequently there will be places of questions based on what is happening at that time, four multiple responses represent our thinking. So there are no right or wrong answers, and according to our choice, you might prefer a narrative process, behavior, or the discovery of an object rather than another.
Final Fantasy XIII-2 has required eighteen months of development against the long years of its predecessor. The risk of falling into a second “half success” is therefore to be considered, given the rapid work, but basically what difference the two titles is in the gameplay. The visual sector, in fact, remained almost the same, slightly better than Final Fantasy XIII, a little ‘less than the Xbox 360 version in which, this time, the title will be released on a single DVD and will see the use of scenes rendered in for real-time narrative interludes, rather than pre-rendered. Even in the demo we saw on the console as Microsoft did a title harder to manage the amount of detail on screen, so much to see significant drops frames on several occasions. The background music has been changed and instead assigned to other composers who testify to the change of style, positive or negative is of course up to you.
Returning to the gameplay, the work that has been done is closer to an improvement rather than a revolution. The various new features that make the gaming experience is improved, leaving the classic formula intact that has characterized the previous chapter a couple of years ago. Of course, the speedup of the fighting could be debated by the nose to the most, because very often we find ourselves repeatedly pressing the button on the attachment, but those who enjoyed Final Fantasy XIII can only end up loving this new chapter.
However, it remains some doubt on Cristallium, the clarity of the plot (because of space-time jumps) and the graphic quality of the Xbox 360 version, for the moment rather unstable. All doubts will be swept away on the 31st January, the day when we, for better or for worse, come back to talk about Final Fantasy XIII-2.
Exploring New Bodhum – Final Fantasy XIII-2 Gameplay Video (Xbox 360)
ABOUT THIS GAME:Final Fantasy XIII-2
Release Date: January 31, 2012
MSRP: $59.99
Also on: PS3
T for Teen: Drug Reference, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Simulated Gambling, Violence
Genre: RPG
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
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