Eager to learn from past mistakes and make us forget the controversy surrounding Final Fantasy XIII, Square Enix has redoubled its efforts to ensure that its result would correct all the mistakes that had been criticized for thirteenth component. Every effort has been made to ensure that Final Fantasy XIII-2 surpasses its predecessor, and we can say that it succeeds in so insolent.
Not easy, when followed by a portion of its audience, but shunned by the other, to succeed in just one while reconciling with others. It must learn to question and make some concessions in favor of a new direction that was not necessarily envisaged at the outset. Mainly criticized for being too linear inducing a distinct lack of freedom, Final Fantasy XIII had closed a large majority of fans of RPG old-school who were not found in this episode.
Despite all its qualities, the thirteenth installment was certainly managed to capture a new audience, but in the eyes of Square Enix, the goal was far from being achieved. There was no question of stopping there, and it is through a direct sequel Final Fantasy XIII returns to show us it is serious and that many more will be impudent to those who dare ask him about a condescending look.
Because Square Enix has not done things by half by reviewing its copy and it is really under the sign of change is looming Final Fantasy XIII-2. All the foundations of the thirteenth aspect have been reworked, sometimes completely, to get back on a sounder footing and potentially richer. As for the idea that only applies to players who completed the thirteenth album, it was unthinkable. So a sequel without being a sequel that is set before us here. Understand that even if the action of the game starts just three years after the end of Final Fantasy XIII, it is frankly not necessary to know the initial scenario to enjoy the story of Final Fantasy XIII-2. Simply because the narrative is, at the outset, a whole new twist and makes virtually no reference to what happened before.
So yes, old characters are clearly outlined, but the software includes anyway a very comprehensive summary of key events of the first game and, given the effectiveness of the narration in Final Fantasy XIII-2, it is soon the new issues introduced in this sequel that hold our attention.
It must be said that the game takes pleasure in us to confuse us projecting from the first second in the greatest perplexity. Galloping at full speed on his horse Divine Lightning faced an unknown opponent in a setting that evokes nothing but a multitude of questions. After an amazing first series of confrontations, at least on purely visual, the first answers are emerging, creating almost more new questions they DISCLAIM light on what will happen in the plot.
The antagonist is named Caius, it is closely linked to a young woman who seems to be of major importance in this opus, and his icy stare is clearly the only answer he found to cover the infinite sadness that lives. Lightning, she is trapped in this place out of time called the Valhalla, and it is through a young man named Noel, last representative of mankind in the future, who will attempt to prevent another tragedy from occurring across the world.
Thus begins an eventful journey: we will cross the space-time along with Noel, but also Serah, the younger sister of Lightning quite determined to trace her missing sis. Believe it or not, this pair of protagonists is the only one we will be given over to embody the essence of the game, the others playing a role as temporary allies at specific times of the adventure. This choice may seem bold, even suicidal, for a series that usually relies heavily on the charisma and the multiplicity of his characters. But it is justified to the extent that the free development of the capacities of heroes makes obsolete the notion of alternation between players who are supposed to be extremely versatile.
The developers have opted for a pool of monsters that will take turns to support our human duo during the fighting. System strategies are still relevant in Final Fantasy XIII-2, it is the role for each creature that will allow them to juggle. For if Serah Christmas and still have the option to switch at will between different jobs, the monsters themselves, do not have one. And that’s changing role that can switch from one to another during the fighting.
The combat system is not the element with the most advanced in relation to Final Fantasy XIII. We will not return to its specific detail but highlight the improvements. Apart from the unprecedented intervention familiar to recur throughout the adventure and synchronization techniques that have come to bring a little spice to the games, Final Fantasy XIII-2 benefits from an even faster pace than its predecessor. Minimizing the transitions between the different roles, to the point of making them instant, the title manages to find a dynamism and fluidity of action that are saving.
Plus there is no objection to changing unwanted jobs at the rate of one per second, if necessary, to correct a bad situation onboard. Any salt of gameplay resident, once again, in the way we use the alternating of these strategies and the effectiveness of three roles within them, it is this aspect of combat that focuses on our most attention. Added to this is obviously the central concept of Break, which is to put an enemy in shock to make it vulnerable and breathes all the tension required for the smooth clashes. And to ensure that the player remains stuck in the front row, Shares Cinematics (QTE) have been implemented to strengthen both immersion and staging. Thus, even if their performance has no real impact on the game, their presence is only positive in that it is more close to the fighting in beauty the most impressive…
It has been said, the development capacity of two main characters allows greater freedom, and it is through the Crystarium we’re going to boost their skills by focusing on roles that you want to specialize. Control of these jobs (attacker, pest, defender, saboteur, tactician, trainer) then we encourage to plan a specific strategy, then complete the monsters from the gaps in the areas we were able to move away.
Eventually, the menu dedicated to the development of real pets can develop highly specialized creatures, including by making them benefit from the legacy of their peers through mergers. The way in which the player finds himself thrown into a confrontation was also itself called into question and now operates from a clock indicator called Mog. It announces the arrival of enemies that can generally avoid going out of the radius of hostility, or otherwise cause by hitting to take the lead, giving the characters a temporary speed boost. Mog’s role does not end there, it can be launched without care on remote boxes to retrieve the contents, or be involved to reveal portions of otherwise invisible setting.
There is indeed in Final Fantasy XIII-2 of the temporal paradoxes that affect the architecture environments, bugs in the Matrix in a way, that must be corrected in order to restore harmony around you. This can be done in several ways: either by solving puzzles of varying complexity, or by scanning the same place at different times to neutralize the defect causing the problem. We are thus led back regularly to the Heart of History (Historia Crux in VO), a sort of crossroads by both Office of chronology and map of the world covering all areas of the game at every given time.
But the new gates are unlocked only on the condition of having got hold of artifacts that, again, may be obtained from a multitude of ways. Defeating a boss, to complete a quest, searching the suspicious crannies, many things can cause us to get their hands on an artifact that will be the key to unlock a gate. This will allow us to push a little further on our wanderings through time. It should also keep in mind that it is possible to reset a zone in order to fully re-opting for other choices in order to discover new branches. A good reason to return the adventure in every sense, from being optional quests considerable in this opus. Fruit of a large reflective work carried out in order to meet the expectations of the best players, Final Fantasy XIII-2 is an episode to be taken seriously, regardless of our liabilities in relation to the series.
Finally, to conclude, with Final Fantasy XIII-2, Square Enix shows its ability to turn the tide, not to disappoint his audience and it is through a direct consequence that the editor returns to show us that it more pleasant. Of those who dare to be impudent to ask on this album a condescending look, because Final Fantasy XIII-2 demonstrated an impressive commitment when it comes to messing with the rules laid to surprise the player. Convincing and reassuring, but not move us beyond measure, this episode is both one of change and reconciliation.
Final Fantasy XIII-2 Gameplay Trailer [HD]
Recent Comments