PS3/360 Final Fantasy XIII

[Dukefrukem]

Developer: Square Enix
Genre: Role-Playing
Release Date: April, 2010
Platform: PS3/360

Info

May 24, 2007

Of more interest to gamers is what Square Enix has planned for its next fiscal year--or, more accurately, what it doesn't have planned. According to several online reports--most stemming from an IGN translation--Square Enix President Yoichi Wada told a press conference that Final Fantasy XIII would not ship during Square Enix's current financial year.

"It will take a bit more time," Wada reportedly said about FFXIII. "At the very least, this fiscal year is definitely out of the question." When contacted by GameSpot, Square Enix USA reps claimed they were unaware of Wada's comments and were waiting on official word. "We'll get a translation to you as soon we receive one," was all a rep would say.

Square Enix earnings mixed, no FF XIII 'til '08? - PlayStation 3 News at GameSpot

2006

Firstly, it should be noted that this game has been confirmed to appear for the forthcoming PlayStation 3. This means that rumour of a multi-platform Final Fantasy title (apart from FFXI) is thus far unsubstantiated, though I will cover this in more detail shortly. The team behind FFXIII include Motomu Toriyama as the director, Yoshinori Kitase will be the producer, Tetsuya Nomura shall be the character designer, interestingly Masashi Hamauzu will be working on sound, and Isamu Kamikokuryo will provide art for the game. The story of Final Fantasy XIII appears to revolve around a female lead. Yes, another female lead despite the (in my opinion unfair) criticisms of FFX-2 star Yuna. Not much is yet known about the character, other than that she will weild numerous different weapons (well, a gun and a sword!).

Final Fantasy Versus XIII

Another PlayStation 3 title, FFVXIII (even the natural abbreviation is a mouthful! I think we’ll refer to it as Versus from now on…) is said to be in some ways similar to Kingdom Hearts, especially as the developing team are so closely associated with the KH team. Nomura will be directing Versus, as well as designing the characters; the acclaimed Shinji Hashmoto shall produce the game, with Yoko Shimomura working on the soundtrack. Bizarrely, despite also being named “Final Fantasy 13″, the game will have a completely different set of characters from the main FFXIII game, as well as an independent storyline. This renders me senseless as to why the games both come under the FF XIII title. Presumably relationships between the titles will emerge nearer the games release. Even less of the Versus storyline is known than FF XIII, though the system is said to feature heavy action gameplay elements. One can but compare this to Dirge of Cerberus, where FFXIII will be compared to the original FFVII.

Final Fantasy Agito XIII

Next, in what could be an endless line of Final Fantasy XIII titles, is Final Fantasy Agito 13. Agito is going to be a mobile phone game. We know next to nothing about Agito, except that it is said to be a prequel, rather than a sequel to the main FFXIII. We can only recommend Square Enix’s little blurb as a piece of helpful insight into the games future:

What’s the basic concept?

Remember the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII? Four releases, all centred on the lore of FFVII? The last piece of that collection finally arrives next year (Core Crisis), so Square Enix thought it would do a similar compilation for the next Final Fantasy title, Final Fantasy XIII. We have no idea of the meaning behind the compilation’s name, “Fabula Nova Crystallis” (other than it being Latin for “the new tale of the crystal”), but we can confirm that it comprises at least three titles: Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy Versus XIII (both for the PlayStation 3) and Final Fantasy Agita XIII (for cell phones, which are apparently way popular in Japan). Since FFVII’s compilation has four titles, we’re assuming that a fourth FFXIII title will be announced later.

Who’s making it?

Think of Square Enix’s two biggest PlayStation 2 games in the States. We’re talking Kingdom Hearts II and Final Fantasy X. Well, those two teams are each working on a respective FFXIII title. Yoshinori Kitase and his boys from the FFX team are tackling FFXIII; they apparently started basic work on the game after wrapping FFX and started full-on production after creating (and then shelving) the FFVII PlayStation 3 footage shown at last year’s E3. Tetsuya Nomura and his teams from both FFVII: Advent Children and Kingdom Hearts II are working on Final Fantasy Versus XIII.

What’s the big deal?

Er, the fact that the PlayStation 3 is getting not just one, but [at least] two Final Fantasy titles right off the bat. So far, Square Enix seems to be emphasizing FFXIII itself, as the company has shown the most of that one. Understandable, since it’s probably in a more complete state (since the team’s been working on it since FFX, as opposed to Nomura’s team, which probably started work on Final Fantasy Versus XIII after the recently released KH2). Not much has been shown of either game, but we can pick up a few details. FFXIII’s trailer featured a very sci-fi look with futuristic monorails and armour-clad soldiers wielding guns, as opposed to the more medieval-fantasy style of [many of the] previous games. Also, FFXIII seems to feature a female main character; most of the footage featured her taking down several soldiers with stylish gunshots and combo attacks. This footage looks like a typical high-quality Square Enix CG cut-scene until you notice the slight jaggies on her skin and the preponderance of numbers and onscreen icons, indicating that the battle is taken from real-time gameplay.

Other than showing a woman taking down dudes and wandering around some nice-looking environments, the trailer gave no details. Even less was shown of Nomura’s game, which only had a dude with black clothes (and a haircut suspiciously resembling Nomura’s) challenging a whole bunch of soldiers and then conjuring up magical swords to circle around him. Oh, and Nomura hinted that his title will feature “extreme-action gameplay.”
Is there anything to worry about?

Screen Shots





























Videos


Trailer

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Official Website

E3 2006 - FFXIII TRAILER | SQUARE ENIX

[DWall]

the screens look amazing, but is it enough to make me buy a ps3? (i would be buying a ps3 solely for Final Fantasy games, to continue on with them)

[Dukefrukem]

Originally Posted by DWall

the screens look amazing, but is it enough to make me buy a ps3? (i would be buying a ps3 solely for Final Fantasy games, to continue on with them)

they are making three FF RPGs... two will be available in the first year of PS3s release.. im totally stocked on this

[sRc]

looks pretty nice

[Enderet]

Looks good... but FF12 is only a few weeks away! gahhhh

Splinter Cell will have to hold me until then.

[DWall]

FF12 FTW! im so excited

[Squirr3l_Ma5t3r]

I have never even cared much about Final Fantasy games, but after looking at those screens, I can not wait for that to come out. I may even play the upcoming XII to prep me for it.

[Enderet]

I dont care much for the visuals in this game, to be honest. Before FFX-2, Square was infallible... but i dont know anymore. Im even a bit skeptical about 12's new combat system, that isnt all too traditional, like I am a fan of.

[Dukefrukem]

Originally Posted by Enderet

I dont care much for the visuals in this game, to be honest. Before FFX-2, Square was infallible... but i dont know anymore. Im even a bit skeptical about 12's new combat system, that isnt all too traditional, like I am a fan of.

I argee...ever since they became Square-Nix or whatever they;'re called now

[Squirr3l_Ma5t3r]

The lead character for 12 looks like a little ninny though. This being my first FF game that I plan on playing through, I'd rather the lead be more cooler, you know? I just can't see this guy weilding a sword like Cloud or anything.