[Multiplatform] Official Final Fantasy XIII Thread

XIII huh? Well I'm interested to see what kind of style... let's break down some of the previous:

I, II: Pixels
III: AWOL
IV, V: Mideval Fantasy
VI: Modern Fantasy
VII, VIII: Sci-fi
IX: Mideval Fantasy
X: Modern Fantasy
XI: Mideval Fantasy
XII: Modern Fantasy

So... for XIII, the pattern seems to be either a return to Sci-fi, or Mideval Fantasy.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by SOLDIER

Are you sure? It looks pretty medievil to me (princesses, kingdoms, the style of clothing, etc). FFX was more along the lines of modern fantasy, or tropical fantasy if you prefer.

Well, I admit I haven't been able to play it yet (Mostly cuz it hasn't arrived, and I'm without a PS2 for the moment ), but from what I gathered it was more modern in style then say FFIX or XI. I almost put for it "Fantasy + Tactics"... but...

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You list FFVI as modern fantasy too, though I believe steampunk is a better example.

...I was intentionally trying to be vauge in the descriptions for genre of each game. Yeah, Steampunk is a more accurate version though.

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I think perhaps for the next iteration, I'd like something more akin to FFVIII's style.

I agree for the fact that FFVIII was unfairly punished... it sort of Polarized the community on sci-fi angled RPGs... and I think there are more things that can be done with the sci-fi angle (FFVII seemed to be a good mix, but that's been fanserviced to death).

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We already got our fair share of ye old medievil with FFXI and XII, and I don't want the sci-fi to get too excessive that the "Fantasy" portion is just fizzled out (Spirits Within). Likewise, I wouldn't want people whining that it looks like a rip off of FFVII, so they need a setting that's either a step back or a step forward from FFVII's urban setting.

Spirits Within is FF only in name and Sid. I wouldn't mind seeing an entirely new type of period setting... something like Victorian England (Shadowhearts being a good example) or maybe the Roman Empire period?

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Ok fine, the masses of fanboys have spoken:
FFXII: Fantasy + Tactics.

There, happy? No? well I ain't gonna fix it anymore

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Fanboy Senses Tingling!

Well once I am able to see the screenshots (Imageshack's bandwidth exceeded, lol), I will post formal impressions. NICE logo however, and the girl looks pretty cool.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Yes there are a few up on gamespot, but I'd like to see the other screenshots as well.

What Southjag said.

The GUI looks VERY nice.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Enter User Name

I wish you were right about FFXIII being in production for a long time now, but you are wrong. In the Square Press Conference a yesterday, Yoshinori Kitase said that they were originally making the game for PS2, but were then assigned to make the PS3 FF7 Tech Demo for last year's E3. After that, they completely started from scratch on a creating FFXIII for PS3 on a whole newly created game engine. So it's only been in development for 1 year really. It may not be out for a few years. I wish they would work on it 24/7, that would be nice.

Interesting, because so far the trend has been 3 Final Fantasy Games per platform, as 7, 8, 9 were on the Playstation, and 10, 11 and 12 were on the PS2, so having the next Final Fantasy be on the PS3 is not that much of a suprise actually.

The multiple sides of this story, as apparently taking place at different points with different characters is different and unexpected, but then again, it allows people to see different sides to a story that may not be able to be presented within the main game.

For example: Yagus, the character from DQVIII obviously has some backstory, and as such they are making a spinoff for that character. If they only held his characters presentment as in the main DQVIII game, a lot of the character's personality and acheivements would not be seen. This may be (in part) the concept behind the multiple title system in Final Fantasy XIII, as there are parts to the story that happen to take place in vastly different timespans or areas, and its nessesary to tell the story through breaking it up into multiple parts. FFXIII probably tells of the main conflict, while Versus might be about the male character's involvement, and the mobile phone tells of the history leading up to the current situation/problem.

This is mostly stipulation on my part, but hopefully you can see what I'm trying to get across: that FFXIII has such a 'large' story in terms of timespan and involvement (It may be even going beyond 'saving' the world, and maybe stopping the world from dying/deconstructing, via the 'crystal; ), that multiple titles are needed to tell the story properly, and allow for elements that would otherwise get snubbed, cast out of the spotlight due to the main character's story.

Well all of this could be thrown out the window, but I'm basing my hypothesis on what little information they have given us, context clues, and shot-in-the-dark guesses.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Anyone want to try and put the scans into one large pic?

FELIPE NO

That's awesome, and I had just switched my wallpaper to Midgar too =o

How ya doing, buddy?

To expand a moment on Rydia's explanation: As I understand it, the "Gun" portion of the blade gave it extra power when the trigger was pulled. I THINK that it was used in a way where the force made by the gunpowder of the bullets combined with the momentum of swinging the blade gave Squall/Siefer an extra 'push' of power and so they were able to gain more damage from thier attack. Laws of Physics at work, essentially.

Yeah yeah, I know... Final Fantasy and Physics Laws aren't exactly intimate


As for the connection between the different announced titles: So basically FFXIII and FFXIII Versus are related in a situation similar to how FFXII and Final Fantasy Tactics are related? ...That they take place in the same 'world' or 'universe', but at different places and times?

As for the "Agito", it probably acts like Before Crisis does to the main FFVII, in that its a sort of 'back-story' to the main game(s).

I hope I got this right, so that I don't have to think too much about it later

Double Post:

Originally Posted by kat

If this is truth, then the ending will climax in her killing him off, therefore resulting in a major tear jerker where he will proclaim his undying love. And then die.

To pull a megalith: What is this, Emo Romeo & Juliet in the Future?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Qwarky

Final Fantasy Tactics -> Vagrant Story -> Final Fantasy XII
All in Ivalice, different names, no underlining.

I get XII and Tactics being related, but from what I've seen, Vagrant Story seems to only have a stylisitic look in the same style as FFXII/Tactics. Are there any significant suggestions that Vagrant Story takes place in Ivalice? Via story or dialouge I mean.

If they ARE, then that's kinda cool, if not well at least both games have a distinctive style.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Qwarky: I'd be fine with playing it, but download ISOs take forever, even at my classes. I suppose I'll see if someone can send them. I think the reason I never got around to playing it was because of the dungeon crawling aspect: Not my favorite activity.

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This is a Japanese RPG you inuits, why would they have the characters' names in English in the screenshots?

While the name of the character is almost always in Japanese, its typical for the larger games to mix Kanji & English/Engrish into the game to add flavor. Compare FFVII, where several signs were clearly English (Goblin's Bar, STORE, Honeybee Inn) while lots of other text was in japanese writing.

Actually another example is in the trailer itself. Clearly the game is japanese made, but lo and behold, they have english in there (LIGHTNING).

I see what you're getting at though. Its just that sometimes even in completley japanese games the characters names might still be in english, just not for RPGs. (The Japanese version of Guilty Gear XX #Reload which I downloaded was mixed before the english patch: Some characters names were in Kanji while others were in English, seemingly at random).

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Becides that name is entirely too gay for reality.

I totally agree with you there. I suppose the guy from the Versus XIII title is going to be named Thunder?

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by GRUN-3

I played FF7, maybe the fifty or so posts in the AC thread weren't enough for you to know but yes I've played it a few times. In fact, I've played other jap games, surely you would think I'd know the difference between "key" text like characters' names and dialog and non-essential text like background stuff or labels for your spell box. But no! You tell me anyway. Well thanks for that. I'm sure there were some people who just never noticed this before.

I suppose it was ignorance on my part. You didn't seem like the kind of person to play RPGs to me. Yeah its kind of rude of me to have assumed such a thing, but often people assume much larger things about certain posters (Tails is Miles, Megalith is a robot, etc.,)... I find it easierr to say "Yeah I did this, it was fucked up, but hey I did it" rather then try and make up excuses.

Also, my post was talking also about 'sort-of' examples of mixed english character names in NON-RPG settings, ...and I had a general audiance in mind when I wrote it, not just directed to you. Lesson learned though. Lurker likes RPGs.

Originally Posted by Rydia

I think part of the reason why I'm still skeptical about the name "Lightning" is because I just dislike it in general. I was hoping for something a bit more original, even if the overall appearances of characters I've seen so far are typical of Nomura.

Yeah I agree with you and lurker's assesment: If her name IS lightning, they need to change it.

It may be a simplistic theory, but perhaps in the game you can choose to enhance all of your attacks with a certain element in FFXIII? (Thus the 'Lightning') to enhance attacks, Similar in vein to FFVII. Specifically: like how if you equipped a Lightning Materia on Cloud's Sword, he'd gain a lightning damage effect.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by GRUN-3

Thanks for telling me NO ONE PAYS ATTENTION TO ME

DICK.

Well I apoligize, my bad.

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yeah, that'd make more sense than being an innate element ala CT. Why waste screen space for it if you can't change it?

So you're thinking that the major element being used to enhance attacks can be swapped out/switched, either via a menu or a button press?

If so, that would be nice: You could destroy a robot with an Electrified Sword and then freeze a solider with an Ice element all in the same battle*

*Speculation

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by GRUN-3

I am just exaggerating. I wasn't bothered, well maybe a little because people like to nitpick.

Alright, you seemed upset though.

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I don't get it, either. Why nitpick and insist that there's a possibility you're right, and then go around and say you don't like it?

No see I was just saying that there are examples out there of Japanese Games featuring english words/character names despite being in Japanese otherwise, probably has to do with the love of the english language by them (As some in english speaking countries tend to like French as its 'romantic',) because they (Japs) see the English language as stylish. What I don't like is the possible name of the character for FFXIII, "Lightning".

lol: Falgua? It sounds like the name of a town, not a person.

For name suggestions: How about something like "Tesla" as in Telsa Coils? XD
or (since I mentioned French up above), how about éclair? French for Lightning, and a name that HAS been used as a girl's name before (in an anime series called Kiddy Grade).

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by NYRSkate

Eclair? Unless she's full of cream, and being the fanboys you all are, wouldn't you hope that were true, that name would be pretty silly.

Silly it might be, but Eclair is a lot better then Lightning. I suggested it because it was french for lightning.

Maybe you can suggest something better then?

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Originally Posted by Inhert

why not Rayne? after cloud, squall, sora(sky), I think Rayne will fit her XD (you know as rain >.>)

No, Because we already have Paine =p

--edit--
heh, Jazzflight beat me to it. ahh well.

But jokes aside, Rayne I could deal with. There are some other weather related names too: Dawn, Gale, Virga (Rain that does not reach the ground), Drizzle, Tidus (Tide of Water).

Interestingly, I disovered this little nugget of Trivia: Regen is a Dutch/German word for Rain, and considering that rain falls not all at once, but for a period of time, I suppose its fitting that Regen heals over time as well.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Mercury

Hmm, as a frenchman, hehe, sorry but Éclair sounds like really dumb as a name, but I certainly understand that it might sounds “kinda cool” to Americans though… like Italian and Romanian stuff sound to us...

I never considered that part. Claire would be alright, but there's already a Claire (Resident Evil), and Julia was Laguna's uh... Crush (I forgot if they actually got together or not) from FFVIII.

Isabelle or Sabrina would be fine with me. I wish they would reveal a name soon sop that we can stop discussing this

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Zeta26

Well, I think "Lightning" besides the ATB bar, pretty much gives out the hint. That her name could be Lightning.

Oh god we just had a two page discussion on this.

Her name HIGHLY likely to not be lightning.

Double Post:

Originally Posted by Cobalt Katze

Personally I doubt that's even the actual UI for the game. It may have just been created as a mockup of what is possible on the PS3, especially considering the non-gameplay nature of the battle shown. Also a mockup of possibilities. Additionally, that UI would be impossible to use in a non-HD format unless the game went letterbox.

Yeah, as it was for early screen shots of FFX, the menu was kinda similar in layout but not in looks:

So same principle for the UI on this game

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Somehow the plaid skirts remind me of a school uniform. I wonder if they're gonna have some sort of school/educational institution ala Balamb Garden (FFVIII), and in the Mobile Phone Game, you go out and fight monsters & stuff as 'assignments' and 'homework'.

I like how they brought back the Before Crisis Character Designer (Or was it Nomura adapting to a new style?) for the new cell phone game.

Great job on those scans, Jagged!

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by SouthJag

Only other thing I can come up with is that "Lightning" is a particular combat stance or active element such as one imbued on a weapon. Who knows, I suppose.

I was thinking the same thing, that for the battle, all of her attacks have an electrical status effect. Makes a bit more sense then for it to be her name.

So it IS Nomura's designs on the cell phone game huh? That's cool. I like how they confirmed what I suspected, and that it is based around a magical school.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Motsy

New infos:

Tetsu Tsukamoto (alternate costume designer, FFX-2) is taking care of weapons design.

The scenario is 80% complete.

Vehicles will be in the game and the team is considering to use the motion detection functions of the PS3 pad.

The two yellow strips on the girl's left shoulder express a rank and a social status.

There will be usual exploration of cities and conversations with non playing characters.

The woman in the trailer is probably not the main character however the developers want to give a prominent role in the game to a strong, independent woman. (NOOOO~! This BETTER not mean another Gackt'd "male" lead, Square!)

Nice Info, but what's the Source (Site)?

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Hantei

IGN also posted some new info on their site, as according to Gaimaga as well. Somethings that caught my eye:
[LIST][*]FFvs13's development is trailing, and actual work on scenario has yet to be started.

Ahaha. Actually thought I think the trailer was released to gauage a public reaction and to see what was immediatley liked and disliked. That way they (SE,Nomura) can (hopefully) avoid obvious things that would upset thier customers. They ARE a business after all.

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[*]Kitase says FFvs13 is not just a side story, and says that they're "trying out a type of adventure that we couldn't do in the numbered series." (Perhaps hinting at an adventure type of game)

Maybe they also are hinting at gameplay/story options possibly seen somewhat in other titles, like DQ or SO3 or Saga, etc.,.

Saga had mutliple story lines and multiple characters. If you were to take the role of each character (Lets say 5 characters [the cellphone game is a different story] for the 6 titles said to be developed, each game having a main character), and thier personal story (Or the entire game's story) affect the next 'chapter' (Game) of the OVERALL story.

Then again, maybe they'll do something like very nonlinear exploration, visting different planets, etc.,. Just speculation.

[quote][*]Nomura also says that FFvs13 will have different characters, world visual design.[quote]
Well It would make sense if FFvs13 takes place in a different time period, then FFXIII proper.

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[*] Also to note that the world, concept, themes, characters, and even eras could/will be different in each game (as the directors have much freedom).

This sound deeper then it initially appeared to be. Suppose they have a GRAND, EPIC story that can only be told over generations, era, aeons (Period of time, not FFX Summons). It would certainly be plausable for the same world to change dramatically in between each time period you play in.

Look at a real world example: The world was a LOT different 100 years ago, but yet we're still the same country and same government.

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[*]Weapons appear to have a big part in FF13, as Toriyama says that more polygon's are going to used for them. (Guessing that's why our heroine's weapon has the ability to transform in the middle of battle)

I like this aspect actually. Weapons in the past always seemed to be just 'there'. Like... you buy a weapon, use it, equip materia/abilities/spells on it, and be done with that. FFVIII DID have an 'upgrade' approach, but since all the customization was via Junctioning (There's a word I haven't used in a while, haha), the weapon became of little importance. Perhaps we'll see a deep degree of customization options for your player's weapon.

An Idea: If you use the Sword more, you gain more types of swords to build from the base weapons, and visa vera: If you mostly use the gun, you gain stronger and better guns.
[*]Weapons may also have a big part in FFvs13 as well, as Nomura said that a good amount of time went into designing the sword that the main character uses.[quote]
Anyone have a picture of it, just for quick reference?

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[*]Apparently FF13 will make some big changes to the RPG genre, such as progression between towns, communication with NPCs, and transitions to battles.

Progression beween Towns: Perhaps we'll see an greater extension of what was done in FFX/FF12: where you actually traveled from town to town... then again they did say big changes, so I'm curious as to what they may mean.

Battle Transitions: Situational Battles, where enemies can hide behind cover and call for reinforcements, or maybe an elimination of a seperate battle stage (Already seen in FFXII).

Woo, exciting stuff so far

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Wow, there was a lot of information in that interview. I'll let someone else take the first stab at analyzing what was said, because I have to take off soon, lol.

I will say this: I really an curious as to what they have cooked up.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Craze

The airship models actually look pretty good (I didn't know FFX's airship was called Continental Circus) Like Simo, I really hope they add in Ragnarokk sometime (another freaking awesome airship). I might put them on top of the character figures on my list

I wanna get the Highwind.

Also, as far as I know, the Airship from FFX was the Fahrenheit (sp?), since the ship from X-2 was the Celcius, so I don't know where they got Continental Circus from.

Can anyone find proof of which name it is?

And on the topic of FFXIII, why would they release a figure model already? I mean the game was only just announced. Seems like they just want to make quick buck.

How ya doing, buddy?

The story seems kind of interesting, but it seems like one of those that will be better upon playing, rather then reading about it. I wonder how far the 'shared mythology' will extend to.

I just thought of something: In reference to this picture: http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/5...mitsu01zv6.jpg

It seems to me that Lightning is designed as a Female Cloud, Agitio looks like an older Kingdom Hearts' Sora, and Versus XIII looks like a militarized Squall. I know the character designers have their personal touches, but hopefully the supporting characters are more diversified in appearance.

However, TRANSFORMER SHIVA = WIN.

Jam it back in, in the dark.