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It may be lonely on the prime – one thing Lightning Farron from the Closing Fantasy XIII trilogy of video games can probably attest to. The elite soldier defies destiny in Closing Fantasy XIII earlier than turning into a god-like entity within the sequel, Closing Fantasy XIII-2. Whereas Lightning’s look within the sequel is restricted, she makes a comeback within the closing recreation of the trilogy, aptly named Lightning Returns: Closing Fantasy XIII. On this recreation, she is by some means much more lonely – this time waking up centuries after the top of XIII-2, with the world and her associates modified, if round in any respect. Lightning Returns, like its predecessors, has loads of points. But it is elegant fight system is each a drastic departure from it is sister video games, and an ideal stability of the sequence’ strategic gameplay and flamboyant stylings. The truth is, the experimental nature of the sport coupled with its nigh-perfect mixture of RPG mechanics and action-style fight is one the sequence continues to chase. 

Lightning Returns was launched in Japan in November 2013, arriving within the West a couple of months later. The opening is putting – she is alone, touring a diminished and dying world to rescue souls. When watching the opening sequence and tutorial, we occur throughout Snow, whose character and demeanor is markedly completely different.  I can solely think about what goes by way of the thoughts of somebody who solely performed XIII earlier than leaping instantly into this recreation. The setting, plot, and dynamic between current characters are so wildly completely different, at instances it appears as if a totally completely different recreation and in-game universe. It disregards the plot and lore established, particularly the chunk of XIII’s ending retconned and re-established in XIII-2. 

Regardless of these shakeups, as soon as the plot is laid naked – Lightning is once more going to meet a mission on the behest of God in an try to save lots of her sister – it’s totally clear that not every part is what it appears with this lauded God, Bhunivelze, who solely speaks to Lightning within the guise of her good friend Hope. He was an adolescent in XIII, an grownup in XIII-2, however is inexplicably reverted to an adolescent once more on this recreation. This improvement is acknowledged, if by no means satisfactorily defined, however contributes to a way that Bhunivelze is obfuscating one thing from Lightning. It additionally highlights the dissonance between these characters and the world that has been re-built within the 500 years since we have final seen Lightning. The Fal’cie is likely to be useless and gone, and Lightning could also be a god in her personal proper, however she nonetheless is taking orders from a nebulous deity who, as the sport clearly telegraphs, is deceiving her.  

I am a fan of the XIII trilogy – remaster coming when, Sq. Enix – however I’m the primary to confess the sequence has points. XIII was too linear and confining, however it was deeply dedicated to its ludonarrative. It would make sense from a narrative perspective that you’re not in a position to revisit areas, choose up sidequests, or shoot the breeze with NPCs – you might be hunted fugitives for the majority of the sport – however the taut gameplay mechanics in service of that narrative dulled the sport’s opening hours. Certain it opens up, ultimately – however even fight within the opening chapters doesn’t yield expertise, making the primary hours a real slog. Regardless, XIII had a bittersweet and poignant ending, and the narrative felt full. 

At the least till the sequel, which subverted XIII’s ending solely. It retained XIII’s stellar fight, however almost every part else was completely different. The playable solid from XIII is solid apart to play as Serah, this time on her personal quest to seek out her sister. The Farron household have essentially the most exhausting methods of demonstrating love. XIII-2 launched time journey and a bunch of different mechanics, together with a gimmick the place the third social gathering member was a monster recruited by Serah throughout her travels. Sure, it was enjoyable to degree up a Purple Chocobo to make use of in fight, however was it obligatory? That is the frustration I’ve with most of XIII-2: many of the modifications felt as if the builders spent an excessive amount of time on GameFaqs boards between 2010 and 2013. Listening to fan suggestions is good, however the course corrections typically really feel like over-corrections. Certain, not solely may you go the place you need from the beginning of the sport, you might additionally go whenever you needed. Try to discover a hall on this recreation! 

Lightning Returns doubles down on the Mad Libs model exposition phrase salad – the sport does not inform us how, why, or when she is chosen, however tells us that Lightning has been chosen to gather souls, and that she is doing it out of a way of obligation to reunite with Serah. Virtually nothing else is smart – why is the world ending in 13 days? For actual, why is Hope right here? Did the builders take heed to the three folks on GameFaqs complaining about how saccharine Mog was in XIII-2? We even have the existence of Lumina, one in all Lightning’s main antagonists who largely taunts her with riddles and appears nearly precisely like Serah. Whereas it’s good to see them once more, the alternatives to revisit the primary solid of XIII really feel as in the event that they have been written by synthetic intelligence or a reboot of a TV present produced by individuals who by no means noticed the unique.

I sound like I hate the sport, and I promise I do not. I’d simply hate the plot, and perhaps even the sport’s non-threatening time mechanic. Whereas the world goes to finish, the time could be prolonged by finishing facet quests or expending a few of Lightning’s EP. Finally the mechanic is little greater than an annoyance, as I used to be in a position to prolong my time so I used to be in a position to full nearly all of facet quests and missions earlier than the finale. It won’t be my favourite machine, however I do respect how, if nothing else, the builders have been unafraid to experiment with gameplay components all through the trilogy, even when a number of the mechanics fall flat. 

Regardless of the drastic shifts in tone, plot, and even characterization between XIII and XIII-2, the fight remained comparatively secure and is personally considered a excessive level for the sequence throughout a clumsy transition between consoles. Even that was tossed out with Lightning Returns, changed with thrilling motion RPG fight that mixes components of the Paradigm Shift fight system with class-based sensibilities, and a complete lot of participant customization. The result’s an exhilarating fight system that was maybe the sequence’ pinnacle effort in making an attempt to good the mix of motion and RPG genres. It is one Sq. Enix remains to be chasing down with latest entries, together with VII Remake, Stranger of Paradise, and even Closing Fantasy XVI. 

The modifications to the fight system could also be a response from criticism that XIII’s fight was too boring. Fairly than macromanaging the roles of a celebration of three, Lightning is the only real playable character.  As an alternative of managing the roles of all social gathering members without delay and shifting on the fly, Lightning will get to equip a handful of “Schemata” at any time. Every schema consists of garb (apparel), a weapon, defend, equipment, and assignable skills. Every schema has its personal ATB gauge, which is lowered through the use of skills. Gamers should shift between schemata throughout battle to reply as obligatory, but in addition to recharge every gauge. 

It is frenetic, messy, and sensible. Virtually as if Closing Fantasy XIII rifled by way of the job system of Closing Fantasy V however stopped for a chat with the gown spheres of Closing Fantasy X-2 on the best way residence.. The DNA of FFV and FFX-2 is powerful, and that should be a part of the rationale why the fight is so addictive. I usually balk when video games take away ranges, merchandise administration, and even social gathering members – issues I take into account hallmarks of an RPG. Lightning Returns does this in spades. Whereas this is able to usually go away me avoiding fight except obligatory, I’m not dodging fights on this recreation as a result of they’re an excessive amount of enjoyable.

The identical applies with managing schemata in lieu of a handful of particular roles. I used to be unbothered that Lightning could not degree up, and even that stat development is tied to quest completion or the opposite small tweaks to the gameplay loop set forth by the prior two titles. The necessity for technique and planning remains to be there, permitting gamers to customise their loadouts to the purpose of almost breaking the sport. Issue within the ornate, hilarious, and typically fan service garb for Lightning, and there’s loads of materials for a stat-obsessed RPG head to get misplaced in. 

Taking part in it once more, a decade later and in between Closing Fantasy XVI and VII:Rebirth, I feel the sport would get a hotter reception if remastered or re-released. Lightning Returns: Closing Fantasy XIII is a divisive, experimental recreation and a few components are much less profitable than others.  The discourse surrounding what defines an RPG could be exhausting – doubly so when it is about Closing Fantasy. This recreation advantages a bit from being a black sheep of types from the household – it is holding on to “Closing Fantasy” within the title for expensive life. However its willingness to experiment with varied ranges of success is maybe what makes it a chic instance of the spirit of Closing Fantasy – transformative and transgressive, and largely unapologetic about it.