Lightning Returns 'isn't Final Fantasy XIII-3', Features "World-Driven" Mechanic
Game will encourage multiple playthroughs.
Hoping for a more traditional Final Fantasy experience with the upcoming Lightning Returns? Don't count on it. The last game in the Final Fantasy XIII saga will follow its predecessors by being anything other than ordinary. Instead, it will follow a "world-driven" gameplay mechanic which will see Lightning control the speed of a constantly evolving landscape.
Director Motomu Toriyama, producer Yoshinori Kitase, lead designer Yujii Abe and art director Isamu Kamikokuryou spoke with 4gamer (via Final Fantasy Network) and explained that Lightning Returns is "a new experience," suggesting that it is not a direct evolution of Final Fantasy XIII-2.
In comparison to past games in the series, Toriyama said that Final Fantasy XIII was "story-driven" and Final Fantasy XIII-2 was "player-driven". In Lightning Returns, the goal is "to put the player in a world that is constantly shifting and changing — one that doesn’t necessarily revolve around the player." A world that will run in real-time 24 hours a day.
Multiple playthroughs are encouraged, as the actions that you take as Lightning will help speed or slow down the real-time events of the world around her - and there will be many events that players will miss the first time around. It all sounds a little bit influenced by The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, if we're being honest.
That's if the Square Enix developers do a good job. The first Final Fantasy XIII game was heavily criticised for its narrow story progression, despite some good scores from professional outlets. Final Fantasy XIII-2, which changed to a non-linear time-hopping mechanic, fared little better with critics and fans.
Director Motomu Toriyama, producer Yoshinori Kitase, lead designer Yujii Abe and art director Isamu Kamikokuryou spoke with 4gamer (via Final Fantasy Network) and explained that Lightning Returns is "a new experience," suggesting that it is not a direct evolution of Final Fantasy XIII-2.
In comparison to past games in the series, Toriyama said that Final Fantasy XIII was "story-driven" and Final Fantasy XIII-2 was "player-driven". In Lightning Returns, the goal is "to put the player in a world that is constantly shifting and changing — one that doesn’t necessarily revolve around the player." A world that will run in real-time 24 hours a day.
Multiple playthroughs are encouraged, as the actions that you take as Lightning will help speed or slow down the real-time events of the world around her - and there will be many events that players will miss the first time around. It all sounds a little bit influenced by The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, if we're being honest.
That's if the Square Enix developers do a good job. The first Final Fantasy XIII game was heavily criticised for its narrow story progression, despite some good scores from professional outlets. Final Fantasy XIII-2, which changed to a non-linear time-hopping mechanic, fared little better with critics and fans.
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Comments
Blob 5 Dec 2012 12:36
1/1
As long as it is an improvement of XIII-2 I will be happy, but it sounds like it's going to be brilliant