Table of Contents
amazon Final Fantasy XIII-2 reviews
Story and Narrative
“Final Fantasy XIII-2” continues the story from “Final Fantasy XIII,” but it does so with a significant shift in focus. The narrative begins three years after the events of the first game, with the world of Gran Pulse in turmoil due to the emergence of a mysterious figure named Caius Ballad. The protagonist of the original game, Lightning, has disappeared, and her sister Serah Farron takes center stage.
The story follows Serah and a new character, Noel Kreiss, as they travel through time to uncover the mysteries surrounding Lightning’s disappearance and the disturbances in the timeline. The plot is driven by the conflict between Serah, Noel, and Caius, who seeks to plunge the world into chaos. The narrative introduces complex themes such as time travel, fate, and the consequences of altering the past.
The story is presented through a mix of in-game dialogue, cutscenes, and optional “Fragments” that players can collect. While the main narrative is engaging, some players might find the time-travel elements confusing or convoluted. The game’s structure allows players to explore different timelines and parallel worlds, which adds depth to the story but can also lead to a somewhat fragmented experience.
Characters
“Final Fantasy XIII-2” features a diverse cast of characters, each with their own motivations and storylines. The main protagonists are Serah Farron and Noel Kreiss, whose journeys drive the plot forward.
- Serah Farron
Serah is the younger sister of Lightning and serves as the game’s central protagonist. Her character development is a key focus, and her motivations are driven by her desire to find her sister and restore balance to the world. Serah’s role in the story is both emotional and empowering, as she evolves from a secondary character in “Final Fantasy XIII” to a strong, independent heroine.
- Noel Kreiss
Noel is a new character introduced in “Final Fantasy XIII-2.” He hails from a post-apocalyptic future and possesses the ability to travel through time. Noel’s character is complex, with a backstory that reveals his connection to the game’s events and his struggle with the burdens of his own timeline. His partnership with Serah provides a dynamic and complementary relationship, with Noel’s more reserved and serious nature balancing Serah’s emotional drive.
- Caius Ballad
Caius is the primary antagonist of the game, and his motivations are tied to the manipulation of time and the fate of the world. He is a formidable and enigmatic character, with a backstory that unfolds throughout the game. Caius’s character is well-developed, and his role as the villain adds depth to the narrative.
- Supporting Characters
The game features several supporting characters from “Final Fantasy XIII,” including Snow Villiers, Hope Estheim, and others. These characters contribute to the story and provide additional context and connections to the events of the previous game. The interactions with these characters enrich the narrative and offer fans a sense of continuity.
Gameplay Mechanics
“Final Fantasy XIII-2” builds upon the gameplay mechanics of its predecessor while introducing several new features and improvements. The game combines traditional role-playing elements with innovative systems that enhance the overall experience.
- Battle System
The battle system in “Final Fantasy XIII-2” is an evolution of the Paradigm Shift system from “Final Fantasy XIII.” It retains the real-time combat and strategic elements but introduces several enhancements:
- Monster System: One of the major additions is the Monster System, which allows players to recruit and train monsters as party members. These monsters can be customized with different abilities and roles, adding a layer of strategy to battles. Players can choose from a variety of monsters, each with unique skills and attributes.
- Paradigm System: The Paradigm System returns, allowing players to switch between different roles and strategies during combat. The system provides a flexible approach to battles, enabling players to adapt to various situations and enemies.
- Real-Time Adjustments: The battle system features real-time adjustments and a more fluid combat experience. Players can execute attacks, switch paradigms, and use abilities in a seamless manner, enhancing the overall combat dynamics.
- Time Travel and Exploration
The time-travel mechanic is a central feature of “Final Fantasy XIII-2,” allowing players to explore different timelines and alternate worlds. This mechanic adds a unique dimension to the gameplay, with players able to revisit and alter events in various periods.
- Timeline Exploration: Players can navigate through different timelines, each with its own distinct environments and challenges. The exploration of these timelines offers a diverse gameplay experience, with different quests and objectives in each era.
- Fragment System: The Fragment System provides additional content and story elements through collectible fragments. These fragments offer insights into the game’s lore and allow players to uncover hidden details about the world and characters.
- Side Quests and Mini-Games
“Final Fantasy XIII-2” features a variety of side quests and mini-games that provide additional content and rewards. These include:
- Mog Clock: A mini-game where players can use their in-game companion, Mog, to solve puzzles and uncover hidden items.
- Colosseum Battles: Players can engage in optional battles and tournaments in the Colosseum, earning rewards and enhancing their skills.
- Side Quests: The game includes numerous side quests that explore different aspects of the world and characters. These quests offer valuable rewards and contribute to the overall experience.
Visuals and Art Design
“Final Fantasy XIII-2” continues the visual style established in “Final Fantasy XIII,” with a focus on high-quality graphics and detailed environments. The game features:
- Environments: The environments are diverse and richly designed, ranging from futuristic cities to lush landscapes and ancient ruins. The attention to detail in the environments contributes to the game’s immersive experience.
- Character Models: The character models are highly detailed, with realistic animations and expressive designs. The characters’ appearance and animations enhance the storytelling and combat experience.
- Cutscenes: The game includes numerous high-quality cutscenes that advance the story and provide cinematic moments. The cutscenes are visually impressive and contribute to the overall narrative.
Music and Sound Design
The music and sound design in “Final Fantasy XIII-2” are integral to the game’s atmosphere and emotional impact. The soundtrack, composed by Masashi Hamauzu, features a mix of orchestral and electronic elements, creating a dynamic and engaging audio experience.
- Soundtrack: The soundtrack includes a variety of tracks that match the game’s different environments and scenarios. The music enhances the emotional and dramatic moments of the story and complements the gameplay.
- Voice Acting: The voice acting in “Final Fantasy XIII-2” is well-executed, with strong performances from the cast. The voice work adds depth to the characters and helps convey the game’s narrative.
- Sound Effects: The sound effects are immersive and well-designed, enhancing the combat and exploration experience. The effects contribute to the overall atmosphere and gameplay.
Final Fantasy, Square Enix’s popular franchise, is an unfamiliar name for RPG enthusiasts.
Among the Final Fantasy versions, perhaps the trilogy in the Final Fantasy XIII series are the titles that bring the most mixed opinions and are always the hot topic, causing controversy when it comes to discussion.
Through the opening battle, players will quickly realize that the core elements of the combat system in the early version are still preserved. Final Fantasy XIII-2 still uses the “Command Synergy Battle” system, along with allowing the player to assign attacks to the “Active Time Battle” (ATB) bar.
Besides, the “Paradigm Shift” mechanism allows the player to change the role of the characters in battle, enhancing the tactics of Final Fantasy XIII-2.
But not only that, but the combat system in Final Fantasy XIII-2 also has a lot of new and interesting improvements, overcoming the limitations from the previous version, making the game more attractive and attractive. The first new is the “Mog Clock” mechanism, which allows the player to gain an edge before each battle, as well as avoid unwanted encounters.
The little Moggle that joins Serah’s journey will “sense” the monsters before they appear.
Instead of chasing the character like in the first version, the monsters will now standstill, giving the player some time to perform the attack and gain the advantage of battle.
Aside from that, the player can also dodge aggressive monsters by moving out of their active range. Another interesting point in Final Fantasy XIII-2 lies in the third “character”. Players can play (apart from Serah and Noel) throughout the game’s main content.
After each battle, the player has a chance to recover monsters just defeated, allowing them to summon them up as a third character participating in battles.
Players can change the Leader of the party right in their battle. Captain authority will be changed automatically when the team leader is defeated, allowing players to maintain and change their attack strategy in-game, instead of starting over.
The intense boss battles also feature a “Cinematic Action” system, allowing players to take advantage of the “Quick Time Event” phases that appear in mid-battle cutscenes.
Contrary to the lengthy instructions of the previous installment, the tutorial screens in Final Fantasy XIII-2 are fully summarized and concise through early game battles, helping players not be confused and quickly grasped get a new combat system.
In stark contrast to the original game’s boring linear plot, the time travel system Historia Crux in Final Fantasy XIII-2 allows players to freely choose the places and times that Serah and Noel can explore on their journey.
Final Fantasy XIII-2 also no longer forces the player to take certain paths. Instead, throughout the adventures of Serah and Noel are countless open worlds for players to explore. In each world, apart from the main goal is to find “artifacts” to stimulate In Time Gate, players can also participate in a multitude of side quests as well as track down treasure chests hidden on the map.
The sidequests in Final Fantasy XIII-2 vary from quests to defeat monsters to find lost items. Through completing sidequests, the characters in the game will receive valuable and useful rewards to support throughout the journey.
Despite the addition of detailed graphical customizations to Final Fantasy XIII-2 as a “corrective” action from Square Enix after the original game, the game still encountered some annoying graphics issues. The erratic increase in frame rates, especially in battles, will decrease the enjoyment of the game.
Besides, Final Fantasy XIII-2 graphics look quite “pale”, even when running at 1080p or higher resolution.
Also, Final Fantasy XIII-2 doesn’t provide players with sound settings. This has brought many complaints from players when they have to “endure” the background music is too loud and sometimes drowns out conversations.
where can you get a Final Fantasy XIII-2 online
Final Fantasy XIII-2 – Playstation 3: Buy it now
Final Fantasy XIII-2 Collector’s Edition – Playstation 3: Buy it now
Final Fantasy XIII-2 (X360): Buy it now
Conclusion
“Final Fantasy XIII-2” stands as a significant entry in the Final Fantasy series, offering a blend of innovation and evolution. Its improvements over “Final Fantasy XIII,” including the enhanced combat system, expanded narrative, and time-travel mechanics, contribute to its unique place within the franchise. While it faced criticisms for its complex narrative and departure from traditional structures, it remains a noteworthy title for its ambitious design and impact on the series.
The game’s legacy is reflected in its influence on future Final Fantasy titles and its role in shaping the direction of the series. For players who appreciate deep storytelling, innovative gameplay, and high-quality production values, “Final Fantasy XIII-2” offers a compelling and memorable experience. Its contributions to the JRPG genre and its place in the Final Fantasy series ensure that it is remembered as a distinctive and influential installment in the franchise.