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Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII

SCORE: 61

Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII is the biggest video game release of 2014 thus far. Yeah sure it is only February, but you have to figure Family Friendly Gaming started covering this role playing game all the way back in 2012. There has been a massive amount of coverage of this home console title.

If you have been watching the videos and looking at the images, then you have a really good idea what to expect from Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII. At least the different regions. What you will not realize is the feel and flow of this role playing masterpiece.

If you have read the news stories then you know Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII is about the world ending in thirteen days. Technically the world in Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII ends in seven days. As you save people, and complete quests you can stretch that out to thirteen days.

Lightning is the savior in Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII. She is saving the souls for her god Bhunivelze. Certain aspects of Christianity seem to have influenced this Bhunivelze like being the light, and creating the world. Plus he is saving people for a new world. Other aspects like his not being able to see everything, and sleeping deviate from our God in the real world. It is still interesting to see the aspects of Christianity that were brought into Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII.

There is no grinding or leveling up in Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII. This is the biggest disappointment in Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII. You gain new stats by completing quests. Mainline quests provide larger improvements to stats, but are much harder. The side quests are easier and quicker, but provide a much lower bump to the stats. Side quests do add up, and are very important to perform before trying to face the end chapter bosses.

Bosses in Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII are insanely difficult. Players will need to use different strategies, armors, weapons, and magical attacks to defeat them. Expect to spend a good thirty minutes to forty-five minutes whittling away at certain bosses.

Enticement to lust, violence, and bad language are some of the issues families will have with Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII. I could have done without certain words. Costumes can be changed so that was less of an issue for me. Although the NPC characters was another story.

The music in Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII is fantastic, and it is great to have so much voice acting. I also like little concepts in Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII like: "you can't save everyone." The character interaction after 500 years is also fun to see.

Certain areas and people are only accessible at certain times. This is where Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII gets frustrating. We have EP points that we earn from fighting monsters. This allows us to do things like heal, stop time (for a short period), teleport, and more. These EP points are extremely limited and needed when fighting bosses. There are so many quests that it gets annoying trying to complete some of them. You know where to go, but not when. You can not sit around all day waiting either.

I felt like I was rushing around all the time in Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII. Especially when I had no idea how much more was required, and when I would no longer be able to access an area. Or maybe that person was not there at that time. Stopping time is extremely valuable in Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII.

Players can have three main schematas in Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII. These provide three different set ups with four attacks/defenses. It involves the clothing, armor, accessory, and different attacks or defenses. Each of them has a bar that is used up as you use them. It does slowly charge back up. The key in battles is to swap between them to continuously attack/defend what you are fighting. The battle system is not turn based at all. It feels more like the Tales system, but with limitations put on it.

A few oddities in Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII are the holes in terms of the mainline story. Not in the writing but in the direction. This home console game does not always point it out on the map. The side quests do no pointing which can make them even more frustrating. I saw visual glitches with NPC characters as well.
- RPG Master

Graphics: 50%
Sound: 55%
Replay/Extras: 85%
Gameplay: 50%
Family Friendly Factor: 55%

System: Xbox 360/PS3(tested)
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Rating: ‘Teen’ -  Teen
{Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence}
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