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Final Fantasy XIII
FFXIII Logo
Alternative Title(s):	FFXIII
Developer(s):	Square Enix
Publisher(s):	Square Enix
Series:	Final Fantasy
Version:	NTSC-JP
Platform:	Playstation 3 (All Regions) XBOX360 (NA, EU, AU)
Release Date(s):	Playstation 3 *[JP] - December 17, 2009 *[NA] - March 9, 2010 *[PAL] - March 9, 2010 XBOX 360 *[NA] - March 9, 2010 *[PAL] - March 9, 2010
Genre(s):	Role Playing Game (RPG)
Players:	Single Player
Rating(s):	Rating Pending (RP)
Media:	Blu-ray Disc [PS3] DVD-DL [XBOX360]

Final Fantasy XIII is one of the newest installments in the Final Fantasy series coming to Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 as part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis compilation. The game is directed by Motomu Toriyama, who also directed Final Fantasy X-2.

Plot

Pulse

This is the world in which the story of Final Fantasy XIII takes place. This world is supposedly a dangerous environment in which monsters roam free.

Cocoon

Cocoon is a floating city created by the Crystals to protect the human population from the inhabitants of Pulse. The citizens of Cocoon live in constant fear of being attacked and overthrown by the people living in Pulse. Therefore, the government of Cocoon has set up a law exiling anyone believed to be associated with Pulse from the city. Cocoon is around the size of North America and, from the planet of Pulse below, it appears as globe in the sky. Developers have stated that Cocoon not only contains modern, hi-tech cities, but also features lush forests as well as resort areas.

Crystals

These sentient beings are considered deities among the citizens of Cocoon and Pulse. They have the ability to create life forms and other objects. Cocoon as well as Pulse have at least one Crystal, although it is unknown how many Crystals there are in existence.

fal'Cie and l'Cie

The fal'Cie are supernatural beings who built Cocoon. The fal'Cie themselves are created around crystals, almost as their armour. Just as the fal'Cie have a close relationship with the crystals the l'Cie share a close relationship to summons. The l'Cie are people who were chosen to carry out particular orders from the fal'Cie. These orders are given in the form of visions, which the l'Cie are free to interpreted as they will. It is a given that Oerba, Snow and Lightning are l'Cie. The Jump Festa 2009 trailer revealed that Lighting was 'cursed' and tricked into becoming a l'Cie, with her being chosen as "the enemy of humanity who will bring about the downfall of the world". l'Cie are 'gifted' with a story-centric summon to help aid them in their orders, but they have to prove themselves and develop as l'Cie before they gain the right to summon. It has been revealed that whilst Shiva will be Snow's story-centric summon, Lightning will have Odin to help her. Oerba has been seem summoning Carbuncle duringone of the trailers, but it is currently unknown if this is her fal'Cie given summon.

Cie Corpses

A l'Cie who fails to carry out their mission in a set period of time will turn into a monster, a Cie Corpse.

Gameplay

Monsters

Monsters in Final Fantasy XIII may have a variety of forms, due to the influences of the different Crystals and fal'Cie. Monsters on Cocoon may appear more mechanical and robotic whilst monsters on Pulse will be organic and perhaps even more destructive. For example, the Behemoth seen in the Japanese demo has been revealed to be the Cocoon version and so the Pulse version will look different to it.

Battle System

Toshiro Tsuchida, the battle director for Final Fantasy X, returns as the battle director for Final Fantasy XIII. This game uses the Active Time Battle, and like in Final Fantasy XII, the battles will be in real time.

Eidolons

Summons will make a return in Final Fantasy XIII, under the name Eidolons (much how summons were called Espers in Final Fantasy XII). It was once assumed that summons would appear in a "disc form", much like a DVD, however, since E3 2009, Eidolons appear to be summoned via orbs. So far, the following summons have been unveiled; Shiva, Odin, Siren, Ifrit and Carbuncle.

Gestalt Mode

Gestalt Mode is Final Fantasy XIII's equivalent of summons 'overdrive' mode. During this mode, summons literally transform. It has long been known that the Shiva twins can form a motorcycle and this has been revealed to be their Gestalt mode. It is currently unknown how this mode is activated, but developers have stated that certain conditions have to be met. Once in Gestalt Mode, the battle system switches to a more action based system in which simple button presses equate into large, cinematic moves that play out for the player. During Shiva's Gestalt mode she is able to use her signature move, Diamond Dust. Develepers have stated that all summons will have a Gestalt mode and have given a hint that Odin's Gestalt Mode should come as no surprise to long term fans of the series, leading to the conclusion that Odin will transform in a horse.

Characters

Tetsuya Nomura, the character designer for several of the previous Final Fantasy games, returns for this game.

Playable Characters

Lightning

Lightning

The lead character of Final Fantasy XIII, Lightning's appearance is that of a young female adult with reddish blonde hair and some sources suggest that Tetsuya Nomura conceived her as a supposed female version of Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII. She wields some sort of firearm that doubles as a sword, most likely a variation of the gunblade seen in Final Fantasy VIII and appears to have the ability to control some aspects of gravity. It is said that Lightning (whose name is speculated to be merely a codename and not her real name) is supposedly the chosen one, linked to neither Cocoon or Pulse, who will cause chaos and the ultimate destruction of the entire world.

Her fal'Cie given summon is Odin.

Snow Villiers
One screenshot of the game features a blonde-haired man riding Shiva in her motorcycle form. According to Tetsuya Nomura this blonde male is to be a cowboy like character, with a funny style of fighting. Few details have been released regarding him except that his shoe size is 33cm, which has lead to the developers nicknaming him "Mr.33cm". He is an ally of Lightnings. After the Tokyo Game Show 2008, Shonen Jump revealed his first name to be Snow, whilst Famitsu revealed his full name to be Snow Villiers.

His fal'Cie given summon is Shiva.

Oerba Dia Vanille
The latest trailer of Final Fantasy XIII has shed light on another new character, a red-headed female. According to developers she is a citizen of Pulse and her weapon of choice has been described as being like a fishing rod as she strikes enemies with needle attached to the end of a wire. She is also seen using a disc to summon Carbuncle. V-Jump have recently revealed her name to be Oerba Dia Vanille.

Sazh Katzroy
Revealed in at the beginning of 2009 via magazine scans, Sazh will play a major role in the first part of the game, although it is currently unknown whether he will be a permanent party member or not. Sazh is black, marking the first playable black character since Barret Wallace in Final Fantasy VII. He has a baby chocobo that lives in his afro and wields dual pistols.

He also has a young son named Dajh.

Hope Estheim
Formally unvielded during Sony's E3 2009 trailer. Both Hope and his mother have been forcibly deported from Cocoon. He wields a boomerang, takes a dislike to Snow for making his mother fight, has a special relationship with Vanille and reportedly a short temper.

Other Characters

Serah Farron
Serah is Lightning's younger sister and Snow's love interest. A tragic incident involving Serah causes tension between Lightning and Snow.

Jihl Nabaat
Revealed in the E3 2009 trailer, no information is currently know about this character other than the fact that she appears to be in the military. She has long, waist length, blonde hair and wears glasses. She is a member of Sanctum.

Yaag Rosch
Revealed during a new trailer shown at TGS08. He has silver hair tied up in a short ponytail. During the E3 2009 trailer he appears to be leading Cocoon's army whilst discussing his plans to eliminate the l'Cie, aka your party.

Team Nora
Team Nora, lead by Snow Villiers, is a resistance group attempted to stop the actions of Cocoon's Holy Government. Revealed during the Jump Festa 2009 trailer, Gadot is "macho" in appearance and is a member of Team Nora. Lebreau is a female member of Team Nora. Maqui is a young member of Team Nora.

Oerba Yun Fang
Oerba Yun Fang is a l'Cie working for Sanctum. She uses a spear in battle and her given summon is Bahamut.

Concept Art

Snow & Lightning

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Major portions of this page were written by: Cruxis Mana and Supernouva