Did you like Final Fantasy XIII? It’s okay to say yes. Admitting you have a problem is often the first step towards fixing your mistakes and becoming a better person.
Jokes aside, it’s obvious that XIII wasn’t exactly the most popular game in the series; thanks to it’s ultra-linear design and somewhat convoluted story, the game has become a point of contention among J-RPG fans. Still, the game sold well enough to warrant a sequel, and Square-Enix is betting that there are enough fans of the game out there who will be willing to shell out $79.99 for a collector’s edition of the upcoming continuation of their most divisive game.
The Collector’s Edition of Final Fantasy XIII-2 packages the game with a 4-disc soundtrack, a hardcover art book, and a very nice display box featuring art by series artist Yoshitaka Amano. Not bad, considering that the Collector’s Edition is only a modest 20 bucks more than the regular version.
Personally, I loved and hated the original FFXIII in equal parts; loved the music and the battle system, hated the story and the ultra-simplification of everything outside the battles. Based on preview coverage and from what I played myself at E3, XIII-2 seems like it fixes a lot of the problems the original game had: Square is promising a number of revisions to the game, touting more character customization, the reintroduction of towns ( though the fact that they make a big deal about adding something as basic as “towns” back in is kinda sad, honestly,) and a more non-linear adventure with actual freedom of choice and multiple paths. While I’m still not sold on the game, the addition of those features almost guarantees that XIII-2 will be a better game than it’s predecessor, though depending on your opinion, that might not be saying much.
We’ll know for sure when Final Fantasy XIII launches on January 31st of next year.
