Square Enix has released a new trailer for the upcoming final chapter in the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy. Besides showing off more of the series’ (incredibly convoluted) story, the trailer shows off Lightning’s more feminine side, as she switches between a number of frilly costumes.
(SPOILERS FOR FFXIII, FFXIII-2 AHEAD)
Following the death of Caius at the end of Final Fantasy XIII-2, the game’s world was transformed into a bizarre timeless landscape where nobody ever dies. Despite the supposedly timeless nature of this new world, Lightning only has thirteen in-game days to save everybody from some sort of coming apocalypse. The trailer shows Lightning fighting against FFXIII-2’s Noel, who seems like he blames himself for the state of the world and the death of Lightning’s sister, Serah.
…You know, honestly, I’ve beaten both FFXIII and XIII-2, and I still have no idea what’s going on in these games.
Despite the overly complex and contrived nature of the games’ story, I was pleasantly surprised with how fun Lightning Returns was when I played it at E3 a few weeks ago. The battle system blends Final Fantasy XIII’s fast pace with X-2’s Job Change system (and also borrows X-2’s penchant for fan-servicey costumes.) The game ditches the turn based combat of previous Final Fantasy’s in favor of something that’s a little more reflex focused; perhaps Square Enix is using Lightning Returns to get FF fans ready for the more action oriented Final Fantasy XV.
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII will be released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 next February. If you pre-order now, you can get an exclusive costume for Lightning that dresses her up like Final Fantasy 7’s Cloud, complete with his Buster Sword.
