The Plot:
In Final Fantasy XIII, we are introduced to the world known as Pulse. This world revolves around mechanical godlike beings known as the fal’Cie (pronounced fal see). Their power comes from crystals that reside within and mark people who they believe are meant for a greater purpose – their purpose. These chosen are known as I’Cie. When chosen, each I’Cie is given a focus, or a goal, by the fal’Cie that must be fulfilled within a certain amount of time. The problem is that the only communication given from the fal’Cie to the I’Cie resides in cryptic visions that they must interpret on their own. If the chosen are unable to complete their task, they will face becoming the dreaded Cie Corpse. Success does not fare much better, for if the task is completed, I’Cie are “rewarded” by being transformed into a crystal. For this reason, I’Cie are viewed as cursed.
The world’s plight dates back 1,300 years ago when a fal’Cie named Orphan created a safe haven known as Cocoon, along with various life forms and machines that she gave as gifts to the people who would reside within. The haven floats high above the surface of Pulse but because of the constant fear of the city being cast back down, the people allow the government of Cocoon to take drastic measures in hopes of keeping “safe.” Such measures include, “the Purge.”
A group of rebels take a stand against the government, while others are drawn into the fray. Soon, our main characters meet and unite in order to complete their mission.
Fight!
The battle system of Final Fantasy XIII utilizes command-based battles that use an improved ATB (Active Time Battle) system that allows the use of chain commands in order to achieve attack bonuses. Multiple commands are able to be assigned and the number of slots available increases as the character’s strength does.
Some of the commands are the same as with previous Final Fantasy games – Attack, Fire, Blizzard, and Cure. But as you play, you’ll find yourself learning a few new ones as well – Ruin, Ruinaga, and Radial Strike.
The battle system also introduces a new feature known as break state. Break state describes the time in which an enemy enters a state of non-retaliation. Players are able to reach this when a chain combo has been executed and continued for a certain period of time.
Unlike past Final Fantasy games, magic cannot be used outside of battle, but that is because it is not needed. HP for all party members is restored after each battle. Also, experience points are rewarded to all party members regardless of whether or not they were actually in the battle.
Another bonus: one potion heals all party members. No more fretting about who gets healed first!
The role system for Final Fantasy XIII is as follows:
Commando (Attacker)
Ravager (Magic Caster)
Sentinel (Defender)
Synergist (Enhancer – uses buffs)
Saboteur (uses debuffs)
Medic (Healer)
Also new is the paradigm shift. The paradigm shift is a new option that allows players to assign characters certain roles (such as Saboteur or Medic) and to switch these roles in battle. You can create a number of paradigm shifts that allows for the characters to fill in certain and different roles which you can change as you feel needed.
An example:
Lightning, Snow, and Vanille start off with a commando paradigm (all characters are attackers). Depending on your enemy and the skill of each character, you may decide to switch your offense strategy so that Lightning is the only Commando, Snow becomes a Sentinel (defender), and Vanille becomes a Ravager (magic caster).
And perhaps after this change you are still not satisfied. Maybe you want a less offensive paradigm and instead of having Vanille as a Ravager, she can switch to Medic.
The only thing to keep in mind is that you are only able to assign a certain number of paradigms and that the experience you receive becomes less the longer you take to destroy an enemy.
The Eidolons
Eidolons are the classic summoned creatures you find in the Final Fantasy series. Each character possesses one Eidolon. When summoned, fans will recognize a few favorites: Odin, Shiva, Alexander and Bahamut. New Eidolons featured in FFXIII are Hecatoncheir and Brynhildr.
As is also typically found in the series, these Eidolon play a major role in the game’s storyline.
Leveling:
Leveling for the Final Fantasy keeps the basics of previous leveling systems and in FFXIII, this leveling system is called the Crystarium System. Players will gain xp known as CP (Crystarium Pts) which can be used for leveling in the various roles.
Review Conclusion:
Too often people comment on how beautiful graphics in games are, but whenever I play a new Final Fantasy game, it is as if all others fall from my mind. In that, Square Enix has definitely maintained their levels of standard by continually raising those standards.
As I played the newest addition to this beloved RPG series, I found myself stepping back to really think about the opinions I had developed: How biased were they in favor of the game due to being a longtime Final Fantasy fan? How overly harsh was I when met with the realization that certain features that I had grown used to were now gone?
So in conclusion to this review, I have to state that all things must change. We may not always like it, but it is something that has to happen in order for anything, especially a game, to improve and make its way forward. Final Fantasy is still a series I love, and though this game did not top my “All Time Favorites” list, it most certainly is one I will remember.
