Review | Final Fantasy XIII

Format: Xbox 360/PS3 | Genre: RPG | Publisher: Square Enix | Developer: Square Enix | Release date: 09/03/10 | RRP: £49.99

It’s been a long time coming, but Final Fantasy XIII has finally arrived. Greg Giddens takes a look at what he thinks, in the face of high expectations and strong competition, might be up there with the year’s best games…

Final Fantasy XIII could well be one of the finest RPGs we’ll see all year. The production values are higher than ever, every element of the game having been meticulously crafted to provide the sort of experience only Final Fantasy can. And that’s the key to its success: despite a few changes to the formula, this feels like the classic Final Fantasy we all know and love.

It revisits the fundamentals that the series’ 12th incarnation moved away from. As a result, everything feels familiar and comfortable regardless of the alien world – or, more accurately, worlds – on which the story takes place. Final Fantasy XIII’s epic tale begins on the planet Cocoon, a small world floating above a much larger planet called Pulse. Looked after by magical beings known as fal’Cie, humans have flourished on Cocoon, but a chequered history between the two worlds leaves both living in fear of invasion from the other. The Sanctum, the government of Cocoon, has set out to purge its world of anything of Pulse origin – and with Pulse fal’Cie appearing on Cocoon, it’s taken the decision to purge anyone who comes in contact with them for fear of contamination and undercover l’Cie. The l’Cie are humans branded by fal’Cie and given the ability to use magic. They’re are also given a focus, a mission they must complete within a set amount of time, lest they be turned into monsters.

It’s an exceptionally crafted story, if a little confusing early on. Both worlds have an obvious wealth of history that becomes more apparent the deeper in you delve, but for the first dozen hours or so you may find the jargon making little sense. An automatically updated encyclopaedia in the menu system helps if everything gets a little too confusing, but through dialogue and cut-scenes the majority is explained.

THE HUMAN CONDITION
It takes a good 15 hours or so for your party to gel, and so in the beginning you’ll find the narrative fractured as you experience each individual character’s part in the bigger picture. What this achieves so marvellously is a bond between you and the characters that is rarely seen in RPGs. Often, you’re introduced to a party and expected to take their friendship at face value, but with Final Fantasy XIII you get to witness the characters evolve together, through disagreements and realisations. Once the party is permanently formed, the relationships forged between them feel tangible, and you have a vested interest in their wellbeing.

The characters themselves feel tangible too, their faults and strengths forming some of the most human characters yet to grace a Final Fantasy title. Lightning, the game’s protagonist, comes across as a natural leader, with a strong personality that’s easy to relate to. Sazh, the father figure, provides much the same. The others have their charms and flaws and together create a likeable party – even Snow and Vanille, the weaker of the characters, cast off their clichéd roles from time to time.

The fractured state of the narrative serves to keep the experience fresh. The ever-changing character perspective explores the environments and the social construct of this enchanting universe with ease, and without overstaying its welcome in any particular area. This is also true of the locations. The shifting story allows you to visit a variety of different areas without the location becoming stale, and even when the party unites, you don’t remain in one place long enough for the experience to become repetitive. You do, however, stay long enough for the location to impress, and long after playing you’ll think back to the stunning vistas you’ve witnessed.

PUT ‘EM UP
The Active Time Battle system shares the same dynamic spirit the narrative does – and in a Final Fantasy game, the storytelling and combat are easily the two most important factors, so for them to work together so harmoniously to set the tempo and mood is a great accomplishment indeed. The combat is exciting and fresh, feeling like a natural evolution of the classic ATB system to form a more dynamic and action-oriented package.

You’re in direct control of the party leader only, with the AI remaining in control of the other party members and doing a wonderful job of managing them. [Continues]

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