Final Fantasy VIII

Final Fantasy XIII is part of three games being called Fabula Nova Crystallis (that's "The New Tale of The Crystal" to those of us not fluent in Latin), with two of the titles appearing on PS3 and one on mobile phones. The fantasy is far from over!

Battle system

The concept for Final Fantasy XIII's battle system is to maintain the strategic nature of command -based battles, whilst also including the excitement and speed found in fast-paced battles. This system stemmed from a desire to create battles of the type found in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, whilst adding multiple player characters to the battle. As such, and like recent entries in the franchise, the battles will be in real time, without any random battles.

Active Time Battle makes a return in Final Fantasy XIII. In keeping with command-based battles, players input commands by selection through a reel on the bottom-left hand side of the screen. Each command has an ATB cost, which reduces the total ATB bar. Selected commands are placed on a row of upcoming moves, above the bar. As characters fight, each command is used in turn, with the current command in use turning yellow. Commands can be chained together for certain effects. The environment also plays a role in battle; for instance, Lightning has been seen sending a soldier into a light, electrocuting him and multiplying the damage.

A map is seen in the upper left hand corner of the battle screen, with blue dots representing allies and red dots signifying enemies. The dots emitting circles are the characters currently affected by the fighting.

The upper right-hand corner of the battle screen shows a circular-shaped gauge, representing the Overclock mode. When full, Overclocking allows the player to induce a slow-motion effect, almost pausing time for everything other than the player. Once Overclock is activated, a rapidly decreasing number appears inside the circular gauge, signifying the duration of the Overclock status. This system may replace the traditional Limit Break system found in previous Final Fantasy games.

Final Fantasy X battle director Toshiro Tsuchida will return as the battle system director for the game. He has the intent of giving individual enemies their own personalities and background stories

Summons

Summoning will also return in Final Fantasy XIII. Summons are shown as partly mechanical beings, and the possibility exists that they will feature not only in battle, but in outside gameplay as well. Shiva is one such summon that will be returning, and in Final Fantasy XIII, she takes the form of a pair of sisters who can merge into a motorcycle, which the unnamed, blonde male character has been shown to ride. Classic summons Ifrit, Siren and Carbuncle have also been featured in screenshots.

Online

Although the main focus of Final Fantasy XIII is a traditional offline RPG experience, Square Enix is attempting to add special online features to the game.

Plot

Setting

The world of Final Fantasy XIII is divided into two: Cocoon is a technologically advanced floating utopia, whose people perceive everything below it—the world of Pulse—as dangerous, and fear it. Those who have been influenced by the people of Pulse, known to them as the Outsiders, are quarantined by the "Holy Government" of Cocoon, and deported to Pulse. The Cocoon's government is also using crystals to enslave those living in Pulse, but a rebellion is rising in Pulse, lead by a woman called by the codename "Lightning".

The Crystals

The Crystals in Final Fantasy XIII have conscious thought and are considered living beings. With the ability to create things, it is likely the people of Final Fantasy XIII's world see them as gods. Two Crystals have so far been revealed—one for Cocoon, and one for Pulse. Cocoon's Crystal created the city, and cares for it, while everything outside Cocoon is controlled by Pulse's Crystal.

Characters

Lightning

Lightning, as seen in the E³ trailerFinal Fantasy XIII's lead character appears as a strong young woman with strawberry blonde hair. She uses the codename "Lightning" to hide her true identity. She was chosen by one of the crystals—though it is unknown which—to destroy Cocoon. The two yellow stripes on Lightning's left shoulder symbolize her rank and social status.[citation needed] Her weapon can be transformed between a sword and a firearm at will. Lightning is able to use gravity as a tool and weapon, for instance, throwing a small 'gravity bomb' to disable enemies at the start of a battle; indeed, during battle, she seems to be able to defy gravity, almost levitating. Character designer Tetsuya Nomura was asked to create a "female version of Cloud from Final Fantasy VII", and has described her as "not very feminine".

Blond male

The unnamed blond as shown at the Jump Festa convention.A blonde, bandana-wearing male, who has been shown riding Shiva in her motorcycle form, wielding a gun with a laser sight attached, to come to Lightning's aid when she is outnumbered by soldiers. Very little else is known about him; nicknamed by the staff as "Mr 33cm", supposedly after his shoe size, he is described as "cowboy-like". It is unknown what sort of relation he has with Lightning.

Bow-carrying female

A second female, with red-brown hair in pigtails, necklaces and jewelery, and carrying a bow as a weapon, has also been revealed.