FFXIII-2

[Scythiroth]

I just generally have a problem with enemies wanting to destroy everything. What is the point in doing that? >.> That was really my biggest problem with FF8.

[Elcura]

I just generally have a problem with enemies wanting to destroy everything. What is the point in doing that? >.> That was really my biggest problem with FF8.

That's mostly a genre thing though. You play through a story (especially in a JRPG), 90% of the time you have to stop a dude who wants to destroy the world/universe/known reality for no good reason. I guess a huge ego is what motivates people to commit suicide in the most elaborate way.

[miokomioko]

The biggest cliche` is that the villain is doing everyone a favor, putting humankind out of their misery, easing their suffering, et cetera... triggered by some sort of epiphany of an immoprtal being, that their immortality, a perfected existence, should be the standard and that mortality is actually a curse of repeated death. Oblivion is their gift to the world because not existing is better than existing in misery.

Ugh. I'm pretty happy when JRPGs manage dodge that shit for the most part, which doesn't happen enough.

[Niiro]

The Laguna stuff isn't time travel, it was just Ellone making the chars see past events. Likewise Ultimecia used the machine (built by Odine) replicating Ellone's power to send her consciousness into the minds of past sorceresses.

The only time travel is during the compression. Ultimecia tries to do her thing and compress everything into a singularity, the party and Ellone interrupt it partway and wade through space/time (made the same from the compression) to the future to kill her.

The only thing I personally didn't like (and generally don't like about stories involving time travel) is how Squall showing up and planting the seed (icwydt SE) of thought in Edea to establish Garden creates a time loop. I hate time loops. They're nifty and interesting but they just annoy the fuck out of me in a cheap deus ex machina sort of way.

[Tyrath]

Even if the Laguna thing was time travel, which it isn't, it was fucking awesome.

[miokomioko]

Ultimecia used the machine (built by Odine) replicating Ellone's power to send her consciousness into the minds of past sorceresses.

I would consider that a form of time travel, albeit not for the player.

[Tyrath]

By that logic, flashbacks are time travel.

[Niiro]

No, Mio's right in this case. She may not have physically traveled through time but she sent her will back and "altered" events directly.

I say "altered" because she didn't actually change anything thanks to the damn time loop thing.

[Alkar]

Tons of new screens:

http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/201...iii_2_screens/

I see a red chocobo lol.

[Gokulo]

That chocobo looks awesome.

[vadre]

I'm pretty impressed by all the new content in the game, if they could just add a bit more to the battle system (I'm not sure how exactly) to perhaps make it a bit more interesting in the long-term I could really like this game, I just felt whilst pretty interesting XIII's battle system got a bit samey towards the end with very little changing in terms of mechanics for each fight. As for the pictures, the one with Noel/Serah and Lightning/Mystery guy together looks pretty awesome, wish it was bigger ( http://www.famitsu.com/news/201109/i...9RQ2Y39dVB.jpg ).

Also, interesting little tidbit:

At CEDEC 2011 Game Developer's Conference, Square-Enix held a session that touched upon Final Fantasy XIII and XIII-2's Yoshinori Kanada. Mobile Business Senior Manager Takashi Tokita and Mobile & Game Studio Chairman Masanobu Endou discussed Kanda's legacy.

Kanada, who passed away at the age of 57, worked on Final Fantasy XI,Hanjuku Heroes, Musashiden II, Final Fantasy IV (DS version), Seiken Densetsu 4 and Final Fantasy XIII. He was also animation supervisor on Final Fantasy The Spirits Within.

He was the Storyboard Director on Final Fantasy XIII and worked on the game's pre-rendered and real-time cutscenes and summon scenes.

Final Fantasy XIII and XIII-2 Director, Motomu Toriyama, told Tokita to share a message for those who attended the session that there will be one piece of unused Kanada storyboard content that will be revived for FFXIII-2. This storyboard piece shows Lightning being held by her summon Odin. Toriyama said that he personally liked this scene but ended up not being used and regrets it. So FFXIII-2 will have a similar scene.

[Nevex]

Lots of new info and interview with Toriyama about the Historia Crux system. Parts of interest are bolded.

Today we're revealing some of FINAL FANTASY XIII-2's most exciting new features. We've been keeping the game's mission structure a secret, but now we're ready to lift the lid completely on the Historia Crux. This allows Noel and Serah to travel to different locations and time periods and forms the basis of the game's world navigation.

In order to unlock new areas and time periods the characters need to find Artefacts hidden around the world and reunite them with their specific gates (one of which you saw Serah and Noel fall out of at the beginning of the E3 demo). These artefacts don't just open doors to new locations, but also mean you could find yourself in a familiar place, but hundreds of years in the future (or the past).

Visiting these different areas at different times will give you access to new items and can even change the course of the game. There are lots of secret items and areas which depend on you performing actions in different time periods to affect the future... and the past. Want to know more? Check out our interview with Motomu Toriyama where we discuss exactly how the Historia Crux works and how it affects how the game plays.

We're also revealing the origin of Noel. He's from the distant future, in a time where the human race has been wiped out. As the last man alive, he's found his way back in time to prevent this catastrophe from happening and to help Serah find her sister in the process.

FINAL FANTASY XIII-2's timeline is based on the Fall of Cocoon, which takes place at the end of FINAL FANTASY XIII. This explains the acronym "AF" in the screenshots - "After Fall". Speaking of screenshots, we've got a huge batch to show you. They show you the Historia Crux interface, some of the dialogue between Serah and Noel and some new environments. And are those... rideable Chocobos?

Want to know more about how Lightning fits into the story and how the game's prologue plays out? We've got new screens and info about that, too!

Now that FINAL FANTASY XIII-2's time travel mechanic has been officially announced we thought you would appreciate hearing a little more about it directly from the Japanese development team. We put a selection of questions to Motomu Toriyama, the game's director. So check out the interview below for a closer look at the Historia Crux and the nature of time travel.

Once you've had a read of this, make sure you also check out our new screens and info about how Lighning fits into the story and what the game's prologue involves.


Could you give us an overview of what the Historia Crux is and how it works?

The Historia Crux is a new gameplay system that functions like a compass for time travel. As the portal which allows the player to select areas and time periods to go to, it functions a bit like a home menu and is at the heart of the story and gameplay progression of FINAL FANTASY XIII-2. The player can enjoy travelling through time by freely choosing between all the time-space locations where gates have been opened up. Although these locations proceed onwards into the future, you also have the option of rewinding time so it will be possible to experience many different historical possibilities.


What specific fan feedback are you trying to respond to with the Historia Crux?

The original game, FINAL FANTASY XIII, was primarily story driven and progressed in a very linear manner. For the sequel, FINAL FANTASY XIII-2, we are going for a much more player driven concept, so this time around the gameplay and story itself will alter to fit the player’s choices. You will be able to freely come and go between all the areas; the game will provide not just simple environmental exploration, but also a multi-layered exploration of history through the Historia Crux.



How does the Historia Crux affect the gameplay in FINAL FANTASY XIII-2?

The Historia Crux branches off into multiple different routes depending on the player’s choices. You will be able to take a detour into areas that have branched off of the route you have taken, perform side missions and turn back time in each of the areas to experiment with all possibilities. It is of course also possible to progress simply following the main story, like in the original FINAL FANTASY XIII. The flow of areas accessible via Historia Crux has been structured so that all of the player’s actions and decisions will influence the gameplay.

Casual players will be able to use the Historia Crux in a similar manner to browsing a favourite website – picking and choosing between all the different links available. It also contains elements aimed at more dedicated gamers, allowing for more challenging play through encouraging exploration of all the different times and places; to find additional secrets including the multiple endings that are hidden in the different routes.


Many fans have been longing for an explorable World Map for a while. Do you feel that the Historia Crux is a good alternative?

The Historia Crux divides the world into multiple layers, overlapping with the different time periods that can be played with the feeling of jumping freely around several world maps. This is a completely new system and experience, so it cannot be unconditionally compared with other options; however, when considering the key concept of “player freedom”, I believe it to be an optimal system for combining the best parts of open-world style games with the story-driven aspects of FINAL FANTASY XIII. The player can adjust their play style to either delve deeply into everything available and be engrossed, or just make more straightforward choices while going along their adventure.


Is it possible to share more information on how the Historia Crux allows for sidequests and hidden objects to feature in the game?

In the original game, the sidequests were only unlocked in the second half of the story in Gran Pulse, but in the sequel we have put in many different sidequests right from the start. Due to the overwhelming demand from players of the original, we have also included many strong and colourful mini games, a tradition of the FINAL FANTASY series. You will be able to return to any of the times and places whenever you like from the Historia Crux, so it is completely up to the player in what way they choose to play these.


Is it possible to change events that happen in the future depending on your actions in the past?

Depending on the player’s actions, new turning points to new futures will appear in time, and these will certainly form the basis for the multiple endings.


This is the first time time travel has featured so prominently in a FINAL FANTASY game, is this something you'd like to explore more in future games?

For the FINAL FANTASY series, each game has its own new game system, so it is not as if we are intending on making time travel key to all future instalments. We want fans to look forward to each FINAL FANTASY having its own unique system. For FINAL FANTASY XIII-2, we are experimenting with carrying out repeated large scale user tests to reflect the opinions of users in the game itself. We really have received a lot of feedback about the game, but among the voices there are those who say it reminds them of the classic RPG, CHRONO TRIGGER. For FINAL FANTASY XIII-2, we are aiming to make time travel a major thematic direction, and be able to express this on high-end game machines.


Will we be meeting older/younger versions of FINAL FANTASY XIII characters as we travel through time?

The main characters from the original FINAL FANTASY XIII will show up in this journey through time, so we will see them in many different situations and guises. I am sure that the fans of the original will be looking forward to seeing them again and how they have changed over the years!


Is it possible to return to time periods you've already visited and replay them as if it’s your first time you have visited the area?

It will be possible to wind back time in each of the areas you visit and replay them. Character levels and equipment etc will be carried over so it will be possible to play the game as if doing a “New Game+” for each of the areas at different times. It will be possible to play through from the start using your levelled up characters, once you have completed the game. We have taken care to put a number of elements into the game system to make replays more exciting and user-friendly.

links with pictures:
https://member.eu.square-enix.com/en...-historia-crux

https://member.eu.square-enix.com/en...otomu-Toriyama

tl;dr Chrono Trigger, in my Final Fantasy?
http://operatorchan.org/m/src/m30100...2916668%29.jpg

[Hyan]

Increased replayability is shitty, otherwise everything sounds gewd.

[Gokulo]

Yep, though I'm still vary of S-E pretty words ;<

[Tyrath]

Increased replayability is shitty, otherwise everything sounds gewd.

Wait...what? How is it bad that the game is worth playing more than once?

[Hyan]

Wait...what? How is it bad that the game is worth playing more than once?

I like finishing my games completely on the first playthrough. Replaying all of if for little new content just isn't appealing. Hopefully it works differently here. The way Tactics Ogre did it was fantastic...

[Tyrath]

I like finishing my games completely on the first playthrough. Replaying all of if for little new content just isn't appealing. Hopefully it works differently here. The way Tactics Ogre did it was fantastic...

I guess we just work differently. But I like being able to replay my games. Not necessarily right away, but it's nice when theres incentive to go back and do it all over again a few months later.

[Hyan]

Yeah it's a personal gripe if anything. I'll like the game anyway.

Really digging the looks of the new areas.

[Insanecyclone]

http://www.siliconera.com/2011/09/08...tem-in-action/


Final Fantasy XIII-2′s Time Travel System In Action

Famitsu has a preview of Final Fantasy XIII-2′s time travel system known as the Historia Cross in the game. Before we get to that, the magazine also shared the game’s prologue calling Lightning "she" during the introduction.

"She" fought against fate and challenged false gods. That battle changed the world. The power of the gods vanished, Cocoon fell from the sky, and mankind is living in peace. Now free from the tyranny of the gods, a new era has begun. However, "She" is no more and vanished after the battle. Everyone gave up hope and believes "She" is dead, except Serah Farron.



Three years passed. Suddenly a meteorite crashes and the calm days come to a close. A distortion from space-time opened a portal to another dimension. Invaders rushed out and Serah is saved by a young stranger called Noel. He tells Serah he’s a hunter from the future who drifted through time. The two set of on a journey through space-time because "She" is waiting.



"She" is Lightning and now resides in a world with death and disorder rule. Lightning once saved her beloved little sister, now she protects a goddess’ temple. With a weapon in hand, Serah moves forward hoping to find her older sister.

Noel tells Serah they can open gates by collecting out of place objects known as "O Parts." Once you open a gate a compass of space-time appears and you can use the Historia Cross to pick a period and location.

Both screenshots below are of Bresha Ruins in different time periods. AF5 is on the left and Bresha Ruins looks like a lush environment. In AF300, 295 years in the future, Bresha Ruins has changed radically into a wasteland. It appears chocobos evolved to survive the harsh conditions.

[Elcura]

This game is sounding stronger and stronger to me with each passing moment. If they get XIII-2 right, the way will be set for vsXIII.