• Lightning Returns Location: Dead Dunes!

    To kick-start this week, Square-Enix have released some images of a location in their upcoming epic Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. The location has been revealed as being called the Dead Dunes, which does a good job of conjuring up all kinds of imagery. I for one find myself picturing the scattered skeletons of large beasts lying in a desert wasteland, with many dangerous monsters just lurking behind them - desperate for a kill.



    The actual Dead Dunes are rather impressive, and look like a location fit for Lara Croft in her Last Revelation days, very Egyptian inspired. The images suggest that Lightning is looking for some treasure, and she must search far and wide across these Dunes to find them. Now, when you're a massive gaming heroine, you don't just wander aimlessly around sand dunes all afternoon... Oh no, Lightning has some pretty nifty skills and the player can actually fast track through the dunes by sliding down them.



    So, she's looking for treasure. Maybe she's taking a leaf out of another gaming heroine, Lara Croft's, book?


    Well this just looks beautiful, doesn't it? There's not a lot dead about this.
    It reminds me of the Wonder of the World, Petra at Jordan.



    And there she goes, perhaps 'sand-boarding'
    could be the next big sport!



    Here you can see Lightning facing off against some enemies.
    S
    he also appears to be using some kind of magic.
    The ability is called Lightspeed, and allows Lightning to slow down time
    so that she can plan a 'ferocious assault' on her foes.


    With any luck it won't be long until we get another sneak peak at some locations from this game, but for now we'll have to keep dreaming of laying down on the luscious sand by that divine looking pool of water.... Are you looking forward to visiting the Dead Dunes?

    [Source: Square Enix introduces Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII's Dead Dunes setting in eight screenshots - Neoseeker ]
    This article was originally published in forum thread: Lightning Returns Location: Dead Dunes! started by Locky View original post
    Comments 15 Comments
    1. Aulayna's Avatar
      Aulayna -
      I dunno what it is with desert or sand levels in video games but I always seem to hate them. Usually because they have stupid quick sand bits or enemies that are way hard or I just find them really dull and boring. I never seem to enjoy them... so I dunno... we'll see how this one goes!
    1. Formalhaut's Avatar
      Formalhaut -
      I've never enjoyed desert levels too.

      Then again, maybe my experience with the deserts in FFXII has made me loathe them.
    1. DMKA's Avatar
      DMKA -


      I'm interested to know precisely what's happening here.
    1. opn184's Avatar
      opn184 -
      Yeh i found FFX's bikanel island to be the most boring part of the game...
    1. Night Fury's Avatar
      Night Fury -
      DMKA that is her ability called 'Lightspeed'

      I have no idea why she appears to look like a court jester, or why there is some kind of monkey dancing around her.
    1. DMKA's Avatar
      DMKA -
      Quote Originally Posted by Locky View Post
      DMKA that is her ability called 'Lightspeed'

      I have no idea why she appears to look like a court jester, or why there is some kind of monkey dancing around her.
      I'm guessing because...

    1. Loony BoB's Avatar
      Loony BoB -
      I'm not always a fan of desert locations, but some of them turn out okay. I loved Rabanastre, for example, and the one featured in the images above looks pretty cool.
    1. Rostum's Avatar
      Rostum -
      I love desert locations! It's ice/snow locations I usually don't like.
    1. Formalhaut's Avatar
      Formalhaut -
      Quote Originally Posted by Rostum View Post
      I love desert locations! It's ice/snow locations I usually don't like.
      Really, I love snow and ice locations!
    1. Jinx's Avatar
      Jinx -
      I don't care for desert locations, but that shot of the oasis with the city really does look beautiful.

      I like dessert locations, though.
    1. NinjaCoachZ's Avatar
      NinjaCoachZ -
      Quote Originally Posted by Tifa's Boobs View Post
      I don't care for desert locations, but that shot of the oasis with the city really does look beautiful.
      Agreed on both counts; it looks stunning. This is one desert level I'm actually looking forward to exploring! It kinda gives me vibes of the Gerudo Desert from Twilight Princess, which I think was one of the better ones in games I've played.
    1. Remmy's Avatar
      Remmy -
      I think a lot of people get upset when I'm amazed at how beautiful something is. They always say "Don't like a game because of the graphics". But it's not about the graphics or the rendering, it's about the art behind the city, the way the colours mesh and the structures and the details and everything. It's the world that gets created.



      Is this just past sunset or maybe a lighting effect from the magic? I mean the sand has that night-time touch of purple -- and the sky.

      I usually don't like sandy areas because they're plane and boring, but this might be much more than that.
    1. DanielCLFFF13's Avatar
      DanielCLFFF13 -
      Quote Originally Posted by Remmy View Post
      but this might be much more than that.
      Very very agree with you, Remmy
    1. Freya's Avatar
      Freya -
      Has anyone checked out the official site, it's got a google street view like map. It's nifty!
    1. Formalhaut's Avatar
      Formalhaut -
      Quote Originally Posted by Freya View Post
      Has anyone checked out the official site, it's got a google street view like map. It's nifty!
      A tad laggy, and in Japanese, but I like the idea.
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