Lightning Returns: FINAL FANTASY XIII - New Details
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Published on 09-12-2013 01:40 AM
The latest edition of Famitsu magazine reveals a few more interesting tid-bits about Lightning Returns: FINAL FANTASY XIII. Appearances from friend and foe alike, details about estimated completion times and new artwork! Read on for more...
FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 players will likely remember Caius Ballad, the immortal morally grey villain. Caius will be making an appearance in LR:FFXIII alongside Paddra Nsu-Yeul (mostly commonly referred to as Yeul, the Seeress that Serah and Noel encountered many times on their journey).
As hinted in earlier trailers, Lightning won't just be re-uniting with most of her former party members - she will infact be doing battlew with them. In the newest screenshots we can see Lightning fighting both Noel and Snow. This is most likely due to the five-hundred year time difference between XIII-2 and LR:XIII. Snow, as always, is looking for Serah - a quest that is currently fruitless as he is now bound by a fal'Cie focus.
Sazh,
featured in the Gamescom "Savior's Choice" trailer, returns along with his son Dajh who has been asleep for the centuries since the end of XIII-2. Sazh is seeking a way to wake Dajh up and Lightning will come across both of them in a location called the Wildlands.
Oerba Yun Fan will appear in the Dead Dunes desert leading the Monoculus band of mercernaries on a search to find lost relics of the past. Oerba Dia Vanille will be found in the city of Luxerion, a city of quiet worship - waiting for the end of days.
Hope Estheim returns too, in his younger XIII form - we was given this form back by the god Bhunivelze. He will be assisting Lightning from the Ark - a place outside of the realm of Noval Chrysalia. For the most part he will be sending Lightning on quests to save the souls of humanity in preparation for the end of days.
The average playtime is confirmed to be around 20-30 hours. However if you wish to see everything the game has to offer without skipping a single event then the total will be somewhere around 50 hours. Once you've completed the adventure once a New Game+ mode will unlock offering varying difficulty options and allowing you carry over Lightning's costumes, skill sets, abilities and level progress.
NovaCrystallis.com has translated a lot of key points from the scanned pages. There are some spoilers in them so...
Click at your own risk. Lightning Returns: FINAL FANTASY XIII spoilers follow
Originally Posted by
NovaCrystallis.com
After the fusion of Valhalla and the visible realm, Noel was stricken down with the overwhelming grief and regret of not being able to save anything he cared for. However, he pursued to find a way to save the dying world. Along his journey, Noel discovered a new Oracle Drive that promised a happy future – one that Noel wished to obtain in the previous game – if a certain “objective” was accomplished. Noel’s current motives are now fueled by this prophecy and he is wrapped in a paradoxical fate.
In Luxerion, Noel strives to maintain order and peace. But he is ultimately feared by the citizens, earning him the title “Shadow Hunter”. His residence is located within a dark, criminally active part of the city. In his nearly empty room, where disturbing writings in blood can be seen on the walls, Noel shelters the new Oracle Drive. Noel no longer believes Lightning to be human.
Because he is quick and uses a devastating combination of attacks, Lightning must be especially careful during her battles with Noel.As mentioned in many reports before, Luxerion is plagued with daily murders. During her investigations, Lightning comes across a suspicious group of white-cloaks known as the “Followers of the Goddess”. Unfortunately for her, this group does not appear to welcome the Savior.
A series of notes are left behind by what seems to be the mastermind of the murders. They strangely leave suggestions to the battles between Lightning and Noel.
After losing Serah once again, Snow has plunged into the depths of despair. Snow is the only remaining l’Cie in the world, but he is running out of time. Along with the powers of Chaos, Snow is gradually gaining the reckless power of a Cie’th and he will not hesitate to use them against Lightning. During battle, blocking is absolutely essential to preserve health.Unlike the Salvation Council, the Followers of the Goddess hold little power over the dying world. However, they make up for their small size by spreading out all over the continent. The Followers of the Goddess can be found in every location. The majority of survivors on Nova Chrysalia have shifted their faith to Bhunivelze. They wish to be saved in the new world he has prepared. However, some people continue to follow Etro, the Goddess of Death, and they wish to die like a “normal” human being.
Caius and Yeul will be returning and both are strongly connected to the Chaos spreading throughout the world. The ruins of Etro’s Shrine and Academia are located in the Wildlands. As Lightning further explores the shrine she once guarded, she will come to learn of the mysteries hidden within its walls. The significance of Caius and Yeul to the world will also be revealed.
Yeul is no longer bound to her sad cycle of early death and rebirth. She approaches Lightning with a request to “save” Caius.
If this hasn't whetted your appetite already then here are the full page scans from Famitsu magazine featuring some brand new key art for the game.
[Source: Final Fantasy Network ]
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