No Crystarium Challenge

[Mo-Nercy]

Sorry - the moment you start using Vanille and Hope once they are l'Cie.

I suppose you'd be screwed at Lightning's and Sazh's Eidolon fights if not way earlier. Oh, and AFAIK it isn't even possible to keep Vanille and Hope from casting magic when they aren't the leader (pre-post-game), but I guess that doesn't count.

In Chapter 1 or 2, you only have Vanille and Hope in the party so that's when the challenge is all over, I think. xD

Actually no, cause that's before they meet the Fal'Cie -> they can still attack normally and you are not able to cast magic.

Oh yeah. That's right. I'm forgetting details of a game I haven't even finished yet. =S

[Necronopticous]

FFX for instance: No Sphere Grid, Summons, Overdrive, or Customization. Actually idk if they've finished it but there it is!

I don't think anyone has ever even seriously attempted that. As far as I know I'm the only person who attempted to put the No Sphere Grid and Initial Equipment/No Customization challenge together, and even just those two turn out to be impossible.

[espritduo]

NCU (no crystarium challenge) has been completed in Japan, and it was recently completed with the english version as well.

Here's a link to the gameFAQ's thread and page at the point where the game was actually beaten without using the crystarium:

NCU United 3 - Final Fantasy XIII Message Board for PlayStation 3 - GameFAQs

And here's the youtube vid of him beating the final phase of the final boss:

YouTube - Final Fantasy XIII [ENG - No Crystarium Usage] Final Boss 3/3: Orphan 2

[Madame Adequate]

FFX for instance: No Sphere Grid, Summons, Overdrive, or Customization. Actually idk if they've finished it but there it is!

I don't think anyone has ever even seriously attempted that. As far as I know I'm the only person who attempted to put the No Sphere Grid and Initial Equipment/No Customization challenge together, and even just those two turn out to be impossible.

I think it's initial equipment part. I've never seen that be possible. But with that criteria absent I've seen damned near everything else mentioned and this looks a bit elaborate for a hoax! It basically relies on ridiculous item spamming.

[Ultima Shadow]

FFX for instance: No Sphere Grid, Summons, Overdrive, or Customization. Actually idk if they've finished it but there it is!

I don't think anyone has ever even seriously attempted that. As far as I know I'm the only person who attempted to put the No Sphere Grid and Initial Equipment/No Customization challenge together, and even just those two turn out to be impossible.

You did make it pretty darn far though - beyond a part that was thought to be impossible. Almost to the very end of the game.

I have yet to even play FFXIII myself, but the Doom-thing (which, from what I've understood, results in a Game Over when the time runs out) sounds like biggest issue.

I suppose a FFXIII challenge would have to require a handicap that doesn't make your offensive capabilities suffer too much, in order to get past some of the Doom-bosses in time.

Edit:

NCU (no crystarium challenge) has been completed in Japan, and it was recently completed with the english version as well.

Here's a link to the gameFAQ's thread and page at the point where the game was actually beaten without using the crystarium:

NCU United 3 - Final Fantasy XIII Message Board for PlayStation 3 - GameFAQs

And here's the youtube vid of him beating the final phase of the final boss:

YouTube - Final Fantasy XIII [ENG - No Crystarium Usage] Final Boss 3/3: Orphan 2

Good news. (Though I won't watch the videos myself yet, as I haven't even played FFXIII normally). >_>