Too Much Lightning and FFXIII?

[Wolf Kanno]

Wolf, I think the main idea of your post that they're handling adult stories with kiddie gloves is just coming down to opinion and we'll have to agree to disagree, because I thought FFXIII did a really great job of dealing with death and evil and how people react to it in different ways, as represented by each of the characters.

I feel if you compared XIII's handling of adult themes to other games like MGS4 and so forth, you would agree with me that XIII largely generalizes and simplifies it's conflict even it's "obviously going to have a downer ending" is saved at the last minute by a Deus ex Machina as opposed to FFX that promised it from the start and delivered it in the end.

XIII could have touched on a ton of themes but largely ignored it and stuck to a story about a bunch of people being tasked to do something they don't want to do, even the fate of a l'Cie is marginalized a few hours in when you find out that they are not really facing death, just servitude in stasis or becoming a monster. It's childish.

But I'm especially glad we finally agree on this:

I mean part of the reason why the PSX was a big deal was cause games really started to focus on more adult themes in a meaningful way but they haven't really advanced much since that initial push.

FINALLY! You're ready to admit that the evolution of storytelling started with the PSX generation!!!

Final Fantasy VII was a radical revolution.

This is just how I manipulate you, I just say something positive about something you feel is great and suddenly you will listen to me.

BoB: Concerning XIII-2, I do agree I would probably enjoy it more than XIII at least as a game but the story doesn't interest me and I honestly don't care for Lightning or Serah as characters, not to mention it's plot is basically a "let's justify the original game's poorly written ending" doesn't set well with my principles as a writer. So the plot is just going to make playing that game a headache for me. I learned my lesson with X-2 that sequels don't fix characters, I doubt the story is going to give me reason to change my mind about XIII's cast cause most of SE's sequels haven't thus far, of anything they have made me dislike characters even more so.

[Formalhaut]

I learned my lesson with X-2 that sequels don't fix characters

As evidenced with X-2's rikkunervation of Yuna. Seriously, watching half those scenes is close to unbearable and I was tempted to skip the scenes, then I learned that I was then penalised for it by not giving me the percentage.