SE FF 25th anniversary event - Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII announced

**Fon** · 09-01-2012

Small update. Right now I downloaded niconico, hopefully I'll be able to watch it.

11:46: The new game is officially titled Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII.

The game will have some sort of connectivity with the real world, apparently through Facebook. Details will be announced later.

11:41: Next concept keyword: "World Driven."

This is why they had globes on the stage.

11:40: Toriyama shows scenes from XIII-2's Lightning DLC.

The Lightning they show will be even stronger than in the first two games.

She will have her final battle in the new title.
Players will be able to experience actions that are symbolic of Lighthing -- speed, etc. The game will also have customization.

"Lightning's final battle begins now," says Toriyama.

**Shin Asura** · 09-01-2012

They'll be offering customization for lightning in lighting returnst it

Concept art being shown

**Fon** · 09-01-2012

Another update.

12:01: Next, a look at some of the designs for the world residents.

12:01: Next, he shows a monorail. This monorail connects the islands of the world.

12:00: Next, he shows some of the world artwork, detailing some of the architecture.

He also shows some parts, like a sofa, a phone, a telephone booth -- some of these have a retro feel, he notes.

11:57: Kamikokuryo takes the stage.

The game is set in an area called Navus Partus.
He focuses in on the biggest city in the region, Lexerion

11:56: Art director Kamikokuryo takes the stage.

11:56: They're developing the game with button response in mind, although they won't necessarily go so far as to call it an action game.

11:55: Lighting's weapons -- you can equip Lightning with big weapons.

11:54: They're talking about Lightning's customization.

Players will be able to select from a variety of Lighthing costumes.
There will be a lot of costumes -- not at the level of 10 or 20, but a lot more. They're currently looking into this area, so they can't share the final number.
The costumes can themselves be customized through parameters. Details will be shared later.

**robvandam111** · 09-01-2012

So its not FFXIII-3...but an action base rpg with Lighting...

**Fon** · 09-01-2012

Not sure, I'm not watching it, Lol. But it's not considered an action game.

**Fon** · 09-01-2012

Update. Done.

12:09: After Sakamoto, Kitase takes the stage and closes things off.

12:08: About Kamikokuryo's oil painting...

It's his first oil painting in 10 years.
He set up a studio in his office and spent one month making it.

12:06: Kitase takes the stage and introduces a message from Maaya Sakamoto, Lightning's voice actress.

12:04: Kamikokuryo debuts his latest oil painting, which he was working on until yesterday. It's probably not totally dry, he says.

He takes off the cover and the crowd cheers.

The artwork is meant to represent an image for Lightning Returns.

**Shin Asura** · 09-01-2012

I'm recording the presentation

**Shin Asura** · 09-01-2012

Some art from Lightning returns they had on stage

**Shin Asura** · 09-01-2012

IGN has some nice coverage

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/09/...xiii-announced

Not going to bother compressing a 42 gig file

**robvandam111** · 09-01-2012

This is the way I see it. They keep on saying Lighting's Final Battle and its called "Lighting's Saga", well wasn't there a FFXIII-3 domain somewhere? I don't think..this will close out FFXIII yet. Mark my word, FFVXIII and XIII-3 and KH3 for 2013. I still stick with what Square said that XIII is a 10 year deal. Going to be patient about this but it still sucks althought can't wait to see more of this Lighting Return game.

**LadyDuoMaxwell** · 09-01-2012

Well, now I have to replay FFXIII and pick up FFXIII-2. I am now curious how the trilogy will end.

**dc89** · 09-01-2012

A count down clock ticking down to the end of the world?

Final Fantasy XIII: Majora's Mask.

Some of the art does look nifty though.

**snooper71** · 09-01-2012

Originally Posted by dc89

A count down clock ticking down to the end of the world?

Final Fantasy XIII: Majora's Mask.

Some of the art does look nifty though.

Its set for Dec 21, 2012 and the game doesn't come out till 2013, basically, it will be like VS, we will never get to play them

**DarkVincent07** · 09-01-2012

It seems that of this trilogy each game is VASTLY different from eachother. Which I actually think is kind of cool

Via Tapatalk

**Dave-The-Rave** · 09-01-2012

First MGS now this, show the public some footage dammit!

Also, why make it so convoluted? Just call it XIII-3.

EDIT:

http://eu.square-enix.com/en/blog/an...l-fantasy-xiii

We're excited to reveal LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII, a new adventure that puts players in control of iconic heroine Lightning.

On a quest to save a doomed world from complete destruction; time is of the essence. What will you do with your final days when certain areas, missions, and people will only be available during selected periods?

Click to view fullsize

Playing as Lightning you will have a highly evolved range of techniques for battles and for exploring the constantly moving and expansive environment. Players will be able to be able to customise Lightning's looks, actions and abilities with a large range of different outfits and weapons.

Click to view fullsize

“We are pleased to reveal that Lightning is returning as the playable character in this title, and are excited to see how fans react to the more direct battle system and expansive environment that can be explored at will” said Producer Yoshinori Kitase.

LIGHTNING RETURNS introduce a brand new battle system that gives you action unlike any FINAL FANTASY game while also retaining some the iconic elements that you know and love from the series.

Motomu Toriyama, Director added; “Increased levels of player freedom, customisation and connectivity with the real world, will ensure that this concluding chapter will be an exhilarating finale to Lightning’s story.”

Click to view fullsize

LIGHTNING RETURNS allows you to stay connected to FINAL FANTASY and its characters with unique features that link the in-game to world to the real world. Keep an eye on the blog for more details soon.

EDIT 2:

**XSpike** · 09-01-2012

Seems like this game is shaping up to be what FF13 should of been and how it was targeted to be in early development. I hated FF13 it was all hyped up, for good reasons as well as the first trailer was awesome and showed lots of promise. But what we ended up with was nothing like the first trailer and was very very very repetitive from the animations, story, and JUST everything.

for those who forgotten...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM3P15hTnfA

I actually got hope that SE has finally seen the fault of FF13, and are now trying to fix that with this title but going back and looked at what FF13 should of been which was targeted to have FF7:AC looking/type battles. Which would of only been possible with 1 character in a battle at one time, as having other characters ruined the pace and made it so everything was stall and repetitive.

While this system made learning new magic and more powerful moves unimpressive and not exciting to the player at all. You never felt like your characters where getting any stronger thanks to how repetitive and fast the battle system was and all the numbers that rivaled Call of Duty didn't help.

This game seems like it'll be good, a whole new story not tied to FF13 or 13-2, a world that people will care for and everything not so damn repetitive.