Preview: Final Fantasy XIII-2

29 Jul, 2011

There’s something indefinable about Final Fantasy XIII.

Look, I know it’s not everyone’s favourite; the internet has gifted a braying voice to the very unhappy, very vocal FF fans, and for many, Final Fantasy XIII simply didn’t play, didn’t emote, didn’t move them like its numerous predecessors. But whilst the gameplay and mechanics were not without their criticism, rarely contested was the game’s breathtaking graphics, the stunning score and – if you slogged it to the end, of course – the story’s climax.

If we’re getting all cosy and personal, I don’t mind admitting that for me, the FF of old hasn’t always floated my boat. I don’t do grinding. I hate levelling up. Maybe it’s because time is an increasingly precious commodity in my life, but the thought of sinking scores of hours into a game and still not reaching the end … well, in truth it’s a little frustrating, no matter how beautiful a game or enigmatic a narrative. I’ll admit that whilst I did play FFXIII – my first foray into the FF universe proper since the heady days of VII – I didn’t complete it, shuffling to a uneasy halt about twenty hours in.

A decision I now very much regret, incidentally.

But as frustrating as the pace was, I loved those characters and that rich, intimate mythology. I also loved that story – or, at least, what I’d witnessed thus far. And when news broke of a sequel – not just to the franchise, but to the very specific story of Lightning, Serah et al – I was undeniably intrigued. Who wouldn’t want to get up close and personal with FFXIII-2 and discover for themselves exactly what was in store for that XIII’s returning cast?

Square Enix listen. They care. Every review, every forum post, every everything: it’s read, absorbed, reflected upon. They have taken the critique of XIII to heart; no, not to lick wounds, but to explore further how XIII-2 can build upon the strengths – and minimise the faults – of the preceding title. There’s a palpable affection and respect for the community built around the franchise, and an acknowledgement that their views and opinions count. This community day sought to properly gauge the reactions of the only people the team want to impress: the fans.

It’s the E3 showcase we get to play; a brief section towards the beginning of the game which follows newbie Noel and Serah and showcases the game’s much improved exploration systems. And to all intents and purposes, FFXIII-2 is a doppelganger of its prequel. Each environment is every bit as rich and inviting as XIII. The score and sound effects again fit the visuals snugly. And yeah, there’s still the occasional cheesy one-liner and yes, on occasion the sound does become a little repetitive but these are really very, very minor quibbles given what’s been improved.

For what’s changed most notably in FFXIII-2 is its interactivity. It’s deeper. Richer. More vibrant. RPG-decisions alter the course of your quest. The real-time cinematics are more striking than before. No longer are we restricted to shiny blue circles in order to jump, and no longer will we wander amongst NPCs who ignore our very existence. XIII-2 – again, having built carefully to feedback – now enable NPCs to drop small nuggets of narrative by way of the thoughts and feelings of the people around the core character list, and encourage the player to roam more thoroughly thanks to a much-needed free-jump mechanic. Serah’s magical moogle – unveiling hidden and invisible secrets throughout your journey – also rewards those prepared to leap off the beaten track and look a little more closely. Whilst your progress in FFXIII-2 will never be mistaken for a sandbox-esque odyssey, there’s no denying that with multiple pathways and this welcomed emphasis on exploration, that linear progression is unlikely to get stale any time soon.

And that’s not all. Although the demo ran short at only an hour or so, we also got witnessed the latest approach to gameplay; defeat an enemy in battle and you’ll be able to utilise their unique skills and abilities in your combat paradigms. (Yeah, really.) Building up Feral Links permits you to unleash holy hell on your opponents, a complete lifeline should you be struggling with a particularly formidable foe. New abilities are sprinkled throughout the game to keep you moving, fire your interest, inspire you to play on. No more do Square Enix want us to sink thirty hours into a game just to quit midway, either because we got bored, pissed off or distracted by something shiny. This time we’re promised an improved pace and a dynamic storyline tailored to snag and retain our engagement.

This is a preview of FFXIII-2 from someone who isn’t in love with the franchise. It comes from someone with clear, impartial eyes. So you better believe me when I tell you that this time? This time, I really wanna get to the end of the game …