Gameplay Battle System The concept for
Final Fantasy XIII's battle system is to maintain the strategic nature of command -based battles, while also including the excitement and speed found in fast-paced battles. This system stemmed from a desire to create battles of the type found in Final Fantasy XII, while adding multiple player characters to the battle. Like Final Fantasy XII, the battles will be in real time, without any random battles.
Active Time Battle makes a return in Final Fantasy XIII but works differently than it did in previous games that used it. In keeping with command-based battles, players input commands by selection through a reel on the bottom-left hand side of the screen. Each command has an ATB cost, which reduces the total ATB bar. Selected commands are placed on a row of upcoming moves, above the bar. As characters fight, each command is used in turn, with the current command in use turning yellow. Commands can be chained together for certain effects. The environment also plays a role in battle; for instance, Lightning has been seen sending a soldier into a light, electrocuting him and multiplying the damage.
A map is seen in the upper left hand corner of the battle screen, with blue dots representing allies and red dots signifying enemies. The dots emitting circles are the characters currently affected by the fighting.
The upper right-hand corner of the battle screen shows a circular-shaped gauge, representing the
Overclock mode. When full,
Overclocking allows the player to induce a slow-motion effect, almost pausing time for everything other than the player. Once
Overclock is activated, a rapidly decreasing number appears inside the circular gauge, signifying the duration of the
Overclock status. This system may replace the traditional Limit Break system found in previous
Final Fantasy games.
Final Fantasy X battle director Toshiro Tsuchida will return as the battle system director for the game. He has the intent of giving individual enemies their own personalities and background stories.He also replied with "no comment" when asked if players will be inputting commands for ally characters, or if they'll just be in control of a single character.
Summons Summoning will also return in
Final Fantasy XIII. Summons are shown as partly mechanical beings, and the possibility exists that they will feature not only in battle, but in outside gameplay as well. Shiva is one such summon that will be returning, and in
Final Fantasy XIII, she takes the form of a pair of sisters who can merge into a motorcycle, which the unnamed blond male character has been shown to ride. Classic summons Ifrit, Siren and Carbuncle have also been featured in screenshots, but will not be returning in the classic sense. Producers of the game have recently stated that Summons will appear in "Digital Form" although the full extent of what this means is still unknown.
Plot Square Enix has released only small portions of
Final Fantasy XIII's plot since its announcement at E3 2006.
The CrystalsThe Crystals of Final Fantasy XIII are sentient beings. They have the ability to create life forms and objects.
[Cocoon has its own Crystal, and Pulse has at least one. It is not known how many Crystals exist. It is quite possible the people of Final Fantasy XIII see the Crystals as gods.
PulsePulse is the name of the world in Final Fantasy XIII. It has a lush, natural environment inhabited by many monsters, so humans live constantly under the possibility of an attack. The Crystals decided to create the floating city of Cocoon to protect humans.
CocoonA futuristic, utopian haven built for humans. It was constructed by the Farsi when the Crystals decided Pulse was too dangerous for humans. The Crystal of Cocoon protects and advances Cocoon through technological creations. The citizens of Cocoon fear Pulse and its people, who they believe are trying to destroy the city. The Holy Government of Cocoon have therefore quarantined anyone they believe to be linked to Pulse, and deported them from the city.
Farsi and LusiThe Farsi are beings whose existence surpasses humans. They constructed Cocoon at the instruction of the Crystals. Little is known about them or their connection to the Crystals. The Lusi are people chosen by the Farsi to carry out the will of the Crystals.
Characters LightningFinal Fantasy XIII's lead character appears as a strong young woman with strawberry blonde hair. She uses the codename "Lightning" to hide her true identity and apparently has some form of amnesia. She has been given an unknown task by a Crystal. Some sources say that she is leading a rebellion against Cocoon,while others say she is the enemy of humanity who will bring about the downfall of the world.
The two yellow stripes on Lightning's left shoulder symbolize her rank and social status. Her weapon can be transformed between a sword and a firearm at will, reminiscent of a 'Gunblade' from Final Fantasy VIII. Lightning is able to use gravity as a tool and weapon, for instance, throwing a small 'gravity bomb' to disable enemies at the start of a battle. She also seems able to defy gravity completely. Blue sparks run around her body at these times.
Character designer Tetsuya Nomura was asked to create a "female version of Cloud
from Final Fantasy VII", and has described her as "not very feminine".
Blond-haired manA blond, bandanna-wearing male who has been shown riding Shiva in her motorcycle form, wielding a gun. He is a big character, capable of running while carrying two people around.He was nicknamed "Mr 33cm" by the staff of Final Fantasy XIII because of his shoe size.He has been described as “cowboy like”, and his relationship with Lightning as “unusual”.
Red-haired womanA female with red-brown hair who has been confirmed as a citizen of Pulse. According to sources, her weapon is a bow. In an unreleased trailer, she catches a disc and summons Carbuncle.
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Sat Feb 09, 2008 2:37 am
