| | |  | Games | Home » » » » Final Fantasy XIII | | | | | | | Description: | | From the creative minds behind FINAL FANTASY VII and FINAL FANTASY X comes the latest installment in the critically acclaimed series. As FINAL FANTASY VII was for PlayStation, and FINAL FANTASY X for PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, FINAL FANTASY XIII will be the first numbered FINAL FANTASY title for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360, and will look to once again reestablish the series as the RPG brand. Players will follow Lightning, Snow, and the other heroes who are dealt a hand of fate by the god-like fal'Cie. Cursed and regarded as enemies of society, they have the world against them and nobody to rely on but each other. Will they find the strength within themselves to break free of their curse and determine their own fates, or will they succumb to this higher power? With a story that is sure to connect with players' hearts, diverse new characters from world-renowned creator and character designer Tetsuya Nomura, and exciting new gameplay features centered around an evolved Active Time Battle system, FINAL FANTASY XIII will be the pinnacle in gaming experiences.
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Developed for the PlayStation 3 system and Xbox 360, FINAL FANTASY XIII features the series’ most impressive graphical presentation.
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Summons are stronger than ever before, now with the action-oriented Gestalt Mode.
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The evolved Active Time Battle system presents players with countless methods of putting enemies away.
View larger. | Story
Cocoon — a utopia in the sky. Its inhabitants believed their world a paradise.
Under the Sanctum's rule, Cocoon had long known peace and prosperity.
Mankind was blessed by its protectors, the benevolent fal'Cie, and believed that tranquil days would continue forever.
Their tranquility was shattered with the discovery of one hostile fal'Cie.
The moment that fal'Cie from Pulse — the feared and detested lowerworld — awoke from its slumber, peace on Cocoon came to an end.
Fal'Cie curse humans, turning them into magic-wielding servants.
They become l'Cie — chosen of the fal'Cie.
Those branded with the mark of a l'Cie carry the burden of either fulfilling their Focus or facing a fateharsher than death itself.
A prayer for redemption.
A wish to protect the world.
A promise to challenge destiny.
After thirteen days of fates intertwined, the battle begins.
Features - Take Part in a Gaming Experience that Sets New Standards – The first in the series developed for a simultaneous release on multiple high-definition consoles, FINAL FANTASY XIII pushes new boundaries in cinematic presentation, sound and gameplay.
- Experience the Unity of Speed and Strategy with the Ultimate Active Time Battle system – The familiar system has evolved, granting players the freedom of executing numerous commands in a single turn with the multi-slot ATB gauge. Whether inputting singular commands in each slot for consecutive attacks, or expending multiple slots at once to activate a devastating blow, it’s up to the players to respond effectively to the battle conditions at hand.
- Adapt to the Ever-Changing Tide of Battle with Paradigms – A brand-new game mechanic enabling players to assign roles to their party members at any time during battle, shifting between combat paradigms. Consisting of various combinations of the game’s six roles, ranging from Commando, the offensive specialist, to Medic, the quintessential healer, paradigms allow players to respond and adapt instantly to any given situation to turn the tide and seize victory.
- Witness the Battle Scene Transform with an All-New Summon System – Introducing Gestalt Mode, a powerful dimension of the summon system that elevates the action to a whole new level. In Gestalt Mode, characters and their transformed Eidolons fight as one, dealing massive damage to enemies through simple button commands.
- Delve into an Emotional Experience – An immersive storyline connects players to an intriguing cast of characters. Will they have the strength to confront their cursed fates, or will destiny prevail over all that they believe in?
The Characters
 | Lightning
This solitary young woman speaks little of herself – even her true name is a mystery. She is known to others simply as "Lightning." |  | Snow
An irrepressible, fiery young man, Snow dives headfirst into danger using nothing but his powerful physique as a weapon. |  | Vanille
Vanille is an endearing young woman with a relentlessly sunny disposition. Her bright personality gives no hint of the dark resolve that lies within. |  | Sazh
Sazh is a friendly, cheerful man who is never without his curious companions – a chocobo chick and a pair of pistols. He is quick to banter, but also keeps a mature perspective on matters. |  | Hope
Hope has enjoyed a markedly uneventful youth on humankind's haven of Cocoon. His life is turned upside down at the hands of the Sanctum's Purge. |  | Sera
Sera is Lightning's younger sister and Snow's fiancee. Always showing concern for Lightning, she has an inner fortitude that allows her to make her own decisions without relying on her older sister. |  | Fang
Fang is a mysterious woman who is working with the Sanctum military despite bearing the mark of the detested l'Cie. She has a strong-minded personality and is unconcerned with trivialities. | | | | Features: | |
• Newest installment of Final Fantasy features futuristic civilization illuminated by the Light of the Crystal
• Features the latest in cutting-edge technology
• Provides tangible, intuitive controls
• Delivers seamless transitions between real-time gameplay and stunning in-game cinematics
• Developed by Square Enix
| | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 6.7 inches | | Product Width:
| 5.3 inches | | Product Height:
| 0.6 inches | | Product Weight:
| 0.63 pounds | | Package Length:
| 6.7 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.3 inches | | Package Height:
| 0.6 inches | | Package Weight:
| 0.2 pounds | | Release Date:
| March 09, 2010 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 112 reviews |
| | | Game Information: | | | Platform:
| PLAYSTATION 3 | | Media:
| Video Game | | Item Quantity:
| 1 |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
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1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 ConflictedMar 16, 2010
I would rent this game before buying! If you are an big ff fan, like me try it out first.
I have to say the graphics are by far the best I've seen in a ff game yet. It is a very visual beautiful game.
However, I think they kinda forgot about the quality of the story. I felt the same way with ff12, great music, graphics, etc. But the story itself lacked that sense of being apart with the characters. I know I may be wrong to some fans, but for me I got attached to the characters of 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
My Husband plays it more than I do. I don't hate this game, It's just missing a few parts to put it all together story wise.
I am crossing my fingers for Verses to be like the past games.
Don't hate, I did you tube the ending of 13 and I liked it.I don't mind to watch the cut scenes when my husband plays it. Overall, rent it and form your own thoughts. Thank ff fans! xo~
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Live the Fantasy, Live the DreamMar 15, 2010
I have played all the Final fantasy games ever released on every console and I have been waiting for this game to be released like.. forever! I must say I love it even though it is different from previous games.
People are complaining and they have the right, but change is good sometimes, doing the shops in the save menu, this is like Final Fantasy VII:Crisis Core and that wasn't bad either. We do not need towns people, we are living a story. Why not accept the change?
Look at the graphics, the animation, the music and the characters. What else do you want? This game is the reason I bought a PS3 in the beginning. I heard it was gonna be a PS3 exclusive. Then they released it to the XBOX which was disappointing, but the PS3 version is much better, I guess that's a win for me.
Characters: Tetsuo Nomura has always been a genius. The characters are lovable and the costumes is just perfect.
Music: Great theme song and great OST.
Battle system: New and different since you only control Lightening character, but fun.
Story: Interesting and needs a lot of attention to get its specific details and purpose.
Overall: The game is worth every penny and bravo for Square Enix.
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Simply Amazing!!!Mar 15, 2010
One of the best Final Fantasy's ever made. I really dont understand how people could say this game is not great. This definitely goes in my top 3 with FF7 and FF10. The graphics are amazing, the story and characters are perfect. and the battle system has to be the best on FF. Stop complaining about how linear the game, this only shows that you havent even gotten half way through the game. So why would you review a game you havent even beat yet:/. Everything aside this is without a doubt one the best FF out there.
1 of 3 found the following review helpful:
A step back for JRPGsMar 15, 2010
Playing FFXIII is very much like dating Paris Hilton: Sure, she is great to look at, but just how many times can you listen to her say 'that's hot'? There is no question - FFXIII has the best graphics of any console game, ever created. The transition from FMV to gameplay is seamless and you can hardly make the difference. Yes, this is a game that addresses to the inner geek and justifies buying that big screen TV (note that not all wives will agree with this statement).
Yet, the beauty of the game is all on surface. Gameplay is a mix of old themes from many other JRPGs, but without catching the magic of great games like Lost Odyssey, Eternal Sonata, Tales of Vesperia or previous FF games. You have the usual 1 dimensional heroes (ya' know when they are deep, because they don't say anything and look down)and the story starts in the middle, with no explanations on terminology ('lCie??) or character motivations. You are expected to care about them though and this is tough, when some events play on too early (call me cold-hearted, still don't care about Sera).
Fighting is real time, no random encounters, but since 10 out of 13 chapters you walk in a straight line, battles are hard to avoid. You have a class system similar to Blue Dragon, only that this time around you have to switch between the classes, in battle. See - you cannot damage an enemy until you fill a damage bar and stagger them. Most of the time, the only way to fill the bar is by attacking with all 3 characters, as Ravagers or Commandos (Mages and Fighters). Enemies hit for a lot of damage, so then you need to change roles to Medic, for a Paradigm Shift - a switch in classes. Fighting is a bit more complex than this, but this is what is burns down to.
There are no levels, but you receive Crystalium points and use these to increase your health, strength and learn new spells. I enjoyed this system, because it allows you to advance almost after every fight.
If there is one place where this game fails miserably, it's the - surprise - Linearity of the levels. True, it can be argued that other than some American RPGs (Oblivion comes to mind), most games are linear in nature. FFXIII has no shame though and most chapters have you walking on a 10 feet wide path, that tends to go in one direction. This detracts from the story and kills any replayability.
So - why so many stars then??? Here is the sad thing: once you start playing, it's hard to stop. Like with Avatar, story becomes less important and the world carries itself. It's a shallow experience, but we live in a shallow world, so can't blame the game.
Paris - are you still here?
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
A breathtaking and fun evolution for the series that has its charming quirksMar 15, 2010
To start off, it needs to be said I have played EVERY Final Fantasy game since their release. I was around 10 when I started FF1 I and have been a stalwart fan of the series. I haven't liked all FF's (i.e. 8 and 12) so I feel I do weigh my perspective with some thought.
The best thing I can say about Final Fantasy XIII is that I feel it is a bold step to try to evolve the series with some new elements. Like with any change or evolution of something, you are going to get those that resist change (which you will see in earlier reviews) and others that are for it. As a result, I think FF13 ends up being a love it/hate it game. Where you will end up ultimately depends on how you approach this game.
If you come into FF13 with an open mind and a willingness to try something different with no preconceived notions, you could end up being in the love it category. 13 brings with it a great story with a lot of heart and characters you care for. The battle system is refreshing and unique. At first I was slightly hesitant not being able to micromanage my characters, but it ended up being exhilarating. You do have a lot of control over the battle, but control different elements of the battle that many people are not accustomed to. The "Paradigm shift" feature of the game is like a job class for your team of characters rather than individual roles characters play. I enjoy shifting paradigms and trying different strategies in taking down enemies.
Outside of the gameplay you are given an amazing setting with graphics that are amazing on the PS3. The lush visuals and details that were put into this game are outstanding. The facial expressions on your characters are impressive and the overall environment is immersive. The voice acting of a couple of the characters can be annoying at times, but overall, I found the game to create a world that I wanted to explore. I mentioned it earlier, but the storyline is also intriguing with a lot of themes that run beneath the surface. Overall, this is an engaging experience that will keep you captivated.
Now if you come into FF13 with preconceived notions about JRPGs and a desire to play a more traditional RPG where you dictate the detail of what each and every character does, then this game is not for you and you will fall into the 'hate it' category (most likely). I loved that this game approached the battles differently and had you focus your energies on team dynamics and not specific actions, but that is NOT for everybody. If you are a person who needs to dictate the action of everyone, you may struggle enjoying this game.
The other issue that you read about is how linear it is. It is true that FF for the most part is a linear experience giving you freedom only within the battles and the customization of your characters abilities/weapons. You explore a world, but it plays out more like chapters than an open world. In today's games with endlessly open worlds, this may create a problem for some people.
At the end of the day, Final Fantasy is an engaging and enthralling experience depending how you come into the game and if you can accept evolution/change. The elements of Final Fantasy are still there for longtime gamers, but are explored in different ways. Newcomers to the series will also enjoy a fresh take to a classic JRPG style. It's not for everyone, but if you open yourself to a fresh experience and approach it as such, you may leave highly satisfied.
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