| | |  | 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 49 reviews |
| | | Game Information: | | | Platform:
| PLAYSTATION 3 | | Media:
| Video Game | | Item Quantity:
| 1 |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
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1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 No mana in this sad game, just eye candy.Mar 10, 2010
No storyline spoiler here, just gameplay review.
You would image a game with the best graphic on the face of the console and plays like the amazing Heavy Rain would garner high rate, but I think this game didn't live up to the hype and nowhere near the experience of FFVII. I haven't played any other FF games except for FFVII. I put 6-8 hr into game and wished I could return it and wait till the price drop to 30-40 bucks, since it is not a great game at all.
Gameplay, exploration, battle strategies.
What this game is sorely lacking is game play, exploration and battle strategies. The game play is linear it is like they are trying to push you through the game and you can't really go back and explore, once you finish a chapter you are done, there is no world map to go back and forth from. The old FF7 is 3rd person perspective or overview where you can explore more. This game is wonderfully design but the level is also linear in design and gameplay. You basically running through a tunnel or a valley most of the game, once in a while you stop and look around. The third person perspective is behind the back like Dragon Age but with tunnel vision. Battle mechanic is changed for the worst, haven't play X, XII.., but in 7 you are able to control all characters in a turn base. Here you control one person the other just do whatever they want. Square added this paradigm shift which is a joke, where other can be a medic, commando, whatever, back then (FF7) you don't need this since any characters can block, heal, attack, cast spell, revival, etc. They have simplified the battle mechanic to be so simple that you just hit the "X" button, kind of like Heavy Rain, but not as fun. The rpg element isn't that deep or advance in this series. Even Diablo copied FF7 to add orb or mana into weapon, there is none here. You don't really pick much items in this game either.
Graphic/ mechanic
At first, I couldn't believe it looks so good at 1080p on my LCD. It just claims the best looking console game over Heavy Rain. The environment is great looking, detail and deep. The lack of interaction is quite sad. You walk up to it and press "x", could of use some RE interaction/ physic, but it is a FF game. There is no frame rate drop at all. I guess the 360 version is compressed, but there is none here. The game load quite fast compare to Dragon Age. There are cut-scenes like every third battle, I am guessing they are loading the environment I the background. This game shockingly have little load screen and didn't install any file on my PS3( not taking about save file just install file).
Story
So far the bread and butter of FF series, the story, just isn't that great in this game. I really don't care for the characters too much. Some are annoying, other are punks. Most of the characters are like teenagers or younger dealing with world issues. There is sense of FF7 soldier bad government in the plot. The music and soundtrack just isn't that magical either.
FF7 was so good that it left a lasting impression in my mind that after all these years to play FF again, I felt it fail quite miserably. As a rpg it fail to have depth like today games: Dragon Age or even Sacred II. The linear storyline is similar to Heavy Rain, but is just not that engaging or tense. I just want you to same your money and pick it up when the price drop. We don't pay developers for just production value, we pay for game play.
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 quite possibly the best FF game to dateMar 10, 2010
Final fantasy 13 is one of the best FF titles to date.
Everything from the graphics to the complex battle system are very well thought out and well explained.
While the beginning is linear, with a game this complex, time is needed in order to learn how to use the paradigm shifts and auto battle effectively. Rather than being very complex to the point of unplayable at first (think Xenosaga II)it guides you through the story and game until your "ready" to hit the big world, which you will.
One drawback is that you cant spend hours upon ours power leveling you characters... wait not so much a drawback. While the game does have grinds, (Try mastering all 6 "jobs" on every character and getting the ultimate weapons) grinding is pointless endeavor that makes the game boring at first. You cant just dedicate time and expect to win. Rather you are in real danger in many fights and have to play well and effectively to win - a trait I think is a very big strength of the game. There is a large amount of character development in terms of developing gear and using CP when you can, its not the central focus right off the bat.
Story can be a bit chaotic at first, but it is a fast paced game and I for one enjoy the mix of cut scenes and battles. It makes the game seem more interesting and adds an element of reality to the battles.
Over all, the critiques are minimal with those mainly coming from people who do not like that its not like every other RPG. What is the point of a town? Why are shops needed if you can access them at save points (a feature that does not waste time) Unlike every other RPG almost, side quests are best left to the end of the game because they are very hard during the game. Why? because then players have to focus on the story and less about wasting time looking at pretty pictures.
For some, change is a welcome thing.
3 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 a review only for true RPG fanMar 10, 2010
This is a horrid game galavanting around as a RPG, let alone final fantasy, one of the best RPG series ever created. This game has no exploration, no choice control, no individuality, you can't even interact with NPCs! If you don't know what a NPC is then this game may be just what you're looking for. If this game did not have the title of Final Fantasy then perhaps it could be enjoyable. Having such a name dishonors all the great gaming which came before this abberation! You can't control party leader, give commands, or freely explore. My apologies for the rant, it is such a shame that this ONCE great franchise has fallen to such lows. Stay away those looking for a RPG experience. This is a CG movie of epic proportions interspersed with a few button presses from you, the "controller;" when I say few I do mean FEW.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Monumental.Mar 10, 2010
I got the PS3 version of Final Fantasy 13 because the cut scenes were in full 1080p where-as the 360 version was 720p. Plus, one Bluray instead of 3 360 discs. Anyway, the game is probably he best in the series, IMO. Everyone knows the graphics are astonishing, but this game rules on so many levels. I thought I'd miss having towns to visit, bu I don't. I thought I'd miss a lot of tings this game got rid of from early games, but I don't. They took out all the crap that slowed earlier games down and added better tings to make the game run smoother. The game starts out easy and is basically a button-masher util the 3 or 4 hour point, butthen the Paradign Shifts come into play along with other abilities and techniques and i gets a lot tougher and use must use strategy o win even simple battles. I love the characters and the English voice acting is great. The storyline is sappy in spots, but in all actuality it's a lot "darker" than most FF games. The only thing I have a complaint about is the lack of Gil (money). You never win it in battle and must find it. I like the linearity of it, th developers mentioned the linearity of the game before it was released and they said they did that on purpose so people wouldn't wander around so long they forget the storyline. That said, I heard once you reach Cocoon it gets a lot more non-linear. I'm like 12 hours in and not a seconf of it has been boring.
1 of 3 found the following review helpful:
BeautifulMar 10, 2010
Everything about this game is fantastic and beautiful from the graphics to the battle system, the character development, and even the music is perfect. All in all a must but for RPG players.
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