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Square Enix Admits To An “Obsessive Fixation On Lightning”

If you're wondering why we've seen three Final Fantasy titles with the same main character (although she wasn't really even playable in FFXIII-2), it's because Square Enix wanted to extend the FFXIII saga.

This news comes courtesy of a new Famitsu interview (as detailed at Nova Crystallis ), and producer Yoshinori Kitase said that Lightning Returns represents sort of an "obsessive fixation on Lightning," which is part of the reason they're not calling the game FFXIII-3.

As for Lightning's new red-and-white outfit, which is apparently "quite revealing in the battle scenes," this reflects a certain history, in that Lightning now has the role of being a "liberator." That outfit was given to her by a god, apparently. In regards to gameplay, we will have free reign to explore and if we want to see everything, there will be a lot of "trial and error" involved as we only have 13 days (and each day translates to about two real-time hours). It's interesting to note that Square Enix "sensed the irritation" concerning that time limit. Said Toriyama:

"At the time of the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Exhibit, we showed the alpha version and as time rapidly decreased you could sense the irritation. We’ve since added a mechanic that will increase the remaining time in the world through quests and battles. By actively completing quests and battles, the time available to you will increase."

I just refuse to believe nobody at Square Enix could've predicted that "irritation" ahead of time. I just refuse to believe that. Oh, and lastly, they're saying the game isn't an action/RPG but mainly just an RPG with a few new action-based elements. …yeah, we'll see.

Related Game(s): Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

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oONewcloudOo
oONewcloudOo
11 years ago

Well I guess somebody has to like her, might aswell be the developers

Zeronoz
Zeronoz
11 years ago

"we will have free reign to explore and if we want to see everything, there will be a lot of "trial and error" involved as we only have 13 days"

This bit translates to Legend of Zelda: Majora`s Mask…that game was a nightmare!!

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
11 years ago

Amen sir, a total nightmare.

Mog
Mog
11 years ago

I loved that game!!!

Bonampak
Bonampak
11 years ago

@OP – Majora's Mask keeps getting mentioned whenever this game gets an article here as an example of a "game that sets a time limit".

I'm not a big Majora's Mask fan but from my own limited experience with it and just looking at the amazon user reviews and metacritic scores, its clear to me that that whole concept on the game being terrible or horrible seems to be off the mark.

From what I've played of it, in Majora's Mask you have 3 days before the end of the world comes. And in those same 3 days you have to help several characters to fulfill their personal goals or needs. Keeping an eye on them or waiting for them to do something at a particular hour of the day. Obviously, you cannot possibly be at several places at once, so that's why you need to keep going back in time before the 3rd day ends. So that you can then focus your attention on another character.

Its similar to what was done in the Back to the Future movies. With the protagonist going back in time repeatedly to find a way to set things right. That's basically what a player does in Majora's Mask. And it works.

Maybe it will work in the Lightning game? Who knows. It could work. Even Ben admitted that he would give the game a chance if it turns out to be a decent action game or whatever it ends up being.

Underdog15
Underdog15
11 years ago

Even in games where time matters, like Atelier series which I really enjoyed (Totori is favorite. Haven't played Memeru yet) I was still annoyed when the game ended before I had finished everything I wanted to do.

I didn't with Totori, but I did with Rorona, and that is this: These types of games don't promote exploration… they promote use of gamefaqs.

ZettaiSeigi
ZettaiSeigi
11 years ago

My god!! Just get this thing done and over with, S-E. I'm still waiting for Versus XIII. I cannot even get myself excited about this game, no matter how much I try to.

Thankfully Ni No Kuni is coming out in a few weeks, and I might as well try the Tales series for the first time. I heard good things about Tales of Xillia.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
11 years ago

Yes, get Tales, don't let the action-based battle system confuse you, there's a lot more strategy involved than in the new FF games. I'm getting Xillia for sure, Graces F is fantastic.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
11 years ago

Lol, I like Lightning but I don't know why they are obsessed with her. Furthermore if you like a character you should deepen them and explore them like Advent Children did with Cloud's guilt, not exploit them and turn them into a Goddess for no particular reason.

She's also the main in Dissidia 012 so I can tell they really like her, which is why I'm befuddled they would put her in a silly outfit like this new one.

Well I'm working on letting go of my anger so I'll just say hey, when you know you're making a move that people are going to hate why not think of something better instead of trying to soften the blow of that horrible move?

Trial and error + multiple playthrough gameplay is pretty well dead now, most people hardly finish their games once. I don't mind it with the Atelier series but that's because it's a goofy fun game, not an epic quest.

This game is gonna be so weird; I hope it gets panned by critics, nothing higher than a 6. We gotta get this train back on track soon.

Oxvial
Oxvial
11 years ago

Yes shes on every FF game this gen, tired of her it gonna be refreshing to have a FF in were she no appears in any form.

Lawless SXE
Lawless SXE
11 years ago

That's an odd thing to say. I can understand a creator becoming attached to a character and wanting to explore them further, but that isn't what S-E has done with Lightning. It just seems as though they're determined to annualise the franchise and to hell with reason.

And they added the ability to gain time in response to fan reaction? This is a bit mind-boggling to me. On one hand it's like, "Okay, they're listening to their fans. Righteous." On the other, that statement just makes them seem so out of touch with their fans by the mere assumption that they wouldn't want to be hindered by the presence of a timer. Just… what the hell?

I don't understand them at all.

ryu
ryu
11 years ago

maybe they just meant to 'explore' the revenue potential of the reverse female armor theory thing, as they did with yuna?

and yes, timed dugeon was the reason i dropped majora's mask as soon as i got past the intro phase

Corvo
Corvo
11 years ago

Her outfit will be revealing? Not enough to make me buy the game. Good try though SE 😀

Hand_of_Sorrow
Hand_of_Sorrow
11 years ago

just hope the game does'nt break. imagine after the time limit
expires, you can no longer play the game.

if you want to attract new people to the FF world,
the last thing you'd want to do is develop a game with a time limit.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
11 years ago

Youll have to pay $5 every time you start a new game.

VampDeLeon
VampDeLeon
11 years ago

I remember earlier on after the reception of Final Fantasy XIII, they didn't want people to forget Lightning. Well, she's everywhere now so she won't be forgotten anytime soon now.

Clearly since the whole Final Fantasy XIII compliation that was suppose to have Agito and Versus XIII along with FFXIII didn't work out after the changes and delays with the titles.. So they had to fufill that mission with inventing a trilogy of Lightning adventures.

___________
___________
11 years ago

nah, you dont say!?
wish $E would give the series a break for a while and explore their other franchises.
id love to see a sequel for neir, and we need a next gen kingdom hearts title!
so stupid how obsessed $E has been with portable systems this gen!

ryu
ryu
11 years ago

man valkyrie profile hasn't come yet and there's already rumor of next-gen,
i know VP2, which was awesome, came at the end of PS2 cycle, but still…

Gamer46
Gamer46
11 years ago

An obsessive fixation on Lightning. How about this company just admits that the people calling the shots are clueless? They make so many dumb decisions it's beyond belief and have killed both FF and DQ and Kingdom Hearts isn't far behind (some would say it's already garbage). The only good stuff from SE recently has been Sleeping Dogs and Hitman and Tomb Raider looks like it will be good as well but lets be real those are not actually SE franchises.

Ninja_WafflesXD
Ninja_WafflesXD
11 years ago

Of all the characters to have a "fixation" on….

*sigh*

I want to give this game a chance….I really do, but SE isn't making this easy on me.

I don't understand how they thought that having a time-limit would be a good thing?
It kinda defeats the purpose of an rpg….but then again, I doubt I can classify this as an rpg….even if SE does :/

You know what….just give me a character I'd actually LIKE to play as, then maybe I wouldn't feel so offended with Lightning Returns….

berserk
berserk
11 years ago

"Oh, and lastly, they're saying the game isn't an action/RPG but mainly just an RPG with a few new action-based elements."

………… now it sound even worse .Sound to me it will be close to ff13 and ff13-2 gameplay but with just ONE character .Great idea making an average combat system even worse ( my opinion ).

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

This is going to be terrible!
I want a good FF game, fair and Square.
Enixway, this game is going to be terrible.

pillz81
pillz81
11 years ago

I'm so convinced that they have a Lightning fixation, I wouldn't be surprised if they have fap versions of her character model in their 'puters.

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