Final Fantasy XIII-2 - A Little DifferentFinal Fantasy XIII-2 is another JRPG created by Square Enix, and is the direct sequel to FF13. It still features the paradigm battle system of 13, though it does have a new twist. Instead of having 3 party members, and multiple characters to choose from, you have 2 set party members, and can catch monsters to fight for you as the 3rd member. The game follows something of a Time Traveller theme, though it's still done in a way that's not overly played out. Like many sequels, I don't believe it lives up to the first, but it's still a pretty good title nonetheless. This is only the second installment of the franchise to be a direct sequel. But enough rambling, on to the review!
Graphics 10 / 10 -- The graphics of this game are as beautiful as you could possibly imagine. The characters look incredibly realistic, regardless of their unrealistic design (we all know Final Fantasy can be a little over the top). The detail in this game is so great, it's pretty hard to even tell the difference between the actual game play and the FMVs it features. The spells and attacks in the game look phenomenal and could not have been done any better, period. Every detail this game has down to the smallest blade of grass is just simply breathtaking. There's an area full of lush greenery and colorful plant, and I had to literally stop playing for a good 10+ minutes just to soak it all in. The backdrops are arguably more beautiful than what you can find in real life. The technological aspects look great too, as you will visit a futuristic setting which features incredible accuracy as well. I really can't praise this area enough.
Sound 10 / 10 -- The game is just as good in the audio department as it is visual. I absolutely adore this game's soundtrack for it's perfection composition and the way they added lyrics to a lot of the tracks. Some vocalists can make or break a song for people, but the way these tracks were composed, when you're concentrating on the game itself, you may not even notice them most of the time. And of course fans of the franchise know Final Fantasy is a great source for excellent boss / battle music, though the field and event tracks are just as captivating. The voice actors do a great job for the most part, and I say that not really caring for the choice of one of the two main characters. Many of the cast from the first game make an appearance, and they almost all feature a return from the same actor as before, which is something many fans will appreciate. The effects are also very well done, but there's nothing significant to them off the top of my head. They pretty much follow your typical formula for everything the game presents (attacks, walking, opening a chest, etc), though the chocobo cry is a nice touch.
Addictiveness 7 / 10 -- If you enjoy the new formula for combat of the FF13 games, then this one will be no different. The combat is fast paced, and will always keep you on your toes ready to switch paradigms at any moment. A unique aspect for this game is the ability to choose a monster as your third party member, and there are plenty to hunt for. The game still follows your 6 role and 6 preset paradigm formula, though each monster obtained has only 1 role they use, and you can only have 3 monsters active in your paradigms at any given time, which adds another level of depth to finding and using said monsters. There are about 2 dozen full areas to explore and conquer, each offering their own objectives. The game has you hunting down shards, and to get them all you're probably going to have to make a second trip through. The game also gives you an item for completion, allowing you to unlock all of the alternate endings.
Story 8 / 10 -- What's a Final Fantasy game without an over the top and intricate story, am I right? I can't really set the story up too much without giving away spoilers from the first game, but I'll do my best here. Basically, something happens that causes the time line of the world to skew, throwing Serah (the main character) into a whole heap of trouble she didn't ask for. She somehow encounters Noel, a man from 7000 years in the future, where almost everything in the world has gone extinct. He is the last human in existence at his origin point in time, and is eager to use this disturbance in the time line to try and change his bleak future of a world. Together they set out to find the cause, and hopefully solution, to this disturbance, among a couple of other reasons I won't spoil for you.
Depth 9 / 10 -- As with most Final Fantasy titles, there is quite a bit to do here. The main story will keep you preoccupied a good while, and if you're going for a 100% completion, prepare to be here awhile. The game offers 160 shards to collect, many of which are necessary for progressing through the game, but about half are entirely optional. Collecting these is a very daunting task, as quite a few will require an almost insane amount of effort to obtain. There are also about 11 alternate endings you can obtain after the main story has been completed, but keep in mind each one will be very difficult to obtain as they require defeating an extremely powerful boss. There is also chocobo racing you can take part in, and you can gamble on the races too. Gambling is one of the best ways to obtain some extremely rare items if you're good at it. There's even more to do, but it's mostly small stuff, so I'll stop rambling.
Difficulty 7 / 10 -- Overall the game isn't too difficult. Most of the regular enemies can be taken down relatively easily, and with a slight hint of grinding and preparation, the bosses shouldn't be much of an issue. A large part of the difficulty here is collecting monsters to use in your party. Obtaining one is like a random drop, and you must kill the monster you wish to obtain for a chance at them. Each monster also has their own unique Overdrive ability, which can provide a significant boost in a pinch. The gauge for said Overdrive also stays filled when switching paradigms that change out which monster is aiding you, allowing you to build a chain, then switch to another monster for their ability. Overall I would say the most difficult thing to do in the game is collecting the optional shards (and some mandatory ones) to unlock more content in the game / post-game.
Overall 8 / 10 -- I really loved this title and I hope my review has convinced you it's not as bad as the hate some critics give it. Any fan of the franchise (who can stand the new combat system) will greatly enjoy this title, and I hope you give it a chance.
Hope you enjoyed the review :)
Graphics
10 Sound
10 Addictive
7 Depth
9 Story
8 Difficulty
7
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