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is an upcoming console role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix exclusively for the Sony PlayStation 3 as a part of the ''Final Fantasy'' video game series. First appearing at E³ 2006, the game features a futuristic, high-tech world. Only two characters have been revealed thus far: a woman, with the code name Lightning, who wields a weapon which functions as a sword and a firearm; and an unnamed, giant man who is her ally.
''Final Fantasy X-2'' director Motomu Toriyama returns as the director of the game.^[1] According to Square Enix President Yōichi Wada, the storyline will focus on "those who resist the world".^[2] ''Final Fantasy XIII'' and the other games of the ''Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII'' collection take place in the same universe, but are not directly related to each other.^[3]

Contents

Gameplay

Battle system

Plot

Setting

Characters

Lightning

Unnamed Man

Development

References

External links

Gameplay

Little is known about the gameplay beyond the trailers shown; combat in the game will be in real-time, similar to recent entries ''Final Fantasy XI'' and ''Final Fantasy XII''.^[4] A 'Gravity Bomb' was also shown that allows the main character to defy gravity or attack enemies.^[5]
In addition, the upper right-hand corner of the battle screen shows a circle-shaped gauge representing ''Overclock'' status that, when full, allows the player to induce a slow-motion effect, slowing down everyone but the player; this may replace the traditional limit break system found in previous ''Final Fantasy'' games. Once ''Overclock'' is activated a number appears inside the meter and decreases, probably signifying the duration of the ''Overclock'' mode.^[6]
Summons will also return. Shown as partly mechanical, they are featured not only for battle support, but as game director Toriyama states, also for "something totally different"^[7] - one such example is that Shiva will be able to transform into a motorcycle and that characters may be able to ride Shiva in battle.⁷
Although the main focus of ''Final Fantasy XIII'' will be offline, players will also be able to take advantage of special online features.^[8]

Battle system

The battle system in ''Final Fantasy XIII'' is an attempt to recreate the type of battle seen in the pre-rendered movie, ''.⁵ ''Final Fantasy X'' battle director Toshiro Tsuchida will return as the battle system director for the game. He has reaffirmed that random encounters will not return, while suggesting his intent that individual enemies may be given personalities and background stories.^[9] It will also use a faster version of the series' traditional Active Time Battle system, which was designed by Hiroyuki Itō and first featured in ''Final Fantasy IV''.

Plot

Setting

The world of ''Final Fantasy XIII'' is based in a government-controlled floating fortress called Cocoon defended by advanced technology and the crystal. The Crystal invents things like machines for the people to use, produces living beings and raises them, amongst many other things. The Crystal closely looks after its people's livelihood.
Those cast out of Cocoon are placed into the world below, called Pulse, which is plagued by monster attacks. The people of Cocoon perceive everything outside as Pulse and fear it. Those who have been influenced by the "outsiders" (Pulse) are quarantined by the "Holy Government" and are deported.^[10]

Characters

Lightning

The first confirmed main character is a young woman with strawberry-blonde hair named "Lightning"; however, the character uses this as a codename, to keep her true name a secret, and the reasoning behind this will be a part of the story. It has also been revealed that she is a chosen one of the crystals residing in Pulse. What has been revealed of her mission (given to her by the crystals) is the destruction of the floating city Coccoon and to make the world hers.^[11] Described as "not very feminine" by character designer Tetsuya Nomura, he was asked to create a "female version of Cloud ''from Final Fantasy VII''" when designing her.^[12] The two yellow stripes on Lightning's left shoulder symbolize her rank and social status. Her weapon is similar to that of ''Final Fantasy VIII's Gunblades. Though not officially called a gunblade, its functions allow it to shift between a blade and a gun by what seems to be a switch on the back of the weapon.

Unnamed Man

A blonde, bandanna-wearing male who rides a motorcycle and uses a gun (presumably a sniper rifle with a scope attatched to it) to come to Lightning's aid when she is outnumbered by soldiers; not much else is known about him.

Development

Along with ''Final Fantasy Versus XIII'' and the mobile phone game ''Final Fantasy Agito XIII'', ''Final Fantasy XIII'' is part of the project known as ''Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII'',^[13] but is neither a prequel nor a sequel to any of the two other installments. Square Enix explained that although all three games take place in the same universe, they are not directly related in terms of story.^[3]
The game runs on the White Engine, an all-new exclusive seventh generation game engine built by Square Enix for their future games. Both the engine and the game were originally slated to be used with the PlayStation 2 but were later moved to the PlayStation 3.^[15] The engine handles advanced audio processing, cinematic cut-scene transition, physics effects calculations and special effects rendering. The White Engine reportedly uses four of the six developer-available synergistic processing elements (SPEs) of the Cell microprocessor to achieve near-pre-rendered CGI quality in realtime.^[16] Square Enix recently announced they had licensed Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 to use on a number of particular next generation titles, but will still use the White Engine for ''Final Fantasy XIII''.^[17][18]
A release date has not been confirmed, but in a financial briefing on May 23, 2007 it was shown that ''Final Fantasy XIII'' will not be released until after the fiscal year ends in March of 2008.^[19] In an interview with Square-Enix's European and North American CEO, John Yamamoto at E3 2007, the possibility of a worldwide simultaneous release for ''Final Fantasy XIII'' was mentioned.^[20]
Some of the developers in ''Final Fantasy XIII'' are veterans. Kazushige Nojima, known for his work on many titles including ''Final Fantasy VII'' and ''Kingdom Hearts'', will return as the scenario writer. Eiji Fujii, previously the movie director of ''Final Fantasy XII'', will return as the movie director. Isamu Kamikokuryō, previously the co-art director of ''Final Fantasy XII'', will return as the art director. The main programmer will be Kazumi Kobayashi. Tetsu Tsukamoto will design the weapons.
On June 5, 2007 Shinji Hashimoto disclosed information to Japanese company Nikkei BP that they are not currently planning on releasing any ''Final Fantasy'' titles on the Xbox 360. Hashimoto stated that while '' is currently in production for the Wii, plans to develop a ''Final Fantasy'' title for the 360 are currently "a blank page".^[21]
''Final Fantasy XIII'' is confirmed to appear at the Tokyo Game Show in Japan on September 20, 2007.^[22]

References

1. ''E3 06: Square Enix announces trio of Final Fantasy XIII games'' Brad Shoemaker & Dan Tochen
2. ''Square Enix Pre-E3 Event Features New Games, New Details'' Matt Sloderbeck
3. ''E3 2006: Final Fantasy XIII Showcased'' Erik Brudvig
4. ''E3 2006 - SQUARE ENIX ~ FINAL FANTASY XII'' Square Enix
5. ''Final Fantasy XIII Developer Interview'' Duckroll
6. ''Final Fantasy XIII Famitsu Scan Translations'' KingdomHearts77
7. ''Final Fantasy XIII Update'' IGN Staff
8. ''Square Enix Talks FFXIII, Crisis Core'' Chris Winkler
9. ''Final Fantasy XIII Battle System Director Announced'' Alex Donaldson
10. ''New Final Fantasy XIII Details'' finalfantasy-xiii.net
11. ''New Final Fantasy XIII Details'' tiduS
12. "FFXIII Interview: Nomura, Kitase, Hashimoto and Toriyama" Shane Bettenhausen, Luke Smith
13. ''E3 2006: Final Fantasy XIII Official'' Chris Roper
14. ''E3 2006: Final Fantasy XIII Showcased'' Erik Brudvig
15. ''IGN: Final Fantasy XIII Update'' IGN
16. ''New Play UK and OPM UK Scans'' Play UK
17. ''Final Fantasy Meets Gears of War'' Hilary Goldstein
18. ''Yoichi Wada Interview'' nikkei.co.jp
19. No FFXIII This Year Anoop Gantayat
20. ''Simultaneous Worldwide Launch of FFXIII Possible?'' GameIndustry.biz
21. ''No Final Fantasy For Xbox 360: Square Enix has nothing in the works.'' Anoop Gantayat
22. Square Enix TGS Lineup Anoop Gantayat

External links

★ ''Final Fantasy XIII'' E3 2006 page at the official Square Enix North American website

★ ''Final Fantasy XIII'' E3 2006 page at the official Square Enix Japanese website