Kotaku Preview: The New Final Fantasy Sounds Interesting and in Need of More Time

During the recent Lightning Returns presentation, Square Enix continually remarked how the game was "World Driven". There was even a slide at the presentation that actually said "World Driven". What does "World Driven" mean? Well, the way you interact with the in-game world affects said in-game world. For example, the world of Lightning Returns is slated to end in 13 days. So, depending on your actions, the game can actually end before those 13 days peter out. According to recent Japanese game magazine leaks, the game builds towards a happy ending to Lightning's saga. (There does, however, seem to be a bad ending if, say, the 13 days run out!)

[iamtehpwn]

In the original Final Fantasy XIII, They wanted to create a feeling that you were being "Chased" and on a "Time limit". And here, with Lightning Returns, they giving players what they call a "World Driven" experience and implying that the world is open to explore, but sort puts 'pressure' on you by using the 13 day system.

In all honesty, I don't understand why they just didn't create this type of tension with the original XIII instead of infamous corridor system.

[chadwarden]

Lightning is so hot.

[3-4-5]

The ideas they are building it around honestly feel stupid and limiting. They are basically controlling how you play the game. That is never fun.

It seems they just don't GET IT when it comes to what people would want.

Why would I want to feel rushed through a game I'm trying to enjoy and then they punish you if time runs out ? WTF...

didn't play the others and it doesn't sound like I'll get playing this one either.

And to think they basically just gave us spoilers with that too. I don't think they are creative enough to pull off what Nintendo did with Major's Mask.

[Hicken]

Actually, this sounds VERY interesting, and the sort of thing I'D want to play. And I've been an FF fan since about '98, so I'm not one of those "new" fans who'll "just like anything."

This isn't a "traditional" FF any more than Crisis Core, Type-0, or VersusXIII. Yet people loved the first two and are eagerly awaiting the third in that list. And LR AT LEAST sounds like it plays like the first and third in that group.

Oh, and OF COURSE THEY'RE CONTROLLING HOW YOU PLAY THE GAME. How many games out there allow you to play in a way that the devs DON'T ALLOW YOU TO PLAY? You should probably reassess that statement.

Overall, I think people are far too willing to hate on this game because it's related to XIII but isn't Versus. It's exactly what happened to XIII-2, but interestingly enough isn't affecting Versus.

Whatever. I'm gonna play it, and I'll probably enjoy it, as I have virtually every game I've ever bought. Because I approach every game- even ones in the same franchise- with a clean slate and an open mind first.

[TheRichterBelmont]

or they could just focus on priorities and use these resources and staff get Versus XIII out already.

[Kureno_Nakamura]

Lightning's saga was spin-off material from the get go anyway, I'm just glad that SE finally gets it.

Wrap it up! There are much better games to be working on.