[11/10] Lightning Returns more info

[Rydrum2112]

Not sure this goes in the news section- maybe a Mod can place it better?

http://kotaku.com/5950830/square-enix-divulges-on-bringing-lightning-returns-to-life

"According to the game's creators, it was necessary to return to the world of Final Fantasy XIIIbecause there were so many loose ends that needed tying up. According to Lightning ReturnsBattle Director Yuji Abe, all of the characters either are burdened by guilt or have a deep emotional wound.
'A battle with destiny,' which is a theme at the root of the Lightning Saga, becomes a heavier burden on their shoulders as more events and people are sacrificed with each installment," Abe told Kotaku in an email interview. "By spending three games to depict their stories, I'm hoping that they are released from what binds them to their destinies, and they will get to see an end filled with a true sense of hope."
...
"We revamped the title logo because we wanted to convey the 'newness' of this installment," explained Kitase. "Traditionally, the Final Fantasy series logo can be characterized by a delicate, yet bold illustration that is placed within the logo. However, this time our intention was to present a newness using an emblem with sharp edges and a symmetrical design."
...
Abe added, "While we create a livelier atmosphere through elements such as the town and its inhabitants with our titles, the Zelda games have a simple yet polished design. If by some chance the mechanics turn out to be similar, I'm sure it will be a completely different impression."
...
As Kitase explained, "We take into account all of the feedback we have received, and take great care in considering what we can do to make the next title better. The fact that we could polish the game from its previous installment, but at the same time take on a new challenge, is what made working on this title such a great experience."

 

[Martel]

Awriiiight, let's see what bullshit they've come out with this time.

"According to the game's creators, it was necessary to return to the world of Final Fantasy XIII because there were so many loose ends that needed tying up.

This would not have been necessary if they had done the decent thing and given FFXIII-2 a proper ending...or, better yet, never made XIII-2 at all. It was hardly necessary to return to the world of FFXIII after FFXIII finished. I can't argue that it is necessary to return to that world now, but it is for all the wrong reasons that we must do so to get something that might resemble a conclusion out of this sorry story.

According to Lightning Returns Battle Director Yuji Abe, all of the characters either are burdened by guilt or have a deep emotional wound.

...much like the directors themselves, I would imagine.

'A battle with destiny,' which is a theme at the root of the Lightning Saga, becomes a heavier burden on their shoulders as more events and people are sacrificed with each installment," Abe told Kotaku in an email interview. "By spending three games to depict their stories, I'm hoping that they are released from what binds them to their destinies, and they will get to see an end filled with a true sense of hope."

I would never have actually figured this out if they hadn't told me, because the 'story' of FFXIII doesn't appear to have any defining theme; it's all over the place. Perhaps, if it were just FFXIII alone, I'd be able to grant them this, as the words "destiny" and "fate" were thrown around a lot, as they usually are in JRPGs. but FFXIII-2 literally made no sense whatsoever. The entire game was like a fucking singularity. All I got from that was a sense that they wanted to try milking it for all it was worth. FFXIII-2, as I have said many times, added absolutely nothing to FFXIII, or to its cast. I think it'd take a lot more than three games for them to salvage the complete and utter mess they made of it with XIII-2, especially if the next one is going to focus on Lightning, who STILL doesn't have any real personality. By spending three games - and I use that word loosely - on these characters, and ignoring most of them in their single-minded desire to focus on Lightning, they've done little but alienate at least half of their fanbase, and I can't see any definitive conclusion coming from this next instalment...at least, not one that fleshes out the other characters in the world that aren't Lightning.

"We revamped the title logo because we wanted to convey the 'newness' of this installment," explained Kitase. "Traditionally, the Final Fantasy series logo can be characterized by a delicate, yet bold illustration that is placed within the logo. However, this time our intention was to present a newness using an emblem with sharp edges and a symmetrical design."

The logo doesn't really convey anything; if anything, it alienates the title even further from Final Fantasy by getting rid of the classic logo everyone identifies with the series. They're already getting enough criticism that these games aren't 'proper' FF games - and I'd like to take this point to say that I don't take that viewpoint, since I know the accusation is bound to crop up, and nobody bothers to read what I say, so I'm spelling it out - and this is just adding more fuel to the fire. It's just...inconsequential, you know? It doesn't really deliver any message whatsoever. It's just a random, forgettable logo. It's a bad idea.

Abe added, "While we create a livelier atmosphere through elements such as the town and its inhabitants with our titles, the Zelda games have a simple yet polished design. If by some chance the mechanics turn out to be similar, I'm sure it will be a completely different impression."

...looks like someone has been reading the comments on the news and picked up the Majora's Mask comparison, and is now seeking to ride that out to make people look at the game more favourably than they currently do. What he's saying here is, essentially, "Keep comparing this to Zelda, but don't think of it as a clone of Zelda."

Also, the only reason Zelda games have a polished design is because Nintendo have essentially been remaking Ocarina of Time for the last eleven or so years with each "new" Zelda title they make; they're polished because they're damn near identical. If Square Enix actually want to progress with this series, comparing it to Zelda is the LAST thing they want to do.

As Kitase explained, "We take into account all of the feedback we have received, and take great care in considering what we can do to make the next title better. The fact that we could polish the game from its previous installment, but at the same time take on a new challenge, is what made working on this title such a great experience."

Liar. If you took feedback into account, you wouldn't have made FFXIII-2, or it would have turned out noticeably different from what it did. FFXIII-2 was a minimalistic improvement over FFXIII, and in many ways - story, cast, that awful, AWFUL soundtrack, those useless features like the multiple choice options and QTEs that were poorly integrated into the game - it was a step backwards. You did NOT take feedback into account.

So, to summarize the current status of Lightning Returns, and those speaking out about it:

 

[Climhazzard]

Seen enough to know I'm not buying it. I made the same mistake with XIII-2, not this time SE.

It's also pushed Versus (The only FF I've wanted since X in 2002) further from a release. There's no chance in hell I'm buying this. XIII in general does nothing for me anyway and imo it's level of standard is nowhere near the older gens quality. Lacking in so many departments it's pretty clear to see why FF's are no longer the heavy hitters in the world of RPG's. Even Tales of Xillia out-sold XIII-2 in Japan for god's sake.

I'll keep playing IV, V, VII, VIII, IX & X in the meantime.

-- Edit

Also, the logo reminds me of Metal Gear Solid or something. Just no!

 

[Nocturne]

Somewhat interesting. I just find it weird since it's so much further in the future (or is it really due to what happened in FFXIII-2) how alot of these characters still exist.

All in due time though. Im skeptical, yet anticipating it. I enjoyed the first two games so Im guessing Ill like it, but they are doing a good bit of new stuff with the game, so hopefully some of it doesnt fall flat.

 

[Martel]

Wasn't that all rationalized as Chaos stopping time or something? I'm a little vague on the details - probably because there aren't any - but I recall that being mentioned in an earlier article

I suppose more information is needed before judgement is passed. I just wish they'd actually give us this information, rather than spouting all this bullshit nonsense about change and non-existent story themes and how good they think Lightning is, etc. Something concrete that tells us about the upcoming game, not their ridiculous view of what the game is or will be.

 

[C i d]

I am leaving this in SE news because well... it's SE news after all, since Abe from SE is apparently involved in the article. Though just a reminder to everyone, please kindly tag news with dates. For example:

[12/10] Lightning Returns FFXIII Information

----


Anyway, I am always extremely bothered by these two blatantly contradicting statements:

-People have stopped aging because of the effect of chaos (Indicating that time does not exist)
-The world is going to end in 13 days. (Indicating that time exists)




Although further story information that has not been revealed may clear up this contradiction, I really doubt that 'explanation' is going to be logical either. It will probably go like this:

'time has stopped. This itself is a paradox. So time has not stopped'

 

[Razberry Knight]

The old logo's were great because they were simple yet captivating. I even have a collecxtion of logos. This is ridiculous. If they're making LRIII just because they want to tie up loose ends, then they shouldn't have made XIII-2.