Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy Preview

Square Enix is a company well known for its persistence, as a brief purview of the list of Final Fantasy games will easy show you. While idioms featuring dead horses and whips don’t quite apply, with a roster of over thirty titles all bearing the Final Fantasy name it’s fair to say that Square Enix have invested a decent amount of time in the franchise. The crazy thing though is that even after 26 years the series continues to sell in the millions, and while XIII-2 may not have being met with quite the same enthusiasm as its prequel, the conclusion of the saga, Final Fantasy: Lightning Returns, has generated a fair amount of excitement from a crowd one would think jaded by now.

Part of this eagerness stems from the fact that Lightning Returns will forgo one of usual staples of the series, throwing out party play in favor of focusing exclusively on the eponymous heroine. To this end the Paradigm system of the first two games is being discarded, with equipment choice taking center stage instead as various weapons, armor and clothing will all unlock different moves for Lightning to use, and will be swappable in combat.

The plot, in which Lightning awakes five hundred years after the events of the second game only to be told she has thirteen days to save the souls of the world, will have a direct effect on the gameplay, as the clock is ticking and only through the completion of quests can it be extended. It’s an innovative and intriguing idea, though one that should be handled with care lest players feel too pressurized.

Verdict:

With its singular character focus, action orientated gameplay and stunning graphics, fans of the saga have plenty to look forward to.

Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Distributer: Megarom

PS4