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Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII (Video Game Preview)

Developer and publisher Square Enix shook up the gaming world with the release of Final Fantasy XIII back in 2010, and the game has already spawned a series of titles including 2012's Final Fantasy XIII-2, an upcoming release entitled Final Fantasy XII Versus in Japan, and of course, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII later this year. For each new title in the series, Square Enix has changed the gameplay for each title in addition to creating a whole new storyline and world for players to explore, and these trends will continue in Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. It has already been well documented that Lightning will be the one and only protagonist of the game, and a redefined battle system will be featured in the new release that will do away with the classic Paradigm Shift system in favor of much more tactical controls designed specifically for Lightning and her superb fighting skills. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is said to be the last in the Lightning trilogy from Square Enix, but early impressions show it could be one of the best, and it will give proper sendoffs for the cast of characters we've come to love over the last several years.

The story of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII picks up after the events of Final Fantasy XIII-2. You will remember that in the ending of the second title Lightning was found sitting on the throne of the former Goddess in what players could only assume was the protagonist taking on her new role With the new release, Lightning has returned to the world of Novus Partus--the remains of the worlds of both Gran Pulse and Valhalla after the merging of the two worlds. Novus Partus is on the brink of destruction with only 13 days remaining before the world is destroyed be the reawakening of the ancient god Bhunivelze.

Lightning will reunite with other heroes from the previous journeys along the way including Snow Villers and Hope Estheim, and depending on Lightning's actions throughout the game, time can be altered and moved ahead or backwards. Time alteration is one of the biggest changes in the new game, as Lightning attempts to save the world before time runs out and more time is earned through additional side missions, and each town visited in the game will have constant reminders of what time it is currently in the game. The passage of days into night is always present as well, and the stages and enemies encountered will change with the passing of time as well.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII will change the way Final Fantasy games are typically played and explored. The more action oriented title will allow players to explore the world at a different pace while quickly getting around cities with interactive objects including poles, walls and more. Certain missions in the game will not only be about combat, as Lightning stealthily follows a group of enemies to their hideouts, solves serial murders and performs other unique tasks. When actually in combat, Lightning will be allowed to move around freely in combat and can be customized with various moves she has learned that will be assigned to a specific face button to utilize in combat including Evade, Light Slash, Heavy Slash and more. This makes the game more fluid than ever before and assures no fight is exactly like another, just as the developers have promised different events can only be accessed once per game meaning multiple playthroughs are required to see all of the different events of the game and making no playthrough exactly like another. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII looks like an amazing title, and we can't wait to get our hands on the completed version later this year.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is now available for preorder from participating retailers for the MSRP of $69.99 and can be purchased for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is not yet rated. For more information on the game, check out the official Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII website.

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