Lightning Returns Trailer Debuts: So...It's An Action Game, Right?

Square Enix has released the first trailer for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, which features both gameplay and a dose of story information.

There's nothing we didn't already know; we're just seeing it on the screen for the first time. So...here it is.

There are 13 days until the end of the world, and Lightning must face the minions of darkness all by her lonesome. The attacks are mapped to the face buttons so it's essentially an action game with health bars and magic now, and as Lightning is flying solo, there is no party. She can also jump and evade and generally move freely about the environment and at one point, she's got herself a slick pair of sunglasses, which somehow fit her new outfit.

Apparently, this is a Final Fantasy game. It's right there in the title, see? ...coulda fooled me but whatever.

Related Game(s): Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

Tags: lightning returns final fantasy xiii, lightning returns ffxiii, lightning returns trailer

12/21/2012 11:28:49 AM Ben Dutka

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Comments (43 posts)

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oONewcloudOo
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 12:11:35 PM
Reply

I'm not one to complain about clothes but my god she looks atrocious!

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 12:29:17 PM

I know, gag me with a spoon

3 up, 1 down

Clamedeus
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 9:16:09 PM

Someone say spoon? >.>

>:)

Just kidding lol

1 up, 0 down

Xzer0
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 12:14:47 PM
Reply

Is it my eyes or ff13 graphics are better than this 3rd iteration of ff3. I believe that MS black mages had used some berserker spell on squareenix workers and they just can´t stop to make antohr and another ff13 sequels.

4 up, 1 down

berserk
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 1:22:41 PM

You re right they are getting downgraded with each new ff 13 game . .

0 up, 0 down

Ludakriss
Monday, December 24, 2012 @ 6:58:42 AM

Man, oh man am I glad it's not just the old me that sees the shitty looking environment.

0 up, 0 down

KingRD7
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 12:15:55 PM
Reply

Honestly Ben, i dont think its as bad as u think it is. I mean yea its not the classic final fantasy but i think this still has some spark from the name. The gameplay reminds me of kingdom hearts. They both had actions assigned to buttons so technically, its still an rpg. I wuld just categorize it as an Action RPG. Just a bit more faced past than most.

2 up, 7 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 12:29:54 PM

That don't make it Final Fantasy

1 up, 3 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 1:35:12 PM

Then call it something else. If they just didn't call it Final Fantasy, I'd be fine.

7 up, 1 down

Siris86
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 10:02:41 PM

If you played Kingdom Hearts 3D, I can't see how you could say the two look alike. Kingdom Hearts is too good to be compared to this...

1 up, 0 down

Temjin001
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 12:24:01 PM
Reply

The problem I have is that the game play doesn't look strong in any one way. As an action game fan the game looks too grounded in it's pseudo-rpg-action of FFXIII and as an RPG battle system it just looks weak. Then there's the platforming-exploration stuff that looks pretty typical as well.
The graphics engine also looks really dated with very flat looking lighting and effects.

Last edited by Temjin001 on 12/21/2012 12:24:27 PM

4 up, 1 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 12:31:35 PM
Reply

Man that outfit looks horrendous, I guess they did that so you HAVE to buy one of her DLC outfits.

Maybe I'll save enough on my used purchase to afford that.

4 up, 1 down

gungrave
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 12:32:22 PM
Reply

Final fantasy versus 13 was/is going to be more action oriented like kingdom hearts. Final fantasy 7:dirge of cereberus is an action game. Not the first time Final Fantasy tries something new...so relax and give the game a chance. If it sucks, then it does, if not well then great. Just stop giving bad press to a game you haven't had a chance to play yet. Be professional.

5 up, 4 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 12:44:23 PM

You clearly don't understand the truth.

5 up, 3 down

Axe99
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 2:18:47 PM

Agreed, 'Final Fantasy' doesn't mean RPG - there's Final Fantasy Dissidia (fighting) and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (tower defence) as well. Of course, it doesn't mean the game will be any good, and I can understand the disappointment at Square's continued movements away from 'core' FF.

4 up, 0 down

BlinkBoy
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 12:52:41 PM
Reply

Since they put Final Fantasy XIII after Lightning Returns, i treat this as a spinoff and not a sequel. Like Crisis Core:Final Fantasy VII, even though it is more a prequel to FFVII than spinoff i guess.

So will FFversusXIII be named FFXV?

So when all the brains behind the previous FF titles are gone, this is what we are left with.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 1:41:18 PM

We shouldn't have to tell ourselves little lies to survive this onslaught of crap.

0 up, 2 down

Ultimadesires
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 4:47:10 PM

It's not though, as this is supposedly the conclusion to the series - This in effect is Final Fantasy XIII-3 - but it simply does not live up to that title.

0 up, 0 down

gungrave
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 1:09:02 PM
Reply

Sure I do. Days ago there was an article here that spoke of COD being a fad. All I keep reading on this site are complaints about how games aren't the way they used to be and how jrpg's are a dying breed. I've been gamer since 87, and yes, jrpgs used to rule the market. Final Fantasy was COD of those times. Jrpg's were a "fad" for those times, but now the market has changed. All square is trying to do is adapt to what is going on in the industry. If jrpg's aren't selling they need to change it up. I'm surprised they haven't attempted a first person rpg yet. My personal favorite would have to be FF7 for story, but FF12 for it's gameplay. Just me 2 cents ^ ^

0 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 1:35:55 PM

Uh...the way you cater to annoyed JRPG fans is not to kill off the genre by turning THE flagship JRPG franchise into an action game.

That's not "adaptation." That's just retarded.

9 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 1:39:17 PM

No, that article was asking the question about fads, not making a statement about Call of Duty. There's only 1 writer here so we can't really expect Ben to change the way he thinks, and I think he speaks for most FF fans anyway.

This is a pivotal time in gaming history, it would be like if CoD became a 3rd person shooter and nobody wanted it to. You can't call this a spinoff as it uses the main hero and supposedly continues her story.

Furthermore there was never any need to change up Final Fantasy or any indication that it would sell better as an action franchise, in fact the shift with XIII made sales drop even though it went multiplat.

7 up, 0 down

LowKey
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 1:10:27 PM
Reply

GAYYYY

2 up, 4 down

Beamboom
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 1:35:51 PM
Reply

If we ignore the graphics this looks to me like how gaming was 20 years ago. No, seriously, I'm not kidding. Buttonmashing against big things with bigger health-bars¸ and a few special attacks to throw in at timed intervals? How many times have we done that over the years?

But I guess it might be fun for those who didn't live 20 years ago.

2 up, 1 down

gumbi
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 2:22:37 PM
Reply

If they would just drop the Final Fantasy title and market this as a new IP...

It actually looks pretty good. I bet this game could be a lot of fun, but I just can't shake that bad taste I get in my mouth calling it Final Fantasy.

0 up, 0 down

GuardianMode
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 8:23:03 PM

They need the final fantasy to sell units. SE just doesnt have it in them to take a chance with a new IP.

0 up, 0 down

Snaaaake
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 2:31:11 PM
Reply

Well, I think the gameplay is good, but why can't they include party in it?
Works for the Tales series.......

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 2:44:07 PM

That would be too much like an RPG

0 up, 0 down

Snaaaake
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 2:49:23 PM

Heh, and that's suppose to be better yet they chose for the worse.

0 up, 0 down

CrusaderForever
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 2:51:11 PM
Reply

Looks like FFXIII with one character to me. I can see the options for guard, attack, thunder and thundaga. The costume looks much better in action than in that still photo. Ok, I am interested. However, I would be more interested if there was a party system. There may be, just cannot tell from this short teaser.

1 up, 0 down

Knightzane
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 3:29:49 PM
Reply

Outfit is terrible, graphics look outdated, battle theme could have used a change, story is over done, she's not cloud don't be wearing glasses, gameplay looks interesting, lastly, HOW IS THIS A CONTINUATION FROM 13-2??? Seriously this is a spin off of a spin off. Ha spinception

1 up, 1 down

Ultimadesires
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 4:21:36 PM
Reply

This simply is not acceptable. I know a lot of people have complained about Final Fantasy XIII & XIII-2 in the past, say what you will but they we're RPG's. This however is not an RPG. I still agree with my initial opinion, the problem is that this is the sequel - the finale - of The Final Fantasy XIII series, which this action game simply does not live up to. Had this been just a spin of I could ignore it, but it is a sequel so I cannot just disregard it like I will Metal Gear Rising.

The good things:
- I like the art direction in the environments. Having an interior design on the exterior with paintings hanging on walls on the outside ect. I like that very much.

- Hope and Chocobocalina are back.

The bad things:
- Lightning's costume. I already spoke of the Bayonetta costume before, but in this trailer she looks like Nolan's Catwoman with them glasses.

- The Battle System. I see they have gone ahead with the menu's assigned to the face buttons, so that is four attacks per paradigm, which is really limitiing. I hope the paradigms themselves have extra perks like they did with the combinations previously - but once again it seems to be lacking depth. It also looks bland with just one character, judging by the look of the battle arena's they've kept the battle transitions in too, which I previously liked, but with one character... what's the point.

Platforming - XIII-2 had many jumping sections too and from what I saw in the preview the environment interacting look really limited - especially when you compare it to something like Assassin's Creed - Which it if it is going for that route it should be compared with and it fails miserably.

I have always said I would wait until I saw something, now I have I can say that I am really uninspired with it. & this is coming from a loyal defender or XIII-1. i Still stand by saying it would have been a nice spin off like Crisis Core, but as it is the conclusion to the series it simply is not enough S-E.

There was nothing of a story present within that trailer. I hope there is a focused story and it's not just Lightning going around on a bunch of side-quests. If it falls into that category this may even be the first Final Fantasy I do not buy at release.

1 up, 1 down

Ninja_WafflesXD
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 5:04:39 PM
Reply

I just....I don't even....

*sigh*

So this is what SE have come to? I'm not going to lie, I could probably stomach it if at the very least you wasn't just running around as Lightning. (I'd rather play as ANYONE else, if the limit is to one party member).

Why limit it to one party member? What happened to everybody else? WHY DID I EVEN PLAY XIII-2 IN THE FIRST PLACE? Now I feel obliged to buy this game so I can find out how everything ends...

0 up, 1 down

Lawless SXE
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 5:30:49 PM
Reply

I have no issue with the graphics, and Lightning's costume isn't terrible. The art style reminds me a little bit of Assassin's Creed, which is good and I'll confess that I like the music. What little we saw of platforming in there seemed... kinda weak, particularly since it seems as though interactive elements will be highlighted in red, as was the case in Mirror's Edge. The difference here is that it isn't necessary so just looks wrong.

And I'm really not sure that I get the battle system. I'm not sure if I missed it or what, but it honestly looked as though there is no direct movement control of Lightning. I mean, what's the point of orienting the game as they have if you can't dodge incoming enemy attacks directly? I think that I'll reserve judgement until I see more.

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 5:59:39 PM

I always liked that music, it's the same as the battle theme in FFXIII.

0 up, 0 down

Lawless SXE
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 7:02:06 PM

I like the protest avatar ;)

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 7:54:57 PM

Thank you, I urge everyone to take up the cause.

3 up, 0 down

homura
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 7:36:11 PM
Reply

Wow! As an action game, the combat sucks. The setting reminds me of Kirkwall in DA2 which is also sucks. This looks to me it's going to suck big time. And I loved Lightning. It saddens me how SE turns her into this. @#$% @#$ Square Enix.

Last edited by homura on 12/21/2012 7:36:54 PM

0 up, 0 down

GuardianMode
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 8:20:59 PM
Reply

Is it me or does this remind me of DMC?

1 up, 0 down

Coffeya
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 9:18:54 PM
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Yes it is a action game, action rpg to be precise. Like kingdom hearts for example.

0 up, 0 down

Draguss
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 9:47:41 PM
Reply

It would be a lot less annoying if this was a side-story spin-off like dirge of cerberus.

0 up, 0 down

Siris86
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 9:56:39 PM
Reply

I wouldn't be so disappointed if it was an action-rpg, but the battle system looks essentially the same. The same commands as previous games mapped to face buttons doesn't really infuse it with 'action.' And the platforming elements look pretty terrible. And the graphics are somehow worse. I was treading with cautious optimism, but this trailer really stinted all hope.

0 up, 0 down

karneli lll
Friday, December 21, 2012 @ 11:08:52 PM
Reply

Third rape's the charm.

0 up, 0 down

duomaxwell007
Saturday, December 22, 2012 @ 10:27:51 AM
Reply

its no longer an rpg? thats looks like a 1 party member FF13 or 13-2.. kind alike the lightning DLC on 13-2... at no time did I feel "action rpg" watching those fights

0 up, 0 down

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Lightning Returns Trailer Debuts: So...It's An Action Game, Right?

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