Kitase: FFXIII Main Storyline To Take "About 50 Hours"

Perhaps one of the most common questions surrounding Final Fantasy XIII is the standard length query: "outside of all the side quests and extras (and you can bet there will be a lot) how long will it take to complete the main storyline?"

Well, we've raked in a ton of info in 2009 but oddly enough, we never really did get Square-Enix to tack an hour number onto the length. The good news is that Spanish website Meristation recently conducted an interview with FFXIII producer Yoshinori Kitase...the bad news is the entire thing is in Spanish. But instead of flexing your high school foreign language muscle, we simply have to turn to the industrious fans over in the Final Fantasy XIII-net forums. They translated a portion of the article and we learn that in answer to the "how long" question, Kitase answered that it would take "around 50 hours" to complete. This is outside of those special side quests and extra stuff and if the number is accurate, we're plenty happy. Some people forget how short some FF installments have been; FFVII, for example, could probably be completed in about half that time. Really, RPG aficionados want as much bang for their buck as possible (good thing FFVII was so damn amazing from start to finish).

So anyway, we want to hear more about estimated play length but for now, we'll go with Kitase's number. 50 hours is well worth our money; how's about you?

Related Game(s): Final Fantasy XIII

8/20/2009 Ben Dutka

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Comments (70 posts)

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Ultimadream
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 10:57:43 AM
Reply

Thats god to know, FFX took me around the same, its a healthy lenght :) im now up to 150+ hopurs on the extras

5 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 12:18:06 PM

Yeah, I think FFX takes the longest to build up to a point where you can take down the ultimate enemy (Nemesis). I actually never did it, even though I put in 120 hrs. myself. Got all the legendary stuff and did EVERYTHING but beat Nemesis.

Didn't let it happen again, though. Yiazmat went DOWN. ;)

4 up, 0 down

Ultimadream
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 1:06:32 PM

Heh, well you dont have the Dark Aeons! Dark Yojimbo is not to be messed with.

4 up, 0 down

Godslim
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 2:35:55 PM

yeh FFX took me ages to do :D and i didnt do any side quests :d i luv that game so much one of the best story driven games ever!

4 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 2:44:30 PM

No, the Dark Aeons simply weren't in my version. 'sigh'

1 up, 0 down

Qwarktast1c
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 4:16:29 PM

penance = ass kicking for you if you don't know what your doing

just like all the other superbosses

the best thing is to equip armor that has some good immunities and/or lets your health go past the limit of 9999. also of course legendary weapons are key

but alas, i only have the us version
i wish penance and the dark aeons were in the us version, since i would like to try battling them :)

oh well....

i still beat nemesis though, HUZZAH!!

1 up, 0 down

eLLeJuss
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 6:34:03 PM

ffx took me around 500+ hours. rofl.. I even played blitzball alot. BROTHER IS THE MAN!!! Nemesis was piece of cake. everyone of my main did 99,999 dmg with normal atk. so u just cast hastega + autolife then let the aeons take his hard hits. i remember he had one that hits everyone and inflicts status ailments. took takes around 30+ hits i think even with 99,999 dmg. I just use quick hit :D

1 up, 0 down

Qwarktast1c
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 6:43:23 PM

@ ellejuss

quick hit is the bomb. very useful attack

i also play blitzball alot. that's part of the reason i have about 300+ hours on FFX ;)

1 up, 0 down

dillonthebunny
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 11:02:47 AM
Reply

yep, worth my money.. but i kinda dont want Vs to come out too soon, because (tho I know very little about FFXIII Vs) .. if I had to choose between the two on launch day, I probably would go with Vs because its exclusive.

what I really wish is that some site (cough cough psxe cough) would make a point of writting an article about FFXIII Vs to tell us all what its about, because im not the only one in the shade here.
I know this comment section of this article will be full of guys posting what its all about, and im sure youre all correct. but I would like to see a feature article about it.

:)

7 up, 0 down

kevinater321
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 5:01:21 PM

Yeh, never played a final fantasy game before, but they look interesting. Would love to get in the story. But i don't have time to play them from game 1. And it would be almost impossible to find them all.

1 up, 0 down

Kangasfwa
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 5:26:59 PM

@ Kev

Each Final Fantasy has its own storyline so there's no need to catch up.

2 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 6:44:48 PM

What he said. They aren't connected in anyway. Each FF title is it's own new universe.

1 up, 0 down

kevinater321
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 7:10:58 PM

Oh, i didn't know that. Thanks :) but is it the same characters? like you guys seem to know the characters really well.

1 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 7:25:41 PM

No. Each story has is own new characters, worlds, plots etc. The only thing that every FF contains is the theme of magic and summons(often they will use different incarnations of the same summon monsters) and much of the enemies return. Like Bahemeths and Chimeras. Oh yea and Chocobos and moogles. Even though many of the same spells and creatures are in al the FF titles, their look a feel will change with each installment. But as far as story and characters go, you get something completely new with each game.

2 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 7:39:59 PM

oh also Kevin, a few recommendations, If you want to play any of them, theres a few i would suggest, They have the original versions(not sure of the graphics have been updated)of FF I and II for the PSP.

You can also get FFIII and IV for the Nintendo DS. These are complete remakes made specifically for the DS, they include updated graphics as well.

ive never played FFV or VI so if anyone can help me out and tell Kevin which formats are available, please do so. I think VI was released on the PSOne but its hard to find.

the ones that i HIGHLY suggest though, are FFVII and VIII. both of are for the PSOne. VII as you know you can get from the PSN. VIII will come shortly i assume. IX was ok, but nothing great.

FF X and XII are really great as well. Those are both for the PS2. XI was a MMO released shortly after X. i never played it because i didnt want to pay online fees to Square. X-2, i advise to stay away. FAR AWAY! That was a direct sequel to X and was a total disaster in my opinion. Making direct sequels to a FF game is something new that Square has been doing.

If i had to pick the best three, id say VII, VIII and X.

Theres a couple spin off titles for FF VII. one of which is a great game. Its called FFVII:Crisis Core and its for the PSP. it departs from the traditional JRPG. Its kind of a mix between an action game and RPG. Dirge of Cerberus is the other spin off. While i enjoyed it, it got so so reviews and i havent found anyone thats liked it as much as i did. This one is a 3rd person shooter with RPG elements. Its on the PS2.

Last edited by Jawknee on 8/20/2009 7:46:50 PM

2 up, 0 down

kevinater321
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 11:12:08 PM

Wow, you really know your stuff. THanks man you were really helpful. But since i am not a big fan of rpg's then i probally won't go hunting all these games down (and i just don't have the time to play them all with all the awsome games soon to come). But i am officaily looking forward to the new. And i really need to learn roman numerals lol.

1 up, 0 down

Fane1024
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 6:09:20 PM

@ kevinater

If you want a taste, the PSN version of VII will almost certainly be the cheapest one. I also don't recommend playing it after you've played the PS2 games, because I found it unimpressive after playing X.

FFVII fans, I'm not trying to start a flame-war.

My personal favorite is XII. It's also the most like an action-adventure game, if that's what you normally play.

p.s. All this talk of FFX makes me want to play it again.

p.p.s. I don't know how you'd finish FFVII in 25 hours. I'm sure I played it for longer than that, and I never even got to disc 2.

Last edited by Fane1024 on 8/21/2009 6:12:35 PM

1 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 11:02:55 AM
Reply

That seems short. FFVII and VIII Took longer then that. Im tempted to blame the Xbox for the shorter length but...

2 up, 5 down

Ultimadream
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 11:05:24 AM

It is just the story quest alone though, even that you cant judge propaly becuase it can depend on your own pace of training up. then theres the side quests too, which will hopefully be more intestering than 12's monster hunting and be like FFIX which has many which our story related.

Last edited by Ultimadream on 8/20/2009 11:09:59 AM

2 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 12:05:08 PM

Well, they say 50 hours, but that may not include side quests or sight seeing or any looping back that a player does. That 50 hours could translate to 100+ for some gamers, perhaps longer.

2 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 12:19:03 PM

Like I indicated, I've finished FFVII in under 30 hours. FFVIII is a little longer, but it doesn't take 50.

And that 50 number for FFXIII isn't counting any side quests or extras.

Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 8/20/2009 12:19:47 PM

2 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 1:42:56 PM

Ah, I must not be remembering correctly. It always took me up to 80+ hours to complete FFVII and VIII. A little over 140 hours for X and 180 hours to get through XII. but now that I think about I am a bit of a grind whore. Levels need to be at 99 before I allow myself to compete the game. It's a thing I have. Don't know why.

2 up, 2 down

JMO_INDY
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 5:52:08 PM

OCD perhaps? (Over Compulsive Disorder)HAHA!

1 up, 5 down

Jawknee
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 6:36:50 PM

It's called obsessive compulsive disorder and no I don't have it.

Last edited by Jawknee on 8/20/2009 6:43:34 PM

4 up, 1 down

JMO_INDY
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 7:03:48 PM

Yeah thats it, i knew it looked wrong when i typed it.

2 up, 1 down

Victor321
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 11:12:55 AM
Reply

Hmm, I don't care much about length; KH2 was 40 hours, but it was hella fun.

Whereas in FFX, I could've finishd the game in 70 hours, but I loved the characters and the world so much, I grinded like no tommorrow.

Plus, when I found Omega Ruins, Sin was already considered dead ;)

4 up, 0 down

Jalex
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 11:27:29 AM
Reply

Awesome. I love long games, so to be encouraged that one of the more likely games to not trim it's length is actually staying it's ground is good to know.

2 up, 0 down

Oxvial
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 11:28:14 AM
Reply

The article says the eng dub is already complete o.0..

2 up, 1 down

BeezleDrop
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 11:36:21 AM
Reply

Length, a great story, and replay value matter quite a bit to me. Plus since I'm a trophy Hoe this will be great! So I don't think I will be disappointed here, I just wish we didn't have to wait soooo long for the release. Why doesn't anyone release any info on VersusXIII? Maybe they will at the Tokyo Game show?

1 up, 0 down

Zemus101
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 11:52:05 AM
Reply

Oh god *excited* FFXIII trophies. I can't wait! As long as you don't have a trophy (like FFIX) where you get rewarded for beating the game within a certain amount of time. I want all the trophies to be quest related or obtaining special items related. As well as story related (as usual) and beating the game. umm ...perhaps also using certain spells or killing so many enemies so many times yadda yadda. That all sounds fun to me and will tack on lots of extra value.

Last edited by Zemus101 on 8/20/2009 11:52:45 AM

3 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 12:08:35 PM
Reply

Nice, I love that they're saying that there are about 50 hours of play in the game. I'm sick and tired of games that avoid talking about their story mode because it lasts relatively few hours. It's refreshing to see someone talking about this many hours of play time in their game. Hopefully it will last even longer if you do the side quests and sight see, and of course then there is the whole level grinding thing....

2 up, 0 down

godsman
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 12:14:20 PM
Reply

Now if the US version has Japanese voice acting, then it would be the best deal and perfect version.

1 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 1:45:38 PM

But it won't because Katise said it wouldn't be fair to the Xbots. They can't fit Japanese and English dialog on the DVD's. So no Japenese for those of us who bought the better console either.

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 2:40:30 PM

Japanese voice acting fails.

4 up, 4 down

Alienange
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 3:17:43 PM

@ World - Wow... you actually said it. You've got huge cajones!

1 up, 0 down

Qwarktast1c
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 4:20:32 PM

@ world

sometimes it does.... look at dragonball....
terrible.....

but i disagree that all of it fails

1 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 5:20:35 PM

Agreed. I prefer the jap audio over the lame funimation voice overs. They screwed that up royally. You know though, the original Pioneer English releases of The Dead Zone, The Worlds Strongest and Tree of Might were actually pretty good. Their original release of Akira had good voice overs as well.

Last edited by Jawknee on 8/20/2009 5:35:12 PM

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 5:51:32 PM

haha, that was half to express my opinion and half to see who got pissed off. Thats right, I don't think its anything cool to tout the language you don't know over the one you do. If you speak it, then by all means listen to it native. Sub titles are only okay some times, not all the time. Screws with the cut scene experience.

2 up, 0 down

Alienange
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 6:18:17 PM

I'm all for gaming in my own language. Hope that doesn't make me a monster.

1 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 6:41:29 PM

Monster? Nooooo...in my opinion, if the English audio is as horrid as dragonball is, please give me the choice at least. But I'm sure FFXIII's won't be all that bad.

1 up, 0 down

camaro300zx
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 12:23:36 PM
Reply

Kitase also mentions that the "360 version will be on 3 DVD's." ;)

4 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 12:33:01 PM

HA.

5 up, 0 down

newchef
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 12:50:53 PM

omg really!? thats hilarious... so happy i got a ps3. with tech where it is now i figured multi-disks games a thing of the past

2 up, 0 down

Ultimadream
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 1:08:27 PM

Meh doesnt matter Final Fantasy VIII & IX were 4 discs! to be honest i always like the disc changes becuase they always left off at the height of the drama

Last edited by Ultimadream on 8/20/2009 1:09:20 PM

2 up, 1 down

Riku994
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 1:19:19 PM

Only 3? Does that mean this game won't fill a blu-ray disc?

2 up, 0 down

bridgera
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 2:38:50 PM

They also pulled some extras out of the xbox version, such as the japanese dialogue. Personally, I don't care about the Japanese voices, I just hate multiple disks.

Not sure if they pulled anything else out.

1 up, 1 down

Jawknee
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 3:14:12 PM

Katise said the PS3 version won't get the Jap audio either.

2 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 2:39:59 PM
Reply

50 hours seems okay, all the previous ones took me at least that long and that usually included selected side quests I thought worth doing. I hate level grinding though, I like the end boss to actually be a challenge otherwise if I just toss him aside like a rag doll it doesn't feel as awesome. I'm still expecting this to get pushed to xmas 2010 or in 2011 though. Never seen anything go so slowly and poorly.

2 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 3:05:14 PM

I confess to disliking level grinding, but will do some anyway if I'm outmatched. I hate seeing the 'game over' screen in an RPG.

3 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 5:54:04 PM

yeah unless you love it like some of our constituents, it's kind of something I'm fully willing to do when necessary, but I don't think I've ever taken the time to go up to level 99. Getting to advance the story always pulls me away from such pursuits.

Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 8/20/2009 5:55:29 PM

1 up, 0 down

Alienange
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 3:15:43 PM
Reply

LMAO @ "the bad news is the entire thing is in Spanish"

That's so funny ... HOW DARE THEY WRITE IN SPANISH! LOL!

2 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 5:55:57 PM

haha, its the prawn language. Just a buncha clicks and chirps.

Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 8/20/2009 5:56:33 PM

3 up, 0 down

tes37
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 3:39:40 PM
Reply

As long as we've had to wait it ought to be the longest one yet.

1 up, 0 down

KevinCairo
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 4:19:19 PM
Reply

I gotta be honest here: I've been playing FFVII on my psp and it's nooot really leaving up to the hype. I'm almost certain that easily half the reason it's still held in such high regard is simply because of the nostalgia.

3 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 5:15:55 PM

When something is hyped up, it almost never lives up to it to new comers.

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 5:58:44 PM

Sometimes you just have to be there in the context of that decade. Nostalgia is part of it but you have to realize nothing like that had ever been done before, not a story like it, not the scale and graphics and certainly not in spending that much money to make a console game.

Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 8/20/2009 6:00:25 PM

2 up, 0 down

Alienange
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 6:19:32 PM

There was hype? People wanted it, it came out, it sold a gabillion copies. It's not hype, it's a popular game. Not everyone is going to enjoy it... especially with those blocky hands.

1 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 6:37:51 PM

Gotta love the blocky heads.

1 up, 0 down

Kr3sn1k
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 9:22:07 PM

@jawknee im a new commer and it lived passed the hyped to me i think i already put 40+ hours in it started 2 days ago =)

2 up, 0 down

Kr3sn1k
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 9:22:10 PM

@jawknee im a new commer and it lived passed the hyped to me i think i already put 40+ hours in it started 2 days ago =)

0 up, 0 down

Kr3sn1k
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 9:24:00 PM

@jawknee im a new commer and it lived passed the hyped to me i think i already put 40+ hours in it started 2 days ago =)

0 up, 0 down

Kr3sn1k
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 9:24:02 PM

@jawknee im a new commer and it lived passed the hyped to me i think i already put 40+ hours in it started 2 days ago =)

0 up, 0 down

Alienange
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 10:17:50 PM

Multi-click jutsu ?

2 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 10:31:12 PM

to late-to-the-game players it sounds like theres hype from us old guys who loved it so much that its all we ever talk about.

1 up, 0 down

Fane1024
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 6:26:54 PM

I had the same experience as KevinCairo (in 2004/5?). I could appreciate the SquareSoft quality and imagine how it could have been amazing at the time, but it just seemed so lacking compared to FFX or other PS2 games. Strangely, I didn't have the same reaction to FFTactics.

Also, I hated the materia system. I guess it's my background in real RPGs, but I want my characters to learn skills the way people actually learn skills. I had problems with FFTactics Advance for the same reason.

1 up, 0 down

BeezleDrop
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 4:33:28 PM
Reply

I'm never concerned for just trophies, I leave those for after I get into the story and complete the game. Generally I get quite a few just through the initial play through. Does anyone know the main differences between both versions for both consoles? Like what will the PS3 get that the xbox wont? Besides the embarrassing 3 disc's for the Xbox.

1 up, 0 down

BigBoss4ever
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 10:57:07 PM
Reply

this is a great news if only the story is exciting, but i bet it will...

still the same words--cant wait for it, it is taking too long

Last edited by BigBoss4ever on 8/20/2009 10:57:33 PM

1 up, 0 down

bebestorm
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 11:03:47 PM
Reply

Good to hear! 50 hour storyline!

1 up, 0 down

Qwarktast1c
Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 11:51:25 PM
Reply

time for me to actually give my two cents....

i think 50 hours is a decent amount

i mean considering it is alot harder to develop a game for the ps3 than the ps2 and it costs alot more.

but a little bit longer would've been a nice treat. cause we have been waiting for this game for quite a while.

but whatever. 50 is good cuz i'm 100% sure that the side quests will keep it lasting for a while.

1 up, 0 down

Mornelithe
Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 7:39:37 AM
Reply

And given their pinache for side-missions/stories/challenges etc... Probably a good 100-140 hrs of gameplay. That's why I like FF games...no matter how many times you beat it, you probably missed something along the way ;)

1 up, 0 down

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