I certainly hope so…

After witnessing a disastrous storyline unfurl in front of my 12′ inch television screen, I had to agree with some Final Fantasy XII dissers scattered around Youtube and unofficial Final Fantasy forums because if there’s something that I have to undo if I were Enix’s project manager then it will be the whole story. From start to finish, the experience was excruciating and inconsistent plot jumps made me question Vaan’s purpose and role.

He was there to avenge Reks? So what, we’ve all heard about gut-wrenching tales of party vengeance and Empire rebellion – the overdose of cliche in this game is so obvious that the only factor that made Final Fantasy XII a “good game” is because of the Gambits – using pre-installed commands even before a battle starts is revolutionary and believable than turn-based combat, nonetheless, XII failed in many more ways the one.

Final Fantasy XIII will hit stores this March 9, 2010 and, the hype that the gaming industry gave this title is so enormous that it already became a candidate for 2010′s Game of the Year. I’m not going to spoil anything just yet because only the Japanese will do that for us – the North American version is coming and I know PS3 and XBox 360 users are all excited for Square Enix’s launch of another exciting Final Fantasy voyage.

Final Fantasy games have endured media pressures and this by far is one of the biggest of them all. The very first for the PlayStation 3 and a start for the XBox 360 – how gigantic will it be? Who knows.

We’ll have to wait and see if graphics will push both next-gen consoles to the limit or will gameplay appear as convoluted with added elements unknown to Final Fantasy gamers? Hopefully, at this time around, Enix focused on the story (much like what Atlus did with the Persona series) and give our new over-the-edge characters distinction and roles. A kick-ass story plus solid gameplay, memorable musical scores and smooth graphics equals a Final Fantasy game to be remembered for all eternity.

Stay tuned for an in-depth review of Final Fantasy XIII. Soon!



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If you’re going to ask me who my favourite Final Fantasy XIII character then, my answer will Oerba Dia Vanille. I just don’t quite understand why most are annoyed with Vanille, she’s the mood lightener, and her sunny disposition puts away all thoughts of Man, the next mark is going to be twice as hard. Just put this jumpy Gran Pulse native as your party leader and see her hop about.

The feisty category of Final Fantasy girls just got a lot better with Vanille, she reduces tension between battles and from my own perspective, is one of the most useful characters in different Final Fantasy XIII grinding methods.

Adamantoise can be easily felled with Vanille casting Death with the Malboro Wand equipped and the two throwing debilitating debuffs as Saboteurs against the mighty beast. The cheapest trick in the book.

Here’s a simple tribute to Final Fantasy XIII‘s most charming character. The Oerba Dia Vanille Play Arts is nothing short of perfectly capturing her timid yet sweet gestures. Got to own this one by December.

Technorati Tags: Final Fantasy Girls, Final Fantasy XIII, Oerba Dia Vanille, Play Arts, Vanille

I have been stuck inside Gran Pulse for awhile, the Cieth stone missions and the grind between the warring Behemoth King and Megistotherian has just become more exciting with the Exploitation paradigm. Fang and Vanille debilitates while Lightning deals the Commando damage – the preparation for the Class A hunt has been commenced and Adamantoise, I am coming for you.

Speaking of Lightning, I have observed that she and Milla Jovovich share similar angles in terms of face distinction and attitude. Jovovich’s filmography, not that she changes role that much, is geared toward femme fatale; Milla Jovovich has become attached in Hollywood as the zombie-snuffing survivor, Alice.

Lightning of Final Fantasy XIII is the kind of female, non-stereotype character, that dwells more with reality than fiddle around the trivialities of life. During cut scenes, we see her stand as the leader of the group by reminding each and every one of them about the dangers of their initial Focus, and how more suicidal it is to defy their Fal’Cie Focus. Lightning is a cold-hearted warrior but, she knows how to contemplate when the situation gets emotional.

Going back over the resemblance, Jovovich has played the female knight branded heretic, Joan of Arc but, she’s well-received as the main character of the Resident Evil series which sees her using a myriad of guns and close-range weapons. It would be realistic to think that, if ever Square Enix wants to convert Final Fantasy XIII into a live-action movie, Jovovich would be my numero uno for the role of Lightning.

Here’s an image of the two sharing two different poses:

Lightning, one of the few Final Fantasy girls that brings toughness into the table with unshakable resolve. I wonder if Milla could look good with that single ponytail that has become Light’s trademark fashion statement?

Technorati Tags: Final Fantasy Girls, Final Fantasy XIII, Lightning, Milla Jovovich

Square Enix continues to revive the already-dying legacy of Final Fantasy VII by giving the sequel to the original PS game, Final Fantasy VII:Advent Children, a high-definition image gallery that contains exactly 83 images and artwork which can be zoomed in and out in your iPhone’s calendar mode.

The iPhone application is aptly named as Larger Than Life.

Just a few months back, Final Fantasy XIII got the same 3D rendered treatment as, the app gave life to an already brimming title that featured graphical enhancements which totally pushed the boundaries of next-gen graphics. High resolution images of the game were carried down to the iPhone and, an iPad version came out with some cool 3D images unavailable for the iPhone.

Larger Than Life costs around 700 yen and is now available at Apple’s app store. The image compendium contains memorable Final Fantasy VII characters like Cloud, Tifa, Sephiroth and Aerith.

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Seven months ago, Final Fantasy XIII was all the rage in Japan and, the North American version of the game took a late turn as it was the game was recently launched last March for the PS3 and Xbox in the West. The game was not available for the Xbox 360 in Japan…until now.

Rumors have claimed that Final Fantasy XIII will become available for the Xbox 360 in Japan. As questionable as the rumor appears, the game has recently skidded from Top 50 software survey lists which, Final Fantasy XIII enjoyed a comfortable spot at the higher hierarchies of what gamers were playing last March.

The motive is not even clear.

Why would Japan, a country whose Xbox 360 market is performing poorly compared to the PS3, gambit from a game released seven months earlier this year without considering the fact that the community of Xbox 360 owners are outraged on how Final Fantasy is being treated on the console.

Hey, have you heard? We’re going back to Japan and this time, it’s going to be on the 360.

Just recently, Final Fantasy XIV has been officially canceled for the Xbox 360 because of the “maturity” that the franchise has directed and, Final Fantasy XI was the coup de grace. Square Enix and Microsoft both have production egos that signing the upcoming MMO for the PC and later this March 2011 for the PS3 has become quite the problem to a very problematic console (in Japan) called the Xbox 360.

The rumor is spreading like a virus thanks to an update by Japan’s biggest Xbox community, XNEWS, and the site has enumerated the Achievements list of Final Fantasy XIII for the 360. Will this sudden change of heart be worth it, I mean, bartering on an Xbox Achievement which, you felt you’ve already accomplished for the PS3 be that important?

If Japan would like to support and their Xbox 360 community then, this is the perfect chance to bolster the console’s fledgling reputation however, will playing the same stuff again become exciting once again.

Technorati Tags: Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy XIII

Final Fantasy XIII became one of the year’s hotbed for game reviews; setting aside on how graphically-advanced the game was and how the battle pace gave meaning to the word Fantasy, FF XIII clearly lacked the meat which, its predecessors have during the PlayStation 1 era. Nobody, even me, would appreciate a Final Fantasy game without towns to visit and NPCs to annoy despite of their redundant, pre-determined responses – Final Fantasy XIII had the most excruciating linear exploration that I have ever seen from the franchise.

According to Yoichi Wada, CEO of Square Enix, Final Fantasy XIII enjoyed half of the positives and suffered half of the lamentable negatives such as the dismantling of some gameplay parts which gave success to the franchise. He was impressed on how Final Fantasy XIII did in terms of sales and marketing expectations but, at the end of the day, it’s the fans who’ll decide whether the game became an extraordinary experience or cannon fodder.

Final Fantasy isn’t entirely a FAIL. The game just feels empty abandoning its roots and unlike Final Fantasy XII, which kind of started the trend for linear exploration, the game still has its moments of being crowned as this year’s RPG champ. Anyone disagree?

Here is what Wada had to say about Final Fantasy XII. This is courtesy of Final Fantasy Union and his interview on Gamasutra:

“Looking at the numbers alone, it is pretty good, because we were able to release the latest Final Fantasy in all three markets of Japan, United States, and Europe in a very short period of time, and we were able to reach 5 million units rapidly — and I think this product will grow further. But when it comes to the customers’ reaction to the quality of the game, some value it highly and some are not very happy with it.

“I think this is a product that was able to meet the expectations for those who know Final Fantasy. There are all kinds of games around in the market today. Should Final Fantasy become a new type of the game or should Final Fantasy not become a new type of game? The customers have different opinions. It’s very difficult to determine which way it should go.”

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“It is very hard to make games on PlayStation 3 in the same style as the games in that era had. Making graphics will take enormous time,” as stated by Final Fantasy XIII producer Yoshinori Kitase on his take about a looming Final Fantasy VII remake for the PlayStation 3 that could push the 1997 original to vertical limits.

A 2006 technical demo was released though, the initial concept of the mini-trailer was to hype a legendary title and bring it back (again), and by this time, next-gen consoles will be fortunate to run it under smoother circumstances. As for those who’ve watched the Final Fantasy VII demo, it recalls the same events that led to the bombing of one of Midgar’s plates. This, however, does not complete the confirmation that the remake will hit gaming stores in the future.

Also, if the idea of this PS1 legend would hit their initial developers’ minds then, it could be possible that some of our favorite Final Fantasy games would be also reviewed for another shot at gaming glory – a remake for both the PlayStation 3 and the XBox360. Wasn’t Dissidia enough? How about cameo appearances? That should help too, right?

Final Fantasy XIII first, talks about VII remakes later.

Technorati Tags: Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy VII remake, Final Fantasy XIII

This was a very surprising pick – the British singer, Leona Lewis, was rewarded as the voice of Final Fantasy XIII. When I said voice, I’m not pertaining on any summon dubbings or creature grunts about death, she’s going to turn that offer for sure.

Final Fantasy games have brought us singing sensations like Angela Aki and Faye Wong as they hit the melodies right for that heart-touching effect which made VIII and XII’s ending memorable (despite the latter’s lackluster storyline all- throughout the game), Lewis is a new breed among Final Fantasy theme song singers and praising her artistic credentials over the years and vocal repertoire is not enough to give her an A++ for “My Hands.” For over 23 years, Final Fantasy music has never failed to give fans dreamy messages of hope, courage and love and this tradition continues with Lewis’s entry.

Here’s a video of her Final Fantasy XIII debut as the game’s lead singer. Is her performance better Aki’s Kiss Me Goodbye solo or can her singing experience best Wong’s Eyes on Me? You be the judge!

Technorati Tags: Final Fantasy Music, Final Fantasy XIII, Leona Lewis