Final Fantasy XIII-2

[Fangu]

Spoiler: Riding chocobo-spoiler

I just figured out how to get the chocobo to fly for a little while (or, more like hover) - OMG

 

[Alex Strife]

It's so cool right?

 

[Arianna]

Spoiler

Very informative, thanks for posting the interview. I think they could have found some way to include details about Alyssa's betrayal in the game (aside from requiring players to collect fragments to read about it) because I didn't quite understand it. I guess she really did see her name on that tombstone.
I'm a little bit worried about to what extent they can resolve the game through DLC; there is just so much unresolved between the fate of Fang and Vanille, Snow, Lightning, the entire world among other things. I can understand using DLC to expand upon character side stories. Explaining, for instance, the events leading up to Lightning turning to crystal or Sazh's visit to Serendipity. But as for ending the game like that and expecting to answer all questions over time with DLC, I don't know. I guess I just want a full sequel. I never experienced DLC so maybe its a common practice to "finish" games in this manner?
I think they could have left FFXIII as it was; the ending presented full resolution of the main storyline. If they took it upon themselves to make FFXIII-2 when it really wasn't needed, how can they not be considering a full trilogy given the nonending ending of this installment. It just seems like XIII-2 is a bridge to the true conclusion to be revealed in XIII-3. I actually really loved XIII-2 over all, including the ending, just want closure not tack on DLC.
With that said, I look forward to seeing how things turn out.

Spoiler

No, Alyssa didn't see her name on the tombstone, when Serah and Noel found it. It was her recurring dream that was telling her the truth of the real Alyssa. The Alyssa we encounter all through out the game is an alternate Alyssa, who was brought back via the distortion in time-space. The real Alyssa is no more.

I also don't know about the DLC. I remember reading something that they want to have DLC through to May of this year? Maybe I read that wrong, and that's when they are going to start it? Whatever. I don't know. I just do recall the month of May being stated in terms of the DLC.

If you ask me it seems this game is more about playing and what you can achieve through play than any real storyline. I'm venturing around The Archylte Steppe - ??? AF right now (first playthrough) and so far I believe the storyline is very weak; not bad, mind you.

Spoiler

Okay, the goddess Etro is dead and no more in the physical. How does this affect Versus XIII? How does this affect Type-0? If Etro was the one keeping chaos in check, then - well, there's no Versus coming. How are they going to resolve this?

If Square is fanfiction blocking... I will find a way.

Though, sometimes I do wonder, with all the talk about 'the goddess' in the game: are they really referring to Etro, or could they possibly be referring to Muin??? Just a thought.

THE CAT IS MY ONLY FAMILY

that woman in the house who just talks about stuff cats do

and i just found myself going

YOU'RE TOTALLY RIGHT, CATS DO LOVE GOING INTO BOXES AND CATSCATSCATSCATSCATSALLTHECATSand their whiskers and their noses

cat feelings

and then i forgot what the game was supposed to be about

That's the true storyline. Cats.

Etro is a cat!!!​

 

[Alex Strife]

I did not want to spoil myself, so forgive me for not reading some of the surely very interesting spoilers here!!

Arianna, I'm pretty sure whatever happens on FFXIII and it's universe (FFXIII-2 and the future FFXIII-3, possibly?) does NOT affect Versus, since they're not related. They just use the same myth and ideas, but they're not in the same universe... at least not until Square says the opposite. Same goes with Agito, especially now it's Type Zero, and not "XIII" anymore.

And while the storyline is weak, in the sense that there's not so much storyline (at least so far), the game, as a game, works very very well. I'm honestly surprised, as I was expecting a decent gameplay and VERY weak storyline. And we have instead a very good gameplay and a quite decent storyline, whose only problem is the amount of it.

I is satisfied.

 

[Celesta]

Spoiler

Arianna thanks for explaining, I think I understood that Alyssa didn't see her name on the tomb at the end of Bresha ruins AF05 but didn't realize her dreams were indicative of her actual death which took place before the timeline was altered

I found the story very compelling and interesting. I was fully engaged throughout and loved all of the characters; Caius is one of the best villains this series has seen in a while in my opinion.

Not sure where all of the negativity I encountered on forums and within game reviews came from. I can understand being frustrated with the ending but that alone doesn't warrant the vitriol that was hurled at the game when it was released in Japan.
It isn't perfect.

Spoiler

Starts off great. The narrative seems to move slowly at the midpoint of the game and there is a lot of jargon about time paradoxes and proto-falcies that takes time to wrap your head around and doesn't make sense until you reach Academia AF4XX (and even then seems a bit overdone and overly convoluted). After this point the story is awesome in my opinion. Serah's confrontation with the multiple Yuel's in the Void Beyond, her battle with Caius, Noel and Serah's dream sequences and their reunion were excellently done and very poignant. Lightning's reunion with them in New Bodhum AF700 seemed rushed as in I wish we learned more about how she came to become the “warrior goddess” aside from pretty FMV sequences and a few lines of dialogue. But it seems like the Lightning DLC will help flesh out additional details. The final battle and ending were great. I had the benefit of knowing that there would be a ‘To Be Continued” screen so I wasn’t so disgruntled.



I mean especially with reviews, it seems like some who gave FFXIII really stellar reviews just took a dump on this game. A well-known gaming site that gave FFXIII a 9/10 review gave this sequel a 5.4 or something. Where is the credibility there? FFXIII-2, depending on player preference, is a 7.0 – 7.5 at worst. I just think people are trying to save face by judging the game so harshly since there is this consensus that the Final Fantasy franchise is ~fading in popularity~. Or something. Are you telling me FFX-2 had a better story? I mean, it didn't. I enjoyed it but lets be honest.

 

[Bex]

i just walked past someone in the bresha ruins who said dogs are better than cats

actually said 'how dare you' out loud

what has this game done when i seem to care more about the cats than the characters

 

[Tifabelle]

omg I passed that guy too. That actually made me laugh XD

 

[Alex Strife]

By the way guys. Stupid and noob question here but... how many actual material do we have about FFXIII?

FFXIII
FFXIII-2

Then I know we had the pre-FFXIII novellas or something. And I think there's something that ties in the two games?

 

[Strangelove]

Episode Zero - Promise (novel)
Episode Zero Fabula Nova Dramatica Alpha & Omega (drama CDs, two)
Final Fantasy XIII
Episode i (short story)
Fragments Before (novel)
FFXIII-2
Fragments After (novel, not yet released)

 

[Alex Strife]

Thank you so much!

 

[Aqua]

Is there a best Ravager monster to be on the lookout for? :c I've only used about two and while the Nekton was great for awhile, I had to upgrade due to its extremely low HP.

 

[Aqua]

Ooh thanks. I'll try to find him next time I play. Which is probably easier than taming...

 

[Fangu]

Spoiler: Spoilers for Archylte Steppe year ??? I guess

So how much HP should the characters have before going for unlocking the second seal on the Steppe? I am around 1500 each I think. I think I'm a bit ahead of myself and I think I should head back and do some other stuff first... or? I don't think I'm ready for a Gigantuar yet :/

Edit: Haha I made it (the Gigantuars were hell though), but I'm obviously not supposed to be where I got yet, because I obviously need a new Mog skill to unlock the path

Also, the Red Chocobo, what a bitch I did defeat it thought, but I couldn't recruit it - so sad, because that bird is a really bad fucker Encountered the blue one too, but I just gave that one up

 

[Splintered]

Me: Fragment time, lets take the quiz
Quiz: *most random ass questions*
Me: SDFJOSD
*30 minutes later and lots of failures*
Me: Oh god just one more question left!
Quiz: Pick a hand "right or left"
Me:...

...

Is this his game is trolling me!?

TORIYAMA!!11111

Cloudburst apparently. I need to go get him.

He's in the Steppe.

Thanks for that, I'm still using my same RAV from the Bresha Ruins. He's a good RAV but I just maxed him out and I'm well on my way to Serah and Noel's growth. Didn't know where to look for a good RAV. I might have held out for a Lightning RAV but eh.

Also, that optional cieth!boss in the Steppe, kicked my ass. I was way OP'd for all the game to the point where I felt almost broken but he reminded me just how hard and fun this battlesystem could be. <3

Oh and the story, definitely has its ups and downs

Spoiler

I knew what was going to happen so there weren't any huge woah's for me, and I knew the story was weak, but while actually playing it, I was pleasantly surprised that I found it sort of compelling. Yeah it was weak and deserved to be called out on it, but reviews like Game Informer made me think it was going to be the WORST THING EVER and it didn't feel like that at all.

There are some issues. When ever it tried to go sciency I rolled my eyes. Like how Hope and Alyssa wind up in Academia 4XX, I was like, "what a bunch of bullshit lol." And their attempt at meta felt weak and propped up with jargon that made it seem cheap- like the over use of spacetime and paradox, to the point where my brother who walked in during one of the scenes was like, "Are you fucking serious?"

But when it came to the personal stories of Serah, Noel, and Caius, and the just seeing has the world develops, I liked it. It wasn't the most indepth story, but it was fun to play.

And yeah, I was shocked to realize how much I liked Caius. I don't normally care for villains, but for some reason I just liked his character.

lso, the Red Chocobo, what a bitch I did defeat it thought, but I couldn't recruit it - so sad, because that bird is a really bad fucker Encountered the blue one too, but I just gave that one up

I was lucky, I think he dropped for me the first time I fought him. I don't think I have a blue chocobo yet. I don't think I fought a blue chocobo yet >__>

 

[AvecAloes]

A lot of the encounters in the Steppe have been kicking my ass.

Also I keep looking at the infusion option, but I'm too chicken to actually commit to giving up one of my monsters. I need to look up some info in some kind of guide about that.

 

[Splintered]

Where can you fight the optional c'ieth? MUST FIGHT

It's a fragment option. It's after you find all the cactaurs and unlock chocobos, you'll be given missions.

You fight neochu and the invincible as part of the fragment hunts but they're not has hard as the cieth. You change toe weather, maybe to stormy I don't remember, then there's a spot on the map you can only get to with a chocobo, jump on it.

And then RAGE.

Actually it's pretty much a harder version of the final cieth both in FFXIII. The easy version is to throw poison on it. The problem is I didn't have a dedicated sab monster, though Serah did her best. That and I didn't know about the poison option until he kicked me around a few good times. One time I had his health pretty much to one or two good hits, then bad luck/he screwed me over so I was like, whatever going cheap option.

Also I keep looking at the infusion option, but I'm too chicken to actually commit to giving up one of my monsters. I need to look up some info in some kind of guide about that

It took me a long time and a lot of mistaken fushions to figure it out tbh. I think they explain it awkwardly but once you figure out how it goes it's not difficult. Although I kind of wish you could pick and chose passive abilities like the other abilities because apparently you can only have 10. I have no idea what happens if you try and load on more.

 

[Arianna]

Where is everyone level wise?

I'm Level 99 both in Commando and Ravager for Noel and Serah. I'm working on the other roles. Serah is around the 50-ish level for Medic. I am working on Noel's Sentinel role, but forget what level he's at.

I'm also working on the creatures. So far my pets 'used' are:

Commando: MiniFlan
Ravager: Albino Lobo
Sentinel: Pulse Gladiator
Medic: I forget the name - a rare from New Bodhum 003 AF.

All have been working well so far.

I just caught a Red Chocobo and I fought my first Blue Chocobo (it's on the other side of the map, I finally figured out how to get there!) but I didn't capture it. FFFFFFFF

I finally got a red and a blue chocobo early yesterday.

Spoiler

The blue's defence stance is so funny, but cute at the same time

!

Arianna, I'm pretty sure whatever happens on FFXIII and it's universe (FFXIII-2 and the future FFXIII-3, possibly?) does NOT affect Versus, since they're not related. They just use the same myth and ideas, but they're not in the same universe... at least not until Square says the opposite. Same goes with Agito, especially now it's Type Zero, and not "XIII" anymore.

They are in the same universe.

Another thought:

Spoiler

I wonder if the crystal under the throne of Etro (Muin?) in Valhalla contains Buniberzei??? This thought comes from a fragment.

 

[The Twilight Mexican]

I'm glad a lot of people are finding enjoyment in this game. The gameplay is definitely the best we've seen from Square in a while, but the story still infuriates me to no end.

Spoiler

Why is Serah the only character who remembers the original events as seen at the end of FFXIII?

Daisuke Watanabe, Lead Writer: "Final Fantasy XIII-2 reveals that the goddess Etro saved Serah during the final scenes of FF XIII, releasing her from her crystal stasis. Through her interactions with Etro, Serah acquired certain powers normally non-accessible to humans. This is why she can time-travel when passing through the Gates (like Noel or Snow). This is also how she received the gift of the "Eyes of Etro", enabling her to see changes in the timeline, as does Yeul. It is also for this reason that she has a special bond with monster, allowing her to tame them in their crystal form and use them as allies."

Spoiler

I really feel like that didn't answer the question at all. Serah was one of six people freed from crystal stasis by Etro. Where's Sazh, Dajh, Hope and Snow's special snowflake powers?

He might as well have said "Because" and left it at that.

Episode Zero - Promise (novel)
Episode Zero Fabula Nova Dramatica Alpha & Omega (drama CDs, two)
Final Fantasy XIII
Episode i (short story)
Fragments Before (novel)
FFXIII-2
Fragments After (novel, not yet released)

Toriyama may fail worse than Nomura at telling a story in a reasonable timeframe.

 

[Fangu]

My stats

Characters

Noel
HP: 2042
Strength: 319 (has 2 Power Wristbands on)
Magic: 122

Roles:
Commando lvl 99
Ravager lvl 10
Sentinel lvl 24
Synergist lvl 6

Serah
HP: 1415
Strength: 104
Magic: 216 (has 2 Magician's Mark on)

Roles:
(I fucked up her crystarium a bit... will continue building RAV and MED)
Unlocked all roles except Synergist
Commando lvl 11
Ravager lvl 53
Sentinel lvl 9
Saboteur lvl 12
Medic lvl 55


Monsters

(3/5 refers to "monster heads", then it's HP / Strength / Magic)

MED: Cait Sith lvl 43, 3/5 / 878 / 73 / 152 (I need to find a new med...)
RAV: Zwerg Scanroid lvl 28, 2/5 / 1658 / 178 / 186
^ This guy has been super useful. He has Thunder and Sparkstrike, and on the Steppe lightning this has proved to be quite effective. (I haven't studied this in detail)
SEN: Pulse Gladiator lvl 1, 3/5 / 1819 / 185 / 35
COM: Chocobo lvl 27, 2/5 / 1314 / 154 / 128
SAB: Silver Lobo lvl 10, 2/5 / 1857 / 190 / 201
^ This one will probablybe replaced with Gancanagh lvl 1, 3/5 / 2806 / 211 / 174
SYN: Cancanagh Ace lvl 1, 3/5 / 2521 / 183 / 351 (shit!)
^ I have to feed my Gigantuar to this one (or the other way around)

Generally I'm a fan of the SAB role, but you need a developed SAB with a lot of skills for a SAB to be really handy, since monsters tends to differ in what they are 'allergic' to. I also like Haste, but I'm not stressing out about the SYN role yet as Preemtive Strike gives you Haste.

Usually you get through the game just fine without a very developed SYN and SAB, but I like the buff/debuffing style as it usually allows you to take on monsters you're really too low in level to defeat. I'm missing the "Libra" technique from XIII though. I used that one so much. I hope Libra shows up as a SYN skill or something later on. (Although sometimes my characters already seem to know what works best? I need to investigate.)

On Customizing Paradigms: I love that you can chose if you want a single target or an AOE focus.

Spoiler: Gates unlocked (click)

Bresha Ruins 005 AF 2/3 gates
Yaschas Massif 10 AF
Oerba 200 AF
Yaschas Massif 1X Af 1/2 gates
Locked Location ???
Sunsleth Waterscape 300 AF 2/3 gates
Archylte Steppe ???
Vile Peaks 200 AF (can't really do anything here, missing some Mog skills. THE MUSIC THOUGH AAAHHHHH)
Coliseum

 

[Lord Noctis]

Finished the game tonight. So I'll offer me overall thoughts.

For the most part everything in my previous comments stand. Villian is excellent, music is amazing, story is pretty good. WHile I can see why some people complained about the ending I don't think its as big a deal as some people make it out to be. It left me wanting me more at any rate.

Overall I'm satisfied with this game. In my previous comments I said I wasn't ready to list this as one of the best in FF, but now I thnk I might. Its not as good as VII or IX, but its still a very good game.

 

[Lumina]

I need the red and blue chocobos...still I got a golden one last night and its...glorious <3. I had to change Kiwi (Normal chocobo) for a while.

Also, sadly I haven't finished the game xD. Too busy enjoying the detours. xD. But now I'll just grind. I could've been more far but upgrading all the roles at the same time is...a headache.

 

[Shakarian]

I'm still on the last chapter, so level wise:

Serah
Commando: Lvl 55
Ravager: Lvl 69
Sentinel: Lvl 22
Medic: Lvl 42
Synergist: Lvl 19
Saboteur: Lvl 57

Noel
Commando: Lvl 70
Ravager: Lvl 56
Sentinel: Lvl 33
Medic: Lvl 30
Synergist: Lvl 50
Saboteur: Lvl 14

Paradigm Pack
Zwerg Scandroid (RAV)
Great Behemoth (forget its role)
Flanitor (MED)

I don't usually level up a character in any particular role; I always try to allocate points to different areas

On a side note, does anyone know the best place to obtain the differently colored Cactuars & Chocobos?

 

[Fangu]

This might be terribly uninteresting for you guys, but I so rarely read about FF in my own language I got overly excited

'The sequel "nobody" wanted is very convincing' - 'Final Fantasy XIII-2 shines'

WWWOOOO Norways biggest newspaper has Lightning spread out on the front page right now (I leaped), and the review gives the game 5 out of 6, calling it "the best FF game in a very long time", saying it deserves a spot within the family. The reviewer says his fate in the series might have been restored. He says the reason the story works well this time is that the character gallery has shrunk from 6 to 2 people. He also mentiones his love for Caius, the non-repeating graphics (as opposed to XIII) and the fact that you constantly want to know what you'll be encountering around the next corner - as in the game never gets dull.

 

[Splintered]

Both Serah and Noel have fully mastered all their roles. I think I messed up leveling up them in the beginning so I didn't have enough RAV or COM points for the big nodes in the end

Serah
physical: 573
Magic: 1082
HP: 6757

That's with a Shaman's mark (increases magic 16%) and her Chaos weapon Odinbolt.

Noel:
Attack: 1035
Magic: 499
HP: 8952

That's with a delicate power wristband (strength by 8%), Kaiser Knuckles (strength by 40), and the Grasitha (I think you find this weapon in Steppe?)

Monsters

COM- Pichuu lvl 60 (non mastered level 5- those crystals are damn expensive)
Attack 830
Magic 508
HP 4426

Passive abilities just because resist poison 44%, Strength 25%, Feral Speed II, Attack ATB charge, Pack mentality, Magic +10%)

RAV- gremlin lvl 45 (mastered at 3)
Attack 200
Magic 627
HP 3159

Passive abilities: attack atb charge, Resist ice 33%, Stagger maintenance, resist magic 5%, resist deshell 20%, resist deprotect 10%

SYN: Purple chocobo lvl 56 (non mastered 4)
Attack: 262
Magic: 234
HP: 56

Passive abilities: Augment maintenance, critical: protect, resist dispel 66%, resist physical 26%, HP 16%, Resist magic 15%, resist deprotect 10%, resist fire 10%

Medic: Green Chocobo lvl 48
Attack: 191
Magic: 344
HP: 2089

passive abilities: critical: faith, improved cure, resist physical +36%, improved raise II.

These are my main party. I don't really have a dedicated SAB monster, I'm probably going to replace be Gremlin with a flan, and I've been playing around with my COMs so I've also been building my red chocobo, my toonberry, and

Spoiler

twilight odin

. I've also been side eyeing my white chocobo but I don't know if he or the green chocobo makes a better medic.

 

[Strangelove]

Toriyama may fail worse than Nomura at telling a story in a reasonable timeframe.

oh you

For the sake of brevity, that list can be shortened to:

Episode Zero - Promise
Final Fantasy XIII
Fragments Before
FFXIII-2
Fragments After

Episode i makes up the first chapter of Fragments Before, and the drama CDs are just dramatisations of the first novel with the exception of one new chapter on each CD.

Albino Lobo

is this the english 'hungry joe', a white wolfy thing