Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

[Splintered]

I actually didn't get the God vibe until someone mentioned it post game. I always thought the entire thing was a government allegory, it makes sense because it being developed post Iraq War where there was tons of interest in this kind of topic, and with the whole Xenophobic, fear mongering, over reliance themes in the story.

It's actually better that way imo, but the "chose your own fate" theme does rely on the fal'cie being god like entities. I guess that's why I was kind of bewildered by Orphan's second form- which looked suspiciously like The Madonna Paintings, it made more sense afterwards X did it better oh well

Her disdain for gods (also seen in Dissidia 012) was one of the coolest things about her.

It's sad when DISSIDIA gets your character better than your sequel. She wasn't even going against Cosmos, she's just tired of being jerked around and have little tolerance for bullshit. You could make her work for Etros, but it just doesn't make sense to have her so reverent.

 

[ForceStealer]

I dunno, I regarded the fal'Cie as gods, pretty much. At least demigods. Not that I thought people worshipped them, but being worshipped isn't a requirement to being a god. I found the pantheon similar to tons of polytheistic pantheons where each god performs a specific function. (powers the sun, tills the land, makes the weather, etc. etc.)

I don't find the whole thing similar at all to X, really. In X, it was humans inventing a fictitious god to give the people a reason to deal with Sin over and over. In XIII it's the actual "gods" themselves that toy with people's lives. Not frequently, of course, but if you're made a l'Cie, your fate is sealed. Hence the defy your fate thing.


Anyway, yes I agree with all the talk on Lightning being unrecognizable in 13-2. And that her unwillingness to take crap is what I liked about her.

 

[The Twilight Mexican]

Hopefully what we've seen out of previews for Lightning Returns really means they will fix her character.

I wonder if Japanese fans were as disappointed with her in XIII-2 as the rest of us everywhere else? I mean, they have to be tired of the Generic Shounen Anime Hero as well.

While that's fine for a character like Warrior of Light in Dissidia, and actually what you would expect from him, to see a character who was his literary foil in that game become just like him without an actual arc developing such a shift -- that's infuriating. John Locke and Jack Shephard this was not.

 

[Kuja9001]

I agree everyone about XIII-2 Lightning, what annoyed me the most was her shouting "CAIUS BALLAD" she sounds like a mom scolding a child.

 

[ForceStealer]

...that's what annoyed you the most? Are you sure you agree with us then?

 

[Splintered]

I mean, they have to be tired of the Generic Shounen Anime Hero as well.

Probably more easily to swallow since she's not in it a lot (which was a problem in its own right), but Noel and Serah did well to pick up the slack as characters. It's a shame Lightning had to shoved into a box she didn't fit so that the plot could move forward.

But yeah, LR feels better. She's still got a little of XIII-2 "godlyness" feeling to her and serving Bhuni is a strange move but it feels like that she's doing it for her sister, which is more aligned with her character.

Oh and also

A few weeks ago the website FFDream got to send someone over to Japan for a live interview with Motomu Toriyama and Yoshinori Kitase about several upcoming games, including Lightning Returns. Their team got to ask seven questions about Lightning Returns, two of which were questions we all already know the answers to (Why do you only play as Lightning, is this really the last Lightning Saga game) but the other three contained some brand new information.
From, novacrystallis.
FFDream: Did you think of influencing the contents of Lightning Returns in comparison with the different endings of FF XIII-2?
Motomu Toriyama: I would say that the different endings of FFXIII-2 let [the player] envisage several different stories. As regards Lightning Returns: FF XIII, we approached the scenario so this one takes place by taking count only of the main ending of Final Fantasy XIII-2. However the paradox endings draw away several different stories, and it is possible that they will manifest themselves in some way in main history.
FFDream: Will the Coliseum make its comeback in Lightning Returns?
Toriyama: What I can tell you is that it will not be that of XIII-2, but another, more specific version of this episode will be present and integrated into the game.
FFDream: In January, at our last meeting, I offered you an illustration. (Note: Lightning wearing SOLDIER First Class outfit, largely inspired by FF VII) Has it been seen by your team?
Yoshinori Kitase: Once a month, about a hundred-person team working on Lightning Returns meets for planning and your illustration was presented as a gift from abroad.
FFDream: After two episodes of Pulse and Cocoon, Lightning Returns arrives in a totally different atmosphere. What was the biggest challenge in changing history with it? What were your inspirations, your influences … ?
Yoshinori Kitase: The theme of this game is based on the last moments of the worlds of Gran Pulse and Cocoon. The greatest challenge of this game is that the end of the world is announced to lie only thirteen days after the start of the game, so it was necessary to find a balance between the desire to save the world and this very limited time the player has to explore the world.
FFDream: Until now, all Final Fantasy had their musical themes. For Lightning Returns, what kind of music did you ask Mr. Hamauzu and his team (Suzuki-san and Mizuta-san) to create?
Toriyama: Lightning Returns marks the end of the story of Lightning, so we made ​​several arrangements. For example, the theme “Crimson Blitz” is still based on the music “Blinded By Light” but with some modifications. I only remember having said the themes of the game were “save the world” and “the redemption of Lightning” to M.Hamauzu who then created the music according to his interpretation.

The deal with the paradox endings feels like they are talking in circles, I wouldn't know how they incorporate them. But if they managed to do it, I wouldn't mind a call back to them.

 

[Lex]

I find it really weird that FFDream get granted interviews like this, because they have all the SE soundtracks (and I mean ALL of them) available for download on their site, and have done for at least the past 7 years 0_0.

Seriously, just look here.

How do they get away with that?

 

[Splintered]

I find it really weird that FFDream get granted interviews like this, because they have all the SE soundtracks (and I mean ALL of them) available for download on their site, and have done for at least the past 7 years 0_0.

Seriously, just look here.

How do they get away with that?

Maybe Squenix doesn't want to rock the boat when it comes to their fans? Which seems weird because that never really seemed a problem for them anytime before.

You'd be surprised what some fansites can get away with, depending on the corporation.

Spoiler: Off topic tangent about a different site

Narutofan, for example, was the big or one of the big Naruto/manga distributing site for awhile. And Viz definitely knew about them, they contacted Tazmo (the owners) and had a friendly relationship for him for awhile. There were even rumors that they sent him on a trip (and these rumors weren't baseless).

Even the voice actors popped up in the forums. They got more shit from American Comics for fans passing around comics in the open on the forums than Viz.

Doesn't mean they are happy about it though. Just a few years ago, out of fucking nowhere, Viz contacted Narutofan's servers saying that the name Narutofan was misleading because people would be confused about them being the official site and they would face legal action if they allowed Tazmo to have it. They servers forced the url Narutofan away from them and now it redirects to Viz.

Amusingly, they snatched up the name Narutoforums and didn't get any pressure for them. They just wanted to steal their traffic maybe.

*shrugs*

 

[The Twilight Mexican]

My question about this whole FFDream deal is why they asked such shit questions. Actually, why all gaming news sites who get these interviews ask such shit questions.

Where's the "How do you respond to criticisms that Lightning's personality has done a 180 from her first appearance?" Or "Do you feel it's a fair assessment that the story about Lightning that was promised early on was not the story that was delivered?" How about "What do you say to those who feel the plot is inconsistent or cannot be reconciled"

It really pisses me off that it's always pussies who land these interviews.

 

[Tetsujin]

It's because gaming journalism in general is shit.

And yeah, the lack of critical questions in general pisses me off. Interviews are pretty much always just PR and marketing.

 

[Jiro]

These terrible questions reconfirm my desire to get into the business and do a good job. I mean, jesus fucking christ, do not ask a question that people already know the answer to.

 

[Fangu]

"Crimson Blitz"

Aaaa I love that title

 

[Arianna]

WHY does no one ask if we will see/interact with fal'Cie?!?!?!

I know, I'm the only one who cares.

 

[Shademp]

It really pisses me off that it's always pussies who land these interviews.

When I picture myself in the position of the one who does the interview, I can definitely understand them. It's a great honor to have an audience with any company representative. To ask any questions that might make the interviewed person uncomfortable, is to risk never getting the opportunity for additional interviews with said company. This means less exposure for the website that you are representing. This might mean you losing your job (if you are employed at all).

If I were to interview guys like Yoshinori Kitase or Tetsuya Nomura, I would phrase the questions as diplomatically as possible and pick them carefully. Asking the "inappropriate" questions will make the other person uncomfortable and perhaps unwilling to answer harmless questions.

Just saying. Interviews are a delicate situation and it's not because people are dicks (or pussies), but because employments and money are at stake.

 

[The Twilight Mexican]

No, I get that. I do. I've never interviewed game developers, but I have actually interviewed people who hold office in North Carolina. As long as the questions are not phrased in a leading manner (e.g. "Why don't you care about your constituents?") and you're clearly giving them a chance to respond to negative criticisms, they will treat you well.

Those being interviewed need the ones doing the interviews just as much as we need them. That's important for both sides to remember.

Someone who agreed to an interview but then turned hostile when asked a fair question isn't going to get the journalist fired. It's most likely going to get them more exposure.

Now, again, there may be differences when it comes to interviewing company representatives like this, but when it comes to politics at least, it's almost seen as a necessary challenge to face a notoriously difficult interviewer without losing your cool.

 

[Roger]

You don't need to needlessly confrontational, but i do feel every "what was your inspiration" question is a waste. Get all your "will X be in it and in what role" questions in first.

 

[Kuja9001]

...that's what annoyed you the most? Are you sure you agree with us then?

Yes, because I tune out all her boring talking.

 

[Alex Strife]

Re: Journalism:

People who are so devoted to XXXX (put whatever you want instead of XXXX) to become journalists on that area TEND to admire the people they work informing about (sports, videogames are two easy examples). All that respect and admiration ends up changing things. For example, they rarely take risks with questions.

Why? They're interviewing famous people either way so they'll get read. AND they admire those people so 1) they don't want to put them in a bind and 2) they don't want those people they admire to hate them for their questions.

I've seen that happen a lot in Spain with the whole "Motorsports" thing. I admit I'm guilty of admiring a lot of the people involved, but I try to be professional. Like when I went to this driver and asked "Everyone's asking about these other things, but what will you do if you do not get the contract you're fighting for?". Yeah, it was a difficult question to ask since you're essentially suggesting to the guy that he may not get the job.

But hey, asking proper questions is MY job. People fail to realise that and thus, ask silly questions. And many fansites people... it's not their job; only their hobby. Which explains the shit questions in many cases.

 

[Tetsujin]

It's not just interviews though. The tendency for gaming sites to use twitter as a news source is also highly irritating.
It's basically just a copy/paste job and if they're wrong, hey, you can always just update the article! Post first, think later. Just happened again today with gameinformer reporting about a tweet from Hideki Kamiya (who likes to troll, which they should've known). No one ever tries to contact anyone for clarification, research etc.

But eh, that's a whole different topic. Frickin gaming journalism.

 

[Splintered]

Gaming journalism is really weird in general though. Especially when it comes to integrity, like the debacle with Tomb Raider (some person associated with the game tried to to create hype while pretending to be neutral. She could have really just been excited for the game, but it hard to tell). You've got people reviewing games they are sponsored by. And reviews themselves are all over the place in general, just because they are subjective.

Sometimes I feel like there's no way game journalists can win and sometimes I think fuck em, it's better to find one or two independent reviewers you happen to agree with, or a community of like minded people,and stick to them.

That said I'm still fond of gametrailers/gameinformer for their other content.

 

[ForceStealer]

I like gametrailers for one main reason - the review consists of a protracted look at the game. There have been MANY reviews where the number didn't seem to match the review at all, in both directions. But I always got to really see the game consider it myself.

 

[Splintered]

I like gametrailers because of "that" voice. I think the site has been subliminally conditioning me or something, once there was a review in a different voice and I felt lost and distraught.

But I really enjoy their retrospectives especially and there should be more of them. And I like Pach Attack, I know a lot of people hate him because he's insanely pro business, but I feel like he's honest and upfront on why he thinks these things and tries his best to give his real opinion, support it, with minimal bullshit. It never hurts to see a different perspective. And countdowns but I always like countdowns. I don't know why.

 

[ForceStealer]

Yeah, I do like Brandon Jones. But I did always have to wonder about all the people that freak out any time someone else does a review for him.

The retrospectives are very very well done. I have no opinion either way of Michael Pachter, but as an accountant I do like hearing about the business side of the industry sometimes.

I never cared for their countdowns.

 

[Blade]

My question about this whole FFDream deal is why they asked such shit questions. Actually, why all gaming news sites who get these interviews ask such shit questions.

Where's the "How do you respond to criticisms that Lightning's personality has done a 180 from her first appearance?" Or "Do you feel it's a fair assessment that the story about Lightning that was promised early on was not the story that was delivered?" How about "What do you say to those who feel the plot is inconsistent or cannot be reconciled"

It really pisses me off that it's always pussies who land these interviews.

I think it's BECAUSE they're "interview pussies" that they get granted said interviews.

Not revealing too much information to the public is S.O.P. for game companies that want people to "invest interest" in "buying" the game.

I get this problem all the time with ARC System Works interviews.

 

[Mwynn]

I'll just go back to the discussion regarding Lightning's character (I know, I'm pretty late) to say that I think they're pretty intent in returning her usual XIII demeanor. If you look back at the very first presentation (the announcement) they showed her XIII scenes when Toriyama was talking about her character and I believe he specifically said that he wants to bring back the Lightning we all loved in XIII for this title. I also stand by the strong hint that that particular screenshot where Lightning says "Only fools believe in the Goddess' ways." may present her reflecting on her actions in XIII-2 and that there's more to the fact that she's "working for" Bhunivelze that we've yet to know.

Wow it's been a while since I got my head into this. I'm also 85% sure that in that Facebook post by Rachel Robinson she's referring to Fang. Oh and:

I'm on Twitter 90% of the time and she rarely ever talks about her work as Vanille (at least in the past 2 years) unless a fan tweets her about it. I don't know, I thought well then she might be randomly in the "Vanille mood" or something? Then I see Rachel's Fb post and it got me to thinking... that they may have been recently called in to record? The dates when they were posted are not quite far off from each other. Also, Georgia tweeted that on a Friday and Rachel said she was going to record it on a Friday.

Oh my god I may be reading too much into this, this might be the effect of my stress over my coming exams