Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #799 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Square Enix
• Released on: 2010-05-31
• Platform: PLAYSTATION 3

Amazon.co.uk Review
In a nutshell:
A new Final Fantasy game was always going to be a given for the PlayStation 3 but the teaser trailer shown by Square Enix at E3 shows that work on the new game is far more advanced, and far more impressive, than previously thought.

The lowdown:
Through careful study of the trailer and the few pieces of information Square Enix have left slip it’s revealed that the new game is set across several different time periods, with each episode of the story starring a different cast of characters. The trailer showed a very futuristic looking world as well as some lush looking forest environments. How much of what was seen is actual real-time PlayStation 3 graphics is unclear, but the fact that it’s so difficult to tell which is which speaks volumes about the game’s quality. The only other fact known about the game is that, despite some rumours to the contrary, it does not feature an online mode.

Most exciting moment:
Getting a glimpse of the all new combat system which seems to suggest a new, more action orientated, direction for the blockbusting series.

Since you ask:
Two spin-offs of the game are already planned, one called Final Fantasy Versus XIII for the PS3 and the other called Final Fantasy Agito XIII for mobile phones.

The bottom line:
A milestone in the history of the world’s most famous role-playing game series.
Harrison Dent

Manufacturer's Description
A tale of souls from a futuristic civilization illuminated by the Light of the Crystal, the newest addition to the Final Fantasy series is worthy of the title "next generation." Developed by Square Enix, the eagerly anticipated Final Fantasy XIII features the latest in cutting-edge technology and provides tangible, intuitive controls while delivering seamless transitions between real-time gameplay and stunning in-game cinematics.

Customer Reviews

Review of the Demo
There's a playable demo of Final Fantasy XIII that came out in April 2009. It was bundled with the Japanese version of Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete (so import only as of May 2009). The demo is quite long, about 30-40 minutes of gameplay.

The graphics are amazing, it runs in 1080p high definition and everything is very crisp and smooth. The full motion videos in the intro are particularly good, as good as Advent Children Complete's graphics. The ingame graphics are incredible too.

Probably the main purpose of the demo is to show the battle system. It's an Active Time Battle system, which is what's used in every game except X. It plays quite similarly to X-2, in that it's quite fast-paced. You choose commands three at a time, so you could have Attack-Attack-Attack or Attack-Fire-Fire or Launch-Attack-Fire, or some other combination, or one big Firaga which counts as three commands. In the demo you only choose commands for one character and the others are on auto, but this is supposed to be different in the final game.

You control two different characters, first the main character Lightning, and then later it switches to Lightning's partner Snow.

The disc also has new trailers for FF Versus XIII and FF Agito XIII, which are a nice bonus.

I'd recommend importing the demo for any really hardcore FF fans, it is quite fun to play and it gives a better taste of what the game's really like that you can't get from videos or written reviews. It's pretty expensive though, I got it for £39 with Advent Children Complete. You can get it from import sites like Playasia, Yesasia or CDJapan.

Final Fantasy XIII is due out in Japan in Winter 2009 and America and Europe about 6 months later, so Summer 2010.

NOT OUT YET- JUST A QUICK NOTICE!

I know this game isnt out yet, but i'm just adding a quick note on it. (I give it 5-stars becuase that i don't want to bring down it's average rating, and 5-stars is just my prediction that i guess i will probably give it when it comes out!)

Square Enix themselves said that Versus 13 is going to be darker, and will be among the 1st final fantasy games to feature some form of gore (blood). Apparently the story is a bit similar to Japanese-mafia/Yakuza family warfare, with obviously a twist with crystals in there somewhere.

I can't wait- sure as heck, i am getting all three when they come out!

demo review
now i am a hardcore FF fan i have played every version on every console (including the very rare before crisis final fantasy 7 for mobile) and this may sound confusing but the battle system the main emphisis on the game is both nothing new and revolutionary at the same time i have played a develpmental version where you control all players and you can link attacks aid cover use the enviroment fr you or against your enemies and this can lead to an infinate amount of combos think the new prince of persia times 1 million you have to be creative to get the best combo's but dont repeat yourself as enemies learn your moves and adapt