| As with its predecessors, Final Fantasy XIII is a | | | | Sphere Grid which was a big feature of FFX, but |
| role playing game for use with games consoles. It | | | | instead of gaining experience points after you |
| was first released in Japan for the Playstation 3 in | | | | have dispensed with an enemy, you now get CP |
| December 2009 and March 2010 saw its release | | | | (Crystogen Points) which can be saved up and |
| to the rest of the world on the Playstation 3 and | | | | then spent on various attributes, maximizing your |
| also the Xbox 360. It has been well received, as | | | | HP for example. Every player has their own |
| have all the games in this series and the die hard | | | | Crystarium, and it includes sections which |
| fans rate it as the best ever. There are, | | | | correspond to the roles that the character has |
| however, those who see it as a game too far | | | | available to them. The Crystariums are not there |
| and that instead of bringing something new it is | | | | at the outset, and are reached by making your |
| simply a revamp of what has gone before. | | | | way through the sequence of stories. As you go |
| The biggest change since the last instalment has | | | | on, more and more levels are unlocked until you |
| been in the battle system. To try and keep the | | | | reach the maximum that your character can |
| strategic battles feeling fresh, it has tried to | | | | achieve. You start with the choice of three |
| recreate the systems used in the FF VII, with a | | | | specialist areas for your character, and then more |
| few twists. Unlike FF XII, when you encounter | | | | roles are unlocked. |
| enemies you do not fight them there and then, | | | | The setting for FF XIII is a planet called Pulse, |
| you are transported to a separate battle screen, | | | | which is home to a race of mechanical beings |
| away from the main playing area. There is the | | | | known as the fal`Cie. They have god like powers |
| welcome return of the ATB (active time battle), | | | | and contain crystals which effectively control |
| but the difference is that you can link together a | | | | them. They set their sights on various characters, |
| chain of commands to create an attack, and thus | | | | which are known as l`Cie. These all have jobs to |
| receive attack bonuses. | | | | do and goals that the fal`Cie have given them, |
| The Role system still exists, so that all the | | | | and obviously, its up to you to figure out what |
| characters benefits from different strengths and | | | | these are and stop them first. |
| weaknesses, and aren`t all the same. A bid deal | | | | Overall, this is an enjoyable game with a lot going |
| has been made of this is the marketing campaign, | | | | for it. The graphics are, as ever, exemplary, and |
| but to be honest, it should come as standard, as | | | | the characters a lot of fun to control. It just has |
| what fun is there is controlling lots of different | | | | a feeling of finality about it, which may be no bad |
| characters who all possess the same qualities? | | | | thing. This series has to come to an end sooner |
| There is a new levelling system in FF XIII, known | | | | or later, maybe this is a fitting final Final Fantasy. |
| as the Crystarium System. This is similar to the | | | | |