Final Fantasy XIII and Versus Megathread

Apr 17, 2009
7,729
San Diego, CA
Final Fantasy XIII is an upcoming console role-playing game being developed by Square Enix. It will be released exclusive for PlayStation 3 in Japan, then for PlayStation 3 worldwide in Europe and North America. First appearing at the 2006 E3, the game features a futuristic, high-tech world.

<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="437" height="311" id="viddler"><param name="movie" value="http://www.viddler.com/simple_on_site/954fc8ba" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed src="http://www.viddler.com/simple_on_site/954fc8ba" width="437" height="311" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowScriptAccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" name="viddler" ></embed></object>​

Final Fantasy XIII is the flagship title of the Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII collection. The game shares a common mythology with Final Fantasy Agito XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII, but they are not directly related to each other. Motomu Toriyama, a director and scenario writer of previous Final Fantasy titles, will direct and write the game's story.

The concept for Final Fantasy XIII's battle system is to maintain the strategic nature of command-based battles. The system stemmed from a desire to create battles similar to those found in Final Fantasy VII Advent Children. Like those in Final Fantasy XII, battle sequences are integrated into the world environment. The Active Time Battle (ATB) system will return, but is expected to work differently from its predecessors.

tgs-final-fantasy-xiii-31.jpg


The battle system that was shown during the E3 2006 trailer was only a prototype. Recently, Square Enix showed battle footage in various Japanese magazines and trailers which introduced a new interface. You can only control one character at a time in battle, although battle parties of up to three characters have been shown. You can stack up to three commands per turn and release them all at the same time to form a combo. These commands include series staples such as Attack, Fire, Blizzard and Cure, as well as new ones such as Launch, which sends the enemy up in the air. The game does not make use of MP but introduces "cost points" for each command. Cost points determine how many times the commands can be used per turn. The overclock gauge from the prototype battle system is replaced with a break bar. The minimap shown earlier has also disappeared from the battle interface. The player is able to view the HP and name of the enemy before engaging it in battle. When the player engages an enemy, the camera moves to another position and the battle menu appears, making the battle transitions nearly seamless.

The classic summoned creatures will return in Final Fantasy XIII. Carbuncle emerges from a disc-like object when it is touched by the character Vanille, Ifrit and Siren also appear doing performances in a trailer. Shiva will return and takes the form of a pair of sisters who can merge into a motorcycle, which the character Snow rides, and can use ice to create a path to drive on.

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/b6At_bb1PNU?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/b6At_bb1PNU?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>​
________
HD ENGINE
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Beard Esquire
Nomura: Versus' graphics are unbelievable

A notable no show from this year's E3 Expo was Final Fantasy Versus XIII, the highly anticipated next chapter in the Fabula Nova Cyrstallis series. Though Final Fantasy XIII hit Western shores earlier this year, Square Enix was mum on the PS3-exclusive follow up at the event last week.

Not to worry, though - the latest issue of Dengeki PlayStation confirms that fans will see more from the title soon at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show. The publication showed off a few new environments and teased a couple new features.

The highlight seems to be the game's new battle system. The encounter system uses a mix of random and visible encounters that are integrated seamlessly into the exploration aspect of the game. The graphics further enhance the combat, with Nomura confidently stating that most people will not believe there eyes when the see the high quality of the battles in action.

Additionally, Nomura states the team is improving the graphics before the game hits shelves. With the release of XIII off their plate, the team is going to work with renewed motivation.

Fans can look forward to seeing FFVSXII, as well as Parasite Eve 3rd Birthday and Agito XIII at TGS 2010, which is slated for Sept. 16 to Sept. 19.

ps3center.net/news/4607/nomura-versus-graphics-are-unbelievable-/
 
Final Fantasy Versus 13 Not Going Multi-Format Response From Game Informer

I contacted Game Informer for the rumour about the printing of FFv13 going multi-format and this is the response they gave me:

Hi Curtis Green,

Thanks for contacting us!

From time to time our Gameinformer Australia magazine incorporates game information regarding other countries.

Currently there is no confirmation from the vendors regarding the formats of FFv13, or if it will be a multiformat game.

Thanks again for your enquiry; we hope to see you back online again soon.

So there you have it, it must have just been an error that slipped through the cracks of the Australian issue.

igamereport.com/2010/06/24/final-fantasy-versus-13-not-going-multi-format/
 
No FF Versus XIII for GamesCom, says Nomura

Final Fantasy Versus XIII’s Tetsuya Nomura has revealed that the PlayStation 3 exclusive RPG won’t be putting in an appearance at GamesCom next week.

Instead, the likes of The 3rd Birthday and Kingdom Hearts: Re:Coded will be on display at the Cologne-based event, which kicks off on August 18. However, Nomura did reveal that VXIII is currently at the voice casting stage.

The title last showed up in trailer form at Jump Fiesta and featured the teaser “Revelation will come next time.”

Elsewhere, Nomura confirmed that he is still in the process of working on a number of unannounced games, including those in the Kingdom Hearts series.

“There are a number of unannounced titles,” he Tweeted. “These will come before Agito and Versus. Some have finished voice recording. Announcements will take place in Japan.”
 
No FF Versus XIII for GamesCom, says Nomura

Final Fantasy Versus XIII’s Tetsuya Nomura has revealed that the PlayStation 3 exclusive RPG won’t be putting in an appearance at GamesCom next week.

Instead, the likes of The 3rd Birthday and Kingdom Hearts: Re:Coded will be on display at the Cologne-based event, which kicks off on August 18. However, Nomura did reveal that VXIII is currently at the voice casting stage.

The title last showed up in trailer form at Jump Fiesta and featured the teaser “Revelation will come next time.”

Elsewhere, Nomura confirmed that he is still in the process of working on a number of unannounced games, including those in the Kingdom Hearts series.

“There are a number of unannounced titles,” he Tweeted. “These will come before Agito and Versus. Some have finished voice recording. Announcements will take place in Japan.”

not surprised. knew they were gonna save it for TGS
 
Tetsuya Nomura Provides Final Fantasy Versus XIII Status Update

Does it seem like you've been waiting ages for Final Fantasy Versus XIII? Well guess what? You have!

But progress is definitely being made on the game. Director Tetsuya Nomura shared a slight update on Versus and its sister project Final Fantasy Agito XIII The 3rd Birthday official Twitter earlier today.

First, some bad news. If you were expecting a Versus XIII update from this month's GamesCom, you can end that hope right now. Nomura confirms that the game will not be shown at the European event. Square Enix will be focusing on The 3rd Birthday and Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded.

So how about September's Tokyo Game Show? Nomura didn't comment on TGS. This does sound like a safe bet to us, though! Of course, Versus would be in good company as it's looking like The Last Guardian is going to be at the show as well.

Nomura provided somewhat of a hint at development progress on Versus and Agito. Said Nomura, "Agito and Versus have different production styles and progress states, but they're both presently undergoing voice casting. The 3rd Birthday's recording will end shortly. Next up is Agito."

Nomura is presumably referring here to the games' Japanese voice casting. In previous Twitter comments about The 3rd Birthday's voice recording, he expressed the opinion that voice direction is difficult unless recording is done first in Japanese.

Regarding Versus, Nomura said that there is a lot to announce about the game, but due to Square Enix's policy of promoting games in the order of their release, he's unable to say too much at present.

He provided just one intriguing bit, though: "There have been many questions regarding fields. It's not a completely open world. It's like the 2D FF games in HD. Although, in terms of looks, it's not a top-down view, it's like the screenshots that have been released. You'll move through the world from that view."

Unless you have access to Dengeki PlayStation or Weekly Famitsu (or have seen scans floating around somewhere), you've probably not seen the screenshots Nomura is referring to, as Square Enix has yet to share them online. We provided impressions of the screenshots (yes, only a Final Fantasy game could possibly get impressions of screenshots), but Nomura's point is that the game will have a third person view from behind the back of main character Noctis.

So why the comparison to the 2D FF games of old? You'll have speculate about that in the comments.
 
Square "can't commit" to 2011 release for FF Versus XIII

Square Enix’s Yoshinori Kitase has conceded the developer is unable to commit to whether or not Final Fantasy Versus XIII will see a Japanese release in 2011.

Chatting with the folks at GamingUnion at GamesCom last week, Kitase commented, “We have no release date information to update.”

“Unfortunately we can’t say anything about that. We can’t commit ourselves to 2011 either.”

Versus XIII has endured a lengthy development cycle and has made little in the way of public appearances as of late, last cropping up in trailer form at Jump Fiesta back in December. An E3 re-reveal was apparently on the cards at some point, though this failed to materialise.
 
Final Fantasy Versus XIII to get brief showing at TGS

Square Enix has confirmed that both Final Fantasy Versus XIII and Agito XIII will make a brief appearance at the Tokyo Game Show next month.

That’s according to Tweets from series character designer Tetsuya Nomura, who revealed that the games will form part of a short, combined showcase apparently cobbled together at the last minute.

The Japanese giant said earlier this week that it couldn’t commit to a 2011 release for the PS3-exclusive Versus XIII, with the game itself having not shown up since Jump Fiesta back in December last year.

Square will be displaying a number of its hottest games at TGS, including The 3rd Birthday and Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded.
 
Nomura Tweets about multi-plat

Tetsuya Nomura decided out of nowhere today to Tweet about Final Fantasy Versus XIII and multiplatform development.

Wrote the Versus XIII director at The 3rd Birthday Twitter: "Multiplatform is when you start development on a game with the assumption of optimizing for multiple platforms. Porting is something that's done after you've developed a game specifically for a particular platforms. The debate over porting is decided by the management based off the current market and the costs. All I can say right now as a developer is that Versus is being developed specifically for the PlayStation 3."

This comment comes a day after reports surfaced about Final Fantasy XIII's Xbox 360 version being released in Japan. While the news has yet to be confirmed, Microsoft is scheduled to hold one of its seasonal press conferences later today, so we'll know shortly if it's true or not.

andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/09/08/nomura_versus_xiii_tweet/
 
Tetsuya Nomura decided out of nowhere today to Tweet about Final Fantasy Versus XIII and multiplatform development.

Wrote the Versus XIII director at The 3rd Birthday Twitter: "Multiplatform is when you start development on a game with the assumption of optimizing for multiple platforms. Porting is something that's done after you've developed a game specifically for a particular platforms. The debate over porting is decided by the management based off the current market and the costs. All I can say right now as a developer is that Versus is being developed specifically for the PlayStation 3."

This comment comes a day after reports surfaced about Final Fantasy XIII's Xbox 360 version being released in Japan. While the news has yet to be confirmed, Microsoft is scheduled to hold one of its seasonal press conferences later today, so we'll know shortly if it's true or not.

andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/09/08/nomura_versus_xiii_tweet/

Final Fantasy Versus director says game is "specifically for the PlayStation 3"


With the Tokyo Game Show just days away, we are getting a fair dose of Final Fantasy news. PlayStation 3 fans may be happy to learn that Final Fantasy Versus XIII is being specifically developed for Sony’s console. If there is a multiplatform release, it would be a port of the PS3 version.

According to a Tweet from director Tetsuya Nomura, Versus is developed “specifically for the PlayStation 3.

“Porting is something that's done after you've developed a game specifically for a particular platforms. The debate over porting is decided by the management based off the current market and the costs. All I can say right now as a developer is that Versus is being developed specifically for the PlayStation 3."

Of course, Square says Versus XIII is a PS3 exclusive, but many also believed Final Fantasy XIII would just be released on the PS3. Final Fantasy XIII was released last year as an exclusive in Japan, and now there are rumors floating around that the game will be released on Xbox 360 in that country.
 
Toriyama: FFXIII DLC was planned but later scrapped

Square Enix’s Motomu Toriyama has revealed that the company originally had plans to release downloadable content for Final Fantasy XIII, though the idea was ultimately shelved.

The FFXIII director previously commented that fans should “hold on to their saves from the end of the game” prior to it’s launch on PS3 last year, prompting speculation that DLC was on the cards.

However, speaking to Famitsu this week, Toriyama revealed, “We were planning to make some DLC, but that plan wound up not happening.”

It emerged today that Square is planning on releasing FFXIII for Xbox 360 in Japan under the moniker of ‘Final Fantasy XIII Ultimate Hits Edition,’ which includes an additional quest known as “Episode I” that is unlocked once you finish the main game.

Speaking on the decision, the game’s producer, Yoshinori Kitase, commented: “We feel that there are a lot of 360 owners worldwide, and a lot of people in Japan who own nothing but 360s.”

“Thanks to the new [Slim] system and such, the situation’s a lot different than it was in July 2008,” he added.
 
Square to hold Fabula Nova Crystallis press event in January?

Square Enix is allegedly planning on hosting a press conference in Japan in early January pertaining to its Fabula Nova Crystallis series, according to the chaps at Final Fantasy.net.

No further details were given, though it’s worth pointing out for those unaware that the Crystallis series includes the elusive duo Final Fantasy Versus XIII and Final Fantasy Agito XIII. The conference will apparently take place on January 11.

Both games are being shown off in trailer form at the Tokyo Game Show this week, though it’s been a considerable time since Square has bothered to divulge any significant information on either title.

Versus XIII is currently in the works exclusively for PS3, while Agito XIII will show up on PSP. Square previously said that it can’t commit to a 2011 launch for the former, so it’ll likely be a while before we see it on store shelves.
 
Final Fantasy Versus & Agito XIII TGS Trailers Officially Releasing Soon

It’s been a long time since we’ve actually seen an officially released trailer for either Final Fantasy Versus XIII or Final Fantasy Agito XIII, but apparently we won’t have to wait much longer. In a surprising turn of events—for Square Enix anyway—it has been announced by Nomura himself that all trailers, both public and private will be released over the coming days.

Nomura tweeted via the 3rd_birthday Twitter account that each title’s trailer will be posted on their respective official sites soon starting with todays reveal of the Dissidia 012 [duodecim] trailer. He says the reason for this staggered release of trailers is because of the time it takes to create each site and asks for everyone to be patient. This announcement does put into question Square’s efforts to remove all traces of the leaked Versus and Agito trailers from the internet. It’s possible that this decision to release them officially was made in light of how impossible it really is to expect no one to attempt to leak them. Let’s look forward to our upcoming (hopefully) HD Fabula Nova Crystallis fix.

finalfantasy-xiii.net/2010/09/22/final-fantasy-versus-agito-xiii-tgs-trailers-officially-releasing-soon.html
 
Square Enix hints at possible FFXIII sequel

Square Enix’s Yoshinori Kitase has expressed interest in producing additional material to allow gamers to ‘further understand’ Final Fantasy XIII’s storyline, hinting that a possible sequel might be on the cards.

Chatting with FFXIII Ultimania Omega, Kitase revealed his intention to pass along the Fabula Nova Crystalis mythology and depict events that won’t be present in upcoming titles Final Fantasy Agito & Versus XIII, which are currently in the works for PSP and PS3, respectively.

Asked specifically whether or not this could mean us getting a potential FFXIII-2 (similar to how Square released FFX-2), the FFXIII producer responded that it would be purely down to “fan reaction.”

Motomu Toriyama also chipped in on the matter, adding, "I'd like to at some point make a story where Lightning ends up happy."

Elsewhere, the team also addressed the subject of DLC, insisting that next time around post-release content will be a “priority” for the developers.

As for a new title from the FFXIII makers, Kitase let slip that staff adhere to a company policy of churning out games at a pace of roughly one title every two years.