Master List

Alright, here it is, this post will hold my master game list. There's still a few games I want to put on the list, but I already have over 100 which should keep this blog occupied for some time!

It's just like the Master Sword, only a list. The source page has a funny story as well.

My first goal is the Final Fantasy games and Gold Box games. I've expanded this to include most Final Fantasy games, spin-offs and some related media.

Same to the Dungeon & Dragons games and some media.

I knew there was a lot of this stuff, but seeing it all on the page is... daunting!

My play order essentially alternates between FF and D&D. I've "statted it out" up to game 101.

Order of Play

1. Forgotten World*
2. FRUA: Neverwinter Nights*
3. Final Fantasy X**
4. Final Fantasy X-2**
5. Final Fantasy XIII**
6. Final Fantasy XIII-2**
7. Lightning Returns: FF13**
8. Gateway to the Savage Frontier**
9. Treasures of the Savage Frontier**
10. Final Fantasy Mystic Quest***
11. Final Fantasy I*
12. Final Fantasy 15**
13. D&D: Stronghold**
Heroes of the Lance
Final Fantasy II
Dragons of Flame
Final Fantasy III
Shadow Sorcerer
Final Fantasy IV
War of the Lance
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
Dragonstrike
Champions of Krynn
Final Fantasy V
Death Knights of Krynn
Final Fantasy VI
The Dark Queen of Krynn
Crisis Core: FF7
Pool of Radiance
Final Fantasy VII
Hillsfar
Dirge of Cerberus: FF7
Curse of the Azure Bonds
Final Fantasy VIII
Secret of the Silver Blades
Final Fantasy IX
Pools of Darkness
Final Fantasy Tactics
Pool of Radiance: Raid on Myth Drannor
Vagrant Story
Dark Sun: Shattered Lands
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager
Final Fantasy XII
Menzoberranzan
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
Ravenloft: Strahd's Possetion
Final Fantasy Tactics A2
Ravenloft: Stone Prophet
Final Fantasy XIV
Al Qadim: The Genie's Curse
Final Fantasy Type-O
Buck Rogers 1
Buck Rogers 2
FF: The 4 Heroes of Light
Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace
FF: Dimensions
Baldur's Gate
Chocobo Tales
Baldur's Gate 2
Dissidia: FF
Icewind Dale
Dissidia: Duodecim
Icewind Dale 2
Dragon Quest 1
Planescape: Torment
Dragon Quest 2
Dungeons & Dragons Online
The Temple of Elemental Evil
Dragon Quest 3
Knights of the Chalice
Dragon Quest 4
Eye of the Beholder 1
Dragon Quest 5
Eye of the Beholder 2
Dragon Quest 6
Eye of the Beholder 3
Dragon Quest 7
D&D: Stronghold
Dragon Quest 8
D&D: Tower of Doom
Dragon Quest 9
D&D: Shadow of Mystara
Final Fantasy Legend 1
Birthright: The Gorgon's Alliance
Final Fantasy Legend 2
Iron & Blood: Warriors of Ravenloft
Final Fantasy Legend 3
Neverwinter Nights
Romancing SaGa
Neverwinter Nights 2
Romancing SaGa 2
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
Romancing SaGa 3
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 2
SaGa Frontier
Forgotten Realms: Dragon Stone
SaGa Frontier 2
D&D: Dragonshard
Unlimited SaGa

Final Fantasy: Sooo many games... 30 games, 4 Anime, 2 Movies, 1 Audio

*Final Fantasy I (PSP)

*Final Fantasy II (PSP)

*Final Fantasy III (DS)

*Final Fantasy IV (PSP)

*Final Fantasy IV: The After Years (PSP)

*Final Fantasy V (PC)
Final Fantasy Legend of the Crystals (Anime)

*Final Fantasy VI (PC? or GBA)

Compilation of FF7
 *Crisis Core: FF7 (PSP)

 *Final Fantasy VII (PS1 or PS4)

 Last Order (Anime)

 *Dirge of Cerberus: FF7

 Advent Children (Movie)

*Final Fantasy VIII (PS1)

*Final Fantasy IX (PS1)

*Final Fantasy X (PS3)
The Eternal Calm (Anime)
*Final Fantasy X-2 (PS3)
Last Mission (Audio)

*Final Fantasy XI (PC)
 Expansions

 Ivalice Alliance
  *Vagrant Story (PS3)
  *Final Fantasy Tactics (PS1)
  *Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (GBA)
  *Final Fantasy XII (PS2)
  *FF12: Revenant Wings
  *Final Fantasy Tactics A2 (DS)

 *Final Fantasy XIII (PS3)
 *Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3)
 *Lightning Returns: FF13 (PS3)

*Final Fantasy XIV (PS4)
  Expansions

*Final Fantasy Type-O (PS4)

*Final Fantasy XV (PS4)

*Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest (Mobile)

*Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light (DS)

*Final Fantasy: Dimensions (Mobile or PC?)

Final Fantasy Ultimate err whatever (Anime)

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (Movie)

Final Fantasy Spin-offs:

Final Fantasy Fables:
 Chocobo's Dungeon  (Ps1)
 Chocobo's Dungeon 2 (Ps1)
 *Chocobo Tales (DS)

Dissidia
 *Dissidia Final Fantasy (PSP)
 *Dissidia Duodecim (PSP)

Saga
*Final Fantasy Legend I (GB)
*Final Fantasy Legend II (GB)
*Final Fantasy Legend III (GB)
*Romancing SaGa
*Romancing SaGa 2
*Romancing SaGa 3
*SaGa Frontier
*SaGa Frontier 2
*Unlimited SaGa

Seiken Densetsu/Mana
 Sword of Mana (GBA)
 Secret of Mana (SNES)
 Seiken Densetsu 3 (SFAM)

Kingdom Hearts

Dungeons & Dragons:

Gold/Silver Box:

oNeverwinter Nights:
*FRUA: NWN
*Forgotten World

Savage Frontier:
*Gateway to the Savage Frontier
*Treasures of the Savage Frontier
*FRUA: Magic of the Savage Frontier

Krynn:
 *Heroes of the Lance
 *Dragons of Flame
 *Shadow Sorcerer
 *War of the Lance
 *Dragonstrike
 *Champions of Krynn
 *Death Knights of Krynn
 *The Dark Queen of Krynn
 Dragons of Autumn Twilight (Movie)
 Chronicles, Second Chronicles, Legends (Novels)

Forgotten Realms "Pools":
 *Pool of Radiance (FRUA AND DOS)
 *Hillsfar (FRUA AND DOS)
 *Curse of the Azure Bonds (FRUA? AND DOS)
 *Secret of the Silver Blades
 *Pools of Darkness
 *Pool of Radiance: Raid on Myth Drannor

*Buck Rogers 1
*Buck Rogers 2

*Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace

FRUA: Ray Dyer's "Realms"

Film/TV:
 Cartoon
 D&D The Movie
 D&D: Wrath of the Dragon God
 Scourge of Worlds: A D&D Adventure
 D&D: The Book of Vile Darkness

Eye of The Beholder:
*Eye of The Beholder 1-3

The Mid 90's:

*Dark Sun: Shattered Lands
*Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager

*Menzoberranzan

*Ravenloft: Strahd's Possession
*Ravenloft: Stone Prophet

*Al Qadim: The Genie's Curse

Infinity Engine:

 *Baldur's Gate
 *Baldur's Gate 2

 *Icewind Dale
 *Icewind Dale 2

 *Planescape: Torment

Other:

*The Temple of Elemental Evil

*Knights of the Chalice

*Neverwinter Nights
*Neverwinter Nights 2

Fantasy Empires

*D&D: Stronghold

Dungeon Hack

*D&D: Tower of Doom (PS3)
*D&D: Shadows Over Mystara (PS3)

*Birthright: The Gorgon's Alliance

*Iron & Blood: Warriors of Ravenloft

*Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (PS2)
*Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 2 (PS2)

*Forgotten Realms: Dragon Stone

*D&D: Dragonshard

*Dungeons & Dragons Online

D&D: Tactics (PSP)

D&D: Daggerdale

Quest for Glory:

QfG 1 (VGA)
QfG 2 (VGA)
QfG 3
QfG 4
QfG 5

Dragon Quest
*Dragon Quest 1-9

The Elder Scrolls:
TES

Souls:

King's Field
Demon's Souls
Dark Souls
Dark Souls 2
Bloodborne

Star Control:

Starflight
Starflight 2
Star Control
Star Control 2
Star Control 3

Dragon Slayer:
Faxanadu, etc.

Star Tropics:
Star Tropics
Star Tropics 2

Wizards & Warriors:
Wizards & Warriors 1-3

Pokemon:

Chrono:

Chrono Trigger

Chrono Cross

Gargoyle's Quest:

Super Mario RPG

Other:

Clash at Demonhead

Lagoon

Chystalis

Lords of Xulima

Magic: The Gathering (Shandalar)

Kingdoms of Amalur

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, Chapter 7: You've Got the Clavis to My Heart

I don't have any notes or screenshots from my time in the Wildlands from my second playthrough for some reason, so I'll gloss over it a bit. Once Lightning gains entrance to the palace, she is confronted with Yeuls from all over the timeline. Some of them want to release Caius from his eternal torment, and some wish to live with him for ever. This conflict has created the chaos that looms there, it also ties Caius to life. Lightning defeats Caius.

Another major soul lies in the Wildlands, it is none other than Sazh Katzroy. However, his son Dajh has fallen into a coma, and has been that way for hundreds of years. Sazh is defeated, no longer his cheery self. Lumina actually helps out on this one, showing Lightning how to find the shards of Dajh's soul. Lightning goes on quests to find various Chocobos to collect the fragments. One of which is within Chobocolina herself. It is revealed that Chobocolina is Sazh's chocoboco chick from FF13. No one cares.

The last major quest remaining, in the order that I completed the game, was the Dead Dunes.

The Dead Dunes was a wasteland, a place of sand and sun that few dared to travel. That is, besides the bravest bandits and the most determined of scientists. For the dunes held a vast network of ruins. There was rumored to be treasure for the bandits, and a great deal of secret history for those inclined to such things. The treasure that Lightning was seeking was the Holy Clavis, which the local bandits were rumored to know the location of. Lightning was stonewalled by the small group of people still living in the center of this desert. Her first task was to become a member of the bandit gang, Monoculus, after which she would be allowed audience with their leader. To become a member, she would have to complete their trial.

I loved the details in the environments of this game, like this sink in the bandit's hideout.

Her task was to stop a whirlwind of sand called "God's Wrath" that had sprung up outside the bandit's home. It was causing no end of trouble, blocking a trade route into the settlement. Lightning thought this more of a task for a holy woman than a bandit. Her patron explained, the whirlwind was unnatural, it's deactivation required manipulating a stone monument nearby. However, not just any human could operate the monument.

Lightning defeated the armored creature that was the guardian, and found a cross shaped "crux" that reacted to her power. The whirlwind dissipated. As it turned out, this was no ordinary trial. Lightning was given this task because "the boss" believed she had special powers, in fact, the bandits were looking for a holy woman.

The gang boss was none other than Lightning's old companion... Fang. She also was looking for the Clavis. As for her motives, she did not expound on that. The Order of Bhunivelze was also looking for the Clavis. All three needed the Clavis because of the Soulsong that Vanille was to perform. However, likely each had their own motives.

Fang is the self-proclaimed "oldest hag on the planet."

The ruins in the Dead Dunes are a mass of interconnected dungeons. The puzzles include timed doors, and doors only the savior can open with switches. The timed doors alternate being open or closed based on the time of day. Lightning has to gather a number of things, finding some murals, then some tablets or something. Once again, I didn't take many notes or screenshots of the game here. I guess I was in a hurry. I do remember enjoying myself though. Perhaps I was too wrapped up in the game to take breaks! That happens from time to time.

If you're anything like me, you're also wondering, what the F is a clavis?

Clavis: a key or glossary serving as an aid to interpretation. 

(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clavis)

The word has it's root in latin, and is connected to some mysterious texts, such as the Clavis Salominus, "The Key of Solomon."

"The Great Pentacle" from the Key of Solomon manuscripts. I think it looks cool.

The murals are cool looking, and give the origin story of the Nova Chrystalis universe. There were three gods, Lindzei, Etro, and Pulse. Etro's blood was used to form humans. The Fal'Cie were created by Lindzei and Pulse. Lindzei the cocoon Fal'Cie, and Pulse the Gran Pulse Fal'Cie, respectively. Fang says among her people Lindzei was known as a trickster, not to be trusted. Lightning replies "I think we've all learned not to trust the gods."

It could be said there is a recurring anti-religious theme in the Final Fantasy series, especially in the Nova Chysalis games and FF10. However, it's hard to say whether the writers are truly anti-religious or if the're simply trying to tell a compelling story. At the least, I'm sure they are warning that those in power should not be completely trusted. The whole thing could be a metaphor for how those in power manipulate the populace to their own ends.

The giant's hand marks one of the final dungeons in the Dead Dunes.

Eventually, Fang and Lightning gain all of the artifacts needed, and open the sacred gate to the Holy Clavis. Just as they arrive, a troupe of Order soldiers also arrive, following them. Fang's motivation is revealed as she attempts to destroy the Clavis. Vanille believes the Soulsong will purify the dead, however, it will also kill the user. Vanille has accepted this as a fitting sacrifice, but of course, Fang does not. A massive beast named Grendel is summoned to protect the Clavis, Fang and Light must defeat it. During the fight, the Order takes the Clavis, and seals the door.

Standing before the Holy Clavis.

Lumina appears, and says she lead the Order to the Clavis at just the right time, when Lightning opened the sealed door. However, once again Lumina is up to something, manipulating events, as it is her that opens the sealed door, allowing the pair to escape. Lumina also helpfully mentions that if the Soulsong is performed, Serah's soul will be destroyed as well.

Lightning's quest is nearing it's end, however, things don't seem to be going as planned. If she follows God's path, it appears Serah's soul will be destroyed along with the rest of the tortured souls who reside in the chaos. However, if she defies Bhunivelze, will she see Serah again? Either path may lead to ruin.  

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, Chapter 6: Snow on the Asphalt

My second time through the game proved much smoother, I had a good idea of how to manage my time to get quests done. Also, I now knew an important fact about quests. There are three types of quests in the game: main, side, and canvas. The canvas quests come from reading a board called the "Canvas of Prayers." These canvas quests do NOT give Eradia, and thus do not increase the time left for the world, as the other quests do. This is important, and I don't think is explicitly stated within the game. Therefore, canvas quests should be the last priority for the player. I quickly made my way through Luxerion, and it's quests, a second time. I moved on to Yusnaan next, to chase the patron, Snow.

A cactaur statue accentuates a square in Yusnaan.

After Lightning's attack upon her arrival in Nova Chrysalia, Snow's palace was now on high alert, and he was not seen since. Periodic notifications came over loudspeakers, warning the people of the one called "the savior", a woman with rose-colored hair, who should be considered armed and dangerous. While guards would attack her in the streets, the local populace did not seem concerned by her presence at all. They were much more worried about their revelry and pursuit of hedonism. The folk of Yusnaan wished to forget their worries, not confront them.

To get to Snow's palace, Lightning would need in to the Augur's Quarter. This part of the city was the playground of the rich, and was kept closed by a secure gate. Entering would require an ID, that was not easy to obtain. However, rumors told that a flamboyant individual known as the "Tour Guide" had another way in. It was a "backdoor" of sorts, so that less affluent folk could enjoy the Augur's Quarter's nightly show.

Augur: noun

1.

one of a group of ancient Roman officials charged with observing and interpreting omens for guidance in public affairs.

2. soothsayer; prophet. (dictionary.com)

The Tour Guide is quite the one man band.

Getting into the Augur's Quarter turned out to be no simple process. It involved traveling a long route through where supplies were sent to the palace. A long, not unoccupied route. Monsters of chaos swarmed the causeway. No guarantees of survival for paying customers, or course. Chaos gathered in large amounts the nearer the savior got to Snow's palace. Then, Lumina again appeared to put a thorn into Light's side. This time, she summoned a gargantuan cyclops to challenge her. Lightning bested it, but Lumina had other plans in mind.

Lumina's pet exploded with chaos energy. It stood tall, bringing it's massive club down, breaking apart the catwalk they stood on. Lightning's attempt to reach the palace was once again, foiled. However, fate, or luck, soon found her. On a body within the warehouse district where she had fallen, was an ID that would allow entrance to the Augur's Quarter!

Yusnaan's quest becomes very involved. Just when you think you've made it in, something else comes up. It's a little annoying, but the individual quests are fun. After getting access to the Quarter, Light talks with the director of the nightly show. She slyly convinces him to overload his set with fireworks. Then, in the name of the "safety of his star", Lightning convinces the director to let her be the star for the night.

The capricious (<-used in game) director appreciates Lightning's cleverness, and agrees to the crazy idea, which will likely result in the destruction of the entire set.

Capricious: adj- given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior. (google.com)

First, Light must gather enough fireworks from various places around the city. Then, the director tells her she must have a suitable outfit for the show for people to believe she is the savior. (This is a bit ironic since the part is that of the savior, which she actually is!) The most fitting outfit cannot be simply purchased however, it must be won... at the slaughterhouse! Lightning must fight a gauntlet of three fights in Yusnaan's deadly arena in order to earn her garb, and thus the role. This all has to be handled in due time, before the show starts for the night.

The woman at the desk of the arena, Zoe, is strangely concerned with making sure that Lightning is up to snuff for the role. She even goes so far as to have Light deliver a couple of lines. Lightning is clever enough to see what is going on. Zoe had previously held the role of savior. Not only this, but she had made the prize garb herself.

This phrase made an impression.

Lightning gratefully takes the Midnight Mauve garb. It is an, admittedly, stunning gown. Returning to the Augur's Quarter, the show begins. At it's climax, Lightning is raised up on a high platform, surrounded by fire, and delivers her speech to God, that she will be the savior. The resulting fireworks knock over the set, causing chaos and destruction, and finally allows Lightning entrance to the palace of the patron!

The gown fitting of the role of savior.

I could send this message after completing the show. Turbo ethers are rare, but not too expensive, making them a good item to send to other players.

Snow's palace is a neat looking place. Lightning makes her way upstairs, returning to areas she was in at the beginning of the game.

The foyer of the palace.

This is where Snow saved his revelers at the beginning of the game. I feel like its a nod to another game.

Making her way up the palace, Lightning encountered a palace guard. Rather than attacking her however, he wished to help her with supplies. He explained that Snow had barricaded himself at the top of the palace. His troops were forced to promise to not let him leave the palace, and to kill him if he lost control. That is, became a Cieth. He was, after all, the last living l'Cie in Nova Chrysalia. Lightning found the barricade, a wall of ice that she found impenetrable. She pushed on to the remaining unexplored parts of the palace, finding Snow's chamber, and within it, Serah's engagement pendant. She was surprised to find it, as what could possibly make Snow take it off?

Based on the decor of Snow's room, he has become more than a bit of a masochist over these dark centuries.

Lightning believed the pendant could be the key to breaking the ice barrier. Snow had either left it behind because he had forgotten Serah's love, or to keep it safe. He may have wanted to keep it in a safe place, while he slipped closer and closer to the chaos that was closing in. Lightning was hoping for the latter. Otherwise, Snow was too far gone to be saved.

Thankfully, she was correct. She called out to Snow, while holding the pendant, and the ice broke. A beleaguered Snow greeted her on the other side of the door. It was a test. He left the pendant for her, to prove she was the real Lightning. Snow knew that she would know what the pendant meant. Snow was surrounded by an unimaginable amount of chaos.

Thankfully, Snow has chosen a more tasteful haircut for this installment than he did in XIII-2.

The Patron had a desperate plan to save his people from the formidable tide of chaos. He would absorb it himself, using the power of the l'Cie. However, he understood that this would likely turn him into a Cieth. This plan was sub par for the savior, as if Snow became a Cieth, his soul would be beyond saving. Snow indeed, had not changed, he was looking to sacrifice himself to save his people. He hoped it would make up for his perceived failure to protect Serah. Lightning countered that instead, he was running away, his sacrifice would amount to nothing more than suicide.

The chaos!

Snow's plan worked all too well. Before he absorbed the chaos, he asked for one "selfish" favor from Lightning, to destroy his Cieth. "You ask me to be your sister, and now to destroy you? You ask too much Snow!" Lightning yelled as she waded into combat. 

Snow's Cieth was a formidable foe, but the savior fought with the might of the hundreds of souls she had saved. In the end, Lightning's God given powers proved more powerful than that given by a Fal'Cie. Light would not kill Snow though, she wished to save him still. Her constant rival, Lumina, made an appearance, urging Lightning to put Snow out of his misery.

"You know nothing about Snow!" Light yelled as Lumina disappeared, "Snow, you fool, if you die, what will Serah have to come back to, you have to live!" 

She beat sense into him the only way she knew how, literally. Her fists were not enough, in the end, she held the pendant up to Snow's cold Cieth heart. It still had some warmth in it, however.

"For a second there, I thought you cared," Snow said as he regained consciousness. He was saved.

What lies in store to test the savior's will next? Find out here... at This Bard's Tales!

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, Chapter 5: The Circle of Life

Upon returning to the Ark, Lightning was greeted by a pleasing vision. In a cloud of sparks, a figure appeared, her sister, Serah. Light was hesitant, but hopeful to see her. Was this real? Serah had words of encouragement for her, telling her to keep up the fight, so that they might meet again. However, when she was gone, Lightning felt empty. She felt no emotion at seeing Serah, no connection, although she knew she wanted to save her. Something wasn't quite right, but for now, she didn't know what.

Lightning on the Ark.

With her quest in Luxerion completed for now, Lightning turned her attention to the Wildlands. She had visited briefly before, and heard the voice of a mysterious girl talking about the "Angel of Valhalla." The Wildlands were occupied by people who chose to live off the land, and maintained worship of Etro. They wished not for an afterlife and a new world, but simply a calm release from life, at their appointed time. It was not long before Lightning found that the Angel of Valhalla was none other than a legendary white chocobo bird, that signaled the end of the world. As for where to start, she was directed towards the local expert on the birds, Dr. Gysahl.

Dr. Gysahl in the distance. Source.

Dr. Gysahl was a gruff, blunt individual, and he had no patience for someone like Lightning. She was left to try find out more information from his associates around their home, Canopus Farms. The word was that a chocobo eater had been sited in the ruins to the northeast. Where there were chocobo eaters, there were bound to be chocobos. Indeed, it was true. Lightning came upon a chocobo eater in battle with its natural enemy, the Angel. However, although it had fought fiercely, the Angel was losing against its much larger foe. The savior stepped in, and was able to defeat the massive green beast.

The Angel "kwehs" for help.

Word traveled to the farms fast, with local hunters riding their own chocobos. Soon, Dr. Gysahl showed up astride a chocobo drawn cart, ready to pick up the injured Angel. 

I was trying to get a good pic of the Angel, and got this. I can think of worse things.

After the doctor and his associate had hauled the bird away for treatment, Lightning paused. "Hope, are you sure that was a chocobo? I felt a weird familiarity with it." 

"You felt familiar with a chocobo? Maybe you just need a friend, Light," he said back.

"I know what I felt." Lightning replied, non-plussed.

The City of Ruins, after Light saved the white chocobo.

Returning to Canopus Farms, Lightning found the Angel in stable condition, however, Dr. Gysahl explained that it was a proud animal. It needed food, but would not accept it from anyone who was not its master. Thankfully, it recognized Lightning as such, and would accept sustenance from her hand, saving its life. Lightning had to travel the length and breadth of the Wildlands to collect proper foods for the bird. This included chocobo's favorite food, Gysahl greens. Also, a potent energy mix called "Chocobull", and the rare fuzzy sheep milk. After a lot of travel and hard work, the bird was able to stand up, and was able to carry it's master on his back.

Lightning rides her companion in the woods of the Wildlands.

Continuing to care for the Angel, eventually it fully recovered, breaking its bandages and spreading its wings fully, able to fly some distance. In her travels, Lightning had heard of a village in the mountains of the wildlands. A dangerous, rough land, where the Children of Etro gathered. These Children lived somewhat peacefully, in the shadow of a great palace. This palace was a remnant of Etro's throne in Valhalla. The legends of the people told her she should travel there, that the Angel would take her to the palace, where also was the source of the chaos. Soaring amongst the spires on the wing of her chocobo, Lightning found herself standing in front of the massive structure.

As you can see by the above screenshot, time was running out, I only had 1 day left. Considering I had completed only one of the main quests (defeating Noel), I was feeling my failure was inevitable. At this point, the game had become a bit of a drag. I was playing on normal difficulty. The combats seemed very slow and cumbersome compared to the previous games, and I was having a hard time maintaining hit points with the limited ways to recover. In easy mode, your HP regenerates outside of combat. On normal, it doesn't, and you are limited in how many recovery items you can carry. Soon it came, the inevitable...

However, running out of time wasn't nearly as bad as I feared. The restart was actually incorporated into the game. Light travels back through time, and appears once again on the Ark with Hope. My first attempt had been forgotten, but she retained the items and abilities she had gained. Lightning's only sense that she had been here before was a vague sense of deja vu. Although I was much more powerful, I still decided to give it a go on easy this time. My second time around the game proved much more enjoyable. As you'll see, coming soon, here at This Bard's Tales!

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, Chapter 4: Harvester of Sorrow

Lightning, the savior, has barely escaped death at the hands of the Shadow Hunter. Thankfully, Noel defied the prophecy he saw within the oracle drive, and has let Lightning live on. Lumina appeared once more to Light. She revealed, that the drive and prophecy were created by her, to create mischief. It was not true after all. It was a dangerous game she played, toying with the savior.

Lacking direction for the moment after her battle with the Shadow Hunter, Lightning spent some more time exploring the streets of Luxerion. A young woman, dressed in the uniform of the Order of Salvation, hailed her. The Order was based in the cathedral of Luxerion, they were the soldiers in the fight to bring souls to their lord god, Bhunivelze. Their foes in the battle for salvation were those few who held on to worship of the fallen goddess Etro, and those who paid no service to the gods at all.

The young woman told Lightning that her patron "the saint", was aware of her, and wished to see her. However, she was missing a multi-colored, iridescent stone, and was quite distressed over it. The young girl was surprised that Light was unaware of who the saint was, and also unaware that the saint could not leave the cathedral. "So she's locked up like a criminal or animal?" Light asked.

"Y-You say too much!" said the girl.

Light retrieved the stone, and in return, was given a key that would allow her to enter the cathedral after public hours. The saint was only allowed to wander the cathedral after hours, so as not to cause a stir. Perhaps also, so as not to escape. Lightning found that the saint, was her old friend, Vanille. She been lifted from crystal stasis by God. Beside her, who apparently also appeared at the same time, was... Lumina.

Upon awakening, Vanille found she had gained a new power, one that earned her her new title. She could hear the voices of the dead, she took Lightning into the church's inner sanctum. Within, a shadowy cloud surrounded the saint. Lightning could feel immense pain and sadness, and crushing feelings of regret emanating from the cloud. Vanille believed she had the power to save them, to release them from their pain and suffering. The Order told her it was necessary, or else the new world God was to create would be torn apart by their cries of suffering. If Lightning was to be the savior of the living, Vanille was to be the savior of the dead. Her role would be fulfilled at the final hour of the thirteenth day, the end of the world.

Her heart heavy from her encounter with the restless dead, Lightning was relieved that this world still had some time left, and that she might put the worries of the dead behind her.

There are loads of details, people to meet, and quests to take on in this game. Although it puts a time limit over your head, the game can be completed, for the most part, in whatever order the player chooses.

I found it neat that wandering NPCs stop to use the phone booth.

Speaking of phone booths, one of the quests involves them. Lightning must pick up the phones around Luxerion, following the trail of a little girl who is being chased. In the end, it turns out she had herself kidnapped by the Children of Etro cultists on purpose. She simply wanted to see if anyone decent was left in the world who would come to her rescue. Lightning obliges.

"Disillusioned," is the key here. Disillusionment, cynicism: key themes in the game.

She also encounters, Gem, a talking cat. It turns out the cat has been reanimated by the soul of a young boy. He took a potion to make his beloved cat live again, but it was a bit of a trick. The cat was reanimated with his own soul. The one he bought the potion from? Lumina.

Aw... A talking kitty!

Lightning collects the ingredients for "starlight spice", which when waved under the nose of the boy's body, will return his soul. The boy was in a zombie like state, surrounded by stray cats. The spice seller warned that the spice would send cats into a "murderous rage." Unfortunately, this wasn't quite accurate. I expected to have to fight them, but instead, they ran up to me and stole the spice! A klepto-rage, and they were quite quick as well! I had to make more of the spice twice before I figured out how to avoid them.

Lightning aint about that bullshit.

This is just a small sample of the side quests. They all have interesting characters, and great atmosphere. It's a bit of a departure from previous Final Fantasy games, but the transition is smooth, it doesn't feel forced. 

That's all for tonight, join me again my friends, here at This Bard's Tales!

    

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, Chapter 3: Who Lives, and Who Dies?

Lightning found no shortage of people looking for help in the city of Luxerion. A man in a strange hat offered money for "soul seeds". These could be found within the zones of chaos that were sprouting at random in Nova Chrysalia. After a bit of coaxing, the strange man gave up the information that the soul seeds were actually the souls of humans. However, instead of being reincarnated in the natural order of things, they now became monsters. 

Lightning talks with Baird, a collector, about soul seeds. Source.

Lightning soon had a chance to test her mettle in the chaos, against a massive beast. A woman at the end of a deserted alley identified herself as a bounty hunter, one of the best. Her entire team of seven, save her, had fallen to a fierce dragon within the chaos. She had little faith that Light could take on the beast herself, but Lightning was bolstered with her powers as Savior. The beast was huge, with painfully sharp teeth, and a bruising tail. Flame spewed from it's chaos infused breath. Lightning moved like her name-sake. With strategic use of her powers and items of recovery, she prevailed. A collection of soul seeds was hers, as well as a tooth as a trophy of her kill. The bounty hunter was amazed and humbled by the act. Lightning's prowess inspired this woman to greater heights, and thus the Eradia from her soul was obtained.

Here is a picture of Lightning with the dragon. These windows can be pulled up, then a stock message, an optional message from the player, and even an item may be sent. Other players may then see these in their own games, and have the option of purchasing the item.

Confident that she had both rid the city of a major threat, and inspired the passions of a fellow warrior woman, our hero returned to her quest. She now had the four numbers of the code to enter the graveyard. At midnight, she spoke the words, and the gate opened. The graveyard was not empty, being swarmed with creatures of the chaos. Over it all, the cacophony of the chanting cultists could be heard, calling out to their dead goddess, Etro.

Posted messages may be used for humor. I had a good giggle at this one.

Surrounding a massive altar in the center of the graveyard, the cultists were preparing to sacrifice yet another young woman. Lightning put a stop to the sacrifice, they recognized her as the true savior. They were acting in the place of the "Shadow Hunter". However, none other than the Shadow Hunter himself intervened to help Light. "You think I'm with these blood-thirsty heretics who kill innocents?" he said to Lightning. The Hunter, was Noel Kreiss, Serah's recent companion. "They did it for you Noel!" Light retorted.

Etro's altar in the graveyard of Luxerion.

  

After the Etro cultists had been driven off, Noel explained the situation. The cultists had found an "oracle drive", the device which records the prophecies of the farseers. In it, Lightning is shown destroying what is left of the world, and Noel kills her to stop it. The cultists were a bit impatient, trying to help the process along by killing innocents. Noel was not with them, however, he still vowed to kill Lightning, at the appointed time and place. That place was The Warrens, the part of Luxerion where the poor and down on their luck huddle together to scrape by a meager living. Here, Lightning would meet whatever fate was in store for her at the hands of the Shadow Hunter.

On her way to the Warren, Lightning stops by the cathedral, and sees this mysterious figure.

Finding her way to Noel's hideout was no simple task, as the gates to the Warren were only open during the night, when most of the city was sleeping. Noel had secluded himself in a particularly dangerous part of the Warren, guarded by Etro cultists. Lightning had little trouble cutting these adversaries, and their massive blades, down, though. A "Symbol of Etro" she had taken from a cultist's body was enough to secure her entry onto the rooftops where Noel had chosen to hide. She soon found him, sitting cross-legged, meditating in front of the oracle drive.

The oracle drive discharges its secrets.

Lightning witnessed the prophecy as it unfolded before her. As most prophecies are, it was open to interpretation. However, it indeed depicted Noel and her fighting, a fact which he seemed determined to make good on. 

Noel, as depicted within the smokey projection of the oracle drive.

Light tried to deter him, but Noel was having none of it. They danced the dance of blades for what seemed like hours, neither able to gain ground over the other. In the end, Lightning was victorious, but she did not deliver a killing blow. In her hesitation, she left herself open, Noel jumped high in the air to deliver her to her doom. His blade, however, flew by her with a gust like that of a hurricane, planting itself deep into the oracle drive. Noel had made his choice, Lightning would live, and the prophecy would die.

Noel does his best Kain impression.

Noel laid bare the guilt that had been on his shoulders, the guilt that had caused him to ping on Hope's radar. Although it had been Caius's hand that had guided it, it was Noel's dagger that had plunged through the Heart of Chaos, thus sealing the word's fate. Noel felt responsible for releasing the Chaos, and dooming the world. After confessing his sin, a vision of Yeul rose from the oracle drive. Yeul, his companion who Noel had been waiting centuries to see again, was finally before him. She urged him that he had made the right choice, and that now, they would soon meet again. The dark cloud lifted from him, Noel's soul was saved, and he vowed to live in the light. He would no longer be the "Shadow Hunter".

It was a battle that took everything Lightning had, as both a soldier, and as the mighty Savior. Her mercy almost got her killed, but thankfully, Noel still had his kind heart, even after living in centuries of darkness. In the end, the first leg of her quest was fulfilled, as she had saved this man's soul from the coming oblivion.

Join me again soon friend, for the continuing saga of Lightning, Savior of the great Bhunivelze, here... at This Bard's Tales!