Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII: Rankings

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Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
2014

Developer: Square Enix and tri-Ace
Publisher: Square Enix
Director: Motomu Toriyama
Producer: Yoshinori Kitase
Designer: Yuji Abe
Programmer: Naoki Hamaguchi
Artist: Isamu Kamikokuryo
Writer: Daisuke Watanabe
Composers: Masashi Hamauzu, Naoshi Mizuta and Mitsuto Suzuki

Before I start summarizing the game, I have to say writing the final post was somewhat emotional. I was reliving the intense ending as I was writing. The experience gave me a bit of insight into why writer's write. I hope that intensity was felt by you, the reader, as well. 

Lightning Returns is the second sequel to FF13, making a trilogy. It's an interesting path these games took to fruition, because it was probably never intended to be a trilogy, it became one mainly as a response to the lackluster reception and harsh criticisms of FF13's gameplay. The creative team is pretty much the same as the previous games, with the exception being designer Yuji Abe. Since LR has an almost completely new battle and gameplay system than the other two games, I assume these aspects were Abe's main responsibility.

It could be said that Squenix should have got it right the first time with FF13, but I think, oddly enough, FF13's failings gifted us with two very good games in FF13-2 and LR. FF13 has a great story (This is my personal opinion, of course, others clearly disagree), FF13-2 is an excellent gameplay experience, and LR is the total package.

The battle system is completely new, the player controls one character, Lightning, and can switch between three customizable "jobs". This is called the Style-Change Active Time Battle system. I don't know what the obsession with the fancy names for each new battle system is, but I assume it's cultural.

Lightning in battle against LR's version of the chocobo eater. Source

The game is "open world", with a few main quests that can be completed in any order, and a slew of side quests. The quests are how Lightning gains in power, gaining only gold and EP (something like magic points) from monsters. I like how the quests drive your development, it makes them motivating to complete. I prefer getting at least some XP from random monsters though, otherwise fighting is often pointless. The game does incorporate some quest related reasons to fight random monsters, and there's always rare drops, but these just don't motivate me like XP does. If you have to fight 100 skeletons for a quest or item, it's nice to know the path to that goal isn't a waste. It was only a minor drawback, though.

One big change for the better from the previous two games is that you can move in battle! What a revolutionary concept for a 3D game, right? I found it very annoying that many abilities were dependent on where your characters were on the battlefield in FF13 and 13-2, but you couldn't manually move them.

The craziest thing in Lightning Returns is the time limit, especially for an open world game. I think at first, players will find this very scary. I was constantly using the "chronostatis" power which stops the clock for a short time. However, once you get in to the game a bit, you realize there is plenty of time to complete the quests, and the clock becomes less frightening and actually makes some sense. I don't know if I can explain it, but I think because of the way the game is designed, the clock is actually a benefit. Once again, the player doesn't know it to start out, but running out of time is actually smoothly integrated in to gameplay, as the quests reset, but you keep your accumulated powers and items. I think what at first seemed crazy is actually a stroke of genius. Each time you start from the top, new mechanical options are added as well, to hopefully keep the game fresh. As a new player, I think it's important to know you should start on "easy", and that running out of time doesn't mean you have to completely restart. The main criticism I can level, is that these two things aren't obvious from the get go.

Mechanics - I'm a big fan of most things that LR does. It does admittedly have a learning curve, but it's worth it. I still prefer the relaxed exploration and turn-based battles of FF10. 10-2 is on the level with LR, but edges it because there are so many more character options, and more of them are available in any one battle.

1. Final Fantasy 10

2. Final Fantasy 10-2

3. Lightning Returns: FF13

4. Final Fantasy 13-2

5. Final Fantasy 13

They did retain the, sometimes depressing, battle scores.

Storyline - "The game's story was poorly received by most reviewers. Sliva said the narrative was "drenched in uninteresting pathos that failed to give me a reason to care about these characters that I've spent well over 100 hours with." Juba called the story "a joke", saying that there was little development for Lightning as a character, and that the narrative "killed whatever lingering investment [he] had in the universe." VanOrd found the large amount of character dialogue a distracting and jarring feature, while Parkin said that the game's narrative could not fix the issues present in the previous two XIII games, although the side-quests and dialogue helped lighten Lightning's character. Elliot spoke of it as one of the reasons to play the game, terming it a "typically bonkers narrative".^{" from Wikipedia} The story got a lot of negative reviews. I don't get it. I ate it up... To me it's an interesting exploration of the meaning of life, and the power of humanism. The're close, but I'm going to keep 10 on top. There are a lot of similar themes in the two games, as far as fighting against an established religion. 

1. Final Fantasy 10
2. Lightning Returns: FF13

3. Final Fantasy 10-2

4. Final Fantasy 13

5. Final Fantasy 13-2

Atmosphere - Some of the dialogues were a little long, but in the end, the details of the background and characters did a great job of drawing me in to the world. Once again, not quite enough to topple 10.

1. Final Fantasy 10

2. Lightning Returns: FF13

3. Final Fantasy 13

4. Final Fantasy 13-2

5. Final Fantasy 10-2

Here lies Atomos, one of the Pulse Fal'Cie from the first game.

End Game - The final dungeons weren't too exciting, BUT, the final battle and ending were so epic to make up for it, and more. It hearkened back to that feeling I got from my favorite FF's. (You know... back when all the great villains had angel wings)

1. Lightning Returns: FF13
2. Final Fantasy 10-2

3. Final Fantasy 10

4. Final Fantasy 13-2

5. Final Fantasy 13

Is Bhunivelze truly God, or is it simply a self given title?

Difficulty - Like a said, there is a bit of a learning curve to the game, but overall it isn't bad. Even when you're learning the game, it doesn't mow you down like FF13 can do sometimes. I definitely recommend starting on Easy Mode.

1. Final Fantasy 13

2. Final Fantasy 10-2

3. Final Fantasy 13-2
4. Lightning Returns: FF13

5. Final Fantasy 10

Balance - It was an appropriately challenging game. I felt 10 was still a little better balanced. LR, like it's predecessors, will still give you a long battle if you can't find the right strategy. However, my longest battle was 15 minutes, which is a huge improvement over my hour long battles in 13-2.

1. Final Fantasy 10

2. Lightning Returns: FF13
3. Final Fantasy 10-2

4. Final Fantasy 13-2

5. Final Fantasy 13

Music - Just when I wanted to change this category to "soundtrack," this game has made me keep to my original plan, because of how this game uses its music. LR uses the great tunes from the first two games, and adds a number of its own. However, they are tied to small locations, making the tracks seem like the're changing about every 30 seconds. It's pretty jarring.

1. Final Fantasy 13-2

2. Final Fantasy 13

3. Final Fantasy 10-2

4. Final Fantasy 10
5. Lightning Returns: FF13

Art -  The execution isn't perfect, there are some rough edges here and there in the textures, probably due to the lower development time and budget than a main series game. The art design in this game is phenomenal, though. I loved all the background details, and how each NPC is unique, with many different looks and the use of adornments to really make them stand out from each other. The final FMV is also of very high quality, hard to separate from reality in its final depiction of Earth.

1. Lightning Returns: FF13
2. Final Fantasy 13

3. Final Fantasy 10

4. Final Fantasy 13-2

5. Final Fantasy 10-2

One of the many views I had to stop and capture. The Ark in the sky above the Dead Dunes.

Best Villain - Lumina, she is an ally in a way, but for the most part plays the antagonist. Her wit caught my imagination from her first appearence. She's the type of villain player's love to hate. Her origin story is also unique.

1. Lumina (LR:FF13)
2. Yunalesca (FF10)

3. Barthandelus (FF13)

4. Gilgamesh (FF13-2)

5. Shuyin (FF10-2)

Not Lumina. Source

Worst Villain - Good for this game, as none of the major villains stand out as being bad. I'm trying to think of some minor quest giver who might have seemed annoying, but nothing's really coming to mind. There is a little boy who steals from you who is kind of annoying, that doesn't seem like the right answer though. So I'm picking Caius, simply because, of the major quests, his motivation to fight Lightning is the most unclear. It seems like he just sort of fights her because that's how video games work. It could be said if he is saved, that will leave Yeul behind, but I didn't get that from what I remember. He's certainly the best of the worst in this case.

1. Yu Yevon (FF10)

2. Alyssa Zaidelle (FF13-2)

3. Leblanc (FF10-2)

4. Jihl Nabaat (FF13)
5. Caius Ballad (LR:FF13)

Best Ally - This is another category where nobody really stuck out. It's a little weird that the reincarnation of Odin is a chocobo, but otherwise your chocobo companion is pretty cool. You get to feed him, pet him, ride him, fly him, name him, and he even fights by your side! "Chocobodin" is a fun nickname, but he's properly The Angel of Valhalla.

1. Mog (FF13-2)

2. Auron (FF10)

3. Sazh Katzroy (FF13)

4. Rikku (FF10-2)
5. The Angel of Valhalla (LR:FF13)

If you're feeling lonely, or losing you mind, you can even chat with the Angel. The huts are in the very fun moogle village.

Worst Ally - In an almost unimaginable feat, Hope wins again! Although, I'll give him a little space, since he is also possessed by Bhunivelze. "Hope" in this game might as well be called "Captain Obvious", constantly buzzing in on the radio with an explanation of what you already know. He's almost as annoying as Chocolina, but his voice isn't as high pitched, that's the kicker. I mean, he also turns out to be the wanna be destroyer of humanity, that's not cool.

1. Hope Estheim (FF13)

2. Dona (FF10)

3. Beclam (FF10-2)

4. Chocolina (FF13-2)

5. "Hope Estheim" (LR:FF13) 

This is a t-shirt, NICE!

Best Enemy - I'm really tempted to pick "Cactair," however, LR really gets it right with the final enemy, he is the most interesting, epic, and challenging foe in the game.

1. Bhunivelze (LR:FF13)
2. Yojimbo (FF10)

3. Dahaka (FF13)

4. Angra Mainyu (FF10-2)

5. Jihl Nabaat (FF13-2)

Cactair is pretty rad, too. Source

Worst Enemy - This one was easy, the Meonekton is resistant to both magic and physical attacks which means, they are a pain in the ass. Luckily they only show up during 2 hours of the day. Unluckily, those two hours are before 6AM, which is when you are most likely to be rushing to finish quests before the day ends. They aren't b*s like Gil and Cid, but the Guado and Claret Dragon aren't nearly as annoying.

1. Gilgamesh (FF13-2)

2. Cid Raines (FF13)
3. Meonekton (LR:FF13)

4. Guado (FF10)

5. Claret Dragon (FF10-2)

Mini Games - Honestly, I can't really think of any "mini games" in LR. That seems strange for a Final Fantasy game, especially when it is not a problem. The absence was a glaring omission in FF13, but LR, the variety in the quests is so much that you don't really notice. The closest thing I can think of is the sheep quest, a fun little quest where you swing your weapon to scare sheep back into their pen. This still doesn't really fit my definition of a mini-game though, as it uses the main game's mechanics.

Side Quests - So it may seem a bit unfair to give this category to LR since 75% of the game is side quests. There is a such a variety though, they are interesting and fun, that it deserves recognition.

1. Lightning Returns: FF13
2. Final Fantasy 10-2

3. Final Fantasy 13-2

4. Final Fantasy 10

5. Final Fantasy 13 

Overall - Final Fantasy 10 has been one of my favorite games for a long time, but it has been... a long time. I've played it through about 4 times. Perhaps it's this familiarity that is coloring my choice, but, I want to put Lightning Returns on top. Reviews are what they are, but my experience was fantastic. The game, to me, combined the best aspects of open world games like The Elder Scrolls with the best of Final Fantasy. The ending push tugged at my nostalgia strings, bringing back those wonderful feelings that I longed for, but missed, in the Square offerings of the last... almost decade.

1. Lightning Returns: FF13 
2. Final Fantasy 10

3. Final Fantasy 10-2

4. Final Fantasy 13-2

5. Final Fantasy 13

Congratulations Lightning Returns, a winner is you!

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Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, Chapter 9: Fin

Just as suddenly as the apparition of God had appeared, in the form of Hope, it was gone. Lightning was alone with her thoughts, here in the inner sanctum of the cathedral. Well, not so alone, it turned out. Her good friend, Mog, had turned out to guide her way. The door behind him led to the Room of Creation, where God himself awaited Lightning. However, about the room were four altars, each of which led to a treasure. It was yet another trial Mog explained, one that if completed, would grant Lightning a powerful weapon.

Lightning explored the altars in turn, in the order which seemed most fitting. That is, Birth, Atonement, Judgement, and then Salvation. Behind each were chaos beasts, and a locked door. After defeating the monsters of each trial, the doorway opened to a treasure, powerful spells each tied to one of the elements. What was most peculiar though, was what Lightning saw through the windows of each altar room. It was not the sky of Nova Chrysalia, but instead, a view into history.

There was Valhalla with Etro's grand throne at its center, there was Eden, the capital of long dead Cocoon, and even Oerba, the village of Vanille and Fang.

As Lightning completed each altar's trial, a corresponding statue was activated. Each of these massive bronze women held a staff, and from it, energy and light beamed to the apex of the room's central altar. Something appeared to be gathering there, but the answer would have to wait until all four trials were completed.

As Lightning jumped down from the mezzanine to the central altar for the final time, an almost blinding radiance had gathered. From within, Lightning heard Lumina's voice. It whispered, "A gift, from Serah."

On the wings of Lumina's words, Lightning felt the ultimate energy of souls imbue her weapon and shield that were given to her as the savior. Her crimson sword and shield, now teeming with barely controlled energy, became the Ultima Weapon and Ultima Shield. These arms would no doubt prove invaluable against the almost unimaginable divine power that faced her, she thought to herself.

Before she entered the Door of Creation, and gazed upon the new world, Lightning had one more goodbye to make. "Kupo!" said Mog,"I-I should come with you, I can fight too!"

"Of course you can," said Lightning in a soothing tone, patting him on the head,"but Mog, I have one more task for you, I need you to stay here. Someone needs to make sure Serah knows where to go. You'll be our beacon, so she knows how to find her way back here."

Mog nodded his head solemly as Lightning took the final steps toward her destiny, fate... or both. She muttered to herself, "Bhunivelze, God of Light, what madness is it for a human to fight a being of your power? But fight, and defeat you, I will, if I must. I am remade more than human now, and I will drag you down into the unseen Chaos."

The savior was not fully prepared for what she saw ahead of her. All around her was almost empty space, raw matter, it was as if looking back to the creation of her own universe. Floating in it all was a dark sphere, the new world, that "God had wrought." Ahead of her, surrounded by the halo of divinity was Hope, and behind him... a shade.

Holy s*...

Hope, if it really was him, began to speak, his voice echoed like it was a reflection of many beings. "He dreamt of eternity... that this world would last forever. But his dream was shattered. The unseen force advanced, leaving destruction in it's wake. He saw it then, the raw energy that creates life, from which Etro guided souls. With her death, the cycle was broken, leaving a dying world. So, God decided to do it over."

"Right," said Lightning, now face to face with Hope,"He can create and mold matter, it would be a simple thing for Bhunivelze."

"Yes," said Hope,"but it is beyond his power to see inside our souls, he can neither create nor mold them. He needed someone, a fisher of souls, to gather them, to populate the new world. Etro is gone, and cannot be replaced. He needed a new goddess, to manipulate the Chaos, and place it into the hearts of the unborn."

"I'll be the new Goddess of Death, but not the one you want," said Lightning, drawing her sword, "I'll be the one, who kills you!"

The apparition of Hope simply chuckled at this, disappearing in a halo of blinding light. Lightning followed the light, down a translucent cerulean path that appeared before her. About her floated the building blocks of the celestial heavens.

"Behold!" Hope's voice rang out,"The new world, populated with millions of souls, awaiting rebirth. Yet, my glorious new world must be destroyed. It is your doing, you stopped the sacred one from singing the Soulsong. The souls are poisoned, shackled by their past sins and regrets. What God creates, he can destroy. I will create the perfect people for my perfect world, knowing only joy. They will be unburdened by grief and grudges."

"What you're describing aren't humans," countered Lightning,"they'll be puppets that look like people. Your power is great, Bhunivelze, but you could never see into our hearts."

Hope's voice ceased, and was replaced with a booming choir, like that of a hundred demons and angels. "Yes, your souls are opaque to me, which is precisely why they must be redone."

"What value can they have, if your souls are not known to God? Your flesh shall return to clay, and be remolded. Perfect."

"Purified, you shall become a vessel for God himself, supreme and transcendent. Rejoice in the light of God's love! I shall descend and inhabit your frail bodies, to read your hearts, and bring you joy."

"Tell me this," said Lightning,"you took that body, but what did you with his soul?"

"I do not know..." mused Bhunivelze, "your souls are invisible to me."

The god's fist closed upon Hope's body, and it was gone in an instant.

Lightning was willing to hear him out, but now she knew for sure, she would fight. "You think you can slay God?" asked Bhunivelze.

"The Goddess of Death can," answered Lightning,"YOU made me strong enough!"

"Let this be your final trial!" The god's voice rang out, "Bow they head and open thy heart to the benediction of God's light!"

From the far-flung depths of the unseen realm, Bhunivelze called forth his servant God's, Lindzei and Pulse. Using their powers, he formed a massive dual bladed weapon. It seemed the savior would be facing not simply one god, but three this final day.

His first act was to put a curse of doom upon the savior, if she could not defeat him in time, she would simply cease to exist. She fought fast, dodging the god's blows, all while agilely switching amongst her magical garbs. The uniform called, fittingly, but ironically, "the soldier of peace" was her mainstay. The Arrows of Artemis were her weapon, combined with the Ultima Sword, she inflicted egregious wounds upon Bhunivelze. The god switched weapons and strategies many times, always succumbing to Artemis's Arrows.

After they had battled for sometime, with Lightning clearly having the upper hand, Bhunivelze, reached down, digging his claws into the ground he had created there in space. He warped reality around, reversing Lightning's gravity, and she found, that with Bhunivelze above here, the arrow attack was no longer effective. The warp of gravity caused the arrows to fly away harmlessly. She realized she needed a new strategy, and fast. 

Lightning turned to a power she had avoided so far, the forbidden black magic, Ultima. It was almost as dangerous to the user as to their foes. This was because, for the spell to be at full power, the caster had to be nearly wounded to death. This is exactly where Lightning found herself, hovering on the edge of a death that would be all too final, as she cast the blackest of magics.

At first there was silence, as the magic gathered all ambient energy. Seconds, that seemed like eons later, Bhunivelze exploded in a coruscating dome of color. All of the energy within miles had been compounded into a singularity which exploded with the mass of a thousand suns. Lightning held the particles of her body together with sheer force of will. Bhunivelze, it seemed, had not disintegrated either, but he lay severely wounded at her feet. "The light..." Bhunivelze exclaimed," greater than... God's." 

Lightning plunged her sword into his chest as the defeated god reached out a hand toward's the dark globe above. "A... glorious new world," he breathed.

"It belongs to humanity now. There is no place for you there," said the savior.

"No!" boomed the god,"I will not accept it, I will not allow it!"

"I feel it... I feel the grief, the sadness, the anger!" the god cried in anguish, as a river of tears touched his face for the first time in existence.

"Goddess of Death, I cast you out into the Chaos!" cried Bhunivelze.

"That's exactly my plan," replied Lightning, "but I'm taking you with me!"

"Is that your final desperate plan? You think you can survive me?"

Lightning did indeed have a final desperate plan. It relied on Bhunivelze's arrogance, for he had brought the soul of Hope into himself along with the body, and it was this soul that Lightning sought to release. She hoped that releasing Hope from inside Bhunivelze would destroy him. She succeeded in freeing Hope, with the promise of seeing his parents again in the new world. Soon, Bhunivelze was nowhere to be seen, and Lightning took to the Throne of Etro as the solitary Goddess of Death.

There was crack in her plan though... herself. Serah and Lumina both appeared to her. However, Serah explained she was not real, only a pretty fake created by God. Lumina resembled Serah not because she was a young Serah, but that she was a young Claire Farron, Lightning herself.

"I am your weakness, your fear. Those parts of you that you cut away. You tried to kill me," said Lumina.

Lightning suddenly felt very alone and afraid, "Don't leave me alone!" she begged, falling into the endless chaos.

"I need you!"

At that moment of acceptance, Lightning and Lumina were reunited. Hope then appeared to guide Lightning back from the chaos, just as Bhunivelze himself reemerged. The god's power was so great, perhaps it could not be stopped by Lightning alone. Now though, she had friends, Hope, Noel, Fang, Vanille, Snow, they had all heard her cry and come to help. Even Sazh and his son Dahj came, although they were a little late, because they had been searching for something. That something... was Serah. Reunited with her sister and companions, the combined power of those who cared about each other so deeply, was enough to finally put an end to Bhunivelze's reign. "Know this Bhunivelze," spoke Lightning,"You were defeated by a power you cannot see or understand. It comes from the bonds of love that unite us, those things which make us... human."

"We don't need God anymore," proclaimed Lightning.

"The living do not need a god, but the dead do," responded a deep voice.

It was Cauis Ballad. The dead would still need guidance, and the chaos would still need to be controlled. The countless Yeul's of history would take on this task, with Cauis as their guardian. However, Noel could not accept that. He would not let Yeul go. There was one among them, the very last, who wished for this as well. Cauis released her, so that she might reunite with Noel, and fulfill the prophecy.

"Is God dead?" asked hope.

"He has sunk into the unseen realm," Lightning answered,"Will he return? I don't know, but if he does, we will win again."

The companions locked hands, and drifted off into the magnificent glow of the stream of souls, towards their new world. The new world... that is quite possibly your own.

It has been quite the story, that of Lightning, from her humble beginnings as a simple soldier. She then became in turn the servant of a goddess, and then the God of Light himself. However, in the end, it was the unimaginable power that lies in humanity itself that prevailed. 

Thank you for joining me friends, for the tale of Lightning and her companions in the epic of Fabula Nova Chrystalis. Join me again next time for more... of This Bard's Tales!

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, Chapter 8: The End is the Beginning is the End

If the player gets enough Eradia, an extra "14th day" is created before the final 13th. The day allows to player to complete an extra dungeon. It's a not so much a dungeon, but a boss rush. Each level contains a powerful "omega" version of the monsters in the game. They are the "last ones". That is, there is a finite amount of each enemy in the game, and this is the last one. Any last ones that Light has already defeated will not appear in this secret dungeon, but their treasure will still be present.

The final floor is home to a super boss named Ereshkigal. It was a neat little diversion, and yielded some powerful items, but there isn't much to write about it.

"I'll destroy this ultimate creation of God's, and prove to him just what we humans are capable of."

Late in the game, upon returning to the Ark, Lightning is visited by a vision of Cid Raines, an ally and antagonist from FF13. Cid explains that he has been formed by the dead souls within the chaos. They speak through him, and chose his form to appear familiar to Lightning. The dead are worried, because the Soulsong ritual will not only kill Vanille, it will destroy them, completely. It is not salvation, but oblivion. Destroying the dead will also destroy people's memories of them, creating a clean slate in the new world, which is God's will. Lightning believes that these souls can be saved, but it would be defying Bhunivelze. 

Upon returning to the Ark before the final day, Hope appears to Lightning. He reveals that his time is up. He was resurrected as a vessel to be Bhunivelze's eyes and ears in the Ark. However, as his usefulness is over, Hope will now be disposed of. "God doesn't like leaving loose ends," as Hope puts it. With Hope gone, our good friend Mog now sits at the controls. He wears a crown, as he is chief of the moogle's in the Wildlands, but that's a story for another time.

"Whose the moogle?"

Lightning makes her way to the cathedral in Luxerion, encountering Lumina outside the gates. She is her usual self, but strangely begs Lightning not to leave her there alone. Lightning soon encounters Noel and Fang as well. She explains to Fang that Vanille has the power to save the dead souls, which would allow them to be reborn. The Soulsong is not about saving the dead, but easing the burdens of the survivors by making them forget their past. The Order wishes to free the living from the "dead weight of the people they used to love." "The bastards want to pretend their sins never happened," Fang puts it. They enter the sanctum, where the chaos, and the souls of the dead, gather.

Lies!

Vanille believes she will atone for her past sins by saving the dead. Lightning reveals that they will be destroyed. The High Priestess urges that that is the will of God, to purify the survivors. Lightning pleas for Vanille to listen to the cries of the dead. She relents, and is buckled over with the pain of millions of souls crying out in anguish. They wish for salvation, she says, but not a one wishes to be destroyed. The High Priestess is not deterred however, and activates the Clavis. At the climax of the ritual, Snow makes his heroic entrance, breaking through the ceiling of the cathedral. Fang tosses him her glaive, and with it, he destroys the Clavis. Fang embraces Vanille, and together they instruct the living and the dead to look to the sky and find the Ark, where their souls might be reborn in the new world.

Lumina and Yeul appear. They reveal that Lumina was a vessel, created by Lightning, to hold Serah's soul. Serah was with Lightning during her long crystal sleep, but Bhunivelze "cut her out." Lightning created Lumina from a part of herself, to keep Serah's soul safe, instead of adrift in the choas. Lightning does not have memory of this. However, all is not well. "God... is awake," Vanille says. He makes quite an entrance in the form of Hope.

On the final day, God awakens.

Reaching out his hand, he gathers the souls of Lightning's companions, they disappear. "These are mine," he exclaims.

Tune in next time... for the thrilling conclusion!

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!