Final Fantasy XIII

Did You Know?

• Japanese alcoholic beverage distributor Suntory released a Final Fantasy XIII Elixir to promote the game.
• The game was re-released as part of the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box Japanese package in December 2012.
• Final Fantasy XIII was added to backward compatibility for Xbox One in November 2018 along with its sequels.

Plot

The game is set on the futuristic world of Gran Pulse, with Cocoon, a massive artificial sphere floating above Pulse, ruled by the theocratic Sanctum government. Both worlds are controlled by fal'Cie, mechanical beings with godlike power that can mark humans as l'Cie, branding them with a symbol and giving them a Focus—a task to complete. If l'Cie complete their Focus in time, they transform to crystal and gain eternal life; otherwise they become mindless Cie'th. The l'Cie interpret their Focus through visions. Centuries before the game, the War of Transgression between Pulse and Cocoon saw Pulse l'Cie rip a hole in Cocoon, which was later patched with material from Pulse. The Sanctum uses the resulting fear to maintain power, overseeing the Guardian Corps and PSICOM special forces. Magic exists but is normally accessible only to l'Cie, fal'Cie, and monsters, though normal humans can use distilled chemical forms via Manadrives. The story follows Lightning, a former soldier fighting the government to save her sister, who has been branded as a l'Cie by a Pulse creature. Lightning and her allies become marked by the same creature and rally against the Sanctum while seeking their assigned task and hoping to avoid transformation into monsters or crystals.

Development

Development began in February 2004, shortly after the Japanese release of Final Fantasy X-2 International + Last Mission, under the internal codename Colors World. Director Motomu Toriyama and scenario conceptor Kazushige Nojima conceived plot ideas over the first year, with Nojima creating the crystal mythology that became the basis for the Fabula Nova Crystallis series, including concepts like fal'Cie and l'Cie. Toriyama built a story on this mythology, aiming to portray characters at the mercy of a predetermined, unjust fate who belong together but collide heavily. Each of the thirteen chapters focused on different protagonists, with chapters seven and eight marking a turning point in interpersonal relationships. Lead scenario writer Daisuke Watanabe joined in March 2006 when the narrative structure began to solidify. Toriyama provided a rough outline of the first eight chapters with cornerstone scenes, asking Watanabe to flesh out the story and strengthen connections. Watanabe adjusted character personalities to emphasize the story's themes, such as ensuring the party lacked a reliable leader type early on to reflect their confusion after becoming l'Cie. Toriyama noted challenges in portraying the characters' despair, citing Sazh's attempted suicide as an example he felt was almost too dark but wanted to include, balanced by lighter elements like Sazh's Chocobo chick.

Reception

Final Fantasy XIII received generally positive reviews. Metacritic gave the PlayStation 3 version 83/100, the Xbox 360 version 82/100, and the Windows version 65/100. Famitsu rated it 39 out of 40, and Dengeki praised the battle system as the most exciting in the series, suggesting a score of 120. The graphics and presentation were universally praised, with Edge calling Cocoon an inspired setting blessed with vibrancy and vivid color, and GameSpot describing the art design as magnificent. The seamless transition between pre-rendered animation and real-time gameplay was noted, and Wired appreciated the soundtrack by Masashi Hamauzu for its catchy hooks and battle melodies. The battle system received widespread praise for its increased pace, with Edge calling it among the genre's finest and 1UP.com stating that despite AI control of two-thirds of the party, battles were the most involving in the series. The story received mixed reception: Wired found it more human and less esoteric than previous games, while 1UP.com considered it hardly world-class writing but noted the writers avoided clichés. Reviewers felt the characters worked well together and that their interactions compensated for story shortcomings.