Final Fantasy XIII-2; Seaching for Lightning

I just finish Final Fantasy XIII-2 the first time yesterday (was streaming it live on JustinTV/TwitchTV), right after I finally manage to finish my FFXIII on PS3 for the first time. I do not know yet if I want to upload it on Youtube, since the copyright is so annoying lately; also, I just got a strike for one of my videos. Sucks right? I also didn't record my first playthrough, but you can watch them HERE for now..

 In Final Fantasy XIII-2. We playing as Serah Farron (セラ・ファロン, Sera Faron?), The main protagonist of the game. She is Lightning's younger sister, Snow's fiancée, and the only one out of her friends to know Lightning still exists. Gaining the ability to have visions of the future, Serah journeys with Noel to find and save her sister. Her weapon is a crossbow that can transform into a sword, though its true form is that of her Moogle companion Mog.

And the second character in the game is Noel Kreiss (ノエル・クライス, Noeru Kuraisu?), he is the main male protagonist of the game. Noel comes from 700 AF, where he was the last surviving human in a world that faced destruction. After a chance encounter with Lightning, he travels into the past to find her sister, Serah. He sets off with her to save Lightning in the ultimate hopes of changing the future. He uses two swords that are able to combine to form a spear in battle.

Lightning (ライトニング, Raitoningu?) was only playable in the Prologe. Lightning is no longer believed to be alive by others except Serah. In reality, she has become a knight, protecting the Goddess Etro in Valhalla while being confronted by Caius.

What I think about the game?

It's fun to play, the battle take less time then in FFXIII; which is good. Instead of having a full party member from story character, the 3rd party member is a monster you can farm, either by fighting them and get them as luck, or you can buy it from Chocolina(?). The monster systems was not truly something new to me; for everyone that have played Final Fantasy X-2 International+Last Mission (Japan only) will know what I'm talking about.

There are nine possible endings in Final Fantasy XIII-2. Since I only finish it one time so far, I only seen one of couse. From what I know, the other endings, you have to do something special to see them. And last, after obtaining all paradox endings and 160 Fragments, a secret ending, "A World Without a Goddess", plays after the end credits.

I have to say the last boss is quite a beast.. It took me lots of tries, possibly because I didn't really leveln up my characters... haha. But it was in the one side FUN.

There been quite few people asking why am I already Level 99 in the half way through the game..? Well, unlike in other FF or FFXIII, you leveln each Crystarium separate. Kind of like FFX...


Overral, I love it. Lightning come quite short in the story, when you thinking about all the poster is her face on it. But if you already have a heart for Serah, than you will love this game even more. I don't want to spoil you the pots here ;)

Information about release:

The North American collector's edition which will sell for $79.99 will be available in limited quantities at GameStop, Amazon and Best Buy, and includes:

• Packaging featuring artwork by Yoshitaka Amano.
• A 4-disc official soundtrack.
• A collection of concept artwork containing "a variety of never-before-seen illustrations, environments and more".

 

Europe and Australia will get three different editions of Final Fantasy XIII-2. The Limited Collector’s Edition, with recommended retail price of £59,99/68€, will include the game; a composer selected soundtrack CD, an artbook, 6 postcards featuring CG artwork of main characters; and a high definition lenticular art print of Lightning. 

The Crystal Edition, with recommended retail price of £79,99/91€, includes all of the items above, although the composer selected soundtrack is replaced with the 4-disc Final Fantasy XIII-2 Original Soundtrack (this sound track will include all background music from the game, but not the theme song "New World".) Also included is a T-shirt from the that will not be available for purchase elsewhere. The Crystal Edition will be a strictly limited edition and will be packaged in a presentation box.

The Nordic Edition will include the game and four additional downloadable pieces of content; an alternate costume for both Serah and Noel; a unique weapon for Noel, with a special look and gameplay effects; and a recruitable monster battle: Omega, the famous Final Fantasy boss monster, and if the player wins they can recruit Omega to join the party. (Since I live in Norway, I may get the Nordic Edition :P)

Preorder extras for Europe and Australia have also been released, available for customers preordering from certain retail outlets. The preorder extras include:

• An exclusive steelbook case, a downloadable content pack, the “Fight In Style” pack, which contains a new recruitable monster (Omega) and alternate costumes for both Serah and Noel, Final Fantasy XIII -Episode i-, a novella that fills the gaps between Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII-2, and three lithograph artcards, available from Game.co.uk.
• A code which allows one to obtain a unique downloadable weapon for Noel, with special look and gameplay effects, available from Amazon.co.uk.