Lightning Returns demo review (Japanese Demo)

So, I will fully admit that I know very little of what is going on in the demo. I can pick up a few phrases from my College Japanese class. But the game looks incredible so far. Lighting is collecting souls, and with Hope's help she is trying to discover the reason behind the chaos that has enveloped the world, changing everything with no notice. 

Snow is now treated like a god, with a palace where he allows people to have fun on their final days. From the very beginning, you learn that Light is gathering souls to save them, and transfer them to the new world before the end of this world. 

The opening sequence begins by introducing Luxerion, the first province you go through. Light is in the middle of a mission: to bring Snow to his senses. Before she can talk with snow, chaos intervenes and a mysterious girl named Lumina appears. It seems that Lumina is causing the chaos, and she summons the mysterious beasts that Lightning has to battle. Some look like Anubis, while others are creepy floating plants. 

Throughout the whole demo Hope talks to you through an intercom, giving you clues and helpful tips on what to do next. I enjoyed listening to Hope and Light banter back and forth while she's trying to track Snow down. It keeps the game fun, and less serious, considering Light's role to be sort of the grim reaper. 

Game play itself is similar to Final Fantasy XIII, but the battle system is very different. You fight alone, and can change abilities in order to do a steady amount of damage. It was a little difficult to get used to at first, but after a few battles, it's easier to strategize and knock out your enemies. Just like the first two games, you have a certain amount of attack points, and once they are out, you have to change abilities to do any more damage. You can also use a preemptive strike to lower enemies' HP. 

As for the rest of the game's elements, the graphics were amazing, as usual, and the story is very intriguing. I feel sorry for Snow because he's become very jaded since Serah's death, but I am glad Hope has a major role in the game because he's my favorite character besides Lightning. 

All in all, this was a fun demo, and I look forward to the actual US release of the game in February.

Lightning Returns theory

Because I have one.

Warning: Spoilers from FFXIII and FFXIII 2 

So I just completed Final Fantasy XIII 2, and during the annoying (intense) boss fight that ends the game, I actually paid attention to dialogue (instead of wanting to throw my game control at the TV screen like last time) and discovered that Serah hints at her death several times. She also tells Noel "Thank You" before dying. So my first theory is that Serah knew she was going to die once the Yuel incarnations told her she was like them. 

Because Serah had a vison of the future, she died, but because she is like Yuel, in my opinion, that is proof that she is Yuel, or at least has part of her soul.

Now, Lighting is shown at the very end of the sequence, after Cauis cheats by forcing Noel to stab the heart of Etro. 

There are many theories that Lighting will replace Etro, and I agree, but I also disagree with them. Lighting becomes Etro's protector at the beginning of the game, and she watches the world from Valhalla. In my opinion, it is posible that Lighting, like Cauis gained a small piece of Etro, and that piece allows her to collect souls in the third game. 

Also, Light didn't die at the end of FFXIII 2. She turned to crystal, which means that a FalCie might be behind this. 

Now, to back up, I have a theory about Cauis. Cauis is immortal, and he has watched over Yuel for centuries. Because he was once a human guardian, becoming immortal probably drove him mad, and caused him to go looking for a way to prevent Yuel from dying and being reborn. 

We all assume, and it's hard not to, that he is the main bad guy of FFXIII 2. But where did he get the idea of warping time itself? My guess is that a FalCie or God told him. He might have made a deal with this God to warp the entire timeline and create the world that is now Nova Crystallia. We know that there are three "Makers" or Gods in the mythology behind the FFXIII world. One of these Gods, must be behind Cauis's insanity and his sucessful plot. 

Bhunivelze is possibly the culprit. But there's another story we have yet to know about.

Snow's. Snow becomes a Lcie again, for a different FalCie. We also know that he has gone mad, granted with immortalitty and he is broken because Serah, the one person he swore to protect, died. But what deal did he make? It is possible that Snow, like Lighting has become a pawn of the Gods as well. While he created fragments at different locations and different times, he may have been helping the destruction of the timeline the entire time, thinking he was going to bring Lightning back and keep Serah safe. Clearly, that didn't happen. And we only see him twice in the main story line of the game, where he clearly has his own agenda.

Now we bring in Hope, who has been searching for the original Lcie gang since they disappeared. He changed the future, found a way to go to the future without becoming a Lcie again and he managed to create an entire world for humans. He is also immortal.

Hope and Lightning both appear to no longer be human and it is confirmed that they are servants of Bhunivelze. By his actions alone,  Hope practically became a God and defied rules of the timeline, going to these extremes to bring back the people he missed. Lightning swore to protect the realm of Valhalla  and gained the godlike power of seeing everything, at all times, and summoning the eidolons for her battle. 

Many people say they believe that Bhunivelze is going to be a boss fight in Lightning Returns, and I agree. If you consider the mythology, it's not so far fetched. 

We still don't know which of the Gods was evil, and which was good. Like the beginning of FFXIII we are given a story, and then close to the conclusion of the game, that story is turned on its head. I see this pattern in Lighting Returns already, just within the most recent trailer. 

It's clear that Lighting and Hope believe that they are helping the souls of the world, which we want to believe because they are the main characters. It is also clear that there are many prophecies, once again foreshadowing that the Lcie chosen will become pawns of the gods. Noel was tricked into the same thing when he fought Cauis. 

But before we go further, we need to talk about Serah again. and the mysterious character Lumina looks very similar to her.

Serah has been confirmed to be like Yuel, and based on what is revealed in FFXIII 2 I believe that she IS Yuel. In other words, she is Yuel's original soul reincarnated.  This theory alone confirms two things. One, that Lighting is walking into a trap. Two, Lightning has replaced Etro entirely. 

Etro and Yuel are connected. So are Lightning and Serah. 

It is already confirmed that there was more to the reason the original Lcie were chosen, and it was probably the same reason that the Falcie tried to make a giant human sacrifice. To awaken the Maker. Now, if Bhunivelze is the Maker, then the Maker was awakened once Noel/Cauis destroyed Etro's heart. Now he needs pawns to replace the gods he created. So the battle between Snow and Lightning, and even the prophecy that Noel believes that Lighting will destroy the world are both events in the battle between the three main gods. 

One other thing that might be a little farfetched, but possibly it will make sense. 

Lightning must guide souls to the next world. And the next world is beyond Valhalla. It could very well be that Etro and Bhunivelze's mother are still alive, within that next world, manipulating events to bring about the world they want and be granted more power. 

So my predictions of the next game are as follows:

Lightning is a goddess now.

Hope is practically a god.

Lumina is Serah's soul mixed with Bhunivelze's mother.

The new world is where they will meet the Maker.

Snow is the pawn of one god while Lightning is the pawn of another.

Noel didn't kill Etro completely, because Lightning replaced Etro and possibly contains a manifestation of her.

The final boss fight will be a god, or the Maker himself.

Cauis has been the pawn of this god, or Cauis is this god.

The entire world of Nova Crystallia is actually the world of the dead, which is why any souls lost will be lost forever.

Bhunivelze's mom will still be alive.

There will be a happy ending (This was confirmed)

The chosen Lcie will become the next cycle of Falcie or gods.

Each Lcie plays an important role in the prophecy and the battle of power between the gods.

Lake Bresha

The stationary Falcie stares at me, seeming to laugh at my situation. Ten minutes ago, the Falcie held you captive, and we got there, just in time to see you complete your focus. Serah, you're frozen in crystal now. Your fiancé is driving me up the wall, talking about becoming your hero. Who is he kidding? We're not heroes. With the entire lake glittering in crystal, time itself has stopped, and hope has faded. Serah, if only I had listened to you. 

Why? Why did the Falcie choose you? Why a Falcie from Pulse? Now there are five of us, one just a kid, branded as a pawn to the gods. Branded as an outcast, just like you. The white surrounding us feeds the blank slate of my mind. This wasn't supposed to happen! My feet move on my own, without a thought. I don't even know where I'm going. 

I was supposed to reason with the Falcie, protect you from these Cieth and the people who would abandon you. You believed in me, and I let you down. Now what can I do? If we follow this road, if I team up with this kid named Hope, and your "hero" will we be able to save you? No matter how many battles I fight. No matter what I say to Snow, I have no choice but to keep going. If your "hero" says anymore crap about destiny and being your hero, I'm going to punch him in the face. 

Haven't I known you longer than he has? Don't I have a say in what you would want? I don't know what you see in him. He's like a child, always running in trouble, believing in empty promises. Why did you choose him? How could he possibly save you? Our days are numbered. Now we only have two choices. Follow the advice you gave us, or follow the Falcie's bidding. 

How can we save Coccoon? 

I walk past a giant wall of crystal and see my reflection in the cold cruel substance. How do we get out of this? What should I do? 

Hope starts introducing himself, and we start walking away from the ships hovering over the lake's remains. We're as good as dead if they find us, but that doesn't scare me. You're gone, and without my sister, I'm nothing. One stupid fight lead to this. How is that even possible?

They're talking, but I hardly hear the words. If I could escape this, if I could find a way to bring you back, it wouldn't happen here. For some reason, they all turn to me, Snow daring to call me "sis." It's enough to make me sick. The air gets colder the more we walk on. They want me to make a decision? Am I their leader now? Fine! If I have to go through this. If I have to redeem the wrong I did, then it's best to keep moving. I start walking, Hope following behind me like you used to, when you were my little sister, and that was all that mattered. 

Before I created this shell, mirrored by the crystal statue you've become, and the towering titan of stone staring down at me, I was a good person. My goal, to protect you, and be a good sister. Now, can I go back to that version of me? Hope expects this. He stares at me like I'm the only person in the group who knows what I'm doing. Has this outer shell become so real to other people. Even Snow seems to buy it. 

So be it. I'm a Lcie now, and I going to find a way to free you from your prison. It's better than doing what the Falcie expects me to do. This vision means nothing to me, but if I can save you, if I can become your big sis again then the journey I was forced on, would be worth it. 

"Let's go" I tell them. 

The Sunleth Waterscape

Noel and I fell from the time gate onto soft green moss. The Sunleth Waterscape. I remember Sazh telling me about this place, when he traveled with Vanille. It was not as green as he described, a soft orange tint was brushed on the leaves, and blue flowers grew instead of the red ones he mentioned. I looked at Noel who stared at the mini flan, as red as Sazh mentioned, but not as tall or threatening. This place had changed over the course of 300 years. Without the control of the falcie, the plants grew wild and even the crystal structures seemed taller than Sazh said. 

I looked at Noel, tense and stoic. Every once in a while I wondered if he smiled, or had even smiled in his life. The future he told me was grim and sad. A while ago, Snow and I realized he didn't even know what an amusement park was. Mog hovered by me, and uttered a soft "Kupo."

It was a wonder, this place, and even for a brief moment, I wanted to enjoy this time, traveling to different places and learning about them. 

Lightning, when I was sleeping in crystal, you went to different places, fought many battles and created a miracle. I know you're still alive, and that you sent Noel and Mog to me so I could find you. Noel reminds me of you, you know. He's so serious. You would laugh, but he's the polar opposite of Snow, and even when we travel to new and amazing worlds, he's always focused on the task at hand. I hope, even if he hides it, that he enjoys himself  even for a little while on this journey. We're going to change the future, I'm going to bring you back. After all, you saved me. You never gave up on saving me. Now it's my turn to save you. 

FF 30 day challenge day 30: Has Final Fantasy made an impact on your life?

Prompt: Has Final Fantasy made an impact on your life? If so, how? If not, what do you like about the whole series itself?

Yes.
Final Fantasy has a powerful formula for story telling. I would say that the game series, particularity Final Fantasy X has inspired me to create world and tell a story by coming up with my own mythology and honoring the hero's quest. The game series has impacted me by challenging my knowledge of  mythology and learning the steps of a hero's journey.
The stories of the games are philosophical and connect with the human condition in a way that involves the creation of different worlds. The characters have human elements, and even the deities and villains show powerful symbolism that relates to epic folklore.  The pattern of a Final Fantasy story is varied, but asks the same questions: What is true purpose? What makes someone a hero?
These questions are powerful keys in storytelling.
The other characteristic of a Final Fantasy game is world building. How was this world created? How does magic work in this world? What kind of civilization thrives here? Do they have a close or distant relationship with their deity? Is there more than one world? Does time play an important factor in this environment?
And of course: character building is a crucial part of a Final Fantasy story.
How strong is this character? How do they view themselves? How do they view others? How do they act/react? Do they have a goal? What motivates them? Who matters in their life? What choices do they have to make?
Final Fantasy impacted my life by helping me understand a complex and advanced story. By exploring new worlds and following many different characters, I have learned what stories I can tell. I know what worlds I want to create, and what makes my characters heroes or villains. Final Fantasy has taught me that stories can have many layers, and characters can change depending on their history and the changes they must cope with throughout their journey.
Final Fantasy has inspired me to tell great stories.

FF 30 day challenge day 29: How many Final Fantasy games do you own?

Hmm . . . that depends. Does Kingdom Hearts count as well?

Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X2
Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy XIII 2
Final Fantasy Dissidia
Final Fantasy Dissidia Duodecim
Final Fantasy Theatrhythm

Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 days
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance

FF 30 day challenge day 18: Least Favorite Job

Being a Lcie

Seriously you only had two choices. Follow your focus and become crystal or rebel your focus and become a ceith. The Falcie controlled what you did, but they wouldn't help you. You had to do their bidding, but on your own. The only positive thing about having a job as a Lcie was gaining the ability to do magic. Other than that, you had no control in your life and people wanted you dead. Not a fun occupation, particularity if you were branded from a Pulse Falcie and had to fight Cocoon Falcie in order to survive. Even the Falcie's gift of an Eidolon came with a price. They challenged you once you sunk into despair, and you'd either die, or gain the ability to summon them.

Destiny- Revisited

"Destiny isn't the path chosen for us, but the path we choose for ourselves" - Megamind

       I read in a book yesterday that living is not a passive practice. Although many people believe they are sitting on the sidelines, they are actually making a choice to sit on the sidelines for themselves. I admit that I used to be one of these people. Now, however I try to challenge myself everyday whether it is in writing, my tasks at work or my approach at problems. 
      To be honest, this idea has appeared in many things throughout my life. In Avatar the Last Airbender, Aang is given a similar speech when the fortuneteller is proven wrong. It's mentioned in Once Upon A Time when Emma gives Ashley a pep talk on people and their opinions. But the reality of this lesson can only be experienced in life and dealing with situations that conflict with who you are and who other people want you to be.
       Even the big dreamers like Walt Disney, Albert Einstein and Abraham Lincoln had to deal with nay-sayers, and the way they dealt with these opinions determined how far they climbed the ladder to their goal.  The truth is, only you can decide who will influence your life. So what does this have to do with destiny? Control is a powerful thing, and no one but you should have it over your life. People will pressure you if you let them. It may even surprise you to discover who is trying to take control. What matters is that you never lose sight of who has the power to decide your future.
      I'm not saying that destiny is easy.  Sometimes that's one of the reasons people let others push them around. There is a certain comfort to not feeling responsible for yourself, but that dies quickly once you realize you have lost control. It is a test of will, strength and endurance when someone acts like they have the power to control you. That is the purpose of destiny. It's like a hero's quest, and a coming of age journey. Destiny is not something given to you. It is something you must learn and decide for yourself. There's a reason for all those stories and songs.
     Once someone discovers a path toward their goals, their destiny is right in front of them. This is one of the traits that make a character appealing. Strong characters know who they are and what they want. Powerful characters believe in themselves and understand that a goal must be earned. Like Hercules in the Disney movie, he could only discover what he was capable of once he believed he could "go the distance." Based on my experience today, destiny is a choice someone makes by believing they can and persisting until they get there.

Branded by Pulse

Marked by destiny
Chosen by divinity
This is the focus
Of the pulse Lcie
Forced to do the task
The Falcie create
Their time is in a limited flask
They have been marked by fate
Only two paths
Crystal or Cieth
The Falcie choose
to draw the sword from the sheath
The journey could be long or short
Depending on the Falcie's sport
A game or curse
Only Lcie can decide
to follow their purpose
Or from their focus, hide
The brave ones choose
To face their cause
The cowards put
their life on pause
If Lcie follow their heart
Their journey will start
The ultimate test
to be the best