Final Fantasy Versus XIII
Encyclopedia
is an upcoming action role-playing game
published by Square Enix
for the PlayStation 3
and currently being developed by the company's 1st Production Department. Alongside Final Fantasy XIII
, Final Fantasy XIII-2
, and Final Fantasy Type-0, the game is a part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy series. Unveiled at E3 2006, the game focuses on a mysterious protagonist, Noctis Lucis Caelum, who is the last heir of a dynasty ruling over the only remaining city to control crystals. Under unforeseen circumstances, he makes a stand against marauders seeking to take the crystal as their own.
Final Fantasy Versus XIII is, according to its developers, a wholly independent story unfolding with different characters and a different visual design. Although it is set within the same Final Fantasy XIII universe, it is unrelated to any other entry within the series and is thus neither a sequel nor a prequel to any other entries in the Fabula Nova Crystallis: Final Fantasy series.
Director Tetsuya Nomura has stated that the gameplay will be a realistic derivation of Kingdom Hearts
s battle system with some elements of a third-person shooter
. Nomura has also stated that the game will depart from the light and magical aesthetic of his previous directorial games (i.e. Kingdom Hearts) and opt for a world based on reality. According to Nomura, the world of Final Fantasy Versus XIII is based on the real world and will have actual real world global crisis situations happening in it. In further pursuit of this theme, Nomura has stated that he wants the characters to be "believable as real people" and thus realistic in body movement and facial expressions. As a testament towards his desire for realistic characters, he appointed Jun Akiyama to be the event director due to his experience directing cut-scenes with characters that felt like real people in Final Fantasy XII
.
Nomura stated in July 2011 that most of the cut-scenes in the game will be real-time and the player will still be in control of the main character while the cut-scene is happening. The player will be able to run around and perform various actions during the cut-scenes such as in Heavy Rain
. Nomura has called these new types of cut-scenes "Real-Time Events" and they will make up all the cut-scenes in the game. However, he has also stated that the game will also have some pre-rendered CGI scenes. The real-time events will be triggered by the player unexpectedly and with no forewarning unlike Final Fantasy XIII
. Players should expect to suddenly be attacked or trigger certain real-time events while just walking around. For example, when Noctis reaches a pedestrian bridge, a behemoth suddenly appears and attacks. Another example is a plane crashing into the road in front of Noctis while he is running down it. Nomura states that implementing these kinds of real-time events, which transition seamlessly into the flow of gameplay, takes a long time in terms of development. There will also be a new real-time lighting system in place for a day/night cycle. The player also has the ability to take photos whenever they want with Noctis' cell phone.
Battles will take place in real-time environments using all regions of the field, from the tops of buildings down to street level. Nomura said that the game will feature battles that take place in areas with great differences in height, as shown in the trailer, and the players will have to fight using the full environment. This means fighting what's in front, as well as above and below (vertical battles). The battle interface consists of several aspects, mainly Magic, Item, Summons and EX-ARTS. In addition, there are highly animated character portraits on the lower right corner of the screen. The portrait will change according to the character's feelings and current movement similar to Star Ocean: The Last Hope
albeit in a wider variety.
The game's combat will be party-based, with each party consisting of a maximum of three characters at a time with players being able to switch between the controlled characters. At the start of the game, the party line-up will be predetermined, though players will get the ability to freely switch out members as the story progresses, similar to Final Fantasy XIII
. Each character will have his or her own unique special attack capabilities, and all characters will be able to use magic, although the effect of the magic differs from character to character. For example, when Noctis casts magic, it emerges from his weapon, while for another party member, it may light his surroundings with fire. Noctis is the only character capable of equipping all weapon types in the game; other characters each have their own unique specialties. For example, one of the characters is a gun specialist who can switch to a third person view for precise aiming at the enemy's weak points, buildings, and other objects.
Nomura has also stated in Dengeki PlayStation
that he aims to create previously unseen "tricky" battle sequences, reminiscent of the CGI film
, Final Fantasy VII Advent Children. He has also stated that the development team have been implementing a traversable world map, used in the main Final Fantasy series up until its removal in Final Fantasy X
. Nomura later commented, in an interview conducted via Twitter, that players will be able to control an airship around the world map.
Like some of the previous games in the Final Fantasy series the game will feature large open fields in the world map which allow players to walk through almost anything on the field apart from the mountains. Nomura has also mentioned that the fields are truly vast and that it was very far to traverse from one end to another; thus, to facilitate easy navigation, the game will feature the return of vehicles such as an airship along with a form of fast travel between specific locations on the world map as well as a car, allowing players to easily traverse the large fields. Players can ride cars, aircraft and Chocobo
s; they can also steal tanks.
One of the trailers shows Noctis selecting from a number of different weapons to defeat the enemy soldiers in front of him. The various weapons in the game will have different methods of attack, and some will even be usable as shields to go along with Noctis's crystal power. Weapons will have some sort of customization such as elemental attacks as well. The trailer also showed Noctis warping around killing enemies. Nomura explained that players won't be able to warp freely to every spot but will be able to warp to the location where the sword is placed but is limited to an attack gauge. This is one area that is being tested on so it's a matter of time to see if this all makes it into the final product. Summon beasts are in the game and will have to be defeated to be used. Nomura has also said that the game may have Sixaxis support.
The official trailer starts with the words, "This is a fantasy based on reality." The trailer shows modern technology such as cars
, freeways, skyscrapers, gas stations, and automatic weapons and bears a striking resemblance to the real world today.
Very little information regarding the plot of the game has been revealed since E3 2006; however, Square Enix representatives have commented that Versus may be the darkest Final Fantasy game yet.
Screenshots from Japanese gaming magazine, Famitsu
, have revealed a large city reminiscent of Tokyo
which showcases a recreation of the real-life Shinjuku, surrounding Square Enix's office, in game. The lead character is seen battling a Behemoth in the dead of night with cars and flames in the distance.
Voiced by: Tatsuhisa Suzuki
. The first is Ignis (voiced by Mamoru Miyano
), a man with light brown hair and glasses who is seen wearing a suit and driving Noctis's car. He uses throwing knives in battle. The second is a bulkier man with long dark brown hair and a scar on the left side of his face, named Gladiolus (voiced by Hiroki Yasumoto
). In the January 2011 trailer, he's seen wielding a long two-hand sword. The third is a younger, blond-haired man named Prompto (voiced by Tetsuya Kakihara
), who is seen carrying a shotgun and teasing Noctis. Unlike other characters, he can target weak spots on enemies with his precise aiming. These three people are Noctis's friends; they speak casually and amicably with him, and they also accompany him during his travels.
Another character, shown in a white robe, is seen facing off with Noctis. Noctis approaches the character with intent, implying that they are enemies.
Soldiers have been seen in the trailers as well. These unknown warriors wear medieval-styled armor but carry assault rifles and shotguns that resemble modern automatic weapons. Another man, dressed in a business suit and shown leading a meeting with several other men in a cathedral-style chamber, is Noctis's father and the ruler of their city. He possesses the same weapon-manipulating powers as Noctis, and is shown fighting another man, thought to be Stella's father or grandfather, the king of Tenebrae.
, Final Fantasy Versus XIII is being developed by the teams responsible for Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts II
, and Final Fantasy VII Advent Children, which are currently part of Square Enix
's 1st Production Department. The scenario is being written by Kazushige Nojima
based on the story idea by Nomura. The real-time events will be directed by Jun Akiyama who was the event director of Final Fantasy XII
. The music is being composed by Yoko Shimomura
, with a theme song, "Somnus", performed by American singer Andrea Hopkins.
Nomura stated in May 2006 that absolutely nothing had been done on the actual scenario and that the team had yet to start actual work on the game's story. However, he also said that he had the plot worked out for some time in his mind and he was in the process of discussing the plot and concept with his staff. Both Tetsuya Nomura and Yoshinori Kitase
believe Final Fantasy Versus XIII is unsuitable as an iteration of the main Final Fantasy series due to the concept and thinking behind the game's plot and structure.
Along with Final Fantasy XIII, the game utilizes the Crystal Tools engine—an engine specifically designed by Square Enix for the seventh generation
of video game consoles. However, in early 2007, Square Enix
had announced they had licensed Epic Games
' Unreal Engine 3
for use in their future next generation titles, like The Last Remnant
. Some speculated that Final Fantasy Versus XIII would be developed using the Unreal Engine 3, however, Square Enix has stressed the White Engine—later renamed Crystal Tools—would be used in Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII in the Fabula Nova Crystallis series. It was announced that the game would use the PlayStation 3's motion-sensitive SIXAXIS controller.
Reports of June 2008 that Final Fantasy Versus XIII had been put on hold so that the Versus team could assist work on the main title, Final Fantasy XIII, were later debunked by Square Enix, stating that this was a mistranslation of an interview from Famitsu
and misinterpretation of the article, and that both games are moving along at their original schedules; occasionally, Versus developers would assist with Final Fantasy XIII development. Square Enix announced at its DKΣ3713 party in August 2008 that the demo of Final Fantasy XIII, as well as new trailers of Versus XIII and Agito XIII, would be released in the highly-anticipated Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete Blu-ray Disc. Square Enix announced the release date of the new Advent Children Blu-ray release to be some time during March 2009 (later changed to April 16) and asked fans to disregard previous release dates. Famitsu released a 50-minute DVD entitled "Re: Riplai" on December 13, 2008, including trailers from the Fabula Nova Crystallis series and other Square Enix titles.
On December 19, 2009, gameplay footage of Final Fantasy Versus XIII was shown as part of a trailer shown at Jump Festa
2010 in Japan.
When asked by a Square Enix investor at a shareholders meeting about a possible Xbox 360 port, president Yoichi Wada
stated "We'll be looking into it internally until right before the formal announcement." After some backlash, he later clarified his original statement by saying on Twitter
"It looks like the [inter]net is heating up. Versus on Xbox? What I said at the earnings press conference was just that until a formal announcement is made at the announcement time; all points about all titles are not finalized."
In regards to the announcement of Final Fantasy XIII Ultimate Hits International
for the Xbox 360, Nomura was asked by fans on Twitter regarding the fate of Final Fantasy Versus XIIIs exclusivity and his response was "Multiplatform is when you start development on a game with the assumption of optimizing for multiple platforms. Porting is something that's done after you've developed a game specifically for a particular platforms[sic]. The debate over porting is decided by the management based on the current market and the costs. All I can say right now as a developer is that Versus is being developed specifically for the PlayStation 3."
In late August 2010, producer Yoshinori Kitase cast doubt over a release within the next year as he stated that Square Enix would not commit to a 2011 release. A brief trailer for Final Fantasy Versus XIII was shown at the 2010 Tokyo Game Show
, where Square Enix announced that a press conference regarding the Fabula Nova Crystallis series will be held on January 11, 2011. On December 13, 2010, the date for the conference was changed to January 18, 2011, and the conference is now known as the "Square Enix 1st Production Department Premier." The trailer shown at the conference included Noctis being voiced for the first time, gameplay footage featuring swordplay
and shooting
elements, and Noctis firing from a tank-like machine and operating a robotic biped. Nomura has said the game is unlikely to be released in 2011 and that the earliest possible reveal of information about the game would be at E3 2011. However, the game was not present at the show. In August 2011, Nomura stated that the game would not appear at Tokyo Game Show
2011, but a date was set for the next reveal.
On September 11, 2011, it was announced that Final Fantasy Versus XIII had entered full production. During a weekend’s fan Q&A session, Yoshinori Kitase said: “Type-0 and Versus XIII have of course advanced to 100% development power.” On September 21, Nomura revealed that the game's lighting will be done using Square Enix's new Luminous Studio engine, while the gameplay mechanics will be done by an engine developed specifically for the game.
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
published by Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and currently being developed by the company's 1st Production Department. Alongside Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy XIII
is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. Released in 2009 in Japan and 2010 in North America and PAL regions, it is the thirteenth major installment in the Final Fantasy series...
, Final Fantasy XIII-2
Final Fantasy XIII-2
is an upcoming console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is being produced by Square Enix's 1st Production Department...
, and Final Fantasy Type-0, the game is a part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy series. Unveiled at E3 2006, the game focuses on a mysterious protagonist, Noctis Lucis Caelum, who is the last heir of a dynasty ruling over the only remaining city to control crystals. Under unforeseen circumstances, he makes a stand against marauders seeking to take the crystal as their own.
Final Fantasy Versus XIII is, according to its developers, a wholly independent story unfolding with different characters and a different visual design. Although it is set within the same Final Fantasy XIII universe, it is unrelated to any other entry within the series and is thus neither a sequel nor a prequel to any other entries in the Fabula Nova Crystallis: Final Fantasy series.
Gameplay
Kingdom Hearts
is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square in 2002 for the PlayStation 2 video game console. The first game in the Kingdom Hearts series, it is the result of a collaboration between Square Enix and The Walt Disney Company. The game combines characters and settings from Disney...
s battle system with some elements of a third-person shooter
Third-person shooter
Third-person shooter is a genre of 3D action games in which the player character is visible on-screen, and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting.-Definition:...
. Nomura has also stated that the game will depart from the light and magical aesthetic of his previous directorial games (i.e. Kingdom Hearts) and opt for a world based on reality. According to Nomura, the world of Final Fantasy Versus XIII is based on the real world and will have actual real world global crisis situations happening in it. In further pursuit of this theme, Nomura has stated that he wants the characters to be "believable as real people" and thus realistic in body movement and facial expressions. As a testament towards his desire for realistic characters, he appointed Jun Akiyama to be the event director due to his experience directing cut-scenes with characters that felt like real people in Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XII
is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2. Released in 2006, it is the twelfth title in the Final Fantasy series and the last in the series to be released exclusively on the PlayStation platform...
.
Nomura stated in July 2011 that most of the cut-scenes in the game will be real-time and the player will still be in control of the main character while the cut-scene is happening. The player will be able to run around and perform various actions during the cut-scenes such as in Heavy Rain
Heavy Rain
Heavy Rain is an interactive drama psychological thriller video game created by Quantic Dream exclusively for the PlayStation 3. The game is written and directed by Quantic Dream's founder and CEO David Cage....
. Nomura has called these new types of cut-scenes "Real-Time Events" and they will make up all the cut-scenes in the game. However, he has also stated that the game will also have some pre-rendered CGI scenes. The real-time events will be triggered by the player unexpectedly and with no forewarning unlike Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy XIII
is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. Released in 2009 in Japan and 2010 in North America and PAL regions, it is the thirteenth major installment in the Final Fantasy series...
. Players should expect to suddenly be attacked or trigger certain real-time events while just walking around. For example, when Noctis reaches a pedestrian bridge, a behemoth suddenly appears and attacks. Another example is a plane crashing into the road in front of Noctis while he is running down it. Nomura states that implementing these kinds of real-time events, which transition seamlessly into the flow of gameplay, takes a long time in terms of development. There will also be a new real-time lighting system in place for a day/night cycle. The player also has the ability to take photos whenever they want with Noctis' cell phone.
Battles will take place in real-time environments using all regions of the field, from the tops of buildings down to street level. Nomura said that the game will feature battles that take place in areas with great differences in height, as shown in the trailer, and the players will have to fight using the full environment. This means fighting what's in front, as well as above and below (vertical battles). The battle interface consists of several aspects, mainly Magic, Item, Summons and EX-ARTS. In addition, there are highly animated character portraits on the lower right corner of the screen. The portrait will change according to the character's feelings and current movement similar to Star Ocean: The Last Hope
Star Ocean: The Last Hope
is an action role-playing video game developed by tri-Ace and Square Enix who also published the game, initially only for the Xbox 360, and the fourth installment in the Star Ocean series. Famitsu revealed that the battle system featured four party members, and was more team-oriented...
albeit in a wider variety.
The game's combat will be party-based, with each party consisting of a maximum of three characters at a time with players being able to switch between the controlled characters. At the start of the game, the party line-up will be predetermined, though players will get the ability to freely switch out members as the story progresses, similar to Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy XIII
is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. Released in 2009 in Japan and 2010 in North America and PAL regions, it is the thirteenth major installment in the Final Fantasy series...
. Each character will have his or her own unique special attack capabilities, and all characters will be able to use magic, although the effect of the magic differs from character to character. For example, when Noctis casts magic, it emerges from his weapon, while for another party member, it may light his surroundings with fire. Noctis is the only character capable of equipping all weapon types in the game; other characters each have their own unique specialties. For example, one of the characters is a gun specialist who can switch to a third person view for precise aiming at the enemy's weak points, buildings, and other objects.
Nomura has also stated in Dengeki PlayStation
Dengeki PlayStation
is a Japanese gaming magazine published by ASCII Media Works . The magazine originally featured information pertaining to PlayStation video games, but since then has also incorporated information from PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Portable games...
that he aims to create previously unseen "tricky" battle sequences, reminiscent of the CGI film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, Final Fantasy VII Advent Children. He has also stated that the development team have been implementing a traversable world map, used in the main Final Fantasy series up until its removal in Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square as the tenth title in the Final Fantasy series. It was released in 2001 for Sony's PlayStation 2, and will be re-released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in 2012...
. Nomura later commented, in an interview conducted via Twitter, that players will be able to control an airship around the world map.
Like some of the previous games in the Final Fantasy series the game will feature large open fields in the world map which allow players to walk through almost anything on the field apart from the mountains. Nomura has also mentioned that the fields are truly vast and that it was very far to traverse from one end to another; thus, to facilitate easy navigation, the game will feature the return of vehicles such as an airship along with a form of fast travel between specific locations on the world map as well as a car, allowing players to easily traverse the large fields. Players can ride cars, aircraft and Chocobo
Chocobo
A is a fictional creature from the Final Fantasy video game series. The creature is a large and normally flightless galliforme/ratite bird capable of being ridden and otherwise used by player characters during gameplay...
s; they can also steal tanks.
One of the trailers shows Noctis selecting from a number of different weapons to defeat the enemy soldiers in front of him. The various weapons in the game will have different methods of attack, and some will even be usable as shields to go along with Noctis's crystal power. Weapons will have some sort of customization such as elemental attacks as well. The trailer also showed Noctis warping around killing enemies. Nomura explained that players won't be able to warp freely to every spot but will be able to warp to the location where the sword is placed but is limited to an attack gauge. This is one area that is being tested on so it's a matter of time to see if this all makes it into the final product. Summon beasts are in the game and will have to be defeated to be used. Nomura has also said that the game may have Sixaxis support.
Setting
Final Fantasy Versus XIII involves Noctis Lucis Caelum, the last heir to an isolated nation, which holds the last Crystal protected by kings. Its isolation is due to the city's resistance; to protect itself against invading heretics. The game has been said to initiate at the "clearing" of a long cold war between warring nations that revolved around the crystals.The official trailer starts with the words, "This is a fantasy based on reality." The trailer shows modern technology such as cars
CARS
Cars, or automobiles, motor cars, are wheeled motor vehicles used for transporting passengers.Cars or CARS may also refer to:-Entertainment:* Cars , a Disney/Pixar film series...
, freeways, skyscrapers, gas stations, and automatic weapons and bears a striking resemblance to the real world today.
Very little information regarding the plot of the game has been revealed since E3 2006; however, Square Enix representatives have commented that Versus may be the darkest Final Fantasy game yet.
Screenshots from Japanese gaming magazine, Famitsu
Famitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
, have revealed a large city reminiscent of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
which showcases a recreation of the real-life Shinjuku, surrounding Square Enix's office, in game. The lead character is seen battling a Behemoth in the dead of night with cars and flames in the distance.
Main characters
Tatsuhisa Suzuki
is a male Japanese voice actor and singer from Okazaki, Aichi, Japan, though was born in Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan. He is affiliated with I'm Enterprise and Lantis. He is a graduate from Japan Narration and Acting School...
- The protagonist of Final Fantasy Versus XIII, Noctis is the last heir to the Caelum Dynasty, which rules over the only remaining city-stateCity-stateA city-state is an independent or autonomous entity whose territory consists of a city which is not administered as a part of another local government.-Historical city-states:...
that controls the Crystals. Noctis attempts to protect his city-state against those who seek to conquer it and take the Crystals by force. Nomura has compared Noctis's family to the modern-day Japanese mafiaYakuza, also known as , are members of traditional organized crime syndicates in Japan. The Japanese police, and media by request of the police, call them bōryokudan , literally "violence group", while the yakuza call themselves "ninkyō dantai" , "chivalrous organizations". The yakuza are notoriously...
. The color of his eyes have been shown to change from blue to crimson during battle; according to Nomura, the color changes are both intentional and significant. Noctis's full name translates to "Light of the Night Sky," and his nickname is "Noct".
- Noctis wields many weapons, ranging from swords, spears, and lances to guns. He controls them with telekinesis (through the power of the Crystal), using them for both attack and defense. Nomura has stated that each weapon has a different usage and is not directly limited by normal standards of attack; for instance, some weapons are also usable as shields. Noctis also has the ability to teleport or to suddenly move at a high speed, Noctis can also do this in game play according to the trailer posted by Square Enix in 2011.
- Noctis's personality is different from other characters in the Final FantasyFinal Fantasyis a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix . The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science-fantasy role-playing video games , but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise...
franchise and is one that Nomura had wanted to try out for a long time. In the past, protagonists were not given strong personalities while distinctive ones were delegated to the supporting cast, but Nomura states that Noctis's idiosyncrasies mark a departure from this tradition. Although his character is said to be hard to define given his complexities, a good measure of his personality can be sensed from his first meeting with Stella. Noctis hides his shyness underneath a façade of coolness in front of her, which creates a cold and unsociable impression. However, he smiles and acts more openly around his friends, a testament to Nomura's statement that "[Noctis] is not the least bit a silent, gloomy little boy."
- A young woman with golden-blonde hair, Stella is said to be the daughter of the Fleuret family of the country Tenebrae (Latin for "darkness") and an enemy to Noctis, though her allegiances are under suspicion as she talked to him during a social gathering, where she spoke about the goddess Etro and her relation to their abilities. Fleuret is the French name of the fencing foilFoil (fencing)A foil is a type of weapon used in fencing. It is the most common weapon in terms of usage in competition, and is usually the choice for elementary classes for fencing in general.- Components:...
, a direct reference to Stella's weapon of choice, a rapierRapierA rapier is a slender, sharply pointed sword, ideally used for thrusting attacks, used mainly in Early Modern Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries.-Description:...
. Like Noctis, she is able to materialize weapons from thin air, as she is shown summoning her rapier from a runeRunic magicThere is some evidence that, in addition to being a writing system, runes historically served purposes of magic. This is the case from earliest epigraphic evidence of the Roman to Germanic Iron Age, with non-linguistic inscriptions and the alu word...
similar to one used by Noctis to summon his sword, though Stella's rune is golden while Noctis' is blue.
- Like that of Noctis, a good measure of Stella's personality can be sensed during her first meeting with Noctis. For instance, in their discussion about the power they share and its connection to an old legend, Stella is very open about the matter while Noctis seems reluctant to talk about it, suggesting that they keep it a secret. Stella is described to be ladylike and extremely polite but direct in her manner — a reflection of her proper but strong upbringing. She acts according to her beliefs, believing the powers she and Noctis have are part of a greater purpose, and doesn't shy away from problems. Nomura states that she will be the first to stand out from other female characters in the Final Fantasy franchise, although it is not specified how.
Other characters
Noctis has three companions who have been revealed in the video game magazine FamitsuFamitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
. The first is Ignis (voiced by Mamoru Miyano
Mamoru Miyano
is a Japanese voice actor, actor, and singer from Saitama. He is best known for his roles on Ouran High School Host Club, Death Note, Mobile Suit Gundam 00, and Kōtetsu Sangokushi. At the 2007 Seiyu Awards he was nominated for two awards for his role as Light Yagami in Death Note, and in 2008, he...
), a man with light brown hair and glasses who is seen wearing a suit and driving Noctis's car. He uses throwing knives in battle. The second is a bulkier man with long dark brown hair and a scar on the left side of his face, named Gladiolus (voiced by Hiroki Yasumoto
Hiroki Yasumoto
is a Japanese voice actor.-Television Animation:*Black Blood Brothers *Bleach , *Coyote Ragtime Show *Dōjin Work *Durarara!!...
). In the January 2011 trailer, he's seen wielding a long two-hand sword. The third is a younger, blond-haired man named Prompto (voiced by Tetsuya Kakihara
Tetsuya Kakihara
is a Japanese voice actor who is affiliated with 81 Produce . Until the age of 18, he resided abroad in Düsseldorf, Germany.He is currently affiliated with "Kiramune" in 2010, a music label by Bandai Visual Co., Ltd...
), who is seen carrying a shotgun and teasing Noctis. Unlike other characters, he can target weak spots on enemies with his precise aiming. These three people are Noctis's friends; they speak casually and amicably with him, and they also accompany him during his travels.
Another character, shown in a white robe, is seen facing off with Noctis. Noctis approaches the character with intent, implying that they are enemies.
Soldiers have been seen in the trailers as well. These unknown warriors wear medieval-styled armor but carry assault rifles and shotguns that resemble modern automatic weapons. Another man, dressed in a business suit and shown leading a meeting with several other men in a cathedral-style chamber, is Noctis's father and the ruler of their city. He possesses the same weapon-manipulating powers as Noctis, and is shown fighting another man, thought to be Stella's father or grandfather, the king of Tenebrae.
Development
Directed by Tetsuya NomuraTetsuya Nomura
is a Japanese video game director and character designer working for Square Enix , best known for his work on both the Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts series.-Time before Square:Nomura was born in Kōchi, Japan...
, Final Fantasy Versus XIII is being developed by the teams responsible for Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts II
Kingdom Hearts II
is an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix and published by Buena Vista Games and Square Enix in 2005 for the Sony PlayStation 2 video game console...
, and Final Fantasy VII Advent Children, which are currently part of Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
's 1st Production Department. The scenario is being written by Kazushige Nojima
Kazushige Nojima
is a Japanese game scenario writer and is the founder of Stellavista Ltd.. He is best known for writing parts of Square Enix's Final Fantasy video game series—namely Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2—and the Kingdom Hearts series...
based on the story idea by Nomura. The real-time events will be directed by Jun Akiyama who was the event director of Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XII
is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2. Released in 2006, it is the twelfth title in the Final Fantasy series and the last in the series to be released exclusively on the PlayStation platform...
. The music is being composed by Yoko Shimomura
Yoko Shimomura
is a Japanese video game composer. She has been described as "the most famous female video game music composer in the world". She has worked in the video game music industry since graduating from Osaka College of Music in 1988...
, with a theme song, "Somnus", performed by American singer Andrea Hopkins.
Nomura stated in May 2006 that absolutely nothing had been done on the actual scenario and that the team had yet to start actual work on the game's story. However, he also said that he had the plot worked out for some time in his mind and he was in the process of discussing the plot and concept with his staff. Both Tetsuya Nomura and Yoshinori Kitase
Yoshinori Kitase
is a Japanese game producer and former game director that has been working for Square Enix since April 1, 1990. He is mostly known for his work on the role-playing video game series Final Fantasy and is currently the manager of 1st Production Department....
believe Final Fantasy Versus XIII is unsuitable as an iteration of the main Final Fantasy series due to the concept and thinking behind the game's plot and structure.
Along with Final Fantasy XIII, the game utilizes the Crystal Tools engine—an engine specifically designed by Square Enix for the seventh generation
History of video game consoles (seventh generation)
In the history of video games, the seventh generation of consoles is the current generation , and includes consoles released since late by Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony...
of video game consoles. However, in early 2007, Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
had announced they had licensed Epic Games
Epic Games
Epic Games, Inc., also known as Epic and formerly Epic MegaGames, is an American video game development company based in Cary, North Carolina. Its most recent success has been the Gears of War series of games, although it is also known for its Unreal Engine technology. It is the parent company of...
' Unreal Engine 3
Unreal Engine 3
Unreal Engine 3 is a computer game engine developed by Epic Games. It is the third generation of Unreal Engine, designed for DirectX 9/10/11 personal computers , the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3, the PlayStation Vita, the Wii U, Android and OpenGL-based operating systems such as iOS and Mac OS X...
for use in their future next generation titles, like The Last Remnant
The Last Remnant
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix. The game is directed at both Japanese and Western audiences and had a simultaneous release in Japan, North America and Europe, on November 20, 2008 for the Xbox 360. The game was released worldwide for Microsoft Windows at the end...
. Some speculated that Final Fantasy Versus XIII would be developed using the Unreal Engine 3, however, Square Enix has stressed the White Engine—later renamed Crystal Tools—would be used in Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII in the Fabula Nova Crystallis series. It was announced that the game would use the PlayStation 3's motion-sensitive SIXAXIS controller.
Reports of June 2008 that Final Fantasy Versus XIII had been put on hold so that the Versus team could assist work on the main title, Final Fantasy XIII, were later debunked by Square Enix, stating that this was a mistranslation of an interview from Famitsu
Famitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
and misinterpretation of the article, and that both games are moving along at their original schedules; occasionally, Versus developers would assist with Final Fantasy XIII development. Square Enix announced at its DKΣ3713 party in August 2008 that the demo of Final Fantasy XIII, as well as new trailers of Versus XIII and Agito XIII, would be released in the highly-anticipated Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete Blu-ray Disc. Square Enix announced the release date of the new Advent Children Blu-ray release to be some time during March 2009 (later changed to April 16) and asked fans to disregard previous release dates. Famitsu released a 50-minute DVD entitled "Re: Riplai" on December 13, 2008, including trailers from the Fabula Nova Crystallis series and other Square Enix titles.
On December 19, 2009, gameplay footage of Final Fantasy Versus XIII was shown as part of a trailer shown at Jump Festa
Jump Festa
is an annual party or exposition in Japan, all about anime and manga, sponsored by Shueisha, creators of the various Jump anthologies. New movies, manga, games, and merchandise are introduced during this event...
2010 in Japan.
When asked by a Square Enix investor at a shareholders meeting about a possible Xbox 360 port, president Yoichi Wada
Yoichi Wada
is the current president and representative director of the Japanese video game and publishing company Square Enix as well as its subsidiary Taito...
stated "We'll be looking into it internally until right before the formal announcement." After some backlash, he later clarified his original statement by saying on Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
"It looks like the [inter]net is heating up. Versus on Xbox? What I said at the earnings press conference was just that until a formal announcement is made at the announcement time; all points about all titles are not finalized."
In regards to the announcement of Final Fantasy XIII Ultimate Hits International
Final Fantasy XIII
is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. Released in 2009 in Japan and 2010 in North America and PAL regions, it is the thirteenth major installment in the Final Fantasy series...
for the Xbox 360, Nomura was asked by fans on Twitter regarding the fate of Final Fantasy Versus XIIIs exclusivity and his response was "Multiplatform is when you start development on a game with the assumption of optimizing for multiple platforms. Porting is something that's done after you've developed a game specifically for a particular platforms[sic]. The debate over porting is decided by the management based on the current market and the costs. All I can say right now as a developer is that Versus is being developed specifically for the PlayStation 3."
In late August 2010, producer Yoshinori Kitase cast doubt over a release within the next year as he stated that Square Enix would not commit to a 2011 release. A brief trailer for Final Fantasy Versus XIII was shown at the 2010 Tokyo Game Show
Tokyo Game Show
The , commonly known as TGS, is a video game expo / convention held annually in the Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan. It is presented by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association and the Nikkei Business Publications, Inc...
, where Square Enix announced that a press conference regarding the Fabula Nova Crystallis series will be held on January 11, 2011. On December 13, 2010, the date for the conference was changed to January 18, 2011, and the conference is now known as the "Square Enix 1st Production Department Premier." The trailer shown at the conference included Noctis being voiced for the first time, gameplay footage featuring swordplay
Hack and slash
Hack and slash or hack and slay, abbreviated H&S or HnS, refers to a type of gameplay that emphasizes combat. "Hack and slash" was originally used to describe an aspect of pen-and-paper role-playing games , carrying over from there to MUDs, MMORPGs, and video games in general...
and shooting
Shooter game
Shooter games are a sub-genre of action game, which often test the player's speed and reaction time. It includes many subgenres that have the commonality of focusing "on the actions of the avatar using some sort of weapon. Usually this weapon is a gun, or some other long-range weapon". A common...
elements, and Noctis firing from a tank-like machine and operating a robotic biped. Nomura has said the game is unlikely to be released in 2011 and that the earliest possible reveal of information about the game would be at E3 2011. However, the game was not present at the show. In August 2011, Nomura stated that the game would not appear at Tokyo Game Show
Tokyo Game Show
The , commonly known as TGS, is a video game expo / convention held annually in the Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan. It is presented by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association and the Nikkei Business Publications, Inc...
2011, but a date was set for the next reveal.
On September 11, 2011, it was announced that Final Fantasy Versus XIII had entered full production. During a weekend’s fan Q&A session, Yoshinori Kitase said: “Type-0 and Versus XIII have of course advanced to 100% development power.” On September 21, Nomura revealed that the game's lighting will be done using Square Enix's new Luminous Studio engine, while the gameplay mechanics will be done by an engine developed specifically for the game.
See also
- Final Fantasy XIIIFinal Fantasy XIIIis a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. Released in 2009 in Japan and 2010 in North America and PAL regions, it is the thirteenth major installment in the Final Fantasy series...
- Final Fantasy XIII-2Final Fantasy XIII-2is an upcoming console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is being produced by Square Enix's 1st Production Department...
- Final Fantasy Type-0
- Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy