Over the last few days, there have been quite a few updates regarding SquareEnix's latest entry in their incredibly-popular Final Fantasy franchise. Here are just a few things you might have missed...
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Here's the latest scan of a page in the Japanese magazine, V Jump.
That fine gentleman with the incredibly sexy afro goes by the name of Sazh Kalzroy. He loves chocobos (has a cute baby chocobo pet), is kind-hearted, and fights with duel pistols. Judging from that screenshot in the middle, he is definately playable. Note that this is also the first time any party-based gameplay screenshots have ever been released.
The craziest part of it all is that I'm starting to see a scary trend of Final Fantasy males actually looking like males.
Also, please note that the official Final Fantasy XIII website has been launched for quite a while now. The website features three of the four main characters revealed so far - also revealing their official names/code-names. Two scores from the soundtrack also seem to be on the site, coupled with some new screens wrapped up in a sleek interface.
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Here are the main characters revealed so far:
LIGHTNING
SNOW VILLIERS
OERBA DIA VANILLE
SAZH KALZROY
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The menu/gameplay interface also seems to have gone through a make-over from the previously seen gameplay footage.
• Command Stock: Players selection which action they'd like to from a cluster of five "Action" slots.
• Cost: Each of these five actions has a number attached to it and denote the number of slots a particular action requires.
• Enhanced ATB (Active Time Battle): This refers to the bar under Lightning's name (the one with "444"). Players can perform various actions before it is empty. Commands with higher "Cost" drain the ATB bar faster.
• Symbol Encounter: Enemies appear on the game's map. There is no battle screen transition.
• Chain & Bonus: Found at the screen's top right. "Chain" refers to the number of consecutive hits inflicted. It's not clear what "Bonus" refers to, but Famitsu thinks it's related to Final Fantasy VII's Limit Break.
• Enemy HP: The HP and names of your foes are displayed — unlike previous games.
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Furthermore, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete (Blu-Ray) will come in 3 packages in Japan.
• First Edition Blu-Ray Movie: Comes with main movie and an extra disk full of goodies - most notably a playable demo for Final Fantasy XIII. Want the demo? Get the First Edition disks.
• First Edition Blu-Ray PS3 Bundle: Comes withthe First Edition Blu-Ray movie, along with a PlayStation 3 console.
• Regular Edition: Just the one disk with the main feature movie.
Note that this only applies to the Japanese March version of Advent Children Complete Blu-Ray. If you want the demo in your country, then you can either import, or hope that they release the movie with the demo here as well.
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Final Fantasy XIII is currently dated to be released in 2009 for Japan, exclusive to the PS3.
Everyone outside of Japan can play Final Fantasy XIII on their PS3s and 360s - probably early 2010.
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