Final Fantasy 13 Slated to Hit XBOX 360 and PS3 Sooner Than Anticipated

Somewhere out there, the next step on a legacy is waiting: Final Fantasy 13. Gamers wait anxiously for the newest in the line of Final Fantasy fare, salivating over the slight juicy details which slip out through the cracks of game developer SquareEnix's confidentiality clauses. At last, the end is in sight, and those fans have reason to rejoice.

The wildly popular video game series has been working toward the release of Final Fantasy 13 since before the twelfth installment even hit the shelves. Final Fantasy 13 will be the first Final Fantasy to hit the next-gen systems (PS3 and XBOX 360), and creators are promising something very special.

Japanese gamers got a taste of the new Final Fantasy 13 in a recent demo which showcased two linked story arcs, the completely revamped battle system, and video cutscenes.

What do we know about Final Fantasy 13?
The overwhelming response from this demo release is that Final Fantasy 13 is, in a word, incredible. The graphical strength of the game is impressive, blurring the line between pre-rendered scenes and in-game graphics, and the amount of detail in every scene is staggering. This is one beautiful game.

The new battle system for Final Fantasy 13 is also something for gamers to get excited about. After a short stint in a real time AI bending battle system with Final Fantasy 13, the creators have returned to completely overhaul the classic "Active Time Battle" system from previous installments.

The result is an amalgamation of strategy and quick-thinking which holds true to the old system, but presents it in a fresh and exciting new way. Battles in Final Fantasy 13 are no longer "you go-I go" affairs of turn-taking, but rather involve the execution of combos, teaming up against enemies, and flashy, fun sequences. Players plan out their moves ahead of time, and their strategies are executed within the context of an ever-changing battle. Think of it like a full-contact, fast-paced game of chess with swords and guns.

Those swords and guns, as well as the entire atmosphere of Final Fantasy 13, hearken back to a return to form for the series. The consensus is that this game looks and feels much like the Final Fantasies of old, and for many gamers this is a welcome return. While little is still known about the story, the style, form, and pacing of the demo is reminiscent of Final Fantasy 7, which still ranks as the number one game of all time on thousands of gamers lists.

So when does Final Fantasy 13 come out?
According to a report on VideoGamer.com, English-speaking gamers may get to sink their teeth into SquareEnix's tour de force sooner than expected. The most recent announced date for Final Fantasy 13's release is April 2010, but producer Yoshinori Kitase has said that the English localization of the game, which typically takes place after a game is first released in Japan, is actually taking place during the production of the Japanese version of the game.

While this likely does not mean that Final Fantasy 13 will hit American stores around the same time as the Japanese version, it does bode well for American players to get the game much sooner than anticipated. A welcome bit of news for those anticipating Final Fantasy 13, to be sure.

Look for Final Fantasy 13 to hit American stores sometime before April of 2010.

Sources:

VideoGamer.com

Ign.com