Square Enix has released the first Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII trailer! The action-RPG that’s coming to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 action-RPG is likely to be released worldwide in the second quarter (between April-June) of 2013.
With the end of the Mayan predicated world hot on our heels, Lightning has the unique perspective of a moving and life-changing clock counting down her days to doom. This is the theme for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII and it’s become clear in this new reveal how important that notion is.
The trailer begins with the familiar voice of heroine Lightning arriving by train and reminding us that only 13 days remain till the end of the world. Another familiar voice, Hope, describes to us the landscape and background of Luxerion. The city, while seemingly peaceful, isn’t free from tragedy.
Watch the first Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII trailer here:
Watch the extended “The Final Journey of Lightning” trailer here:
Time and clocks are important to understanding the trailer as even when we cut to a rapidly moving and then drastically slowing timepiece and to Lightning’s battle scenes, it’s obvious that we’ll run into the time concept again and again.
Exploration has been ramped up as well in this premier trailer. There are shots of Lightning searching the city and traveling fairly dynamically throughout.
On Lightning’s final journey (“Final”, get it? :-P) through the worlds created in Final Fantasy XIII, her action combat system gives players directly control each battle maneuver and decision.
Lightning is back to juggling monsters, but more so than ever before and uses a combination of sword and magic attacks mapped directly to the face buttons.
Lightning has a newly revealed outfit as well in this trailer and alludes to the expanded nature of the stories players have learned from the original and second Final Fantasy XIII title. Her brand new costume was designed by Square Enix staple Tetsuya Nomura specifically to encapsulate the style and nature of Lightning in this new adventure.
Click the thumbnail for the full-size close-up image of Lightning’s outfit:
PS: Square Enix further announced that Composers Masashi Hamauzu (FINAL FANTASY X), Naoshi Mizuta (FINAL FANTASY XI), and Mitsuto Suzuki (The 3rd Birthday) have all returned to score the game soundtrack. — In fact, the Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII trailer song is part of a new track reveal by Masashi Hamauzu: “Crimson Blitz” that will be available for download on the iTunes Store from December 23rd, 2012 for $0.99!