Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

 Xbox 360
User Score
6.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 271 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 145 out of 271
  2. Mixed: 49 out of 271
  3. Negative: 77 out of 271
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  1. Bryan2013GC
    Mar 11, 2014
    5
    The pressure of having a deducting time system bearing down on on open world RPG is just stressful, things are going to be rushed if youre not careful.

    The stagger system is good but for such a limited amount of ATB on the gauge you can hardly reach stagger points on certain enemies (such as the Gertrudes!!) and the battle just drags on and on until by chance you get a stagger and then    The pressure of having a deducting time system bearing down on on open world RPG is just stressful, things are going to be rushed if youre not careful.

    The stagger system is good but for such a limited amount of ATB on the gauge you can hardly reach stagger points on certain enemies (such as the Gertrudes!!) and the battle just drags on and on until by chance you get a stagger and then have to change schemata to wail into the enemy. And as for the guard thing? That's **** annoying!! specifically when you know you have pressed it on time and you still get knocked on your ass

    Aside from all that I give the game a 5 out of 10.    … Expand
  2. x_interupt
    Feb 17, 2014
    6
    i love FF games, i've played so many, and beaten so many, unlike most, my favorite is still FF8. this game has so much promise and so much possibilities, but there is an attempt at a forced connection with people in this game, but i don't want these connections. the only reason for my 6 is the visuals and the style, the gameplay is a 0, the plot is a 0, but they forgot what made FF gamesi love FF games, i've played so many, and beaten so many, unlike most, my favorite is still FF8. this game has so much promise and so much possibilities, but there is an attempt at a forced connection with people in this game, but i don't want these connections. the only reason for my 6 is the visuals and the style, the gameplay is a 0, the plot is a 0, but they forgot what made FF games so great, the story and the characters, and the gameplay.
    i'm not buying another FF game until they can at least hire a writer that knows how to create a compelling story.    … Expand
  3. Makemon
    Apr 2, 2014
    5
    I'm a huge Final Fantasy fan. I have played all of the games and I think they still didn't fix the problems of FF13 from this. The horrible turn based combat, linear world and total lack of fun things to do ruin the series reputation. I love the turn based combat in all of the other Final Fantasies, but this one has the worst. Battles are boring and take forever to finish. Final Fantasy 12I'm a huge Final Fantasy fan. I have played all of the games and I think they still didn't fix the problems of FF13 from this. The horrible turn based combat, linear world and total lack of fun things to do ruin the series reputation. I love the turn based combat in all of the other Final Fantasies, but this one has the worst. Battles are boring and take forever to finish. Final Fantasy 12 has the best combat system and the most open world of all of them. Why didn't they do something like that with this series or something like the PS1 Final Fantasies combat systems and world maps?… Expand
  4. LordDeathsama
    May 29, 2014
    7
    I can't believe how much fun I had with this game. The battlesystem is really good and challenging, the visuals are nice, but can be ugly as well at some parts. And there is a **** of content. Character are meh this time around. Even Caius, one of the best villains in every Final Fantasy isn't that good. The story is now hitting **** but can be understand after reading into the lore, II can't believe how much fun I had with this game. The battlesystem is really good and challenging, the visuals are nice, but can be ugly as well at some parts. And there is a **** of content. Character are meh this time around. Even Caius, one of the best villains in every Final Fantasy isn't that good. The story is now hitting **** but can be understand after reading into the lore, I said can not will.
    Overall, the gameplay is fun, but story and characters dissapointing. For me I had **** of fun, but I have to give it a fair score for it's flaws. 7/10    … Expand
  5. Trepadora
    Feb 18, 2014
    7
    This game is by no means a perfect one, but it is still a well rounded, enjoyable experience. As always with Metacritic, a lot of dissenters seem to be awarding absurdly low scores for laughable reasons.

    I'm going to keep this one brief. Lightning Returns is a good game, but that's it. There a few flaws (noticeably, performance seems to have taken a hit), but they are by no means deal    This game is by no means a perfect one, but it is still a well rounded, enjoyable experience. As always with Metacritic, a lot of dissenters seem to be awarding absurdly low scores for laughable reasons.

    I'm going to keep this one brief. Lightning Returns is a good game, but that's it. There a few flaws (noticeably, performance seems to have taken a hit), but they are by no means deal breakers. What the game lacks is any truly amazing standout moments and features. The 13 series has stumbled since it's first steps, but it still manages to land on it's feet. The battle system in particular is a far more interactive and thoroughly enjoyable experience.

    If you're looking for a fun JRPG to spend the weekend on, give it a try, you might be surprised.    … Expand
  6. NexusTsunami
    Jan 22, 2017
    6
    Ach ja FF. War meines Erachtens schon immer zu Overhyped. Dennoch kann ich die ganzen "Nuller" Bewertungen nicht verstehen. Findet euch damit ab. Für FF ist das Turn-Based Battlesystem Geschichte. Ebenso die Innovationen für die es geprießen war - waren diese doch ohnehin meist nur leicht verbesserte Ideen von anderen Entwicklern (denen eigentlich die Lorbeeren gehören). Aber ich bewerteAch ja FF. War meines Erachtens schon immer zu Overhyped. Dennoch kann ich die ganzen "Nuller" Bewertungen nicht verstehen. Findet euch damit ab. Für FF ist das Turn-Based Battlesystem Geschichte. Ebenso die Innovationen für die es geprießen war - waren diese doch ohnehin meist nur leicht verbesserte Ideen von anderen Entwicklern (denen eigentlich die Lorbeeren gehören). Aber ich bewerte dieses Spiel objektiv und unabhängig davon, dass Square Enix einer der überbewertetsten Publisher und Delevoper auf diesem Erdball sind (Ubisoft, EA und Activision reihen sich mit ein).

    --Spielmechaniken:
    Das Kampfsystem wird von vielen in den Boden geschimpft. Ich finde, dass dieses in der FF13 Reihe noch den größten Spassfaktor und Anspruch bietet. Vll gerade weil Lightning alleine im Feld ist, sind die Begegnungen taktischer den je (in der FF 13 Reihe). Auch die "Kostüme", oder eher die Klassen, sind an und für sich sehr variabel und es macht Spass das richtige Setup für den eigenen Spielstil zu suchen. Die Steuerung geht angenehm von der Hand.

    --Charaktere:
    Was soll ich sagen, es ist FF13. Seit dem ersten Teil der Serie hätte der Cast nicht klischeehaftiger für mich sein können (und teilweise so übertrieben, dass es schmalziger nicht geht). Dennoch fand und finde ich Lightning zusammen mit Fang noch am erträglichsten. Somit, da in diesem Spiel ja Lightning der einzige spielbare Chara ist, alles im grünen.

    --Story:
    Jaaaaaa... wo fange ich an. Lightning versucht den Tag zu retten... gut nächster Punkt. Nein! Ich muss es weiter ausführen. Die Welt ist durch die ersten zwei Teile (vorallem den zweiten) der FF13 Reihe im Umbruch da Dunkelheit die Welt verschlingt... weil in FF13-2 Sarah, Lightnings Schwester, es nicht geschafft hat, dies zu verhindern... obwohl sie eigentlich gewonnen hat, es aber trotzdem in den letzten Minuten natürlich alles anders kam... aber auch nur, weil Lightning im ersten Teil nicht erkannt hat, dass noch viel mehr hinter den Beweggründen des fiesen Bösewichts steckt...

    Ach keine Ahnung. Die Story auf dem Niveau der XIII Reihe gebliegen. Das heist, Verwirrung und Unlogik geben sich die Hand solange es episch inszeniert bleibt (zumindest für die Produzenten).

    --Spielwelt:
    Beruhend auf die Story...ist auch die Spielewelt merkwürdig (ein anderes Wort fällt mir nicht ein... aber es liegt an der Story... das erklärt es... ja das erklärt es). Ohne zu spoilern: Alles ist am Arsch... die Welt ist im Umbruch. Kontinente verschwinden und wenige Rückzugsorte sind geblieben. Und diese sind sozusagen die Spielwelt. Diese sind allerdings abwechslungsreich gestaltet und somit i.O.

    --Grafik:
    Hier hat SE wie erwartet einiges abgeliefert. Wer also ein Grafikfetischist ist, wird hier glücklich... wobei ich bei meinen Reviews eher von mir selbst ausgehe und es mir eigentlich total egal ist. Grafik kann für mich nicht von fehlenden oder unbefriedigenden Spieleelementen ablenken. Aber die Grafik ist wirklich gut.

    --Sound:
    Im großen und ganzen kann ich mich nicht beschweren. Für mich keine Ohrwürmer dabei... aber auch keine nervigen sich immer wiederholenden Lieder. Ist in Ordnung.

    --Schlusswort:
    Ein würdiger Abschluss für eine solide Serie. Mehr aber auch nicht. Man kann damit Spass haben allerdings verstehe ich die FF Fans, die so viel mehr von diesem Spiel bzw. der ganzen FF13 Reihe erwartet haben.    … Expand
  7. Dagamingphoenix
    Oct 14, 2016
    7
    Lightning returns has the best story and battle system of Lightnings Saga, but graphics are slightly sub-par compared to the other two installments, and a few other issues take the rating down to a 7.

    Positives: LR's battle system is, by far, the best I have seen in awhile. Blurring the lines between turn-based and real-time, Lightning can take three highly customisable "schemata"    Lightning returns has the best story and battle system of Lightnings Saga, but graphics are slightly sub-par compared to the other two installments, and a few other issues take the rating down to a 7.

    Positives:

    LR's battle system is, by far, the best I have seen in awhile.
    Blurring the lines between turn-based and real-time, Lightning can take three highly customisable "schemata" into battle, along with some recovery items. The fast-paced action, while keeping in with XIII's cinematic view, is exhilarating.

    The story (now this is gonna be controversial) is better than previous titles in the Saga.
    God is using Lightning as the "Saviour", one that will relieve the burdens of Nova Chrysalias citizens and gather their souls for them to be reborn in the new world God is creating. On the thirteenth day, Nova Chrysalia will fall to the Chaos and the rescued souls will be reborn in the new world. Of course, the carrot driving Lightning is her sister Serah, who is in God's hands.
    No spoilers but... lets just say it's an ending atheists will like.
    It also delivered my favourite ending cutscene of all time. ((Lightning smiles in the end!??!)

    MOG CAME BACK!! YAS. (big plus lol)
    Negatives:

    .The graphics, while still breathtaking, are of a lesser quality than the others, with Luxerion looking particularly sickly.
    .Hope wouldn't shut up.
    .Outerworld shut down 2 years ago, which means it was open for about a year. Many schemata were lost.
    . I completed the main quests fairly quickly, leaving me wandering around aimless for a good 7 days.

    Conclusion:
    I really did like LR but, some minor pitfalls keep it from greatness.
    Recommended if you like pretty, vast games with great battle systems but don't mind the few quibbles you'll definetly encounter.    … Expand
  8. MegamanZeroX19
    May 30, 2020
    7
    Este juego me hizo entender que no tengo mucha paciencia para juegos RPG,no sé si es este juego o es que en realidad no tengo paciencia para juegos RPG.
    Fuera de eso,no es la gran cosa.
  9. CloudStrife05
    Aug 16, 2021
    5
    I was fine with the first 2 parts of this trilogy overall. I was looking forward to playing with Lightning again but to me this game fell short. The clock on the upper right corner is just annoying. I'm fine with certain changes, especially in FF spin-offs or sequels like FF Type-O and Crisis Core: FFVII but have to rush to do side quest due to the clock ticking down is one thing, but thenI was fine with the first 2 parts of this trilogy overall. I was looking forward to playing with Lightning again but to me this game fell short. The clock on the upper right corner is just annoying. I'm fine with certain changes, especially in FF spin-offs or sequels like FF Type-O and Crisis Core: FFVII but have to rush to do side quest due to the clock ticking down is one thing, but then having to do certain ones in a certain time frame, (i.e. between 6am-6pm), made it worse. Certain side quest can't be accessed until you meet the person giving it but sometimes they appear only in the morning or night time. If you accept a quest given to you at 10am but complete it at 23:00pm, then you may have to wait for the quest giver to appear at a certain time again to actually complete it. For those reading this thinking of playing it, you may say "just skip the quest/s". HOWEVER, aside from completing the main quests, completing the side quest is the ONLY way to level up. You do NOT level up for defeating enemies. At the same time you want to defeat as many enemies as possible since they droop weapons and items. They do not drop any type of healing/recovery potions. They drop items that you need to complete about 90% of the side quests. Give it a go and you may like it, who knows. But for me and players like me, go on YouTube first maybe and see some game play first.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

27
#27 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2014
6
#6 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2014
20
#20 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. Games.cz
    Mar 25, 2014
    50
    A weak ending of the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy. Lightning Returns lags behind with its crappy story, atrocious dialogues, and new genre mechanics that work only sometimes.
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  2. Digital Spy
    Mar 9, 2014
    60
    While Lightning Returns is in most ways the opposite of Final Fantasy XIII's overbearing linearity, it ultimately shares the same core recommendation; if you manage to stick with what's a very uneven first half, there's definitely an enjoyable and satisfying role-playing game to be found. It's just a shame it takes so much time to get there.
    Read full review
  3. Critical Hit
    Feb 24, 2014
    65
    There is a lot wrong in this last installment for FFXIII. Fans of the franchise will need to play it to enjoy all the nods to past characters, yet it is not worth playing for those who aren't already huge FF or JRPG fans.
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