Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster

 
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Final Fantasy X has long been a fan favourite since it arrived on PS2 with one of the highlights being the first Final Fantasy game to full voiced. Now, along with what at the time was deemed the first sequel to a Final Fantasy game, Final Fantasy X-2 have been brought together in HD to a new generation.

Both games here are the international versions, which in terms of Final Fantasy X, really means nothing to those in PAL regions; this was the version that we got when it originally came out but X-2 is completely new to all western regions. But we’ll explain the differences as we go through it.

Final Fantasy X
It’s been sometime since we last delved into the land of Spira in which the game takes place and it’s taken a bit of getting used to again after all those long hours on Square Enix other Final Fantasy release this year…oh how things have changed! The differences in the international version were the additions of an expert sphere grid (the system by which you improved your characters in the game but we’re lead to believe actually gives you lower stats than that of the standard one…don’t worry, we’re confused too!) plus the addition of the optional bosses the dark Aeons and Pennance. Lip syncing is still not perfect in the game either or in some circumstances we think that it may even be worse. Visually, the FMV still look absolutely beautiful (particularly the scene from the Lake featuring Sukenei De Na) and the game play does have it’s moments where you can spot the updating. It does appear that fonts have been given a update too all round, making them easier to read.The recorded scores work beautifully too.

Final Fantasy X: Eternal Calm
There’s not much for you to do here other than watch and listen. This video (which we first saw when it was packaged with Unlimited Saga) is your prologue to Final Fantasy X-2 and basically sets up the game by explain how Yuna gets to where she is at the start of the next game. It sadly isn’t a FMV but draws on in game character models which is a bit of shame sadly.

Final Fantasy X-2
This was, in essence, the first direct sequel ever to be made for a Final Fantasy game. Following on 2 years from the event of the original game, you take charge of Yuna as she takes on the role of Spherehunter alongside fellow Gullwings Rikku & Paine as they try to unravel the mysteries of spheres of a man who looks just like Tidus from the original.  Game play isn’t as linear as the first one and there’s a bit more freedom of whether to head off straight to the next main mission or to head off to do a side quest to up your percent completed. Choices at certain points in the game do affect your percentage and can affect what ending you ultimately receive. Hence this is one of those games to make use of multiple playthroughs through new game+.

It’s back to good old grinding for levelling up and the ye old job system rears it’s head in the format of the dressspheres (defaults are Gunner for Yuna, Thief for Rikku & Warrior for Paine) and garment grids (which activating all the dresspheres on a grid allows you to access the special dresssphere for each character). Changes in the International version included two new dresspheres (Festivalist & Psychier) as well as an additional optional boss (Emerald who looks like a hybrid of all the standard Aeons from the first game). Again visually it looks beautiful.

Final Fantasy X-2: Last Mission
In the original Japanese release, Last Mission was a stand alone game but could feed off the game save from FFX-2. We’re not entirely sure whether this is still the case as it’s listed individually on the disc and we could wait to delve into the game and finally understand what we were doing (instead of random button pressing like we did with the Japanese version). This isn’t your standard dungeon though. Taking on the tower either as Yuna, Rikku or Paine, the idea is to climb to the top of tower by completing a number of floors. It’s not as easy as it firsts looks though as you contend with enemies and traps along the way, moving along a grid system. The highest we’ve achieved so far is floor 10…. Finally nice to see this little addition having been translated into English now.

Bonus Audio Drama & Credits
As it suggests, this is just an audio drama with concept art providing a background to it as well as the credits (we assume it’s those behind the re-master) while this ‘drama’ unfolds. In a sense, you would assume that it’s setting up for X-3 (more on this in a minute) We assume that it set after the events of X-2 but in all we find it a little confusing. We’ve heard that the novella Final Fantasy X-2.5 makes more sense than this. And no trophy for sitting through it? Yet one for Eternal Calm? Something doesn’t work out there….

Overall
It’s lovely to finally see both of these games finally out (we’ve only waited an additional year!). They might be in HD but there are still points that date them graphically speaking. Nice to see trophies being added although first glance we thought that it would be easy to secure the majority, we’re suddenly thinking again. We’d forgotten how at points both these games could be frustrating and challenging (and this time, there’s no cheat device to help us out!) But yet we can’t help fall in love with the games all over again. The limited edition version of this game came with a lovely little book of concept art for both games (though mainly the first) and unlike it’s last counterpart (Kingdom Hearts 1.5 –HD Remix-) there is artwork here that is likely not to have been seen until now as well as first press versions coming with Yuna’s Summoners Garb for Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII. Nice release for those who remember the original PS2 versions but also nice that it’s being brought to a new generation as well.

Rating: 4/5

Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII

PS3
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Xbox360
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*This review pertains to the PS3 version of the game so not all features etc. may be available on Xbox360*

And now the end is near and so I draw the final curtain….so sang Ol Blue Eye’s himself Frank Sinatra and it really is the end of this trilogy of games from the Final Fantasy franchise.

You might remember our review of the demo a few weeks back so now we’ve got our hands on the full thing now, let’s have a look at what we didn’t get to experience in the demo as well as how it all plays together. Before we start though, here’s something you should know. While you can play the game just by using the disc, there is also the option to install game components. There is a partial install which will install the most frequently used data or a full one. Both claim that it should speed up loading times and having played it without any install & then a full, we do see a faster loading time. Note that you do still need the disc to play even if you do a full install.

Difficulty
From the outset, you can choose either Easy or Normal. On easy, you regain health outside of battle, you’re not penalised for escaping battles, EP (abilities) costs are lower and easier to accumlate. As you might guess, normal is opposite. Should you run out of time or fail to save the world, you are also presented with the option of New Game+ allowing you to use all your items/outfits etc from the previous playthough. You can also unlock Hard by completing the game. Our recommendation would be to play on Easy first time through till you get used to the game mechanics.

Gameplay
Time is your enemy and you’ll learn that more so after the initial introductory scenes. When you officially get into the first scenario of the game, you get your first real sense of time management. When you start, you only have 4 days to save the world.  And when you consider that each ‘day’ is only 24 minutes long and what you have to try and achieve within that, you see how you need to work out your priorities. The EP ability Chronostasis can come in handy by ‘freezing’ time but allowing everything else to continue for a short period of time if just need a few extra minutes to complete a task.
You can extended the number of days by completing quests. These are found as part of the main story, but to really extend it, you need to be taking side quests & canvas prayers. Some of these need to be completed within a specific time period. How difficult each quest is is indicated by stars (1 star may be fairly easy while a 3 star may require you to do multiple things and not always in the same location as the quest originates)One of the great things about this is that you can have multiple quests ongoing in each of the 4 areas at any one time as you can travel between the 4 locations (though mind, it takes time to travel!)

Your main story lines involve characters from the previous two games and what 500 years have done to them and a new character, Lumina (who we really can’t decide whether she’s a help or a hindrance really) who can be found in the various areas. And as we previously mentioned, there are 4 to choose from: the party city of Yussann, Luxerion (the city of light), The Wildlands (self sufficient folks who help each other & live off the land) and final The Dead Dunes (home to bandits and sand surfing (we could do that all day!)

Of course, being just a solo player means that you’ve got everything to do and that is where the garbs come in. Each garb has it own pluses and minuses with it either being beneficial or detrimental to stats and may or may not come with locked abilities. Other than that you are free to customise the garb as you see fit with weapons, shields, accessories and move sets. Of course, only being able to use 3 garbs at any one time means another management course in the ATB bars to ensure you’re getting the best use of them e.g. an active garb’s ATB bar will refresh slowly whilst an inactive will refresh slightly quicker. You can purchase new weapons/shields from forges and moves can be upgraded (“synthesised”) at sorcery shops.

Outerworld
Newest addition to the trilogy is Outerworld. This allows you to link up your twitter and/or facebook account and post screenshots from within the game out to friends as well as send items for people to buy in game. These posts randomly appear in other people’s games as NPCs. We recommend looking out for a NPC called LR13 (or something similar)…this is an official NPC and may come baring free gifts….One criticism of this is the time it takes to access posts and upload them but suppose we can’t win them all.

Overall, we don’t think it’s a bad game once you get over you’re initial time constraints and having Hope constantly ‘in your ear’ for your first scenario (really, that boy needs a mute button and if you play it long enough, you might still hear him after you’ve stopped playing) Yet there is something…missing that would make this a great game worth of an ending to such a trilogy

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Demo

14th February 2014 sees the end of the Final Fantasy XIII saga with the release of Lightning Returns. For those who are still sitting on the fence with the game, a demo has been released for you to get to grips with the new game.

We are making an educated guess that we’re getting to trial the opening ‘getting to know you’ section of the game, introducing you to the controls but also giving you 6 pre-made outfits which you then get to have a bash at customising (we recommend ‘deleting’ the existing one once you’ve had a few play through so that you’re not being presented with issues of already being attached to another.

Also up and running in the demo is the Outerworld which allows you to send snapshots, messages and scores from the game to social media. It also gives an idea of how the Outerworld comes into the game (although we admit that all we were seeing were screenshots, it also looks like you might be able to send other items thorough it to to help you on your quest). There is an Outerworld app via facebook, which at the moment stores scores & photos that you’ve shared from the game. Again, this may be something that comes into it’s own once the full game is released.

The only thing we still don’t fully understand right now is how time effects. Once you’ve beaten the main beastie, it says the demo runs to 6am….we’re not sure what that entirely means, so maybe a demo where you’ve to undertake a side-quest to add more time might have been an idea. Or maybe it’s just a requirement of playing the demo a few times more.

Either way, check it out if your on the fence or want a head start on the final thing (PSN download is just over 2GB)

Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix

Standard Edition
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Limited Edition
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Oh be still our beating hearts! It’s hard to believe that 10 years ago(!) something so beautiful would be released by Disney and Square-Enix (then Squaresoft) on the PS2. This captured our imagine from the moment that we saw the trailer all those years ago and it’s thanks to them that we were introduced to Utada Hikaru. Yes, Kingdom Hearts (KH) is back!

Well, actually, this ISN’T the version that was released in the west all those years ago. This actually the Final Mix version that was released in Japan after it’s Western release. The difference between the releases is that there was a couple of extra additionals added to the game, which in parts, led you to the future games in the franchise. But we’re now in glorious HD! Oh to be in our teenage year again. The only issue is with so long having passed is trying to remember where everything was (and remembering all the frustrating bits too!) and it’s everything we remember (even if they did have to build the game again seeing as some original files had been lost!). Oh and of course, they’ve added trophies too!

But it’s not titled 1.5 for any reason. Also included on the disc is Re: Chain of Memories (Re:CoM). It’s a remake of the DS game Chain of Memories,but it never made it to this side of the Atlantic. Basically, you’re playing through Kingdom Hearts again, visiting the worlds but the game play is based on cards. Where in most KH you could get away with button bashing, Re:CoM involves a bit more of a strategy. Building you deck, you need to take into consideration that some cards can only be used once a battle or sometimes just once. Considering that this was sort of a bridge game between the first two games, you get to view the story from both sides, that is, the side of Sora & Riku.

The final addition to the 1.5 HD Remix line up is 358/2 Days. Sadly, this isn’t the game itself, but merely the full motion videos from the DS game along with the diary & character info from it (however, it does provide you with quite possibly the 6 easier PS3 trophies ever!) But why include this here considering it came out AFTER KH2…simple; this is how Roxas fits into the KH2 story line so it makes sense to include it here.

If you still get it, the Limited Edition version of the game comes with an art book  (or should we say, the artbook IS the case in which you game is included in!) To be honest though, we were a little disappointed with the book as it is full of artwork that we’ve seen before and suppose it’s maybe more for those that haven’t seen it or just want to get their hands on the limited edition.

To be honest, we don’t care about all the fancy stuff. We just wanted to get our hands on one of our favourite PS2 games. But the great thing about this release is that it will bring the Kingdom Hearts franchise to another generation of fans….so the question is…when can we expect Kingdom Hearts II.5 HD Remix…..

There is just one more question though….what’s with the cover art being a little Game of Thrones-y?

Rating: 5/5

Zumba ® Fitness (Game)

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If you have haven’t heard of Zumba® before reading this review, where have you been? Zumba is the dance fitness craze that’s been sweeping the world and now you can bring the experience to your living room with the release of Zumba® Fitness: The Video Game.

Okay, so this isn’t the first way to bring Zumba® into your home, there is of course the DVD set that you’ve maybe seen on the late night screenshops. Originally released for Xbox Kinnect, the game then received its ports for the Wii and Playstation 3. Instead of using a camera to track your moves, you get the lovely fitness belt into which you slot your Wii Remote or Playstation Move controller (one fitness belt is provided in the box. Additional belts can be purchased from ZumbawearUK, official Zumbawear stockist in the UK!)

The game features what could probably class as standard Zumba® tracks, some that you may even recognise if you’ve been to any classes. Following the on screen instructors you can work your way through either a single song or a set of varying lengths, depending on how your feeling or what your time allows. The more you move, the more you fill the bar which unlocks more ‘backing dancers’.

There’s one issue that presents itself and that is that the remote only tracks the hip movement meaning that movement from, ‘above the belt’ probably isn’t credited, or at least, credited properly

It is a fun game that takes up to four players allowing for you to hold your own Zumba® party in your living room. With 30 routines, some exclusive to the game, there’s plenty to go through and has routines suited for all skill levels. It’s a good fill in for those between class moments although if you haven’t maybe ventured to a class, you may find this hard to get into. Perseverance is the key here and you’re certain to have fun at the same time, especially if done with friends or family