Review of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

I will admit, this game is nowhere near perfect, but after the absolute mess that was FFXIII-2, this was a terrific way of making up for it. It doesn't quite have the character driven narrative nor the expansive nature of the first, but LR is more of a finale for fans, and quite a spectacular one at that with a clear, simplistic yet focused plot that was lacking in the previous game. The new combat system is a huge improvement over the worn turn-based system present in the previous two and feels a lot more fast paced and involved. Lightning looks gorgeous and her appearance and skills can be customized with the garb system. The world is a whole lot smaller in scope, and the game feels too short but then again, there is a sense of urgency and the time limit does make you feel like you need to save as many souls as possible before the end. At first I didn't like that aspect of the game since I don't like rushing through a game, but soon came to realize that there is ample time to do everything and still have plenty of time to spare wandering about aimlessly. The interior buildings are my main complaint, as most of them feel like repeat maps and the endless corridors felt a bit claustrophobic and depressing. All the major characters return for the final game, which was awesome although their roles weren't as large as they should have been. The dialogue felt a bit forced and not as natural as the first. The side quests are numerous and easy to complete, although some feel unnecessary. The final boss is perhaps the best part, being challenging and over the top, but in a good way. And then there were the final cutscenes, which were beautiful and had me in tears and left me feeling completely satisfied with the overall experience, making up for any gripes I had with the game. All in all, it's a diamond in the rough and a terrific send off to those characters I came to know and love 5 years ago. I urge you to look past the flaws and just enjoy it, I know I did.