Rumor: Differences between FFXIII demo and retail version

by Alexander Sliwinski { Apr 23rd 2009 at 12:29PM }

A fan on 2ch has a list of expected differences between Final Fantasy XIII's demo and retail versions, cobbled together from statements made in Famitsu, Famitsu PS3 and Dengeki PlayStation. 1UP reports the list is everything that FFXIII director, Motomu Toriyama, claims will be changed. A bento sampler:

Battles will be harder in the retail version.
Players can issue orders to party members in the final build.
Most important: The Final Fantasy victory song will be present in the final game.

Check out the full list of alleged changes over at 1UP.

Tags: 1up, final-fantasy, final-fantasy-xiii, square-enix

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

MariusElijah (Only on PlayStation 3) @ Apr 23rd 2009 12:35PM

A better change would be

No turn based

xoonaka @ Apr 23rd 2009 12:42PM

Look for that in the PS3 exclusive FFXIII Versus

Christine Versus Cristine @ Apr 23rd 2009 1:12PM

Oh god...Here's another Final Fantasy turn-based crybaby. If you don't like turn-based menus and battles, then maybe you should go play another RPG. It's that simple. Problem solved, right?

ryuk @ Apr 23rd 2009 1:11PM

Yeah, versus in like, 2 years

winston7490 @ Apr 23rd 2009 1:46PM

This is funny because there hasn't been a main Final Fantasy that isn't turn based.

(Yes, Final Fantasy XII is turn based)

Marrvia @ Apr 23rd 2009 6:34PM

Seriously, why do even play Final Fantasy, if you don't like turn-based? Every Final Fantasy up until recently was turn-based, so why do you think they should change the gameplay away from what Final Fantasy fans like? Go play something else.

As for the changes, I love what I see, especially the part about it being "the most difficult FF ever", because I love hard games. I just hope they have an overworld map, like the good old days. I highly doubt it will happened, but if there was an overworld like it Dragon Quest 8, I would be a very happy man.

EncodedNybble @ Apr 23rd 2009 8:32PM

Why do people say

"until recently every FF was turn based."

I don't remember exactly what FF you're talking about (of the mainstream ones, there may have been more than just FF X, that's the only turn based one I can think of), but all the ones I can remember (outside of X) have had the "Active Time Battle" which is not turn based.

So, am I not understanding something here?

Marrvia @ Apr 24th 2009 12:13AM

I don't know where you get your information, but ATB is a form of turn-based combat. Every character takes "turns" attacking individually.

EncodedNybble @ Apr 24th 2009 6:02PM

Ah, I see we have a difference in definitions of turn based (yours makes sense too, I think I've just been gaming too long)

To me turn based is that each character (or "side" depending on the game) has a specific turn in which no other character can do anything else.

But I guess a looser definition of turn based could be that commands can only be given to one character at a time. Ambiguous definitions FTW!

shadowhowl1900 @ Apr 23rd 2009 12:43PM

How about we actually get the demo to play to see what exactly u mean and what we could also suggest?

Angel Mass @ Apr 23rd 2009 1:07PM

Im glad you can give orders to the others, sorta like FF XII then

jarhead906 @ Apr 23rd 2009 1:11PM

Technically speaking, didn't you have to switch over to the character during a fight if you wanted to pick a specific action to temporarily stop the Gambit System?

So that was not really giving commands so much as fighting against the system you setup for each party member.

j.howlett @ Apr 23rd 2009 1:21PM

i turned the gambits off. you could tell them what to do and who to do it to with or without the gambits though while you had complete control of the leader

Marrvia @ Apr 23rd 2009 6:37PM

It sounds to me like it will back to traditional way, not like FF12.

Godmars @ Apr 23rd 2009 1:13PM

Thus making the $70 demo that you imported worthless..,

hurricane @ Apr 23rd 2009 1:25PM

I don't think a demo of a HD FF game long before release is worthless, and besides, it's a DEMO, a restricted experience is to be expected to a certain degree... (which is why they're usually free, but this is FF so w/e)

Not that I would be able to justify paying $70 for such a thing...

Godmars @ Apr 23rd 2009 2:21PM

Sarcasm aside, was just saying that if you're going to do something like, use a demo as excuse to charge more as "bonus material" it should give a good idea about gameplay. Should be as close as you can get it. Not just something you've slapped, and changed to a great degree, years before the fact.

Kattleox @ Apr 23rd 2009 1:12PM

If this is half as good as XII, then its a must buy.

Tez @ Apr 23rd 2009 2:11PM

This.

mgsrocks1 @ Apr 24th 2009 7:48AM

He said it right Tez. Go bother someone else.

Ashitaka @ Apr 23rd 2009 2:15PM

I'm glad they're considering not to include the 'victory pose' after every fight. Only after boss fights (like FFXII) please!

ilean @ Apr 23rd 2009 2:30PM

I am very disappointed that "Seamless switch into battle mode" is not in that list... Let's hope they do it anyway...

Ashitaka @ Apr 23rd 2009 2:35PM

Agreed. That's one of the reasons I liked FFXII..

Feba @ Apr 23rd 2009 2:45PM

I have to agree with the seamless comments, watching videos of the demo I was VERY disappointed to see a transition before battles. It's not a deal-breaker at all, but it's a HUGE detraction. It feels like a PS1 game, not a powerhouse of a title.

I didn't understand the interface, but I'm also hoping they add some sort of "Auto" mode if they don't already have one. Like the "Rush" mode in Persona 3, or the gambit system in FFXII. A simple AI that will take care of weaker, stupider enemies for you. Or at least let us hold down X to automatically attack. Fighting weaker enemies gets very annoying very fast when you have to constantly press X to make crap happen.

gmoya90 @ Apr 23rd 2009 4:48PM

heck yeah!!u give orders to other players just like FF12! and i think very good way for final fantasy 13 cause the demo u cant do this yet its AI controll i have the demo and also thay need to put mp system back in there and hope there is a leveling up system if not majore disapointment!

i wish it was more old school like FF1 lol

gmoya90 @ Apr 23rd 2009 4:52PM

yes turn base!! is part of final fantasy and should always be this way!

ilean @ Apr 23rd 2009 9:47PM

I call BS on that.

FF is about turn based as much as about 8-bit graphics.

gmoya90 @ Apr 23rd 2009 4:57PM

GOOD news for sure there a leveling up system and also a summoning depending on your TP base heck yeah! almost like FF11 but no mp system >.<

The final will have a level system.
The demo only allows you to control one character, but the final will have a new system for managing other party members in battle.
The final will have command shortcuts.
Selecting your target in the demo can be a bit of a chore; the final will have a more streamlined targeting mechanism.
The final will have an "item" command in battle.
NPC dialogue will be subtitled in the final. In the demo, there is only voice.
Sazh's rather bizarre battle animation will be altered to be less strange, and more "jolly".
The Time Gauge maxes out at 3 in the demo, but you'll be able to add more segments in the final through a new character growth system.
Summons will be present in the final. The mysterious "TP Bonus" that appears after battles in the demo relates to them.
Finally, the occasional frame rate drops in the demo will be fixed, according to Toriyama

Neo Asuma @ Apr 24th 2009 1:12AM

I'm pre-ordering this game after its release in Japan. These changes solve a lot of the problems I saw in the demo (especially the attacking after the enemy was dead, framerate issues, and the 3-section max ATB), and managing multiple characters in real-time with no pausing is going to be super-intense. I can't wait to see Lightning & Snow's combos as they level-up.

This is going to be exciting!