FINAL FANTASY XIII-2

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 100 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 Game Cover
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This game requires DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010) to be installed. Depending on your system, it may not install correctly. In this case, please download and install it from the following link. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109 If you are unable to access the above URL, please contact the Microsoft Store support. The official sequel to the smash hit FINAL…

  • PC
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 100 reviews
story52 positive mentions
grinding9 negative mentions
  • The game features an engaging story that improves upon its predecessor, with interesting plot twists and character development.
  • The gameplay is more open and less linear than Final Fantasy XIII, allowing for exploration and side quests.
  • The monster capturing and leveling system adds a fun and unique twist to the traditional battle mechanics.
  • The story can be confusing at times, especially for players unfamiliar with the previous game, and some plot points feel rushed or incomplete.
  • The reliance on DLC for additional story content and endings can be frustrating for players seeking a complete experience.
  • The character roster is limited to only two main characters, which may disappoint fans who enjoyed the larger cast in previous titles.
  • story231 mentions

    The story of *Final Fantasy XIII-2* is generally considered interesting and engaging, particularly in its later segments, but opinions vary widely on its coherence and depth. While some players appreciate the time travel mechanics and character development, others find the narrative convoluted and less compelling than its predecessor, *Final Fantasy XIII*. The game features a mix of main story quests and numerous side quests, which can lead to confusion about the primary plot, and many reviewers note that the story feels incomplete without additional downloadable content to fully resolve its threads.

    • “XIII-2 boasts a very decent story, great music, decent characters, one hell of a protagonist, and one of the most memorable endings I have ever seen.”
    • “As someone who is a rather large fan of time travel related stories, I thoroughly enjoyed XIII-2's story!”
    • “The story follows Serah, the younger sister of Lightning, the hero from the first game, as she travels through time with Noel, the last human born at the end of days, to find her sister.”
    • “The story is anemic and completely out there, and I suppose the draw was supposed to be monster gathering.”
    • “Overall, the game was decent, but lacked key features and the story seemed thrown together last minute (which, as it turned out, was exactly the case).”
    • “Unfortunately, the tangled and confused story degrades over the course of the game into nonsense, and then pulls the rug out from under you at the end with an extremely annoying cliffhanger that basically asks you to shell out more money for the upcoming third game in the XIII saga.”
  • music59 mentions

    The music in Final Fantasy XIII-2 is noted for its diversity, featuring over 70 tracks that include various genres such as metal, jazz, and pop, with many vocal pieces. While some players appreciate the soundtrack as a significant improvement over its predecessor, others find certain tracks inconsistent or less appealing, particularly those composed by Nobuo Uematsu. Overall, the music is generally well-received, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere, though opinions vary on specific songs and styles.

    • “A good portion of the soundtrack, which boasts over 70 songs, has vocals.”
    • “Naoshi Mizuta, Masashi Hamauzu, Nobuo Uematsu, and Mitsuto Suzuki put together a very decent soundtrack.”
    • “The music is far better and more memorable; the characters are more likable, and the game has more open environments and areas with twists, branches, and hidden paths.”
    • “The music in FFXIII-2 is bad overall - I don't understand all of the rave reviews.”
    • “The characters can be a bit annoying and the music is horrendous, but overall it is very enjoyable to play.”
    • “The main problem with this game, in my opinion, is that you cannot turn down the background music which is at times unbearably girly.”
  • gameplay45 mentions

    The gameplay of Final Fantasy XIII-2 is a mixed bag, with some players praising its engaging battle mechanics and the introduction of a monster-catching system, while others criticize its linearity and convoluted story elements. Many appreciate the time-travel mechanics and the ability to build a team, but some find the gameplay experience ultimately unsatisfying due to a lack of variety and depth. Overall, while the gameplay has its strengths, it is often overshadowed by design flaws and a weak narrative.

    • “Gameplay: this is where the game probably shines most.”
    • “The ultimate effect of this is a managerial gameplay experience that allows you to build a team any way you wish, then control the flow of battle as much as any boss enemy would in previous games.”
    • “The gameplay here is stylish, varied, and usually exciting.”
    • “The only downside of the gameplay relates heavily to the monster system.”
    • “Even though I was someone who actually enjoyed Final Fantasy XIII, I freely admit it had rather large problems with its design - the level design was painfully linear, not much variety in terms of gameplay mechanics, and the post-game content was not all that interesting.”
    • “The mechanics for the time travel make the gameplay flow erratic and choppy.”
  • graphics45 mentions

    The graphics in Final Fantasy XIII-2 are consistently praised as stunning and among the best in the JRPG genre, maintaining the high standards set by its predecessor. While some reviewers note minor declines in character design and occasional frame drops, the overall visual presentation remains impressive, showcasing beautiful environments and detailed character models. Despite some criticisms regarding the aging PS3 hardware, the game is still celebrated for its gorgeous graphics and cinematic cutscenes.

    • “The graphics are gorgeous as always for a Final Fantasy game, but not perfect.”
    • “In conclusion, FF XIII-2 has all the stunning graphics of FF XIII, but with more flexibility to explore and develop your characters and just have more fun in general.”
    • “The game is graphically gorgeous as usual... and the soundtrack is okay.”
    • “Visuals are similar to XIII, but with questionable character design decisions.”
    • “Not really enjoying the live action thing either... CG & cutscenes are gone and the characters' graphics aren't as nice (blocky pixel hair, anyone?) without them.”
    • “The graphics remained about the same as far as I could tell.”
  • character development10 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players note improvements over previous installments, with characters becoming more relatable and their arcs making sense, others criticize it as lacking depth and emotional engagement. The character designs have also sparked controversy, particularly regarding the sexualization of certain characters, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the linear gameplay and convoluted storyline further hinder the potential for meaningful character growth.

    • “Character development - while not as great as some of the other Final Fantasies, the character development does seem to be much improved compared to FFXIII; I did somewhat care for the characters, and their ups and downs made sense for the most part; still not great, but not bad either.”
    • “Character development - faster and improved.”
    • “But I don't feel cheated when it comes to character development, as the leveling process and paradigm system allow plenty of customization.”
    • “Bad and hard to follow storyline (l'cie, fal'cie, cie'th, etc etc; who came up with this nonsense?), multiple annoying characters (usually there's only one annoying character), poor character development, less than satisfying gameplay, plus the number-one complaint: too linear (and don't give me that 'all games are linear' nonsense, you know there's a difference between storyline-driven games with certain parts inaccessible at different times and a game that has a 5ft wide path you must follow for 90% of the game).”
    • “Character development is non-existent, so I couldn't even sympathize with the main character much at all, which made it feel almost obligatory to continue on rather than out of interest in the characters.”
    • “The hours of smashing X and boring character development to start the game killed it for me.”
  • grinding9 mentions

    Reviews indicate that grinding in games can be a mixed experience; while some players appreciate the freedom to level up in designated areas, others find it tedious and frustrating, especially when it involves lengthy farming for materials or battling without guaranteed rewards. Titles like Final Fantasy XII and its sequels have been noted for their grinding elements, with some players feeling that these aspects detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. However, improvements in combat systems have made grinding less of a chore in newer installments.

    • “I also did not collect the weapons that require ridiculous farming time.”
    • “It was written after 5 hours of grinding and a really annoying set of puzzles.”
    • “The only negatives is that it can be frustrating to find the material to level up your monsters or could be tedious at times when they don't drop anything after a 5-star battle that you need.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Players appreciate the high replayability of the game, noting its expansive world and improved battle system compared to its predecessor, Final Fantasy XIII-1. The inclusion of secondary missions and the ability to enhance character stats contribute to its replay value, although some players express frustration with certain collectible elements. Overall, the game offers a rich experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.

    • “In conclusion, I touch on a few subjects, and this is just breaking the surface of this massive, incredible world with replay value that I can appreciate and feel. I didn't like Final Fantasy XIII-1 as much as I love this... 5 stars... 101 hours... 52 fragments, almost level 99 on all stats and most monsters high level ups.”
    • “Replayable power and multiple improvements in which it remains its great strength: the battle system.”
    • “Why aren't there more playable characters?”
    • “The game is more playable (except for finding those friggin wild artifacts).”
    • “Ffxiii-2 is no longer so linear, has a number of secondary missions, replayable power and multiple improvements in which it remains its great strength: the battle system.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is often derived from the playful contrasts between gameplay and story, as well as the nostalgic reflections on the series' history. Players appreciate the lighthearted banter and camaraderie between characters, particularly Serah and Noel, which adds a humorous touch to their interactions. Additionally, the absurdity of certain game mechanics, like the idea of hunting iconic creatures, contributes to the overall comedic tone.

    • “Funny thing, in FFXIII the first 20 hours were all story and no gameplay; this game is all gameplay and no story.”
    • “It's funny, but the ones most of my family and friends like, I didn't care for that much, though it never stopped me from playing them over many times.”
    • “It seems almost sacrilegious to have to kill such an iconic creature, what next, hunting down moogles and killing them?”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is praised for its stunning graphics and memorable soundtrack, which effectively enhance the overall experience. However, the lack of a compelling plot detracts from the immersion, as the repetitive themes of changing the future and solving paradoxes fail to provide meaningful development.

    • “The soundtrack is a win: very atmospheric, memorable, and fitting to the game.”
    • “It was marvelous because it had the power to hold a massive sphere high in the atmosphere, yet dire because it held no love for the sphere's inhabitants.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report excellent stability, noting no freezes, screen tearing, or audio issues, and commend the game for maintaining smooth performance even with large save files.

    • “No freezes, no screen tearing, and no music cutting out. My entire 24MB save didn't drop to 10 frames at all!”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any hiccups, providing a seamless experience.”
    • “I've experienced zero crashes, which makes for a much more enjoyable gaming session.”
    • “No freezes, no screen tearing, no music cutting out. My entire 24MB save didn't drop to 10 frames at all!”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
    • “I experienced constant lag and stuttering, which ruined the overall experience.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the game is enhanced by the diverse performances of the character, who embodies multiple personas across time, adding depth and variety to the gameplay experience.

  • emotional1 mentions

    Players report that the game evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, leading to feelings of aging and reflection on the passage of time.

    • “Playing this game made me feel nostalgic.”
    • “The story touched my heart and made me reflect on my own life.”
    • “I felt a deep connection to the characters and their struggles.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

80hMedian play time
118hAverage play time
25-250hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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