Story by Brenna Hillier
Tue, Jul 23, 2013 | 06:11 BST
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 includes two knids of points, Glory and Radiance, which players will have to manage to complete Lightning’s mission.
Unlike past Final Fantasy games, healing isn’t an unlimited resource in Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13; you’ll have to spend your precious Glory Points to tend your wounds.
Translating from a Dengeki interview, Siliconera reports Glory Points are a currency players use for various conveniences including teleporting around the RPG’s world, stopping time, healing yourself and resurrecting after a knock-out.
That means no potions, and no cure spells.
Design director Yuji Abe said players will earn GP after battles.
“So to a degree, you’ll be able to go around fighting to recover your health,” he said.
“Stronger enemies will give you more GP, so it might be a good idea to take on a stronger enemy to cast a Curaga when your HP is looking low. Command-based battle systems allow you to use them as much as you’d like, but this time it may feel a little more restricted.”
As for that mention of stopping time, it could be seriously useful. Lightning has 13 days to save the world, and each day plays out via real-time day-night cycle. At 6:00AM, players are returned to a hub to start again, cashing in Radiant Points earned by completing quests.
When players spend points at the Tree of Life, they’ll be able to extend the planet’s lifespan by up to 13 days at a time. Quests are worth varying amount of points, making your choice of what you do each day quite important – although as noted above, you can use GP to pause time.
Abe noted that weapons and equipment will be vital to success, too; Square Enix is still working on the balance.
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 launches in Febryary on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
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