Let me start by saying that I dropped FFXIII halfway and couldn't even stomach pass the first area of FFXIII-2. Confusing plot, mundane gameplay, annoying characters; the list goes on endlessly. I'm a massive Final Fantasy fan (played all the numbered entries, some spinoffs and currently clocking 1000 hours on FFXIV) but FFXIII and its sequel is a steaming pile of disappointment. When Lightning Returns went on sale, I still had doubts that the trilogy could get me interested. One hesitant purchase later, I was pleasantly surprised that all my earlier worries were for naught. Not only is Lightning Returns a great comeback to quality Final Fantasy, but it's also one of the most exceptional RPGs to come out in a while. And just so I can make this clear before continuing my review: you don’t have to play or like the first two games to appreciate Lightning Returns, although they may help in your enjoyment of the game.

The plot picks up centuries after the second game’s ending. After being crystallized for hundreds of years, Lightning awakens to find that the entire world is ending in 13 days. Numerous monsters rise from sinister zones called Chaos, most of the world has been engulfed in darkness and the remaining traces of civilization left can be found in the Dead Dunes, The Wildlands and the cities of Luxerion and Yusnaan. The worst realization for Lightning, however, is her sister Serah being held captive by the god of light, Bhunivelze. The god then made a deal to Lightning: she would become his servant for the final 13 days in return for her sister's freedom.

I have not finished both prequels, but I can assure you that the game does a good enough job in explaining its branching storyline. Some terms and characters are foreign at first for new players, but it's nothing a few hours of playing the game can fix. The story is also easier to follow and not distracting unlike in the past two games. Also two giant thumbs up for wrapping up the story in one of the most epic finale in the series!

Speaking of characters, Lightning Returns takes a step forward for the supporting characters and a massive leap for our titular heroine. If you couldn't stand any of the characters in the prequels, you'll be glad to hear that this game made their presence actually bearable. All returning characters except Lightning receive limited screen time, but their personality this time around is fleshed out through individual story arcs. With an impending apocalypse in sight, it’s not really surprising that many of the upbeat characters took a turn for the worst. Lightning herself is no longer the constantly broody genderbent Cloud from the first game, but a strong woman who is constantly seeking out her true self while looking out for her sister. From her rich interactions with the other characters and NPCs, I realize that she could be snarky, cynical, hilarious and even (gasp) feminine. She yearns to help others while always putting her mission first. I couldn't help but notice that the characterization of Lightning here just screams Geralt from The Witcher 3.

I would like to thank Square Enix for heavily revamping the combat system and making the battles actually enjoyable. Still remember the clunky mix of turn-based and real-time combat of the prequels? In Lightning Returns, the battles feel like a fresh hybrid of FFX and Crisis Core. You can unleash different attacks real-time using the four button inputs while keeping an eye on the ATB bar. If your ATB bar runs out, you'll be unable to take action for a period of time. Timing your attacks, managing your bar, exploiting the enemy's weaknesses and switching between garbs (which I'll get to in a sec) form the combat mechanics of Lightning Returns. There's even a dose of Dark Souls thrown in where timing your blocks become essential to survive against tougher foes and bosses. Unlike other Final Fantasy games, Lightning Returns will reward players who can master strategic combat instead of those who can grind the longest or obtain the best equipment. This is further backed up by the lack of EXP system in the game.

Wait, did I hear that right? No EXP, so no levels? That's absolutely correct. The term "experience points" and "levels" is nonexistent in Lightning Returns. The only way to boost Lightning's stats is by completing main story missions and side quests. Instead of getting EXP, killing monsters will net you new skills, rare weapon drops and EP for your counter. The EP counter is sort of like your SP bar in traditional RPGs for using utility skills. The only reason you will want to grind mobs is to farm skills and build up your EP counter for very situational moments. Strong skills are essential to create the ultimate Lightning, but fear not since the drop rate in this game is abnormally high.

In exchange for controlling Lightning the entire game, our heroine can equip different armors called "garbs" to fulfill the role of an entire party. Think back to the different roles like Commando and Ravager in the prequels except it involves Lightning switching garbs mid-battle instead. Each garb has their own ATB bar so timing your switches is essential since they can only refill their bar while on standby mode. For even more customization, the garbs can be modified heavily with skills that drop from monsters. The maximum number of garbs you can wield per battle is three, and there are over 80 different garbs you can buy and find. Not to mention all the garbs have pretty sweet designs!

A major complaint I've seen by most critics and players is the clock system. Every three seconds in the real world equals a minute in Lightning Returns. Right out of the tutorial level, you are given only 13 in-game days to complete numerous tasks before the world ends. Fail to do so and Lightning might not be strong enough to fight through the final day. Here's a confession: this feature was actually the main turnoff that almost made me pass the game. Even I thought the developers were on meds when they decided to make a time-restricted RPG. Guess what? By the 9th day, I was able to complete virtually every side quest and story arc! This includes me wandering around aimlessly, backtracking a lot because I felt like I skipped a treasure chest and even falling asleep once (which, by the way, causes the game to pause automatically to not waste precious time). My total playtime was already a good 40ish hours by then. The clock system may sound restrictive, but the time available is actually much, MUCH, longer than you think. For those who played the game and still think that time is too short, be aware that a skill to temporarily stop time is forever at your disposal for only a measly 1 EP. The only minor annoyance with this feature is that some quests can only be taken and turned in at specific times. The same goes for the accessibility of several areas in the world.

All in all, I consider Lightning Returns as a reminder to why I love the series so much. It's the second game I ever cared to Platinum to date, so take that as you will.

Definitely a strong 9/10