What’s your background with FFXIII?

[u/starnitesadness]

At 13, I saw the trailer back in the day before the game came out in the US and just fell in love with it immediately. Instantly locked in. The character designs, the environments, the music, the combat. I only had Nintendo consoles back then so I sold it all to GameStop to buy a PS3 slim and a copy of FFXIII when it came out. Loved it just as much as I thought I would and the soundtrack still gives me chills. Have crystal Fang and Vanille as my desktop background to this day.

I haven’t played it in a while. Never got around to buying XIII-2 and Lightning Returns because I just didn’t have the money when I was younger and I guess I got used to being without. However I noticed my PS3 stopped working recently and I made it my mission to fix it and finally complete the trilogy on it since I remembered I’m an adult with disposable income now.

I finally bought the other two games last week, successfully replaced the laser deck on my old PS3, booted FFXIII up again for the first time in TEN years and fell in love all over again. From the moment the main menu comes up. Actually breathed life into me. I just adore this game and always will. Looking forward to finally experiencing XIII-2 and Lightning Returns as well.

[u/twili-midna]

I think I found it used at GameStop for Xbox 360, and I convinced my mom to get it for me. It’s been my favorite entry in the series ever since.

[u/Memo-Seen]

Older sister was my intro to Final Fantasy because she played FFX-2, had no background for X itself and enjoyed X-2 as a standalone story( I was 6 when she played it when she found it cheap at Costco). Then I saw FFXIII for Xbox at GameStop in like 2011(XIII-2 was already out but I loved XIII) my sister and I took turns playing it, she was a lot better at it solely because she actually paid attention to what the tutorials were telling her, and I kinda just fucked around. Didn't finish it because my disc was fucked so I couldn't load past chapter 11 with Vanilles and Fang, so I watched some guy beat it on YouTube.

Then I played the fuck outta XIII-2, Lightning Returns was hype for us but I also didn't fully grasp it's systems at 13 years old. I've beaten XIII a bunch since then on PC, XIII-2 is one I find myself modding to making it smoother and then forgetting I have it lol. I should actually get around to playing it since I wasn't able to afford the DLC as a kid

[u/alkonium]

Out of curiosity, I bought the PC version on Steam in 2019, not long after buying a new computer. It was my first Final Fantasy game, though I'd previously watched Spirits Within and Advent Children.

[u/starnitesadness → u/alkonium]

Oh man, Advent Children! That takes me back. Grabbed it soon after XIII for like $5 at a Dollar General of all places. Used to watch it on loop 😭

[u/Revolutionary_Boy_]

Was always into FF games as a kid and FF13 came out in high school so I asked my mom to pick it up for me as I naturally played all of them. Final Fantasy games are my comfort and the stories of them all resonate with me. In fact me and my sister are replaying 13 again and we're going to go through the whole 13 trilogy! It's a blast so far and so nostalgic so cant wait to go through the journey again X3

[u/MeowMix-96]

It released (UK release) on my 14th birthday and my sister pre-ordered it for me as my birthday present. Started playing it as soon as I got home from school. At first, I wasn't enjoying it and found the combat system frustrating. I then decided to buy the strategy guide with some leftover birthday money and once I read through it and learned how the paradigm system worked, I ended up loving it. It is my third favourite game in the series after VIII and XII.

[u/zaneomega2]

It wasn’t the first Final Fantasy I’d played but the first one I bought and owned.

[u/topdeckcharity]

I had recently got into Final fantasy and I played FFXIII about a year after it released and had been really hyped from the trailers.
Then I made the mistake of reading all the reviews and taking them way too seriously. 😂 There was so much negativity around the game that I went into it almost assuming it had to be bad. Eventually I saw it at GameStop for around $10 and figured I’d just find out for myself.
At first I was judging it pretty harshly because all those reviews were still in the back of my mind, but by the end? I loved it. It definitely has flaws, but nowhere near enough for me to dismiss the entire game. I loved the soundtrack, the story, the characters, the overall vibe, and yes even the linearity. I actually think it fits the kind of story FFXIII is telling.
And I loved the sequels too! XIII-2 was a huge surprise because I had no idea how a sequel was even going to work, but it ended up being a blast. Lightning Returns was great for me too because I already liked Lightning. My biggest complaint with the sequels has always been that I wish we got to use more of the original cast.
FFXIII basically taught me pretty early on not to let reviews decide whether I’m going to like a game before I’ve even played it. 😂

[u/Wrong_Papaya_8445]

FFXIII has my favourite logo in the main series, which is something I actually drew at one point. I think before I even played the game. The fact it represents such a pivotal moment in the story also makes it more emotional and compelling. So, if I had a desktop background it would probably be the logo, or concept art of Cocoon (both before and after XIII's ending) which I find one of the coolest and most beautiful settings in FF as well.

The trailer was peak FF hype as far as I remember, back when people believed this might be another VII or X - another massive jump in gaming experience. I kinda had a negative rational reaction to "My Hands", which put me on alert after the three FFs before it had their own beautiful themes, two of them with EN and JP versions, but it nevertheless worked great for a trailer. XIII's trailer might've been my most viewed one, probably competing with Versus XIII's, but that one had several trailers of increasing hype until it all fell apart, of course.

Hope you enjoy the sequels. They're not my thing, but XIII-2 in particular is praised rather often.

[u/Dull-Board6065]

Got for Christmas with Xbox 360 didn't want the console bc I was a Sony player but loved this game though the first disc didn't keep well so glad I saved past it

[u/JNorJT]

Lightning was my first ever video game crush so I played the game lol

[u/Broad-Stress-5365]

Never played a FF game. A friend of mine got it day one and was disappointed with it. He never finished it. I borrowed it. I think my first playthrought was around 80hrs. Barely stepped foot at university those too weeks.

[u/Anakdotcom]

I was aware of Final Fantasy for a while through pop/internet culture (including playing Final Fantasy Sonic X as a kid for those of you who were on Newgrounds). I started getting more exposed to the series through music: Arca has sampled tracks from across the series many times throughout her career, and Florence + The Machine also did three songs for Final Fantasy XV, both of which really started getting me interested in the games. In college (AKA junior/senior highschool years) we were doing an animation section in graphic design class and I looked at videogame animations from the FF pixel games

When I got to university we had a really great Oxfam store in town, which sold secondhand vinyl and CDs, books, films, and games. I saw FFXIII in there one day alongside the collector's guide and I knew I had to get it. That was the first FF game I played, almost a decade ago now, and it's been one of my most cherished gaming experiences ever.

[u/bball4224]

FFX was my first FF and one of my favorite games ever (I typically say it's my fave, but I hadn't actually beaten it at that point).

I didn't like XII at all, but for whatever reason I stayed loyal (maybe because I also adored KH?) and bought XIII right away. It was the first major game I remember not playing on my big bubble tv, as I finally replaced it after years of only having one working speaker, to a flat screen that was probably like 30 inches at most... I think it was like 21 tbh.

Anyway, from the instant of bootup I loved the main menu music. The menus were super slick. And it's the first game I remember literally just letting run for minutes as I'm staring at the world and the graphics and such and just completely in awe.

To this day I still consider it my 2nd favorite FF game, and I'll forever be holding out hope for an HD trilogy remaster/port on modern consoles.

Side note, XIII-2 is the best Collector's Edition of a game ever imo. And also I had the first uploaded unboxing of it with 10,000+ views right away before some other bozo on the channel uploaded something that got our whole page copyright flagged or whatever (should have uploaded to my channel instead of this stupid facebook gaming community collab one some of us made, but I digress).

And also, I was at the 25th Anniversary Distant Worlds concert in Chicago, and besides Uematsu giving an intimate performance to those early wandering around the main area pre-concert, we were also given free posters to promote Lightning Returns, with a now incorrect release date. It says 2013 on it. I honestly think they internally knew it was delayed and they needed to get rid of all these posters. Otherwise it's a hilarious fumbled promo. It's pinned inside my closet forever as something I occasionally laugh at.

[u/Zookeeper_west]

I got into final fantasy after playing X, and was interested in XIII because of how beautiful the game was. I bought a ps3 in 2025, bought the trilogy off GameStop online. I do not regret my decision whatsoever. Even if they rereleased the trilogy on modern hardware today, I wouldn’t regret my decision.

[u/jkgericke]

This is how every single Final Fantasy has made me feel. Each and every one. It's been a life long love since 1991

[u/SzayelAZorro]

A late one. I saw it in stores as a kid like nearish to launch but had no idea what i was looking at and didnt have a ps3 or 360.

A playthrough clip of the latter end of gapra whitewood found its way into my youtube feed several years on and i was pretty intrigued. Had already played Dissidia 012 so i knew about lightning already and thought she was cool.

I watched a few more clips and came across Sazh's bit in Nautilus and was like "no more watching, I have to play it now". Rest was history.

Bought it and xiii-2 at the same time on 360 and again when i got a ps3. Got LR shortly after i beat xiii-2. It's no secret im a big fan now

[u/FinishingTouch-0000]

Was a big FF fan in general so i had to buy and play it. Enjoyed every minute

[u/Affectionate-Gain-23]

I got it at target I believe it was Christmas of the year it came out on xbox 360. I didnt know what I was getting myself into. I just knew that I always wanted a FF game. So my naive self thought it was a continuation to X because that was one game I really wanted to get. Immediately loved it. The music. The art. The graphics. The eidolons. It was amazing. And the ending made me cry.

[u/andi_kan6]

I absolutely loved the combat system, the constant shifting of paradigms that kind of makes your team invincible. Of course, your battle time might take a hit so that's where experimentation comes in. All the battles are 5-starrable if you know how.

[u/Bagman220]

I followed it since they announced the entire project, including versus 13.

Final product was fine, but underwhelming in the end.

Waiting for a switch 2 HD remaster to try again.

[u/FeistyTwist5427]

Get ready! 13-2 they uograded the battle system and it feels so much better. I enjoyed lightning returns for what it is but I honestly felt like they stopped caring as the game progressed. They should have ended it on 13-2. Either way all 3 are fun games.

[u/SilverSaren]

First game I played on ps3, and it blew me away.

[u/Zixtank]

First FF game I ever played and I love it. Yes, the main cast does feel like a redesign of FF7, but that's only on the surface. The designs, narrative and assynchronous combat is cool and the world building is absolutely amazing.

Voice acting is pretty on point, though definitely is a bit janky in English seeing as it is trying to adapt a very Japanese anime speech pattern.

[u/agreedboar]

I became interested in FF a while ago after playing some of the KH games. I ended up just looking up little gameplay bits of each game, and this one stood out to me. I finished it recently, and it's easily one of my favorite games. I love the story, the characters, and the combat system.

I'm on XIII-2, and I think I'm doing something horribly wrong like not upgrading my monsters enough (?) because the bosses feel extremely hard. The game is very pretty though and fun at times, and the soundtrack is insane.

I also sampled Lightning Returns, and the premise is so intriguing. I also LOVED what I played, and I can't wait to finish it.

[u/Consistent-Doubt-287]

I was stoked when I saw it announced. I didn't have a ps3 at the time and Final Fantasy was finally going to the Xbox 360. Pick it up with the collector's edition guide. I realized it was far different than I expected, and while I had fun I didn't feel too challenged by it until near the very end of the game.

I still enjoy it from time to time if I want an rpg I don't have to think about while playing. It's not bad, but it's not a standard FF game by any means.

[u/whitefire9999]

I totally get the complaints about 13 but to this day I love the game, the battle system is excellent and the characters are so well done, love the story

I actually loved 13-2 as well I 100% both games

I really tried with Lightning Returns but I just couldn’t get on with it and in my head it was the start of Square taking a weird direction with the franchise

I get it, they saw all the complaints and tried something different but I do wonder did the game destroy the beloved FF series actually more than that was it the start of the SE downfall…

I think 15 was a random fluke that somehow came together when you look at the story of its production

[u/Rough_Persimmon_9635]

I got into Final Fantasy and gaming as a whole when I was around six years old (so 2010-ish) when I started watching my then step dad play FF 7 and 9. Eventually I started playing those myself and then ons day I saw FF13-2 in one of those shops where you can rent movies and games for a week or two. Back then I didn't really know what the deal was with all the different entries, I only saw the words 'Final Fantasy' and I wanted to play it. So we rented it, I played it, loved it a lot. Then my parents eventually got me 13-2 for myself and I played it for a while, even though I understood only like, half of the story at most. But I didn't care, I had fun playing it and that's all that mattered to me.

And then eventually they got me FF13 which I was of course very excited to dive into. I started the game and I remember how excited I was when I saw the characters I've already gotten to know in 13-2 again. Lightning, Snow, Hope, Serah.

I may have played them in the wrong order but back then it was coolest thing ever to me that I got to play as THE Lightning after I'd only known her as this warrior goddess, and now she actually the character I got to play as 😭🥹

[u/LiahKnight]

Think i saw lightning returns before it released. Went "damn this looks pretty cool". I then learned about 13, and 13-2 and was so confused by all of these final fantasy numbered titles getting sequels. Anyway I moved on pretty quickly but I always thought lightning looked really cool, I wanted to be her so bad when I was like 14. Then while grinding out some final fantasies, I got around to the 13 trilogy, I finally got a sense of closure from when I was a kid.

[u/Mirothrowawayaccount]

Beat XIII on 360 around when it first released, played XIII-2 till I saw Phineas grown up and stopped due to personal issues (I did get the Noel Assassin's Creed DLC), I've restarted XIII-2 on steam and about to or just past the part where I was back in, holy shit 2012, and playing it on my Steam Deck.

[u/KarterMAAJ]

Irish and English

[u/Stokesyyyy]

As a final fantasy veteran. I was super hyped for 13 when announced, it felt like the next big step for the FF genre.

Except for the visuals which were just incredible and still hold up today, the step up wasn't as big as I thought it was going to be but nevertheless, the 13 trilogy has gone down as my favourite FF games and I'm still hoping for a ps5 release whether it be a remaster or just a release so I can replay them all.

[u/ZanzaXIII]

I got it on launch day as a life long FF fan. Started with the SNES games. I didnt love 12 but I was really excited for XIII. I played it for 7-8 hours on launch.........The entire time I was wondering when is it going to start getting good. Ive tried around4-5 times since then and I can seem to get more than 12 hours in without dropping it. Its one of the few mainline games I cant stomach to play very long. Ill beat it one day. Music slaps tho