Over forty new Final Fantasy XIII images were released today giving us a closer look at the game’s Crystarium leveling system, enemy stomping Chocobos, and the summoned Alexander. In addition, a few screens show off the various backdrops in the game — everything from lush green fields to colorfully lit theme park type environment. Have at them, and enjoy the weekend.

The leaks just keep coming today. Japanese mag, Shonen jump, had two pages surface on the web which showcase a gigantic blue monster, a dinosaur looking beast, and a more familiar Final Fantasy enemy — the Cactuar, who apparently has a significant other this time around. High res scan below.

[Thanks finalfantasy-xiii.net]

In a recent interview, Square Enix President, Yoichi Wada, was asked if he thought Final Fantasy XIII would be the best selling Final Fantasy ever, and considering the recent US & European announcement video touted Final Fantasy XIII as “possibly the most anticipated game of all time”, his response may shock more than a few Final Fantasy fans.

“We would like to hope so. When we say that it is going to be the best selling title ever, the hurdle/bar is really high because Final Fantasy VII sold 10 million units.

… it’s not [that] there are new elements that are included into the Final Fantasy XIII, there are elements that are included that is expected out of the Final Fantasy title itself, for example a beautiful story, it being emotional and moving and you’ll be able to relax and enjoy. Those are included, but there is not a lot of newness to it.”

Not a lot of newness? Interesting response. In a day and age when others in his position are screaming from the mountain tops that there game will outsell everything known to man, Wada takes a less dramatic approach. Whether he meant exactly what the translator said or some element was lost during the literal translation, it’s important to note that Wada did contrast the game to that of Western RPG’s, so it may have been more of a comparison thing.

In closing, Final Fantasy XIII will include some advancements. It will feature high def graphics, combat system refinements, and a new weapon modifier feature, but the fact of the matter is  a series with a lengthy proven track record of success, such as Final Fantasy, doesn’t need “a lot of newness”.

My opinion is that the game will sell like 5 cent lemonade on record high hot summer day. Considering it’s one of the main reasons I bought my PS3, I’d personally run through several brick walls to own it on release day.

[Thanks Final Fantasy Union]

Square Enix announced the North American and European release date for Final Fantasy XIII utilizing the script that surfaced on the web a few weeks ago. While the release won’t be in time for Christmas, March 9, 2010 is still close enough to put a smile on my face. The latest installment will feature a track by R&B singer-songwriter, and winner of British TV series The X Factor, Leona Lewis, titled “My Hands”.

The five minute narrated video below features developer segments and a thirty second never before seen look at some Final Fantasy XIII in-game footage. PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 won’t be left with this alone though as Square Enix promises to deliver even more periodic updates on the 13th of every month in line with their “Lucky 13″ campaign.

FACE YOUR DESTINY ON MARCH 9, 2010 – FINAL FANTASY XIII LAUNCHES IN NORTH AMERICA
Multi-Platinum Singer Songwriter Leona Lewis Offers Brand New Song “My Hands” As Game’s Theme Song

LOS ANGELES (November 13, 2009) – Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in North America announced today the highly anticipated street date for FINAL FANTASY® XIII. This latest project in the multi-platinum FINAL FANTASY series promises to be intensely compelling and will be available for both the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft on March 9, 2010.

FINAL FANTASY XIII marks the dawning of a new era for the celebrated franchise, bringing the series to multiple hi-definition consoles simultaneously for the first time in its history. Expanding upon the rich tradition of the series, Producer Kitase Yoshinori (FINAL FANTASY VII, X, X-2), Director Motomu Toriyama (FINAL FANTASY VII, X, X-2), character designer Tetsuya Nomura (FINAL FANTASY V, VI, VII, VIII, X) and art director Isamu Kamikokuryo (FINAL FANASY X, XII) combine their creative vision to deliver the latest masterpiece in the FINAL FANTASY universe. Additionally, Masashi Hamauzu (FINAL FANTASY X, DIRGE of CERBERUS -FINAL FANTASY VII-) presents a sweeping soundtrack while movie director Takeshi Nozue (FINAL FANTASY VII ADVENT CHILDREN) and his team of artists adorn the game with seamless cinematic sequences of unparalleled caliber.

“We know that our fans have been eagerly awaiting the next installation of the franchise – FINAL FANTASY XIII will exceed all expectations,” said John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix, Inc. “Coming simultaneously to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 for the first time, FINAL FANTASY XIII will be available to all players who are looking for the most immersive gaming experience of 2010.”

Multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Leona Lewis has come on board with Square Enix to provide the theme song for FINAL FANTASY XIII. The song is entitled “My Hands,” and is featured on her highly-anticipated second album ECHO (J Records/Syco Music) set for release on November 17th. Leona Lewis took the music world by storm with her 2008 6x platinum debut album Spirit which features her chart topping, biggest selling single of 2008 “Bleeding Love,” and mega-hit “Better In Time.”
“When Square Enix approached Leona about including her song, “My Hands,” in FINAL FANTASY XIII, she was honored to be partnered with such an iconic and groundbreaking video game series,” said Tom Corson, EVP/GM, RCA Music Group. “Leona is a natural fit with the game’s powerful themes and strong female protagonist. We’re delighted to be part of this effort, bringing great musical artistry to
FINAL FANTASY XIII which is a riveting and dynamic gaming experience.”

Introducing new worlds, memorable characters and extraordinary stories with each new installment, the FINAL FANTASY series has continued to reinvent itself over the last two decades and has shipped over 85 million copies worldwide. The series is defined by a constant evolution, offering nothing less than the finest creative vision, graphical quality and gameplay system of its generation with every installment, and FINAL FANTASY XIII will be no exception to its legacy.

Story
Cocoon — a utopia in the sky.
Its inhabitants believed their world a paradise.
Under the Sanctum’s rule, Cocoon had long known peace and prosperity.

Mankind was blessed by its protectors, the benevolent fal’Cie, and believed that tranquil days would continue forever.

Their tranquility was shattered with the discovery of one hostile fal’Cie.

The moment that fal’Cie from Pulse — the feared and detested lowerworld — awoke from its slumber, peace on Cocoon came to an end.

Fal’Cie curse humans, turning them into magic-wielding servants.

They become l’Cie — chosen of the fal’Cie.

Those branded with the mark of a l’Cie carry the burden of either fulfilling their Focus or facing a fate harsher than death itself.

A prayer for redemption.

A wish to protect the world.
A promise to challenge destiny.

After thirteen days of fates intertwined, the battle begins.

Features

Take Part in a Gaming Experience that Sets New Standards – The first in the series developed for a simultaneous release on multiple high-definition consoles, FINAL FANTASY XIII pushes new boundaries in cinematic presentation, sound and gameplay.

Experience the Unity of Speed and Strategy with the Ultimate Active Time Battle system – The familiar system has evolved, granting players the freedom of executing numerous commands in a single turn with the multi-slot ATB gauge. Whether inputting singular commands in each slot for consecutive attacks, or expending multiple slots at once to activate a devastating blow, it’s up to the players to respond effectively to the battle conditions at hand.

Adapt to the Ever-Changing Tide of Battle with Paradigms – A brand-new game mechanic enabling players to assign roles to their party members at any time during battle, shifting between combat paradigms. Consisting of various combinations of the game’s six roles, ranging from Commando, the offensive specialist, to Medic, the quintessential healer, paradigms allow players to respond and adapt instantly to any given situation to turn the tide and seize victory.

Witness the Battle Scene Transform with an All-New Summon System – Introducing Gestalt Mode, a powerful dimension of the summon system that elevates the action to a whole new level. In Gestalt Mode, characters and their transformed Eidolons fight as one, dealing massive damage to enemies through simple button commands.

Delve into an Emotional Experience – An immersive storyline connects players to an intriguing cast of characters. Will they have the strength to confront their cursed fates, or will destiny prevail over all that they believe in?

Square Enix seems to full of surprises lately, as the publisher unveiled a new Final Fantasy XIII weapon system in the latest issue of Japanese Mag, Shonen Jump.

You will of course still seek new weapons as you did in the past, however the new weapon modifier system will utilize  materials you obtain from killing enemies, looting boxes, etc, as enhancements increasing your current weapons power. Over one hundred of these modifiers exist in game, allowing for multiple application combinations.

Those of us who enjoy variety will be happy to know that the modifier system also changes the look of an item, meaning you won’t be forced to look at the same weapon graphic until you pick up a new one. The magazine lists two examples on its pages. The first of which is Snow’s “magical coat” weapon. Adding modifiers increases its power and changes its color/pattern design. Lightning’s Blaze Edge sword, a more contemporary weapon choice, turns into a completely different looking weapon model called Slash Carbine.

The Final Fantasy homer in me can’t wait to play this. Speaking of which, don’t forget the special Final Fantasy XIII announcement Square Enix has planned for the US and Europe tomorrow. It just might reveal the date in which we’ll be able to get our grubby mitts on the game. High res page scan below, for those of you that like to stare at gigantic Japanese text.

[Thanks Andriasang]

In a recent interview, Square Enix Global Presidentm, Yoichi Wada, revealed that the US and European version of the highly anticipated Final Fantasy XIII was receiving some “final touches”, adding that the “last stage of development has gone very smoothly…”

The the fact that he said “has gone” as apposed to “is going” gives me the impression that development is complete. With a mysterious announcement, for both Europe and the US, coming this Friday, we may be looking at getting Final Fantasy XIII in our grubby RPG loving hands much sooner than expected. All I want for Christmas is …

[Thanks GI]

Square-Enix posted a message/anagram on their North America website earlier today:

A puzzle for FINAL FANTASY XIII fans!

Solve this anagram to find out what lies ahead: A Henchmen Inventor Tent Unto. Check back Monday for the answer!

Well, there’s no need to wait until Monday, as hintonmj and Squirrel Emperor, two finalfantasy-xiii.net forum users, figured it out in just under an hour. The hidden message unscrambles to read “Announcement Nov Thirteenth”.

Could this be the North America release date we’ve all been waiting for? My cardboard Buster Sword sure hopes so. Stay tuned.

Our friend Sal over at Scrawl got his hands on some early scans of Shonen Jump (shown above). In addition to showcasing the Chocobo new look and giving us a glimpse at yet another summon, the magazine reveals that Japanese versions of Final Fantasy XIII will come with a beta code for Final Fantasy XIV.

This of course doesn’t mean we will experience the same good fortune here in the states, but I for one will be keeping my fingers crossed. Either way, there will be plenty of leaked internet footage for us to drool over when the time comes.

Update: The latest issue of Famitsu clarifies the beta code as something that will allow players to download an exclusive in-game item for Final Fantasy XIV as appossed to an actual demo of the game itself.

The wrap up of a recent Square-Enix Financial meeting featured CEO Yoici Wadam assuring smooth development of the Western release, adding that there was a possibility the game could release globally before the end of the fiscal year.

The Japanese fiscal year runs from April 1st to March 31st, so if development continues as smoothly as Wadda anticipates it will, there’s a good chance we may see Final Fantasy XIII in the United States sometime before the end of March. Keep your fingers crossed.

Thanks Siliconera

New Final Fantasy XIII screens are in and the game just keeps looking better and better. The latest batch give us a glimpse at how the attack system will work, as it appears that certain in terms of button combinations will unleash different moves.

In addition, we get to see an in-battle summon and a heap of English based character dialog. Check out the screens below.

Final Fantasy XIII Image Gallery – Click Here To View

Spring of 2010. That is the only release information that developer Square-Enix has shared to this point regarding their highly anticipated RPG Final Fantasy XIII release. But that doesn’t stop the analyzers from analyzing every piece of information they come into contact with in the hopes of unearthing specifics.

An ad placed by Los Angeles based ad agency, Liz Paulson Casting, is our latest “exhibit A” if you will. The placement seeks voice talent to read the script below:

FINAL FANTASY XIII Imagery

A new universe is on the horizon. And now, it’s closer than ever.

HISTORY

Over 20 years of captivating audiences around the globe and with each new installment, Final Fantasy completely reinvents itself – introducing us to vast new worlds, dynamic characters and unparalleled storytelling.

It takes equal part imagination, artistry, and vision to create such a compelling, long-lasting, and beloved series. Meet the masterminds behind FINAL FANTASY XIII.

DEV DOCUMENTARY

The journey that has brought us to this moment is extraordinary. Now, an exclusive never before seen look at FINAL FANTASY XIII.

NEW FOOTAGE

FINAL FANTASY XIII. One of the most anticipated gaming experiences ever. This is big. So big, you might need to step back just to take it all in.

CAMERA PANS BACK TO REVEAL RELEASE DATE

I personally don’t know what, if anything, that the script reveals. Sure, it shows that preparation has begun, but having done work for ad agencies in the past, I can tell you this doesn’t give much of a clue. Production can start, get shot down by the client, get shelved, get rewritten, and shot down again.

The other piece of information from the script being analyzed is the segment about “an exclusive never before seen look at FINAL FANTASY XIII”. The release date in Japan is already known (December 17th) causing some to believe that any “exclusive” look would have to occur before then. Well duh! I think it’s safe to say that however this campaign/documentary ends up being used, it will start spamming us well before the game hits stores.

If I had to guess, I’d personally say December-ish sounds good but like everyone else at this point — it’s just a guess. What do you think?

Thanks to Siliconera for the script

“Leaked” Final Fantasy XIII Japanese box art has been making its way around the web today with a few people debating its authenticity. The main argument against its validity is based on the fact it was submitted to VGboxart.com, a website dedicated to hosting video game box art, on 9.30.09 by a user named “Stunt” who openly admitted:

“This is actually the Japanese box art. It’s never been released digitally, so I decided to create it in Photoshop.”

As you can see in the image above, the replica on the left does closely (if not identically) resemble the box art shown at the 2009 Tokyo Game Show reveal of the PS3 FFXIII Lightning Edition. The logo is a tad off in size and placement but that’s just nit-picking.

It remains to be seen whether or not the box art shown at TGS 09 will actually become the “final” FFXIII Japanese box art when the game is ultimately released. That said, the fan art is close enough to anything Square-Enix might have made available, had they wanted a digital version of the cover shown at TGS 09 to circulate, that it almost entirely makes the debate as to whether or not it’s “real” a non issue.

Hit the jump for a high-res look at the replica cover shown at TGS 09.

I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s so close I can taste it, but with a Spring 2010 release date announced, I can certainly start day dreaming about playing it soon. The new FFXIII screens available after the jump showcase English text and reintroduce Oerba Yun Fang, first seen at Tokyo Game Show.

In a fit of laughter, Final Fantasy director, Motomu Toriyama, and producer, Yoshinori Kitase, revealed that the latest installment of the series (XIII) would have a main storyline that lasted around 50 hours long. This bit of information was unearthed during a Q&A session by Spanish gaming site Meristation.

As  someone who loves the FF RPG series, this means that I will have more time to play and less time to do other bothersome things like bathe and sleep.

Some PS3 Final Fantasy players (like myself) were shocked the day that the latest title was announced for the 360, in fact I almost ran up to the stage and started screaming at the conference, but once the shock faded, concerns started to come into play.

The biggest concern most PS3 owners had surrounded the potential “middle ground” that may have to be reached in order to have the game port successfully onto the 360 console. Namingly, the lack of disc space when comparing a Blu-ray discs to the traditional format.

Well, in one statement, FFXIII Producer, Yoshinori Kitase, put that fear to bed. 

“The team is targeting to create an equal experience on both the 360 and the PS3 … right now we’re working on the PS3 version first, and once we’ve completed that we’ll really know how much game there will be to fit onto the Xbox 360 discs.

So we don’t know how many discs it’ll be housed on for 360, but there won’t be a chance that we’ll compromise anything because, oh it didn’t fit in the 360 discs so we’ll have to take it out of the PS3 version, or vice versa.”

Seems pretty clear and straight forward to me. While the end result may mean a multiple of discs for 360 owners, which has already been the case with other 360 MMOs, it appears that the integrity and creative vision of the game will not be tweaked in any way to accommodate lesser disc space. Hooray!

Source: VideoGamer

The other day, someone acquired a copy of the moonspeak Japanese build of Final Fantasy XIII, and through the magic of the internets, broadcast a live stream of about 20 minutes of gameplay online. Approximately 10 seconds after the stream went down, the footage appeared on YouTube for all the world to see. And now it’s here.

The footage is pretty much what you should expect- a lot of shooting and jumping and real-time RPG fighting, but it looks really good. It’s almost exactly like the trailer we saw at E3 eons ago, which is a great thing. The best thing about this gameplay is that it confirms that the game is on the right track to be released later this year on the PS3, and sometime in the future for the Xbox 360.

GameZine reports that the early demo, released with Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children on Blu-Ray, has a special message at the end: “Coming Winter 2009″. The game will release at some point in 2010 for Western fans, but in the meantime it might comfort some to know that the Japanese version will be ready for release this year, at least on the PS3. Final Fantasy fans who can read Japanese will be interested in this as well, no doubt.

Famitsu have got their hands on some brand new screenshots showing us mainly the Active Time Battle system in Final Fantasy XIII. We get a first look at the ‘Battle Results‘ screen as well, which gives you your stats, TP bonus, and rank. The rank is out of five stars.

Right now, the battle system’s looking pretty great. As much as I’m looking forward to Final Fantasy XIII though, I can’t help but wanting to hear more about Versus XIII instead. It just seems so much more Final Fantasy VIIish. Hit the jump to see the screens.

Source: Famitsu

A recent Gamespot interview discussed the February’s NPD sales figures with representatives of both Microsoft and Sony. The writer, Brendan Sinclair, closed the piece by making the following statement:

“The [Microsoft] representative added that Microsoft expects entries in other formerly Sony-exclusive series such as Resident Evil 5 and Final Fantasy XIII to also sell better on the Xbox 360 than the PS3.”

Wha? The Gamespot interview lounge must serve more than milk and cookies to their guests. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Xbox 360 (I loved it more before it broke), but I’d like to have some of whatever that representative was smoking. Now, it’s worth noting that in the Gamespot interview touting this alleged comment, that the wording is that of the writer and not an exact quote by the MS rep.

While I am in not directly doubting the legitimacy of the statement, I always find it hard to take anything outside of a direct quote at complete face value. It’s my belief that if the individual said it verbatim it would and should be quoted as such.

That aside, if he/she did make that comment I see it as more of a thumb to the eye of Sony more than anything else. The PlayStation 3 still has quite the stranglehold on the Japanese market, not to mention exclusive rights to the next gen Final Fantasy release in that region.

Source: Gamespot

A new Final Fantasy XIII trailer has been revealed on the Square Enix countdown website. The video shows off some new characters and locations, as well as real-time gameplay! The game is looking better everytime I see it, but is still aways off. It’s already my most anticipated game of 2010. If you haven’t already, hit the play button on the above video to see what’s up.

According to Kotaku, via Reuters, Final Fantasy XIII won’t be coming overseas until 2010. In an interview with Reuters, Square Enix Boss Yoichi Wada confirms that the Japanese release of FFXIII will be in 2009, but the Western release won’t be until at least April 2010. This sucks because FFXIII was one of the biggest games I was looking foward to this year, but shit happens. Sorry Final Fantasy fanboys, we still got over a year until it’s out.

Source: Kotaku via Reuters

Got a little somethin’, somethin’ for you Final Fantasy fanatics out there. Here’s a short video of Final Fantasy XIII producer Yoshinori Kitase talking about the upcoming game and showing off some clips. Too bad it’s all in Japanese and I don’t have a clue what he’s saying, but the footage of the game sure looks tight.

Source: Kombo

Want a glimpse at two of the sickest Final Fantasy trailers you’ve ever seen? Well, if you love Final Fantasy as much as I do, the answer is most definitively yes. Hit the jump for a look at two FF trailers from the recent Square Enix DKΣ3713 event.

Yes, I’m a sucker for kick ass cinematics — sue me. What did you think of the two vids?

Several new FFXIII screens surfaced on Famitsu’s website today and I’ve got them, along with a Google translation of the copy from the page, included for you after the jump.

[ Begin Google Translation ]

Two of the government sacred world of swirling speculation inclusion

Crystal will be guided by a society based on the colony, “Cocoon” and the spread of primitive nature “pulse”. Two of the world’s stage and RPG’s FFXIII. Lightning (no translate) RASHIKI blond heroine of the men, but this time the name “Snow” turned out to be. In the FF series, VII, after the hero of many of the weather has been named. Therefore, his position is in this film is important to be inferred.

The album will be an important keyword, “Farsi” and “RUSHI”. Farsi is a special existence beyond knowledge, and Cocoon is built. RUSHI chosen by the Farsi and was given the mission of the neck. The mission, from Farsi to the video, such as RUSHI “vision” will be conveyed, because it’s not clear what, (no translate) by means of a controversial interpretation.

Snow was chosen as the RUSHI one of Farsi. (no translate) bulk of rugged, and things always think positive. Without dashing back in, take care of one side of good. However, without considering the consequences that a lot of action, the Lightning is probably a little clause (no translate) SHIKU. In addition, the mission RUSHI and elsewhere in the body engraved badge. Snow in the pattern of the left arm, but the signs? He stamped on the scene got some strength.

RUSHI = given to their mission, to protect the world Snow said. Cocoon governed by the Holy Office, to protect from whom? In addition to the proposal, the Lightning does not seem to be enthusiastic.

In serious situations, where the girl’s twin tail (no translate). Feel less anxious, a laid-back personality? The vision for the mission, (no translate) sometimes anxious to see the expression ….

Lightning look sad. I have failed or are guilt-cranking. “Trust” was submitted to me and everyone who was supposed to be, she is heavy, heavy eyes.

This is a movie scene. Was accused bound twin tail clothes, a girl with a kind of coffin will be escorted scene. Holy Office has directed the military to the blond woman in front of the screen. In the footage, her bespectacled face, and fell back to the sword and a low-cut dress has been confirmed.

[ End Google Translation ]

Source: Famitsu

Just last week, we reported that the Japanese magazine, Shonen Jump, had uncovered the identity of that blonde haired boy from the Square Enix FFXIII trailer we’ve all seen about a million times now. His name — “Snow”.

Some of the older gamers out there may be thinking of this guy, and as shown in the image above, they aren’t the same — but they might as well be. Anyway, the latest Famitsu scans of the game, available after the jump, reveal Snow’s last name to be “Villiers”. Not sure how I feel about that just yet, but I guess it’s better than “Cone” or “Ball”. Hit the jump.

The latest issue of Shonen Jump in Japan finally revealed the mysterious blonde character who has appeared in trailers and screenshots for Final Fantasy XIII. His name is Snow, and the new render shown in this issue does make him look a bit psycho, but that’s always welcome in video games.

Anybody notice the pattern of weather named characters in Final Fantasy XIII? Okay, sure there is only two named so far, but they are Lightning (the girl) and Snow (just revealed). What an odd mix.

We have gotten a hold of several images depicting Crystal Tools in-game renders from Final Fantasy XIII, and may have visual proof that the Xbox 360 version of the game is already being developed.

Several Final Fantasy XIII in game renders utilizing the Crystal Tools engine surfaced online after apparently first appearing on the Japanese television channel TV Tokyo.

While this great news for Final Fantasy junkies like myself looking to drool over anything remotely associated to the game, the even bigger news is that a 360 controller was spotted on the desk of what appears to be one of the games developers.

Could the 360 version of Final Fantasy XIII already be underway despite Square Enix stating otherwise? Have a look at the images after the jump.

The image shown above clearly has Final Fantasy XIII content displayed on-screen while a 360 controller lays visible on the desk. It’s possible that this guy is draws inspiration from the 360 controller’s mere presence, however it is also possible that the 360 version is already being tinkered with. What do you think?

Source: ffworld.com

August kicked off with news straight out of Square-Enix’s DKΣ3713 event that a 90 minute FFXIII demo would be included in the Japanese Blu-ray release of “Advent Children: Complete” sometime during March of next year.

However, recent news being reported by finalfantasy-xiii.net points to a possible stand alone demo release. The site states that one of their forum members unearthed more information from an interview with Tetsuya Nomura, director of the 2005 CGI animated film Advent Children, and current character designer/director of Final Fantasy Versus XIII and several other Square-Enix projects.

During said interview, Nomura supposedly hints at a possible separate release of the Final Fantasy XIII demo sometime after Advent Children: Complete goes to market.

Afterthought: If true, would this be something you would pay for, and how much would you be willing to fork out for access to a 90 minute demo?

Source: finalfantasy-xiii.net

IGN randomly decided to release the very first (as far as I know) real-time, in-game screenshots of the FF XIII series. I must say, they look stunning. Not Heavy Rain stunning, but not especially far off.

Things to pay attention to, in addition to the immaculately detailed player models, are the architecture and set pieces. Screenshots for Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy Versus XIII, and Final Fantasy Agito XIII can all be found after the jump.

First up, Final Fantasy XIII:

And next, the first in-game screens of Agito and Versus:

I’m giddy with anticipation. I can hardly wait for 2009, when the first Final Fantasy XIII game will hit store shelves.

The latest issue of Famitsu is all about the recent Square Enix DKS3713 event, and according to reports, the Playstation 3 exclusive Final Fantasy XIII demo that comes bundled with the upcoming Blu-ray edition of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete will actually run longer than the CGI film.

The FFXIII demo will come on a separate Blu-ray disc to the film, is reported to be from the begining of the game, and will run at least 90 minutes long, if not longer. That’s tight shit!

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete is scheduled for a March 2009 release.

Source: Famitsu, via PSU.com