Substance TV

Final Fantasy XIII-2′s DLC conundrum

Posted by Landon On February - 12 - 2012

This week has been an interesting one for those involved in Final Fantasy XIII-2. I will try my best to avoid any spoilers in this article but beware none-the-less. The big issue here lies in the fact that the follow up title to Final Fantasy XIII has an ending that is leaving some confused, as well as Square Enix is releasing story based DLC soon. I am aiming in this article to calm those down who are up in arms and hopefully encourage some people to try out FFXIII-2 as it is a really strong installment in the Final Fantasy franchise.

First off let me acknowledge the complaints of some individuals. The main argument is that *spoiler* the ending to the game has a “To be continued” included. That combined with the fact that story based DLC will be released soon gives off the vibe that Square Enix released an unfinished game and are making people PAY to get the true ending. I get that. If this paragraph was all the knowledge you have for this situation it makes sense to hop onto the internet and scream bloody hell to Square Enix, but that is not all to this story…

In June of 2011 Final Fantasy XIII-2 director Motomu Toriyama revealed that the game will include multiple endings. Right there no-one should have the right feel surprised. Now, more to the point there are 8 different paradox endings built into XIII-2′s disc. These are endings you do not pay for, they are all included. No surprise. Toriyama has stated that the “To be continued” ending to the game is meant to both encourage gamers to go back and solve all the paradoxes to gain the different endings as well as to inform gamers that Square is planning to continue the world of Final Fantasy XIII in some fashion. I do not at all doubt that the ending is meant to encourage gamers to continue playing the game to solve all the paradox’s as this is probably the most re-playable Final Fantasy game ever. Throughout the game you can jump from time to time and even reset the events of a time to see how the story would play out had you made different decisions or had different party members. Fantastic addition if you ask me.

Here is the thing, Final Fanatsy XIII-2 is a complete and satisfying game while coming in as a far lengthier title that most games of this day and age. Not to mention you add in the re-playability I just spoke of and you have yourself quite the experience. Just because a developer decides to release story based DLC does not mean that they are releasing an unfinished game. The DLC is not intended to “complete” the game but rather extend your game like all other forms of DLC. Plenty of games and stories end on cliff-hangers and are considered great games and stories (i.e. Half-Life 2, Halo 2, Mass Effect Trilogy and not to mention Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back). Sure these games do not say “To be continued” at the end, but that is what a cliffhanger is, there is not much of a difference. On top of that, one of the most critically acclaimed game series of all time is on that list, Mass Effect, has released plenty of DLC adding to it’s content. For a game or story to end on a “To be continued” does not definitively mean it is a bad ending or a bad story.

I have heard the argument that Square is releasing this DLC forcing players to buy it to get the “true” ending to XIII-2 and that is quite frankly false. You get an ending in XIII and again, the DLC is going to expand the game, not complete the game. There will not be a “true” ending included into the DLC, like stated multiple times the ending of XIII-2 is to encourage gamers to use the replay value and solve all of the paradoxes for the 8 endings included in the game. Not to mention nobody is forcing you to purchase this DLC.

If anything, gamers should be pleased that a developer is dedicated to continuing the events and gaming experience of Final Fantasy XIII-2. We get a lengthy and fun game out of it, we get some serious replay value, and the events of the game/story are completed. Now we get to continue within the universe, albeit for a small don’t go to McDonalds a few times this month price, sooner and cheaper than if Square were to compile everything they have planned for DLC into one full sequel FFXIII-3 game.

Square Enix did not swindle gamers out of their money with FFXIII-2 by any stretch of the imagination. Toriyama mentioned that their would be multiple endings to the game, which there are 8 built into it, and the endings to the game encourage you to view all of them by taking advantage of the replay value. Not to mention the endings are complete, the characters accomplished what they set out to do in the end, no matter the outcome of your actions. Do not confuse the ending of the game with the upcoming DLC. The DLC is not meant to complete the game, it is meant to expand the game which is what DLC is all about. The ending and DLC are two separate things and one should not be drawing connections between the two. Square Enix released a strong installment into the franchise with a lengthy story, arguably the best replay value of any Final Fantasy, and are promising more to come. I choose to believe that the ending hints that the “To be continued” is Final Fantasy Versus XIII; come on Square, let me play that damn game! /joking

News, Uncategorized, Video Games

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http://gretemangroup.com/our-people/landon-barton Landon

Again, the “To be continued” is not about DLC it is about the multiple endings through the paradoxes. People are making this correlation to the DLC where there is none. Mass Effect leaves gamers on a cliffhanger requiring gamers to wait 2 years and pay $60 to see the end of the saga. If you are insistent on viewing the DLC this way then this is a quicker and more affordable way to extend your gaming and story experience. (this is not a knock to ME, love the franchise)

Yes, I am biased, but I also look at the facts. How is this not a good deal? For $60 bucks you get a fantastic game, with vast improvements upon the original, insane replay value and developers who are dedicated to extending that experience through DLC. Again people need to not make the correlation of the ending to the DLC, it is a means to replay and solve all the paradoxes for the 8 multiple endings in the game. The reason they have multiple endings in this game is because they time travel, you being the fan of Back to the Future should know that your actions in the past and future change the outcomes. Hence multiple endings.
http://www.substance-tv.com Brian

Says the man who spent over $100 on the collector’s edition version of FFXIII-2 and the collector’s edition guide. Me thinks you is just a smidgen biased.

I did read your statement. Thing is SquarEnix knows gamers are gullible enough to pay for multiple endings. Name me the last Final Fantasy game that included DLC of any kind for different endings and or outcomes? Yea, none. So I see this for what it is, SquarEnix wants a bit more cash.

Hey I don’t blame them. That’s what they are here for, to make money. Thing is iT looks suspicious after they released the universally panned FFXIII, followed quickly by a “sequel” (a.k.a. an apology for the first) FFXIII-2, and then tack on some DLC.

Doesn’t seem like a good deal to me.
http://gretemangroup.com/our-people/landon-barton Landon

You didn’t read my statement, the DLC does not include a true ending, you get the true ending in the game. The characters accomplished what they set out to do in the end. The DLC extends the content of the game and has an ending to the DLC like ALL other forms of storybased DLC. The game is not half-finished, it has a full experience, multiple endings and tons of replay value. There is nothing to complain about.
http://www.substance-tv.com Brian

Problem is, none of the games you mentioned had a “To Be Continued’ screen that forced you to by DLC if you wanted the true ending. All of the DLC for those games put in optional content that did not affect the true ending. Second, for those who bought FFXIII at $60 and now FFXIII-2 at another $60, this is just insult to injury.

SquarEnix knows they can released half finished, half baked experiences because fans and gamers will shell out more cash. So in a way I don’t blame SquarEnix. It’s not their fault. It’s ours.