FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2

Its a fine game, but the PC port is a garbage fire.

very crashy on pc. just buy the console version, perferably for an old console if you're able to.

i cannot recommend this game at all. i would love to, it's a very fun experience when it works. unfortunately, the port for this game is so awful and requires so many fixes just to get it to run without crashing constantly that i don't think it's worth the time or effort. either buy it on console or watch a playthrough

tl;dr, great game, bad port

DISCLAIMER

Review

How can I buy the dlc for this game?

Let me get this straight, I really like this game.
I frankly think that improves many things from the original title.

"Why the negative review then?" you think.
The answer is simple; I cannot play the game as much as I would like. It crashes fairly often and I post the review as I just had enough.

So I will make you a deal, if (big if, but a man can hope) Square patches the game to not crash, post a comment and I will re-review it properly. Until then, I can only suggest the game if you either can work the files or if you are very patient.

Good FFs = 7,9,10,14,15!

a notable jump in enjoyability from its predecessor, i can forgive its so-so combat and confounding plot when the game itself is so vibrant and goofy. packaged with an impressive ost, too. self-fanfiction, in a good way. had a fun enough time to get all of its achievements, too!

This port is an ABSOLUTE MESS. I was greeted with a near-deafening sound just by opening the game for the first time due to some surround sound incompatibility, how does that even happen, man?
But thanks to some BRILLIANT individuals in the community, there are very in-depth tutorials of how to fix the game with mods and patches to make your experience the best it can be. Cheers to them!
Obviously you shouldn't have to do all that and it should probably be the basis of any review, but I followed through with it and was able to have a blast with the game without any problems whatsoever, so I'll be that guy and totally recommend it. Jut get in in a sale and follow one of said guides and give the game a try.

As someone who enjoyed the first game SO VERY MUCH because of its story, world and characters, I was disappointed with the direction this game took, but I immediately decided to treat it as a "filler adventure story" between the other two games and so I was able to enjoy it for what it was. Though I was still deeply disappointed about Lightning being sidelined like that after all that development in the first game, I had some many expectations... but oh well.
The combat changes were very welcome and it was engaging from the get-go, unlike in the first game. As per usual, the XIII's don't disappoint in the soundtrack department, the combat themes are SO DAMN GOOD. That boss theme and a certain big-baddie's theme? I could listen to them for hours on end.
So yeah, overall I really recommend it if you were able to enjoy the first game. Get the game in a sale, fix it with the help of one of those guides and give the game a go. It's not a guarantee you'll enjoy it, as I said I was disappointed with the direction it took but was able to gloss over it by treating it like a fun little spin-off, so I encourage you to do the same. Who knows? Maybe you'll come out enjoying your time with one more game instead of being miserable and waste time complaining about video games online.

Love the game.

Crashes every chance it can
Story makes no sense

Great Game. I love the story. The Steam-port has been a buggy mess to get running with sound issues and the game crashing without a patch from the community page. However technical issues aside, the game looks beautiful. Lightning plays a secondary role this time while her sister Serah takes the lead. She might not look as tough as Lightning, but she grows at her own pace. Well, and I adore her.

I really love this game, but i think it should be studied how horrible this port is as I've never had a game permanently lose all audio if anything in your USB ports unplugs while the game is running and I've never had a game hijack my computer and deny task manager from appearing to shut it down, forcing a restart.

Square Enix makes Bethesda look like a competent game company with crap like this.

FUN!
Its a good game whit a decent story and improvements gameplay wise compared to FF13.
The game is a bit old, but stand up for todaays standards.

10/10

the best

How can I fix the issue? It keeps on crashing in the intro then close app. Need help peeps. Appreciate it. Thanks.

Horrible port, but if you get the right fixes for it the game becomes solid. If you're coming from XIII directly there's a ton of differences, for one the CP grinding is not as bad, and there's a monster catching system you may enjoy. You get gil from fights, thank god.

Realy good story, ok combat and amazing music but slot machine fragment is trash.
Guy who made it should be fired

This game keeps crashing. I want to complete it, but it's simply impossible with the game crashing. This game is an extremely bad port and a complete waste of my money and time.

Game crashes right at the start at the same point. i could only play it for 9 minutes, requesting a refund.

good game

Can't even get past the intro without crashing

It was annoyingly forced close me at first, but gladly someone posted a way to fix it, i like the combat system (continuing from the XIII) probably my favorite one, graphic is good, story is confusing, the soundtrack is amazing, buy it at discount price so its worth the price, either way is a good game

Was on the fence with purchasing for a while due to the reviews on crashes. Had a couple long flights lined up and said "screw it" and bought it. Just beat the game and didnt crash once. Was also happy to find out it includes the DLC's although they only become available when you complete the game as opposed to when they became available originally. Definitely recommend.

Game is filler trash do not play skin to the final 13 game

( ˶°ㅁ°) !! serahhhh !!!

fucking glitched out. auto crash, cant use controller, cant use cloud. wish i knew before i sank hours into it let alone money

the game keep crashing every time I play.... got refund

Final Fantasy XIII-2 has a fantastic cast, an incredible soundtrack, and stunning visuals. The story is just as cinematic and engaging as the rest of the XIII trilogy, and I love it for that.

That said, this port is a bit rough around the edges. The framerate can drop, and there isn’t much you can do about it. If you’re the type who really cares about performance, it might bug you. For me, it was noticeable and a bit annoying, but easy enough to overlook.

Love this game even though it feels like the combat is a bit simpler somehow. It is almost "breakable" in the sense that you can get strong, easy to miss allies early in the game which is rarer in the recent entries.

Lots of character development from the 1st entry.

The way time travel is explorer in this game is interesting enough. Caius is one of my favorite villain in the series and like few others, you can almost sympathise with him.

The puzzles aren't great and a bit of a hindrance to the game, but it's my only gripe usually with Final Fantasy, I can't stand the mini games. World is ending, have to go fight God, but wait, let me go play around some more to have this cool trophy!

【English & Spanish】


➥ English review:

Final Fantasy XIII-2 emerges as a brilliant continuation of its predecessor, refining and expanding upon the concepts introduced in Final Fantasy XIII while delivering an even more compelling and engaging experience. With its enhanced gameplay mechanics, deepened narrative, and rich world-building, it stands as a standout title in the Final Fantasy series.

From the outset, Final Fantasy XIII-2 impresses with its improved approach to exploration and storytelling. The game shifts from the linear structure of Final Fantasy XIII to a more open and dynamic world, allowing players to traverse time and space through various eras and locations. This time-travel mechanic not only broadens the scope of exploration but also enriches the storytelling, offering a multifaceted narrative that weaves together past, present, and future.

The story picks up after the events of Final Fantasy XIII, following Serah Farron and Noel Kreiss as they embark on a journey to restore balance to a fractured timeline. The plot delves into themes of fate, memory, and destiny, presenting a narrative that is both intricate and emotionally charged. The character development is particularly notable, with Serah and Noel evolving through their trials and interactions, adding depth and complexity to their journey. The game's focus on personal stories and relationships enhances the overall emotional impact.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 excels in its combat system, which builds upon the innovations of its predecessor. The return of the Paradigm System is complemented by the introduction of the Monster Collector mechanic, allowing players to recruit and train a variety of monsters to fight alongside them. This addition brings a new layer of strategy to battles, encouraging players to experiment with different team compositions and tactics. The fluidity and excitement of the combat system are further amplified by the game's improved pacing and dynamic encounters.

The visual and auditory design of Final Fantasy XIII-2 continues to impress, maintaining the high standards set by the previous installment. The game's diverse environments, from lush forests to futuristic cities, are rendered with stunning detail and creativity. The soundtrack, once again composed by Masashi Hamauzu, is a highlight, with a score that enhances the game's atmosphere and complements the emotional highs and lows of the narrative.

In addition to its core content, Final Fantasy XIII-2 offers a wealth of side quests, collectibles, and optional content that extend the gameplay experience. The inclusion of these elements provides ample opportunities for players to delve deeper into the game's world and characters, adding value and replayability.

Personal Conclusion: Final Fantasy XIII-2 succeeds in surpassing its predecessor with its refined mechanics, expanded world, and engaging story. The combination of innovative gameplay features, a compelling narrative, and high production values creates an immersive and enjoyable experience. With a rating of 9.6/10, it stands as a testament to the evolution of the Final Fantasy series and is a must-play for fans of JRPGs and the franchise alike.

➥ Reseña en español:

Final Fantasy XIII-2 se presenta como una brillante continuación de su predecesor, perfeccionando y ampliando los conceptos introducidos en Final Fantasy XIII mientras ofrece una experiencia aún más cautivadora y envolvente. Con su mejorado sistema de juego, una narrativa más profunda y una construcción de mundo rica, se destaca como un título sobresaliente dentro de la serie Final Fantasy.

Desde el principio, Final Fantasy XIII-2 impresiona con su enfoque mejorado en la exploración y la narración. El juego se aleja de la estructura lineal de Final Fantasy XIII para adoptar un mundo más abierto y dinámico, permitiendo a los jugadores viajar a través del tiempo y el espacio mediante diversas eras y localizaciones. Esta mecánica de viajes en el tiempo no solo amplía el alcance de la exploración, sino que también enriquece la narrativa, ofreciendo una historia multifacética que entrelaza pasado, presente y futuro.

La historia se desarrolla tras los eventos de Final Fantasy XIII, siguiendo a Serah Farron y Noel Kreiss en su viaje para restaurar el equilibrio en una línea temporal fracturada. La trama explora temas como el destino, la memoria y la voluntad, presentando una narrativa que es a la vez intrincada y emocionalmente impactante. El desarrollo de los personajes es particularmente notable, con Serah y Noel evolucionando a través de sus pruebas e interacciones, añadiendo profundidad y complejidad a su travesía. El enfoque del juego en historias personales y relaciones intensifica el impacto emocional general.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 destaca en su sistema de combate, que construye sobre las innovaciones de su predecesor. El regreso del Paradigm System se complementa con la introducción de la mecánica de Monster Collector, que permite a los jugadores reclutar y entrenar una variedad de monstruos para luchar a su lado. Esta adición añade una nueva capa de estrategia a las batallas, animando a los jugadores a experimentar con diferentes composiciones de equipo y tácticas. La fluidez y emoción del sistema de combate se ven amplificadas por el ritmo mejorado y los encuentros dinámicos del juego.

El diseño visual y auditivo de Final Fantasy XIII-2 sigue impresionando, manteniendo los altos estándares establecidos por la entrega anterior. Los diversos entornos del juego, desde bosques exuberantes hasta ciudades futuristas, están representados con un detalle y creatividad deslumbrantes. La banda sonora, una vez más compuesta por Masashi Hamauzu, es uno de los puntos destacados, con una melodía que realza la atmósfera del juego y complementa los altibajos emocionales de la narrativa.

Además de su contenido principal, Final Fantasy XIII-2 ofrece una gran cantidad de misiones secundarias, coleccionables y contenido opcional que amplía la experiencia de juego. La inclusión de estos elementos proporciona numerosas oportunidades para que los jugadores se sumerjan más en el mundo y los personajes del juego, añadiendo valor y rejugabilidad.

Conclusión personal: Final Fantasy XIII-2 logra superar a su predecesor con sus mecánicas refinadas, mundo expandido y una historia cautivadora. La combinación de características innovadoras en el juego, una narrativa envolvente y altos valores de producción crean una experiencia inmersiva y disfrutable. Con una calificación de 9.6/10, es un testimonio de la evolución de la serie Final Fantasy y es una lectura obligada para los fanáticos de los JRPG y de la franquicia en general.

So I'd consider myself a veteran rpg/jrpg player, and I actually think this is a solid 9/10 game for the characters, story, and gameplay mechanics. This comes with a big catch, however: I think in order to really understand and thus enjoy the depth of the story in this game, you need a relatively serious level of reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.

I say this because there are glaring problems with the game right out of the steam cart, and I admit that's pretty unacceptable by a multi-million dollar company (SquareEnix) standards. But this passionate community has done the work to give us free fixes.

So once you follow some very well written steam guides on fixing the issues, you're left with a 4k resolution Magnum Opus of the PS3 generation with an incredibly complex yet compelling story about time travel that makes 90% of the genre seem so shallow by comparison.

TLDR: This is not for everyone, but if you are able to read books without the cognitive dissonance of the brainrot generation, enjoy a deep storyline with A-list voice actors, and appreciate complex yet rewarding battle system mechanics, you've found it in this trilogy.

Bad port crashes a lot

Shouldn't have to mod a game to be able to play it. The 13 trilogy needs to be remastered and re-released on steam. All three games have major optimization issues

love it

**EDITED**

changed from a negitive reveiw to a positive, only because i had managed to fix the issue that kept this game crashing constantly. which was the only thing souring this great game.

TURN OFF STEAMS CLOUD SAVES!

thats it, turns out it was steams cloud save feature that caused FF13-2 to crash on load/save and at points of the game where it would auto save.

incredible experience so far 100 hours in!

good game only compatible with older graphic cards though.

this is so trashy its amusing, game crashed 3 times in the first 3 minutes and one time took steam down with it. for how long has this been on steam? why is this not fixed? we never know. don't get it.

An attempt to pivot from FF13 story with added choices that doesn't really matter (Mass Effect style choice) and creature collector mechanic that feels poorly implemented with a lot of pallette swap monster. The story is a mess of time travelling shenanigans that allowed the developer to be lazy by reusing assets, enemies, maps etc. by changing colours, time of days, closing off and opening up arbitrary parts of the map and say, oh its new!

Boring, uninspired, tepid. There're better RPGs out there. There are better bad games out there. Try those first before playing this one.

The best out of the trilogy, great story and combat. The pc port does have problems but with a few mods they get easily be fixed.

I can’t believe really how much of an improvement over 13 this game is. It takes everything that made the original frustrating and fixes them, as well as expanding on other elements and adding new systems to keep everything engaging. I love the animal companions and how you can level them up and name and dress them. I was worried the new leveling system would lead to shit builds but it was exactly balanced as it should. The combat was engaging, challenging, but not frustrating. I encountered no boss fights that shit me until the very last boss, which even then once I figured out I had a good time fighting. I like that it’s a 2 party system from beginning to end with a platonic boy-girl dynamic.
The main thing bringing this down is the story as it’s very convoluted and has I think 1 or 2 too many elements making it feel a bit overwhelming. I think it’s an interesting a fun follow up to the story as 13 as it takes everything in a new direction while also expanding on the consequences of the original, though it lacks the weight, it has the vibe of a TV show spin off of a movie.
I would recommend this one pretty highly though it absolutely blows you have to play 13 to understand it.

Oh also yes this port is shit but I got through it. just turn of steam cloud and she'll be right.

Much tighter game than FFXIII-2. I kind of wish they kept all their games as sub-30 hour experiences like this.

There is a lot of optional post game content, but none of it interested me particularly.