Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 is Toriyama's Masterpiece

So Lightning Returns is pretty cool.
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Video Sources:
Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII Announcement Presentation: • Lightning Returns Fina...
Thin Lizzy The Boys Are Back In Town: archive.org/details/Thin_Lizz...
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Review: • Lightning Returns: Fin...
KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue // 0.2 Birth By Sleep -A fragmentary passage-: • KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 ...
NieR: Automata - A special message from YOKO TARO: • NieR: Automata - A spe...
KINGDOM HEARTS 20th ANNIVERSARY ANNOUNCEMENT TRAILER: • KINGDOM HEARTS 20th AN...
Lightning x Louis Vuitton Extended: • Lightning x Louis Vuit...
Movie/Anime/TV Clips/Audio Used:
House of 1000 Corpses
Resident Evil (2002)
Bruce Almighty
Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part III: Rebellion
The VVitch
Game Clips/Footage Used:
Valkyrie Profile
Star Ocean First Departure
Resonance of Fate/End of Eternity
God Hand
Final Fantasy XIII
Dead Rising
Shadow of Memories/Shadow of Destiny
Koudelka
Final Fantasy XIII-2
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII
Music (in order it is played):
Lightning's Theme ~Radiance~: • Lightning Returns OST ...
Lightning Returns: • Lightning Returns OST ...
The Sleeping City: • Lightning Returns OST ...
Awaiting the Celebration: • Lightning Returns OST ...
Crimson Blitz: • Lightning Returns OST ...
Midnight Eternal: • Lightning Returns OST ...
Savior of Souls: • Lightning Returns OST ...
Bluesy Chocobo: • ブルージーチョコボ
High Voltage: • ハイボルテージ
A Home Far Away: • Final Fantasy 13-3 Lig...
The Savior's Words: • Lightning Returns OST ...
Luxerion: • Lightning Returns OST ...
The Glittering City of Yusnaan: • Lightning Returns OST ...
City of Revelry: • Final Fantasy XIII Lig...
Death Game: • Lightning Returns OST ...
Desert Awakening: • Video
The Last Surviving Wilderness: • Lightning Returns OST ...
Salvation's Fanfare: • Lightning Returns OST ...
Lightning's Theme -A Distant Glimmer-: • Video
Noel's Theme -The Shadow Hunter: • Lightning Returns OST ...
Fang's Theme -The Boss-: • Lightning Returns Fina...
Sazh and Dajh: • サッズとドッジ
Lumina's Theme: • Lightning Returns OST ...
Claire Farron: • Final Fantasy XIII Lig...
Nova Chrysalia: • Final Fantasy XIII:Lig...
New Bodhum: • ネオ･ボーダム
The Savior's Words - Christmas in Nova Chrysalia: • Lightning Returns OST ...
Patience (from Koudelka): • Koudelka - Patience
Humanity's Tale: • Final Fantasy XIII Lig...
Problematic by Bo Burnham: • Problematic
0:00 Intro
5:00 Part 1 - Gameplay
7:11 Part 1a - Tri-Ace brought their biggest bat and are coming for your knees (Difficulty)
10:01 Part 1b - Combat
13:56 Part 1c - The world and its flow
30:03 Part 1d - Fashion is Queen
32:50 Part 1e - New Game Plus Rocks Ass
34:47 THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN (Music)
58:20 Part 3: Story
1:02:20 Part 3a - Lumina
1:05:45 Part 3b - Lightning being monotone is good actually you cowards
1:13:07 Part 3c - Character Arks
1:27:51 Part 3d - We Need To Talk About Sazh
1:32:04 Part 3e - One Last Hurrah
1:34:12 Quick Disclaimer
1:35:46 Part 3f - The Absolute Madman Did It or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love Toriyama (The Ending)
1:44:26 Conclusion
1:47:14 Outro
1:49:48 Bonus
#lightningreturns #lightningreturnsfinalfantasyxiii #FinalFantasy #gameanalysis #Review #videoanalysis #JRPG #JRPGAnalysis #FF13 #FinalFantasy13 #finalfantasyxiii #JRPGGameAnalysis

[@TransWitchReviews]

Very very proud of this one and I seriously hope you all enjoy it :) Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 5:00 Part 1 - Gameplay 7:11 Part 1a - Tri-Ace brought their biggest bat and are coming for your knees (Difficulty) 10:01 Part 1b - Combat 13:56 Part 1c - The world and its flow 30:03 Part 1d - Fashion is Queen 32:50 Part 1e - New Game Plus Rocks Ass 34:47 THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN (Music) 58:20 Part 3: Story 1:02:20 Part 3a - Lumina 1:05:45 Part 3b - Lightning being monotone is good actually you cowards 1:13:07 Part 3c - Character Arks 1:27:51 Part 3d - We Need To Talk About Sazh 1:32:04 Part 3e - One Last Hurrah 1:34:12 Quick Disclaimer 1:35:46 Part 3f - The Absolute Madman Did It or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love Toriyama (The Ending) 1:44:26 Conclusion 1:47:14 Outro 1:49:48 Bonus

[@danielbalderas9796]

A theme I wished they explored a little bit more in the side quests is that everyone is basically the same age mentally at that point. People stop aging for 500 YEARS, the kids you meet are like 510 years old, the adults are around 530. They are all traumatized since death is still a thing but aging isn't. What about the humans who are trapped in a child body for centuries?

[@TransWitchReviews]

Yeah agreed, it is really strange that while it does allude to that as an idea, nothing ever fully commits to discussing the true horror and trauma of it.

[@MrMiarne]

During my playthrough I always felt like it should've been 20-50 years instead of full 500. 500 years is a lot. While some side quests (and architecture of cities) do need that time, for most others and for character development it doesn't quite hit right, with you expecting things to change much more.

[@ZEE-mu2ng]

I love XIII trilogy. I can really feel the environment inside of the game like I live in there... Also love the little difference between new game+ In NG+, we can kill those people and goes to graveyard directly instead waiting for them to walk to the graveyard. Insert the wrong password and lightning will just screw them out, they will release a juggernaut to fight us but we are strong enough to defeat it. I have played many round...(still can't get 5 star Bhunivelze+ on hard mode) For me, Lightning Return doesn't feel like a final fantasy game due to different elements (time system/overclock instead limit break/ chocobo instead summons etc.) but this game mean alot to me. Edit: I cried when I did Bhakti's quest... Thankyou for making this video.

[@alexsmith2910]

The fact that you put so much passion and comedy into your videos has caused me to watch them multiple times!!!

[@TransWitchReviews]

Thank you! That's super sweet and super appreciated! More will be very soon so please stay tuned!

[@snazzydrew]

I mean, I'm not gonna lie, stanning Lightning that hard is very unstandable. She's actually an AMAZING character and is written really well imho. She's has a very gruff and curt exterior, but she doesn't necessarily have any malice (maybe alittle towards Snow but he's a big dummy and I think she's just annoyed with him more than anything). In XIII when her and Hope have their first adventure and she kinda relaxes a bit when she realizes just how harsh she's being.... that was the moment I realize she was a pretty real character. She feel reasonably upset by their whole situation. FFXIII cast is honestly my favorite cast in FF with only a few characters from the other ff games really measuring up.

[@CoreCaMilo13]

The monotone voice of hers can really get to me how she doesn't show emotion for the NPCs and thats kinda fitting her character and you can't imagine Lightning saying "meow choco chow" enthusiastically. With that, the ending of LR really get in the feels and how her voice becomes more genuine during those scenes that makes it one of the most satisfying conclusions to a Final Fantasy Game. I can't imagine what the Fabula Nova Crystallis could've been if Nomura was able to do Versus 13, but Lightning Returns was the most perfect send off. And I will VEHEMENTLY defend Toriyama for putting Lightning in the real world because Louis Vuitton Lightning is real

[@TransWitchReviews]

I genuinely wonder how things would've gone if versus 13 came out. And same the Louis Vuitton thing is so wild I can't not love it lmao.

[@hopesjourneyVA]

W! I grew up with 7, 10, and the XIII-Trilogy and avoided most if not all reviews. When I played XII-2, however, it was my very favorite. I kinda wish we got to do more with Noel. Perhaps even gave us a DLC where we play as him in LR:XIII-3. You know, since he's a time traveler he could've seen through that atlernate endning where Serah lives from FFXIII even after FFXIII-2. Oh yes, the music and amazing. "Savior of Souls" is a good battle theme. XIII-Trilogy had lots of engaging main battle themes that turns out to be pretty catchy when you realize the adventerous tone, utopian-aesthetic, and stylish world-building the 3 games has to offer. Although there were many concerns from OG Fans about the games straying away from their successors, XIII was actually a hidden gem. I'm probably not even making any sense, but I'm just saying the FFXIII-Trilogy is an underappreciated masterpiece. Like, we can say there was worse... But, I won't mention any names. We've got our own interests. Lastly, I truly believe this is the best retrospective review I've seen on a FF video game yet. I currently play FFXIV Online, with Endwalker, and for some reason I can't stop thinking of Lightning Returns: FFXIII-3. It's got to do with time, accepting endings, and starting over again. Which hit me with an undying source of reflection during the pandemic, even in 2021. Especially, spoilers, the LR-FFXIII-3 ending... Where the new world is Earth itself. It's not the 1st time SE has made parallels outside canon {FF: Tactics, FF: Enemy Within, & Various Titles}. 🌎 Thanks to the Square Enix Team for putting their effort into all 3 games and future titles, like FFXVI coming soon in June 2023. And thank you for giving us this retrospective! 💙💙💙

[@DarianCohen]

I actually really like this game. It was also the last game I played before I bought my first Xbox one (X) a year and a half ago. The last game I was playing before my dad passed away. For those two reasons alone, I'll always remember it.

[@MrShahrozzz]

Anyone with the name Toriyama always delivers 👌🏼 XIII Trilogy was amazing! ...and so was DBZ 😜

[@sasklucy]

I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that somebody else sees what I’ve always seen in this game 😩💕

[@joeill620]

im glad im not the only one that loves this game. in total I put about 500 hours into this game. replay value is insane once you understand the game. normal mode was super hard for me too. i hated this game back in 2014 but recently replaying the trilogy I really love the story and characters seeing snow finally break wrecked me. and noels fight cutscene makes me cry every time. also I don't care what anyone says the build up to fighting bhuni is brilliant. it actually is horrifying seeing this strange other worldly being sitting over you underneath using the stage as a cover. the final phase introduction gave me chills. bhuni gets pissed and warps reality JUSTT so he can peer over you in anger. badass. When he says you shall burn in his light and that loud bass sound effect happens. never gets old. whats Also good is his theme it's so underrated and scary. this game's soundtrack is so atmospheric and I love it. great video PS I love that tears side quest too. everytime I complete it I cry

[@proginger]

I really adore your videos. They are thorough and articulate and made with such genuine love towards the games. That you consider the work and efforts of the people involved in making them. That you look deeper than the cynical classification of what is good and bad and dedicate sections to your videos hyper-fixating on parts that resonated with you. This FF-XIII series especially made me feel like you made me understand these games on a level that I wouldn't have achieved even playing the games personally.

[@TransWitchReviews]

Thank you so much! I do my best to go far deeper than just a binary "good and bad" type structure to these thing and I get so exhausted from how cynical/down on shit the internet can be regarding media. Genuinely wanna do my best to find the good in the works that I cover if possible and give credit to where it's due. Art is rad and it deserves to be celebrated!

[@TheLegendaryTashy]

Your work is amazing, all your videos are so detailed and well made. I look forward to your future content

[@TransWitchReviews]

Thank you so much! Definitely doing my best to do good work for these videos! Hope ya dig what I'm doing here as I make more stuff :)

[@EliasBunda]

Your videos are just PURE quality. I can’t believe that you’re a relatively smaller channel. I was expecting you to have a couple mil. Anyway, great work, subscribed!

[@TransWitchReviews]

Thank you so much! That seriously means so much to me and I'm happy ya really dig all the effort I put into my stuff! I'll definitely keep doing my best to keep growing things here and keep putting out quality stuff :D

[@EliasBunda]

@@TransWitchReviews sounds great! Can’t wait for your next video! :)

[@MementoDespair]

Lightning Returns is my favorite game in the world.

[@TransWitchReviews]

Rad!

[@Hades69099]

This one is a little unconventional, but yes I would say that it's a masterpiece, the combat is really fun, has really creative environments to explore and navigate through, and for a non linear story that has a satisfying conclusion. it was an experiment that largely payed off. It laided the ground work for FF7 remake and FF16. this was the first step into a more action real time combat.

[@Mega199109]

Found you through my recommended videos and have binged all of your videos in the span of last night and today while working. You have some absolutely superb videos on your channel and you do some fantastic work. I love your work and I am highly looking forward to future content from you. Definitely earned yourself a subscriber!

[@TransWitchReviews]

Thank you so much! I'm happy you're vibing with the videos and excited to share more with everyone soon! Stay tuned and thank you again!

[@DavidGreen-uv4ws]

I totally use sunglasses on Lightening for all her garbs too! They look brilliant. I absolutely love this game.

[@beansockz9756]

Another comment on a few things: 1: The music, Bhunivelza’s theme is amazing. The composure including both Caius’ theme and Orphan’s theme to reflect the struggle of Light and the overall trilogy is absolutely *chef kiss* 2: New Bodum is mentioned in the books, with Light spending a lot of time there pre-Purge (or rather just Bodum, but I believe that’s why they include that song in the Wildlands because the people there both remind Light of it, especially NORA, and thus, Serah). The same for Snow and becoming a L’Cie again, which low key sucks they don’t explain that in the game (hence the Cactor in Yussnan) 3: you can tell the devs didn’t care about Sazh as much from 13-2 due to his only (kind of) screen time being in a DLC which continues to show in this game. They fr did Sazh dirty but Noel to go against Light after wanting to save her the entire 13-2 just never made sense to me

[@Pystoria]

This is a peak video essay, thank you so much. I LOVE THIS GAME! It’s such a comfort game to me

[@TransWitchReviews]

Thank you so much very glad ya dug it!

[@Dymangel]

I am glad there are still people with a brain who do not split bullshits about the trilogy being bad just because they want to be a part of team or something I think you showed a lot of Side Quest, but missed an interesting one: in Yusnaan there is a man who asks Light to come back the next day at 12:00 They say that they can see the future and they know she will come back, which Light and Hope discuss that this "magic" is false and Lightning is doing her own choices. This happen for 2/3 days I think until the questo is over. At the end, it turns out Light kinda understand was goin on. Why did she really went back there? Were those choices her own? She realize that maybe if somebody made her do that she can not feel at all. This is exactly the 4th wall break, like The Family Guy and Deadpool do a lot of time. I only realized that this year, after 8 years. But in the end, it was a nice video to watch (kinda funny to think about) while playing the game and grinding. I enjoy it, thanks ;)

[@dylanjubinville9147]

It is nice to watch a video uplifting this game. I don’t entirely agree but you definitely let me think of aspects in a different light. Thanks for the content!

[@TransWitchReviews]

I'm glad! I totally get that, honestly the most I can ask for is hopefully people can just see more in this game than I think it's really gotten so happy this did that for ya even if we disagree on some things or your experiences were fairly different from mine with the game! No problem at all!

[@CalebMichaelRiley]

Really great video! I love how deep you dive into the gameplay. I think this is such an underrated trilogy. The OST alone is worth it! Great channel!!

[@TransWitchReviews]

Thank you! I definitely agree these games deserve far more of a chance from people! The OST's ESPECIALLY are absolutely GOAT for me.

[@vindifference]

I see and hear your praise of the fashion, but your footage doesn't have an adequate amount of absolutely *fabulous* custom color combinations, in my humble opinion. I went mad in my playthroughs, mixing and altering the colors of outfits and coordinating accessories to create the perfect looks. It's so addicting, and combined with some of the best challenges in FF that I've had thus far, it's just godly. You make the perfect looking garb color; shield, sword, accessories and outfit all matching to a T, but it's not the best stat-wise. But who even cares!? I'll beat Bhunivelze in this awful green dress and no one can stop me. Very much appreciated the character work with Lightning in this game, and the previous ones. I can love her character and how she interacts with others, while so many people just can't. The story for me was, at the time of the trilogy's release, I was a teen who did in fact cut away most of my personality in order to be more stoic, pragmatic, efficient and no-nonsense as a way to get by. It was actually a decent shield from dealing with people, and the emotions that came from feeling discrimination from those around me. No, I wasn't a l'cie, I was just a queer kid who was a racial minority at my own school, in a country with strong anti-lgbtq sentiment, dealing with that on top of literally all the other tough things like growing up in a very demanding educational system. There was trauma somewhere in there. I had younger cousins who I'd often have to care for, and in many ways they'd help me get my emotions back during the darker days. Lightning was just accurate representation of who I was around that time. I was efficient, respectable, performing well, and alone. And to that effect, I can't not appreciate her on another level. What she gets angry for, what she responds positively to, how she really feels, and her character arc at the end of the trilogy. LR happened around the same time I graduated secondary school and became a university student. After forcing myself to be emotionless and quiet for like 7 of my teenage years, imagine coming out of that after a grueling exam period, and now trying to open up a little more to people. Only to find that I can't exactly figure out my own emotions or personality. But in uni, I eventually did a bit, and finally made some friends there. It just hit so hard when Lightning had her own epiphany. Anyway, I love this game and this trilogy too. They represent something pivotal for Square and I don't think people give them enough credit. Because it's a contained set of games you can really feel the changes and get a grasp of the kind of devs the team is.

[@beansockz9756]

Lightning returns holds such a special place in my heart and has for years It was my comfort game. Yes I acknowledge it’s not perfect but I’m so so happy KZbin recommended someone sharing the same passion and not giving it the negative light it always seems to get Thank you

[@GarnetRodLady]

The gameplay/battle system was definitely a difficult learning curve for me (to the point where I had to start the game over on easy because I couldn't beat the final boss on normal.) However, I've really grown to love this game. I wish more FF games had the amount of fashion options like this game does. Also, Velvet Bouncer is the best outfit. 😍

[@maf7742]

Listening to hour-long reviews of this trilogy has become a coping mechanism for me after finishing it, and having listened to yours, I can safely say yours is my favorite. It's the first long review that isn't constantly talking about... you know, how bad the game is... and while I might agree with them, you gushing about the game for hours (and XIII-2 too) has made me appreciate a lot of things I hadn't before. Furthermore, I feel like a lot of other reviews just kind of rush over certain story elements which is what I was looking for (like the crying girl subplot). My biggest gripe is Lightning losing her emotions, as if she wasn't stoic in the first place? I don't know. It feels like the kind of story where character reactions, relationships and emotions can really shine and elevate the story to a new level... so why take that away? I really don't get that creative decision. As for FFX, the only people who make fun of the Tidus laughing scene now in 2022 are the ones who haven't played the game at this point, or just took pee breaks during cutscenes or something. Lightning being the stoic type and still losing her emotions 'for the theme' just didn't work for me, as someone who liked her character a lot in previous entries. I find Squall incredibly frustrating but can understand his actions, and what I think he shares with Cloud and Lightning is the fear of opening his heart. You could argue she didn't do so entirely in the first game and was barely in the second so this game should be where that gets resolved, in which case... I still see no reason for her to literally lose her emotions. She had already hidden them anyway. The payoff could've still been the same in the end, without a magical external factor to inhibit her further, just herself. Also, Hope, my poor boy, they did him so dirty. His sibling-like relationship with Lightning was one of my favorite things about XIII so I was looking forward to them being a duo once again, but THEM HAVING NO EMOTIONS made it hard to care. All of this I say as someone who's extremely stoic and tends to have diluted reactions; there's no point. Why didn't they just make this a different game? It feels so detached from what XIII was about that it might as well just be something else completely. XIII-2 felt the same to me, just not to this extent. It might have been because of the disappointment I felt back then, but it kind of diminished all the things the gang went through in the first game. What was the point? Of anything? On its own, I agree that it had a lot of good ideas, and you really sold me on the soundtrack. I might like it more than the first game. Now, the one thing holding this trilogy together for me is not only arguably Lightning's "growth", but the theme of hope. It's mostly despair in the first, then hope at the end, mostly hope in the second, then despair at the end, and then the third installment cycles back to the first. I guess the plots between games are so different from each other than the thematic threads feel loose anyway. First game: escaping. Second game: time travel. Third game: help X and Y to help them reach the new world. It's just kind of all over the place. Random thought: do Cie'th go to the new world or did they finally die after spending eons as monsters and/or stones?

[@TransWitchReviews]

I'm so happy ya dug the video! Yeah I feel like a looooot of people, especially with JRPG's on this site kinda don't give the game itself time to actually speak? If that makes sense? Like they won't bring up quests or anything that actually thematically resonates with the game itself to make a broader point. I'm not perfect with this either but it's something I strive to get better and better at because JRPG's deserve more respect for their storytelling even in sidequests! The emotions point is fair but like I said I just genuinely think that while yes it can hurt bits of the story, like her and Hope's reunion is undercut by the fact that while Lightning does have thoughts about the past she's not able to feel anything about it, I do still think the overall point of it about being this self reflecting introspective point is really really great. One of the few of these KILL GOD stories that actually meaningfully interrogates why the MC is the way that they are. Also stoicism and what she is in this game imo are completely different. I don't think it's detached at all. The whole series is about fighting against the odds and doing your best to preserve hope no matter the cost and I think thematically they all hit on those points even if they all feel very different from each other but I can get just not vibing with the escalation of everything ESPECIALLY in 13-2 and this. I do wish we got the Valkyrie Profile game they were making this into first though I won't lie. The OST is sooooo good. If I can convince anybody of anything I would hope the OST being super good would be one of them so I'm glad!

[@TransWitchReviews]

Yeah I kinda wonder the same about the Cieth too. I thiiiink they go too cause they're also souls but I have no clue. I honestly kinda wish they addressed that!

[@vibesof303]

Respect for Sazh mentioned. But I disagree that LR is best in the xiii part, I think every episode of the trilogy has its own awesomeness. Like, the first was light and beautiful in every aspect of the game. The second was interesting and entertaining. The third was deep in replaying and in gameplay. And all of them have the best ost I've ever heard the first two, especially. Not mention, that all of them triggers philosophical questions (last one especially). In my opinion. Of course, there is much more to describe about every episode, but it'll take too much text. But I hope you got it. 😇 🤩 (Sorry if my English is bad, I'm not native speaker)

[@TransWitchReviews]

It's all good! Your English is perfectly fine! I can get that, I also think that all of them are pretty great in their own ways, 13-2 especially is just such a comfortable game to me and the premise is just really really fun. I just really adore what LR is going for so I personally gravitate towards that one.

[@rem9142]

I'll admit it might have been a huge assumption to make, but I honestly wasn't expecting you to like this one very much. It still would have made for an entertaining watch regardless, if what I've seen of your content so far says anything, but it really is a bonus that you ended up liking the game as much as it seems. After having watched twice, you and ClementJ64 have my favorite videos on Lightning Returns so far, keep it up, nice work! 👍

[@TransWitchReviews]

Thank you so much! I'm really happy ya liked the video and are digging what I'm doing here so far! I'm honestly shocked I ended up loving this as much as I did this time too. Like seriously I was worried I was maybe gonna hate it going into it but as I said I was veeeery pleasantly surprised at everything it does so so so right. Hoping as I cover more games on this channel I keep stumbling into games that maybe I needed to give a second glance and end up loving but we shall see! :D

[@vindifference]

I always say that there's a distinct relationship to how people who like a certain game in the trilogy will most likely receive the other ones. Those who really liked XIII, will probably enjoy the sequels less or at best, just as much. People who really disliked XIII will probably appreciate XIII-2 more. LR can be a wildcard sometimes, but generally if the transition to XIII to XIII-2 was positive, then Lightning Returns will also be positive. If the first transition was negative then it'll likely be negative again for LR. My belief in this trend is just anecdotal but I've rarely seen otherwise. But it's such a testament to how important the trilogy was in being a learning experience for Square in the newer game generations. They showed us how they could listen to feedback, and what they could do within limited time and resources, which honestly gets more impressive as time goes by. This trilogy was done within 3 years of the initial game's release. 3 years for 3 decently complete games, all of which did something different and listened to fans. That turnaround is kinda insane by today's standards.

[@akiinmoonlight79]

Currently watching through all your videos ~ and fck i love your channel pls keep going 😂❤

[@xGunbladeKnightx]

I liked the video because you also appreciated many things that I could also appreciate when I played. Is not a master piece but I enjoyed it more than the other two. About the ending, I couldn't publish it either, even without comments, it's prohibited, but the ones for XIII and XIII-2 aren't, is weird, or instead The 3rd Birthday secret ending is completely forbbiden in KZbin, you can't upload it even in private xDD so I don't know what the hell is wrong with SE, I really liked that one too, and is a s*** they don't let you enjoy the cutscenes in peace. Anyway, the truth is I don't think the game's story is stupid, in general I think the story of the entire trilogy is quite good and well constructed, as good as an great anime series. I really like how Lightning becomes a character that I can love very much xD so it doesn't seem so ridiculous to me that Toriyama supposedly wanted Lightning and the other characters to exist in the real world, because it wasn't just her that was reborn, I think it's just another way of breaking the 4th wall, like later they did with the clothing advertising and then the one about the car, I think he is not the first one in do that, besides, in the end are characters created by real people with real feelings. As Ultimecia says: "everything is just an illusion" xD Lightning besto waifu uwu ❤ xD

[@j.r.cilliangreen4083]

I love this trilogy and love seeing others who love it as well...

[@KngHrts2]

Just found your videos on this trilogy, and I'm so happy I did. I've playing the XIII trilogy for the first time over the last few months, and honestly, I think LR is my favorite. I know that makes me a psychopath, but I've beaten XIII and XIII-2 once each; LR I've beaten on all 3 difficulties. I just really love it. Long live the Australian lesbians!

[@TransWitchReviews]

Hell yeah happy ya dug the videos! I feel ya on LR. I'm super shocked at just how much my vibe and my favorite of the 3 games this one became. It seriously just resonates really hard with me and I'm happy to hear it did for ya too! Agreed! Long live they in beautiful lesbian harmony!

[@Cybarxz]

37:24 This very bard made this music my fav song from the franchise

[@mhiggs8001]

I love lightning, I hate games with a time limit. They go directly against the way I like to play and sap the fun out for me. I was doing really well when I first played this, but I got robbed and it all just left a horrible impression on me, unfortunately.

[@TransWitchReviews]

Yeah that's totally fair, like I said while I do think there are good ways to circumvent the time limit in this it still is definitely the reason I had trouble getting into this game for so long.

[@yuzuki2385]

I really want a remake of this game People may disagree, but I really really want a remake, I feel like ff13 should have been on ps4

[@Ryuoh]

Sahz got shafted for reasons unspoken

[@aosth5]

I've got to admit, therapist Lightning is pretty cool.

[@kermitwithamustache3885]

Have you played Type-0? I'd love to see an in depth retrospective like this one, criminally underrated game

[@TransWitchReviews]

I played a little bit of it years ago but it's most definitely a game I wanna cover sometime! It's interested me pretty much since it was announced so I'm excited to get around to it!

[@aroccoification]

Is lightnings name actually ever said to be claire in the games? I played 13 and 13-2 several times and this is the first I'm hearing of it.

[@TransWitchReviews]

Yep. Barthandelus taunts her with it right before you leave gran pulse in FF13. I forget if they say it at all in 13-2 but the games definitely say it and bring it up. I really dig the choice as another layer of Lightning trying to cover up any "weakness" within herself by even going by a different name entirely and shunning anything to do with her child self/old identity.

[@antparsons1185]

HERE'S THE THING...... The final boss and the ending of this game where lightning goes to france is actually a subtle nod to another game made by square enix called Bust a groove 2, the final boss even looks like him except a robot. The only diference is that the ending of that game is the UK specifically Wales, and thats what nova crysalias is based on.

[@TransWitchReviews]

It's true, people need to wake up to how deep the Bust A Groove well goes.

[@antparsons1185]

@@TransWitchReviews cant tell if sarcasm, but here's hoping it aint.

[@antparsons1185]

@@TransWitchReviews Also its kinda obscure but some of the costumes and adornments are references to stuff thats not final fantasy too, like the blueheart glasses being idenitcal to pinky from bust a groove, and quiet guardian being gamora's outfit from the gotg cartoon which sucked

[@TransWitchReviews]

@@antparsons1185 It was a little joking but I do see whatcha mean sort of. I feel like these may be more coincidence especially the GOTG cartoon one unless that's been confirmed as that feels like a biiit of a stretch but looking at some bust a groove stuff I could kinda see that at least being more plausible for some inspiration along with general fashion trends.

[@antparsons1185]

@@TransWitchReviews Its fine, its cute homage, since a aspect of the game is lightning cosplaying over characters

[@fryingpanda]

I love the bonus xD

[@minhducphamnguyen7819]

Spoiler alert! When they revealed the title for the 3rd installment of the FF13 trilogy I thought the name for the game was strange. It wasn't until the revealed of the Lumina twist that I understand why they called this game "Lightning return".

[@IronJhon788]

Now that's what I call a low res dog. 5:49

[@enyalieTheWriter]

YOU CAN CRONOSTACIS OUT OF FIGHTS HAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAH I never knew that and just played with that huge timer problem through the game xD

[@dytgyfgyffuh243]

I like final fantasy 13 it is underrated

[@southbeatz8441]

Lightning Returns I felt was a very good game but it could have been even better if it had not been rushed. I think it was only like 1.5 years from XIII-2 to Lightning Returns. The combat I found to be way too easy personally but still quite fun. I always preferred the older turn based more strategic combat. Any game with more action based combat I've always found to just be too easy and the strategic combat I've always found more rewarding and interesting. I liked all 3 XIII games, probably would rank XIII my 3rd favorite FF game. Lightning Returns also rewards multiple NG+ playthroughs since some things are not available until NG+ and there are a few things that take a 3rd playthrough to get all of.

[@stenpod9368]

i'm prepared for the ending, 1st game, exceptional, yeah until you get to the climax and the resolvement' 2nd game i'm still lost, but if i can go back, even right now, to gather potent essences... i have about 5 days left in game, not exactly sure how to gil-farm, other than selling glowdots on the field.

[@PrettyKttyAspen]

This game is ONLY for gay people. Ugh I have over 30 completed playthroughs of this game (twelve of which are just all a repeated NG+ of one file) and this made me want to play again. I really appreciate your very obvious skill with media analysis, you put pieces together that I hadn't yet and that's sick. Anyone who puts thought into this game is extremely cool and your thoughts were great. It's my favorite FF game by far, and I could talk for hours about not only what I love about it but dozens of tips for minmaxing the game and setting up for NG+, if anyone wants to hear them. Also PLAY VALKYRIE PROFILE: LENNETH, it's so thematically similar and it also has incredible music. Play with a guide, though, it's hard to figure out.

[@vino.vvveeee]

Okay so, I don't know if what I'm about to type is gonna make sense but hear me out This game is just one of many proof that Squeenix still has that Squaresoft charm and boldness that they did years ago, this game just REEKS Squaresoft energy with the experimental game structure and everything this game has. I honestly see this game in a kind of "Legend of Mana" situation wherein people used to not view the game in high regard when it was first released but develops a cult following and praise in the coming years, which Lightning Returns already kind of has, but I can only see its cult following getting bigger since more and more people have been opening up and are starting to actually like the FFXIII trilogy (and it's why I hate FF fans so much, them with their modern ff game trash because NoSTalGia and bandwagon bs, but I digress). But I just want to say that Square has and ALWAYS will have that old Squaresoft mojo in them, they always made different and "avant-garde" games like ye olden days ala Saga Frontier or Legend of Mana even to this day. World of Final Fantasy, Lightning Returns, Dungeon Encounters, Voice of Cards, the list goes on. So yeah, Lightning Returns is an underrated flawed gem and I will always love it dearly along with the other 2 FFXIII games :")

[@One.Zero.One101]

I really wanted to like this game because I love Lightning and I loved the first two games, but this is the most convoluted story I've ever seen in any film, show, book, or video game. Their motivation, their current situation, and their resolution all feel like they're patched up with no regard for logic. I couldn't handle it every time some character tries to conjure up some justification for their logic. Sorry.

[@kuyavalcrist1736]

FFXIII: LR is my favorite XIII game. I am unable to finish XII-2 because the PC port sucks.

[@resid3nt3v1l]

Hey i almost never hear anyone talk about resonance of fate. Another good game is infinite undiscovery. Or a simple jrpg is bluedragon

[@JohnChronakis]

Great video! I have recently bought the trilogy on Steam, and the combination of a timer + complete SNAFU on keyboard controls made me hate this game. I don't have a gamepad, and *up to now* I never felt that I needed one to play Final Fantasy games on PC. But controlling the camera with the IJKL keys is a bit too janky for me. The content *is* great, but I feel a bit spoiled after the great keyboard+mouse experience of FFXIII and FFXIII-2. And Squaresoft is sadly very "fire and forget" wrt PC ports of their games... I'll need to muster some patience before tackling this again.

[@TransWitchReviews]

Thank you! And yeah I can totally get bouncing off of it. I actually didn't know that about the keyboard support for the first two games but that's genuinely super rad! Unfortunate that LR which is by and far the better port at least technically but it's sad that they messed the keyboard controls up that badly. Hope if ya give it another shot it's kinder to ya and ya can vibe with it more! :D

[@JohnChronakis]

@@TransWitchReviews Thank you for your encouraging words! I kinda want to circle back to it because I want to finish Lightning Returns before moving on to FFXV. Speaking of which, any ideas on what you'll tackle next on this channel? Really interested in what's grabbed your attention

[@TransWitchReviews]

@@JohnChronakisFor sure! And yeah I can definitely get that, I definitely wanna circle back on some of the games I really didn't vibe with myself at some point like FF8 but idk when I'll get around to that honestly. 15 is gonna get its own special video at some point some day lol I have a looooooooooot of thoughts on that game. My next plan currently is to tackle the FF7 Compilation (Not FF7 itself as I feel like that's kinda been talked about to death) but everything else including the new remakes. Along with that the Shadow Hearts games as those have absolutely caught my attention at the moment and I really want any excuse to talk about Koudelka honestly lol.

[@JohnChronakis]

@@TransWitchReviews I really like that you bring attention to games I've never heard of :) Broadens my horizons and appreciation of the jrpg genre

[@TransWitchReviews]

@@JohnChronakis I'm glad! That's my hope long term with all of this. Have people either reexamine they may have dismissed or discover something more niche in certain genres (though thinking I'm gonna try sticking to JRPG's because there is nooot a lot of longform type content for the really niche stuff which is kinda surprising!) rather than just covering all of the new big stuff (besides FF7R but that's mainly cause I wanna also just cover things that in general capture my interest in some kinda way! So really happy you're digging the vibe here so far!

[@AmbassadorFox]

Meow meow Choco chow 🦊🐾

[@leafia133]

Its so shady that these games are the only ones not available on modern consoles now

[@TransWitchReviews]

Agreed it's honestly extremely lame these haven't been ported for modern consoles outside of like Xbox Back Compat.

[@alioverthehill2870]

Love this game

[@TransWitchReviews]

Yoooo same!

[@shunkun8668]

13 for production value and character development 13-2 for music LR for gameplay and story themes

[@AstraFulminous]

I mean Normura is out there trying to take down Sora in his series so at least Lighting's creator has her back.

[@wreday720]

He literally delayed making Verum Rex to make KH4 because he was 'worried about Sora' cmon...

[@OrenjiMochi]

POGGERS

[@davidrolfe4864]

I really enjoyed the 13 series but it didn't feel like final fantasy to me.

[@TheBoodercg]

People actually dont play the game. They let others decide their opinions on it and thats unfortunate. If you atleast played a handful of sidequests is 13-3 you’d realize Lightning is one of Square Enix’s FUNNIEST characters of all time.

[@brendanalexcurran3429]

FF13-3 wasn’t good at all…. However FF13-2 was AMAZING…. So sad they didn’t continue with that gameplay.

[@clown-cult96]

The ending always made me both laugh and cringe a little cuz they spend so much time talking about how the new world will be BeTtEr FoR eVErYoNE! And then it’s just…our world. That is apparently better for everyone. Like…not for the black characters and the lesbians it sure as hell won’t be, and Snow is definitely going to jail for courting Sera while she was a minor, but I’m glad your waifu is real now I guess? 😂😂😂

[@Transgirl17]

Amazing video 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️ I Sub your KZbin I trans girl to keep it up and I love the LGBTQ community and Final fantasy franchise

[@Jim-pq9pm]

Poor dialogue, heavy handed theme, decent gameplay, poor story 4/10

[@MAJINSTARSCREAM4]

I think your humor is too american for my taste. You also didn't delve too much into the Bhunivelze and Lightning's relationship in the original japanese game, which is a crucial part of analysing this game. I don't really get why you think someone loving his own creation too much can be "funny." I find your mocking of Toriyama in really, really poor taste.

[@mikche1]

I'll tell you I've played final fantasy 7,8,9,10,10-2 and anything after that has been horrible.

[@litt420]

Stop being hater 🤡

[@wiseguy240Winston]

8 was mid and 10-2 was a dumpster fire outside its combat. 12 was better than those and 13 was mid like 8 but not the worst. 13-2 was the best one and LR was hit or miss in a a few areas or mid overall.

[@FelixS.]

X is the worst Final Fantasy period. No contest.

[@toooydoeur]

​@@FelixS. Literally peak

[@FelixS.]

@@toooydoeur Yeah. Peak of one way street gameplay and cringe voice acting and peak of „no cities in rpg“.

[@Cybarxz]

34:20 I never heard of this game. But this quote is very interesting. Please do talk about it @transwitchreviews

[@Thorn_416]

Thank you for this, I'm loving it so far. I think it's a tragedy that this game is overlooked because the first 13 sucked so much. Imagine THIS had been the first game in the 13 trilogy?? Anyway great video, I see and appreciate the effort you put into this. Thanks!

[@2bussy]

final foggatry