Final Fantasy stands out as one of the most popular JRPGs, known for its epic narratives and thrilling stories, with characters that leave behind a memorable impact on players. Some of these entries are widely discussed and celebrated among fans, while others have faded from memory, often absent from discussions surrounding the Final Fantasy franchise.
Final Fantasy 13 is one of these titles. It was released in Japan in December 2009, with two sequels, Final Fantasy 13-2 and Lightning Returns; however, despite its bold ideas and visuals, the series became one of Final Fantasy’s most criticized installments. Now, more than a decade later, it may be time to reconsider the series and its potential.
Final Fantasy 13 Has Its Fair Share of Flaws and Missteps
Final Fantasy 13’s divisive reputation stems from its design choices and undeniable weaknesses. Many players cited the game’s progression as feeling too confined, with linear corridors that prevent exploration in the same way as in previous games. While the game eventually becomes more of an open world, it comes too late in the story, leaving players frustrated with the restrictive map.
For many players, these became disengaging, tedious, and frustrating, causing many to recall Final Fantasy 13’s faults over its merits.
The game’s narrative and world-building also stood out as weaknesses. The worlds of Cocoon and Pulse are filled with political and mythological details, however, most of this doesn’t come naturally in the gameplay. Instead, key concepts were too often explained through the datalog, which made the plot feel overwhelming rather than immersive, especially at the beginning of the game.
Paired with the combat system remaining simplified for longer than necessary and characters who come off as abrasive early on, the game had numerous structural and narrative issues that bled into other aspects of the game. For many players, these became disengaging, tedious, and frustrating, causing many to recall Final Fantasy 13’s faults over its merits.
Final Fantasy 13 Had Plenty of Merits That Fans Tend To Overlook
While Final Fantasy 13’s flaws tend to take up conversation, the game still has considerable merits. While its opening may come across as rigid, the game gradually reveals more strengths in its characters, atmosphere, and thematic consistency, ultimately creating an experience that deserves a second look.
Most notably, Final Fantasy 13 stands out for its gorgeous visuals, which have aged with astonishing grace and continue to hold up today. The world-building is made with intricate detail and effectively blends sci-fi and fantasy together with bold art and environments. Paired with its memorable soundtrack, Final Fantasy 13 established a distinct identity among other games at the time.
Beyond its aesthetics, the characters, while intentionally crafted to feel dysfunctional, gradually developed as the storyline progressed. Despite their initial fear, anger, denial, and conflicting responses to their shared fate, as they begin to confront their Focus, their relationship with one another naturally shifts into a slow-burning, yet ultimately rewarding, progression.
One of the game’s more thrilling aspects lies in its protagonist, Lightning, who stands out as one of the franchise’s most unconventional. She is initially guarded, abrasive, and emotionally unavailable; traits that are typically rare in female JRPG leads at the time. Her growth throughout the 13 trilogy stands out as a meaningful evolution that resonated with countless players.
A Proper Remake Could Finally Fix What 13 Got Wrong
Revisiting Final Fantasy 13 through a modern lens would present a unique opportunity to strengthen the story’s intent. The foundation is strong, but many of the barriers that keep players at arm’s length could be addressed in a remake. If handled correctly, the series could preserve its unique identity while making its strengths more noticeable.
One of the most impactful changes would be reimagining Cocoon as a series of semi-open hubs rather than uninterrupted, repetitive corridors. Expanding these spaces would encourage players’ curiosity, creating a stronger sense of immersion and allowing the world to breathe while maintaining the story’s narrative focus and sense of urgency.
Additionally, the narrative could be improved by embedding lore directly into the gameplay, environment, and story over isolating it in datalogs. Through visual cues, overheard conversations, and optional interactions, Final Fantasy 13 could have conveyed context in any number of ways.
A remake that is made with the intention of preserving the core story while addressing the criticisms surrounding the game could reinforce Final Fantasy 13’s story, characters, and world-building in ways that uplift it to cater to longtime fans, frustrated players, and newcomers alike.
It’s Time To Revisit the Entire Final Fantasy 13 Trilogy
The Final Fantasy 13 trilogy marked an experimental shift to a cinematic, linear structure that heavily centered on a single protagonist. It stands as one of the franchise’s most ambitious undertakings, and while not every aspect was perfect, the story and characters have potential, with its scope making it worthy of being revisited.
A modern remake offers Square Enix the chance to present that vision with greater clarity and confidence, now that developers are aware of what worked and what did not. The trilogy could be reshaped into a stronger, thrilling experience that delivers on its full potential and complex lore.
If handled with care and intention, a modern remake of the Final Fantasy 13 trilogy could become a memorable, widely discussed entry in the franchise rather than one of its weakest installments. With its unique world and cast, who carry varying motivations and potential for stronger, slightly more streamlined growth, a Final Fantasy 13 remake could entirely redefine its legacy.
- Released
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March 9, 2010
- ESRB
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t
- Publisher(s)
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Square Enix
- Engine
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Crystal Tools
