Which monster dons colorful garb ff13

The amazing graphics and well-engineered battle systems were a particularly strong element in that judgment, but like a lot of gamers I experienced the narrow structure of certain battles -- which really could only be won using specific tactics that the player was left to discover on their own with no in-game guidance -- to be something less than a favorite part of the game. The now familiar ATB system reappeared and, in spite of reasonable criticism that the fighting system has received over the years, is nonetheless one of the better systems for the JRPG format that we have seen.

Happily gameplay in XIII-2 unfolds in a manner that quickly shows that the folks at Square recognized the disadvantages that existed in the previous game, and went to considerable efforts to correct them in this sequel; and those tweaks and fixes do not apply strictly to combat, but other aspects of the game as well! While much of the good stuff that made XIII the very cool adventure that it was returns here -- which is sort of the point -- the fact that this game was created with a zen-like flow in mind so that it unfolds in a way that allows the player to really enjoy playing it rather than having to work hard at it, the improvements turn out to be a well-balanced and very good thing addition to the game.

Another happy point is that, in contrast to the Achievements that were built into the previous title, many of which could be missed, save for one lone exception that is difficulty based, the path for the Achievements in XIII-2 is a natural one, and players should find that unlocking them really is part of the story and play rather than something that they have to actively pursue. Great care and considerable skill went into crafting the Datalog pages, The Beastiary, and the many individual "files" that make up the pages for each of the Fragments -- many of which tell individual stories in their own right and for that reason and others, encourage us to encourage you to read and embrace them and make them a natural part of your game play experience, because they add so much -- and they represent the potential to add so much -- in both story depth and reach, and in breathing true life into the events that came before, during, and thanks to the time-travel aspect of the various and sundry plots, after If that was all that there was to it it would be enough to simply recommend that you read each page as it is presented to you, but we want more than that for you -- and from you!

We want to encourage you to drink in the details and soak up all that is implied in between the revelations, the background and the foreground, as speaking of the Zen-like manner in which the games actions were made to flow, an equally balanced approach was taken in preserving the information and the story-based retelling of the events so that far from merely informing, it embodies the carrying forth of that information like the bearer of a lantern on the darkest shore, providing light for your attention in order to both deepen and quicken the process of absorption and at the same time build into that very same process elements of mystery that revolves around what is concealed in plain sight.

What we are saying in so complicated a manner can easily be summed up in much more simple terms: within this game the creators have gone to significant effort to include within the documentation a balance that will, if you let it, add to and heighten the entertainment that it can offer you in the following forms: -- The Datalog -- Your Encyclopedia and History Library, your Intelligence Files and your Biographies -- it exists to teach you about the world and the people in it who will, if you allow them to, become important to you.

It is there to fill in the blanks you have with respect to lore, legend, and what came before. In short it exists to breath real life into the events and characters, their actions in victory and defeat, and the color that fills in the edges of the world in which you are adventuring.

And as a bonus, concealed among this information are elements of the current story, its plots, and the details that might be found or inferred and that -- wholly dependent upon the effort that you willingly make to hunt for it -- add to the richness of your adventures, layer by layer. Considering all of the effort that went into not simply making this game world but in crafting the many stories that help to bring it to life, it would be a genuine shame for you to ignore its contents in favor of the half-remembered details of Cut Scenes that have faded in your memory -- especially when those details and stories contained within the pages here exist to bring the game world and its people alive, to preserve the record for you You owe it to yourself to embrace it.

Read it. And truly enjoy it. Because the more you know about the world and your adventures in it, the stronger your feelings will be for it, and the deeper its hold will become upon you. When you are planning out the acquisition of mobs with which to build your Monster Teams you will find this to be invaluable, because it is more than simply a record of each mob, it is a dossier of their strengths, their weaknesses, and what you need to do to make them dead.

Like the Datalog itself, reading the information and the entertainment that is presented within this part of your library is its own reward. Indulge in being entertained! This is a game to be sure, but it is also a branch of one of the longest-running and most intense and enthralling game series every created.

And it is all right here, waiting for you to click on it This is not an encyclopedia of FFXIII-2 and it is not intended to take you by the hand and walk you through every single element of game play in the game.

It was conceived and created to assist you in making your way through the six episodes and their various levels that make up the story being told, providing you with guidance and a path that will be especially valuable to you when you reach the points in the game -- there are several -- in which your forward momentum is temporarily stymied by the fact that the game, for those brief sections, did a rather poor job of guiding you in the direction of the next set of challenges and the next chapter in the story!

What this Guide and Walkthrough is not is a comprehensive step-by-step set of instructions for completing every aspect of the game as soon as you are able to do so. The reason it does not take that direction is that if it did, it would take away from you some of the best parts of this game!

The process of discovery, of learning about the plots, subplots, and added story elements, and in finding for yourself the different Monsters and NPC's whose presence in the game, when you combine that with the distinct choices that you make as an individual, serve to make your game play a unique one that only shares the major and minor plot points and actions with that of your friends.

Yes, it is that sort of game. In each of the coming sections we cover the important elements and reveal the objects, actions, and items you do not want to miss doing or finding, with an eye towards and a focus upon completing the story. In the process we may suggest at strategic points that you spend some time grinding levels, or obtaining the materials that you need to improve the level and capabilities of the Monster pets who are now valued members of your team -- but all of that is strictly voluntary.

You can ignore it if you want, as the only differences that you will experience first-hand would be a slightly more challenging measure of play when facing boss mobs if your levels are less than ours were at that stage in the game. If you tend to rely upon guides like this one for guidance in playing RPG games in order to maximize your enjoyment of the story and so as to not miss out on strategically important elements, why then it is in your best interest to follow our advice and improve your characters and Monsters levels when we do, but again that is still a voluntary thing.

After we complete the main story -- during which we will naturally complete many of the missions and quests and a fair bit of the small stories that are part of the many sub-plots that are built into the greater narrative that is FFXIII-2 -- we will return to the world in the game and pursue many of the elements that we did not pursue while completing the story, and we cover that process at the end of this guide, so in that respect it is a complete guide and walkthrough, but try to remember that it is intended that you play this game the way that you want to, doing -- or not doing -- missions and quests as you want to.

For the most part when we include a mission or a quest in each section of this guide we did so because either the reward or the locations visited were helpful, granted a desirable item or ability, or in some other way benefited our characters in their quest to complete the story. That being the case you may want to complete those side-missions as well, both to maintain parity with the guide, and what is usually the case, make your game play experience better and more complete in the process.

That nicely sums up the information that you need about the game and this guide, so it is time to delve into this rich fantasy world and make your mark on it. As you do so, please know that this guide was written with you in mind, and that we derived great satisfaction from creating it.

While this is an adventure and the continuation of the story that was presented in XIII, it is also a fighting game that maintains the traditions and the level of concentration that the JRPG genre is so well known for -- and that being the case it is in your best interest to learn how the fighting system works, and get good at it.

While it is true that you can follow the tactics that are presented in this WTG up to a point, I honestly believe that doing so without understanding what they do detracts from your potential enjoyment of the game. Just because I chose to fight a battle the way I did does not mean that you must do so -- in many cases the choices that I made were not the only way that the battle could be fought, they were simply how I chose to fight it.

While most attacks and abilities only use a single segment, some will use more -- and while you begin the game with three segments which is what the enemies you will face have you will eventually upgrade your ATBS Bank to a total of six 6 segments as the game progresses, which gives you something of an edge in battle. Active Time Battle System Tutorial. The upgrades to the ATBS Bank are obtained in several ways -- two segments are obtained through choices that you make as you expand the Crystarium, and the third is obtained when you acquire an item that has the ATB 1 passive ability imbued in it.

You have the choice of choosing the attacks and abilities that you use, or simply using the Auto Battle mode, and you can stack and activate the attacks immediately but they will not actually go into effect until the timer bar is fully charged. As you become more familiar with the different jobs, spells, and abilities you will start to develop your own preferred combinations, but for now you know what you need to about that.

Located in the upper-right corner of the screen is your Stagger Meter -- which naturally fills as you attack the enemy and, once it reaches the required percentage for that enemy, staggers them. You fill the meter by attacking, and magic-based attacks will fill it much faster than physical attacks -- though it should be noted that direct attacks decrease the rate at which the meter drains. There is actually an Achievements associated with staggering enemies, but it is not something you need to work towards as it will come naturally as you play, so do not worry about that.

In XIII-2 it works a little different While there are instances where you will do battle with the mobs at specific locations, battles can also happen randomly, using the Encounter Circle System -- which is a circle that appears on the ground that changes in color depending upon the circumstances.

When the circle is Blue it means that there is a distant enemy that you can do battle with if you want to, or you can head away from them to remove the circle and thus avoid the battle -- which you might want to do if you are not prepared or need to restock items. When the circle is Yellow it means that an enemy is nearby that wants to fight you -- and again the decision as to whether that is going to happen is mostly up to you. When the circle is Red however, it usually means that battle is imminent and the enemy is close by.

Once the battle commences a Mog Clock will appear on the screen at your feet that represents the three stages of battle -- Stage 1, the green stage, indicates that you can engage the enemy with a preemptive strike and if you can you should.

Stage 2, the yellow stage, indicates that the enemy is combat active and can attack you -- or rather can try to attack you -- you can still retreat from it at this point. Note that depending upon the speed rating of the enemy they may not have a green stage and so the battle will actually begin in Stage 2, which means you could not have launched a preemptive strike against them anyway.

The last stage is Stage 3, the red stage, when the Mog Clock Hand has swung around to the other side. At this point battle is imminent and there is no running away from it. Status changes are an integral part of the battle system in the game, and represent effects that you really should be very familiar with, because they are often the key to completing battles with high score and effectiveness, as well as surviving battle damage.

Any character or enemy can have up to 8 Status elements active at any time. Status changes come in two forms: Buffs good effects and Debuffs bad effects. You will be using both types, and often. This improves the physical damage that your characters do to the enemies they are battling, and also modifies the Ravager skills. This buff can be applied to character through gear imbued with Bravery as well as by direct buff. The Bravery buff is removed using the Debrave debuff, and can be dispelled.

ENAERO -- adds wind damage to attacks and has the effect of increasing the wind damage dealt by attacks for a specific period of time. This buff can be applied to character through gear imbued with Enwind as well as by direct buff. The Enaero buff is removed using the Enfire, Enfrost and Enthunder debuffs and can be dispelled. ENFIRE -- adds fire damage to attacks and has the effect of increasing the fire damage dealt by attacks for a specific period of time. This buff can be applied to character through gear imbued with Enfire as well as by direct buff.

The Enfire buff is removed using the Enaero, Enfrost and Enthunder debuffs and can be dispelled. ENFROST -- adds frost damage to attacks and has the effect of increasing the frost damage dealt by attacks for a specific period of time. This buff can be applied to character through gear imbued with Enfrost as well as by direct buff. The Enfrost buff is removed using the Enaero, Enfire and Enthunder debuffs and can be dispelled. This buff can be applied to character through gear imbued with Enthunder as well as by direct buff.

The Enthunder buff is removed using the Enaero, Enfire and Enfrost debuffs and can be dispelled. This improves the magical damage that is done to enemies, and also has positive effects upon the Medic and Saboteur jobs, increasing the amount of HP that is restored by the use of the Medic skill.

This buff can be applied to character through gear imbued with Faith as well as by direct buff. The Faith buff is removed using the Defaith debuff and can be dispelled. This allows the character to recast faster. This buff can be applied to character through gear imbued with Haste as well as by direct buff. The Haste buff is removed using the Slow debuff and can be dispelled. This buff can be applied to character through gear imbued with Protect as well as by direct buff.

The Protect buff is removed using the Deprotect debuff and can be dispelled. The effect can be obtained from items and through monster abilities.

This effect cannot be dispelled. The effect can be obtained from items and monster abilities. This buff can be applied to character through gear imbued with Shell as well as by direct buff. The Shell buff is removed using the Deshell debuff and can be dispelled.

This buff can be applied to character through gear imbued with Veil as well as by direct buff. The Veil buff can be dispelled. VIGILANCE -- has the effect of increasing the targets skill success rate, and reduces the chances of an enemy successfully interrupting their attacks for a specific period of time. This buff can be applied to character through gear imbued with Vigilance as well as by direct buff.

The Vigilance buff is removed using the Curse debuff and can be dispelled. Achievement equals a journey of 10, steps and a sore bottom. It can also be removed using the Medic Spell Esuna, which removes the two most recent ailments and has an upgraded version called Esunada, which can only be learned by monsters that removes the most recent status ailment from the whole party.

DAZE -- has the effect of paralyzing the target for a specific period of time, and delivers twice the usual amount of damage from the next attack, which then removes the debuff automatically.

Adversely impacts the strike skills for the Ravager job. The Debrave debuff is removed using the items Remedy and Unicorn Horn. It can also be removed using the Bravery buff and the Medic Spell Esuna, which removes the two most recent ailments and has an upgraded version called Esunada, which can only be learned by monsters that removes the most recent status ailment from the whole party.

Note that some enemies project this effect onto the player characters as a base ability. This debuff adversely impacts the skills of the Saboteur job, and reduces the effectiveness of HP recovery spells for Medics. The Defaith debuff is removed using the items Remedy and Unicorn Horn.

It can also be removed using the Faith buff and the Medic Spell Esuna, which removes the two most recent ailments and has an upgraded version called Esunada, which can only be learned by monsters that removes the most recent status ailment from the whole party. The Deprotect debuff is removed using the items Remedy and Unicorn Horn. It can also be removed using the Protect buff and the Medic Spell Esuna, which removes the two most recent ailments and has an upgraded version called Esunada, which can only be learned by monsters that removes the most recent status ailment from the whole party.

Note that some kit is imbued with Deprotect, and being hit by a weapon so imbued can activate the debuff. The Deshell debuff is removed using the items Remedy and Unicorn Horn. It can also be removed using the Shell buff and the Medic Spell Esuna, which removes the two most recent ailments and has an upgraded version called Esunada, which can only be learned by monsters that removes the most recent status ailment from the whole party.

Note that some kit is imbued with Deshell, and being hit by a weapon so imbued can activate the debuff. DOOM -- a linear timer-based debuff that causes the target to become incapacitated after the timer counts down.

There is no defense or cure. FOG -- has the effect of blocking the target's use of magical abilities for a specific period of time. IMPERIL -- has the effect of reducing the elemental resistance of the target, and causes them to take twice the normal amount of elemental damage from attacks for a specific period of time. PAIN -- has the effect of paralyzing the physical abilities of the target for a specific period of time.

PROVOKE -- has the effect of causing the target to focus their attacks and attention on the caster for a specific period of time, and is most often used to tank an enemy. There is no cure and the effect cannot be dispelled. Some weapons are imbued with this effect and can activate it by striking. The Slow debuff is removed using the items Remedy and Unicorn Horn.

It can also be removed using the spell Haste, and the Medic Spell Esuna, which removes the two most recent ailments and has an upgraded version called Esunada, which can only be learned by monsters that removes the most recent status ailment from the whole party. Targets with the Wound Damage debuff who are incapacitated and then revived using Raise will retain the effects of this debuff unless they are removed using one of the items.

The effects naturally are removed after the battle ends. As a general rule when going into battle with enemies that tend to favor specific attack types you will want to use the buff that helps to protect against them. An enemy that is particularly vulnerable to a specific elemental force is a good reason to buff that force, and combining elemental and physical damage can be a very effective approach.

While the game does a good job of illustrating the use of buffs and debuffs during the tutorial phase of play, learning the effects and the counters for these is a really good idea, as is keeping a supply of the counters on hand when you know you are going to be facing a boss battle.

Remember that your grading and overall scoring in battle has more to do with how quickly you complete the battle -- and win of course -- so getting to a point where all of these are second nature to you is an obvious advantage in that direction.

Once you slot the game disc in your console and it loads, chances are that it will prompt you to download and apply the most recent patches to the game -- do that -- and then sit back and enjoy the opening Cut Scenes hereafter abbreviated as "CS" in which you see a series of scenes unfold that do not mean much to you now, but will later.

As the credits unfold and the CS plays out we are seeing characters who will become very familiar and important to us in the week of game play that will follow. The woman you see in the battle scenes is the protagonist from the previous game, Lightning, and the man that she is battling is Caius Ballad the antagonist of the game -- a battle that you will soon be completing yourself! But first we have to get the normal game start process completed -- and as the CS ends and the main menu loads you will see that you have five options: New Game, Downloadable Content, Beginner's Primer, Extras, and Settings.

The Story up to Now. During the narrative you see glimpses of the events in the clock face, and you are introduced to the primary characters of the game -- and if you have come to FFXIII-2 without having played FFXIII you really should play through the entire Primer because it will help to add meaning and urgency to the story that is about to unfold -- and for your convenience the video above includes that information in one go, so you do not have to push the buttons yourself!

One of the elements that you should take away from the Primer is that some of the characters you will be using the protagonists in the game are actually l'Cie -- having been turned into that special magical form by the fal'Cie who basically rule the worlds. This is important to know because it explains why, for example, Lightning can summon her avatar companion Odin, and why other l'Cie can do the same by summoning their own unique avatar companions.

This will be explained more fully as the story progresses, but if you played the previous game you should already know about it. The differences between them are actually very significant in that under Easy Mode the mobs you face will be marginally easier to beat, your characters will take more damage before being incapacitated, and you will find that overall the game is a bit easier in play.

The downside to that is that you receive less rewards for your play -- as Normal Mode delivers considerably more rewards in drops, rare and unusual items, and XP. Whichever mode you select, you will be prompted to confirm it and informed that you can change the mode at any time via the options selection on the main menu.

After you agree to the mode you have selected, IF you have a save from the previous game you will see the following notice on your screen:. You can now select an item from Extras on the title screen, and will also obtain a special reward within the game. Be on the lookout for other, hidden bonuses!

Among the bonuses that you receive if you still have your Final Fantasy XIII save data on your console -- and thus get the above notification -- is the ability to watch the summary movie that brings you up to speed with the events of XIII using different characters as the narrator.

In addition to the choice of narrator, you receive character pictures, bonus monster decorations, an increased success rate when your characters gamble in the game, and a special theme as well. Deeper into the game you can obtain Lightning and Serah Mask adornments, while the Eternal Crystal is instantly in your bag. The game then informs you that it must create a save game block -- and prompts you to choose between your hard drive or the cloud Once you confirm your choice you are informed about the Autosave system -- basically pointing out that an icon will appear when the game is saving and reminding you not to turn off the console or remove your hard drive when it is using it.

Bear in mind that unlike the previous game, you can actually save whenever you like while playing XIII-2 so the Autosave system is really just for safety sake and often follows major events in the game. This brings us to the point where the game officially begins with the start of the Prologue CS and battles plural -- they are divided by story content so there you go! Now that you have completed all of the starting items the game begins with a very impressive CS of Lightning in her tower in Valhalla and as she tells you about the events that put her where she is, you are introduced to one the antagonist, and one of the protagonists of the game.

Caius is seen placing Yeul's body into the water for her funeral, and then turning his attention to Lightning -- whose butt he plans on kicking! A war now breaks out between the forces of Lightning and the forces of Caius -- and you eventually gain control of Lightning for a brief battle that is more tutorial than it is a challenge, because as long as you hit the prompted actions you should win it Your part in this begins with the Active Time Battle Tutorial - you may as well go through that now to refresh yourself if you played the previous game and to learn the system if you did not.

Using the auto battle option gives you a preview of the different types of attacks so go ahead and do that, and when you are prompted to complete the cinematic action sequences that progress your encounter.

Cinematic Action Sequences. The thing about the CAS is that in addition to counting towards that stat it also causes decent amounts of damage to the enemy, and in places even allows you to choose the type of damage that you will deliver, which makes the battle a little shorter when you succeed in getting off the attack, and keeps you a bit healthier when you succeed in getting off the defensive move.

That being the case, you have very good motivation to try to always succeed at this! After Lightning rescues him the battle resumes and, assuming you are diligent in using the auto attack option or you experiment with choosing the attacks yourself and are successful, the battle will carry out to its conclusion.

Bear in mind that even if you use the auto attack option, as long as you are diligent about doing so on time you should finish this battle with 5-stars -- with an average battle time of around 1 to 2 minutes for a battle with a target time of 15 minutes An easy 5-star battle to be sure, but then it is also a battle for which you receive no rewards -- no Gil the money in the game is called Gil and no drops.

But that is OK, this was really a tutorial after all, and you should not expect to be paid for learning, right? Now about Noel Kreiss -- he is one of the primary protagonists in the game as mentioned above, and happens to be the last remaining human from years in the future.

Noel Kreiss gets his Mission. Noel is something of an enigma -- and not just because the journey through time and a few paradoxes have given him memory issues -- but mostly because he is not really used to dealing with other humans Because of that unfamiliarity he does not react the way that most of the people he meets expect him to, which while useful in battle he tends to remain calmer than those around him is a decided disability when it comes to issues that he himself finds emotional.

He feels overly protective towards the people he has decided that he likes, and very protective over the humans he decides he loves, which leads to some confrontations later. His own time has instilled in him a marked reluctance to hurt or kill people, though when forced to he will, and it has given him a deep-seated dislike for people who he considered to be too violent.

Still, Lightning could not have chosen a better protector for her little sister, and that is sort of the point to all of this. After the battle ends and the two are safely on the ground Lightning tells Noel what she wants him to do -- find her sister Serah and bring her to Lightning.

She confirms for him that with her sister he can change the future -- and as that is what he wants, it is welcome news. Lightning summons a Moogle that turns into a weapon as a gift for her sister, and then they are once again visited by Caius, and as Lightning and he do battle, Noel leaps for the gate and is gone. The Moogles factor in as a sort of companion and servant to to different races of characters in the FF worlds -- perhaps more prominently in games like Final Fantasy XI which was an MMO in which every player had a Moogle Servant in their home , so the inclusion of the Moogles here really sort of carries on a well established tradition.

Like the Moogles, another being that appears in many of the FF games are Chocobo, a bird-like mount that the characters train, ride, and race. Before we get to the actual game play there are a few minor issues that we need to cover that are reflected in the guide -- the first is that throughout the game you will have conversations with different characters that include optional answers.

The answers or statements that you choose to use with each of these characters can actually influence how the game goes, or result in your receiving rewards every now and then if you make the best note that I did not say "right" answer. Basically using humor is almost always better than intentionally pissing the characters off I am just saying.

But what you decide to do is entirely up to you -- I am not going to be telling you how to play the game at that level, because this is a role-playing game and you should have the pleasure to play it in the role you adopt. The second point we need to cover is items -- throughout our game play there will be in each chapter a selection of items that can be acquired.

Some of them are Key Items that are really necessary, while others are more optional. How much is that? The tonberry parent became a social phenomenon in AF. What kind of parents does the phrase refer to? Two sisters work in Serendipity as casino staff. How does the younger sister describe her older sibling? What caffeine-filled snack was popular among the Academy scientists of 10 AF?

What is the creature shown on the giant roulette wheel in the central area of Serendipity? What liquid used in perfumes can be extracted from noctilucale and crawlers? When Cocoon residents relocated to Gran Pulse, what dish became widely popular as a way to diminish the natural smell of Pulse ingredients?

Which role allows you to heal yourself and your allies instead of attacking the enemy? Which role allows you to strengthen your allies by infusing their attacks with elemental power? How was Palumpolum able to resume commercial activity so quickly? Besides sight and hearing, what other sense does it stimulate? After the annual singing competition, people shower each other with an alcoholic beverage to celebrate the new year. Around 20 AF, higher-ups of the provisional government and the Academy butted heads, leading to the disappearance of a key person.

How did they refer to this period? As Serah and Noel appeared in the past time and time again, what research project received lots of funding and donations? What is the design of the god worshipped by those left on Cocoon based on?

What is this phenomenon called? How did the Academy revamp their program in order to provide more opportunities for the less fortunate? In AF, what city was voted the best place to live by Academy scientists?

What does it refer to? In Sazanbar Cape, one of the famous tourist spots in New Bodhum, what contest is held that is painful to watch? In the Chocobo of the Year contest that determines the best chocobo in the world, the chocobos are ranked based on speed and what else? Many people gather at Yaschas Massif to watch the sunrise. What is a necessary item to have in your possession when walking along the dangerous monster-infested path at night? He has two occupations: a cold-blooded assassin and what else?

Mythril Hearts Co. Which creepy-yet-fashionable accessory is the most popular? Raucous cheese looks vile and has a pungent smell unlike anything else. What is it made from? Subject Zero was the first experimental subject to undergo the duplicate creation process. Why is this instrument so hard to make? The Cocoon Firefly discovered on Pulse does not exist on Cocoon. How did it get its name?

What was the original name of the game as it underwent development? What was the attraction that made the resort so popular? The hunters of the Steppe love their flan.

What part of the flan must be removed in order to ensure no poison is left in the creature? The Sabbath is an event where people gather to watch monsters dance and frolic. Which is the best dancer of them all? What floor is it on? The women of Academia are raving about a new powder foundation called Adam. What is the main ingredient of this product? What dish can only be made in Sunleth from ingredients found in that region?

What incredible new species of cactuar did Professor Oga Wan discover during his years of research? What is the common name for the Helix breshantha , a conch shell found only in the Bresha region? What is the main ingredient of exquisite maple honey, a sugary sweet condiment said to be developed from cyrstals?

What is the main ingredient of phantom honey, a condiment with a rather pungent smell? What is the main reason for the seldomly occurring vehicular accidents in Academia?

What is the name of the beverage created using the water from Sunleth Waterscape? What is the relationship between the two runners who placed first in the th Eden Marathon thanks to their unbreakable bond? What multi-colored artificial forest is registered as a Sanctum heritage site? What natural material is used to build the solid outer shell of the new Cocoon?

What new breed of flan look young throughout their entire lives but grow in size as they age? What takes place at the annual Gran Pulse festival La Prettina, an event that celebrates the coming of spring? What was the name of the scandal involving the provisional government and blank documents? Gainax Ending : The game ends with Lightning stepping off a train at a station that appears to be real-life France. It's faintly implied that, yes, it truly is real-life France. It's also extremely useful when you have to fight Snow shortly after.

It's stated that the more Chaos in the world, the stronger the monsters will become. Certain ones also get changes to their abilities overtime, such as the demon-like Gaunts going from using Aero to Aerora after Day 9, and it's Last One possessing Aeroga no matter what Day you fight it on.

Gladiator Games : The Slaughterhouse, where Lightning can fight strong monsters for recovery items early in the evening, and weaker monsters or hostile people for lesser rewards as the night wears on. Some quests also require her to take part in matches. Glass Cannon : You can create Schemata with high-power attacks and items that maximize attack power at the expense of HP boosts and defensive abilities.

There is also an extermination side quest. Gratuitous French : Chef Aryas at Aryas Village, along with a thick French accent, presumably because of the food association. Fang also joins as your guest after you meet her in the Dead Dunes. She returns again for the last act of the game, which revolves around saving Vanille from the Order of Salvation.

Guide Dang It! Hope Bringer : Lightning's main agenda, besides saving souls, is pulling a few people who went well past the Despair Event Horizon back across the threshold, even if she has to literally knock some sense into them , such as Noel and Snow. This is also the main drive for doing side quests. She can provide people with hope and salvation by doing pretty much anything, to killing every Last One to fetching a ball off a roof.

Hotter and Sexier : A couple of Lightning's outfits are more revealing, the poses she strikes in them are more gratuitous, and Word of God has said her breast size has been increased from the last two games. The ability to customize her clothing and take screenshots directly from the game to share with friends is a feature too. One sidequest can only be obtained by failing another quest by reading the journal you were asked to find. Given that the subsequent sidequest gives much greater rewards, including the otherwise unobtainable on the current playthrough Dark Knight garb, it's best to fail The Avid Reader in order to get To Save the Sinless.

Hyperactive Metabolism : Healing up by resting an inn is still possible as per standard RPG conventions, but the time limit in this game may make that impractical for some. Not to worry; Lightning can still regain health by buying food from various vendors. I Cannot Self-Terminate : Caius, again. Even though he has lost the Heart of Etro, he still cannot die because of the Yeuls that wish to keep him alive.

He even does a demonstration for Lightning by impaling himself with his own sword - it only takes a few seconds for the Yeuls to pump Chaos energy inside his body to revive him. Idea Bulb : There is a side quest to find adornments for Candice the baton-twirler. When Lightning gives her some, a bulb lights up above her head as she has an idea about how to wear them.

I Have This Friend : One of the side quests involves a man named Armand who tells Lightning of a friend of his, a journalist whose stories of corruption drove an innocent victim to suicide, as he had been wrong, and in fact the individual in question wasn't corrupt.

Lightning has to visit him over three days and on the final day he admits the truth: he was the journalist who did this. Armand : I apologize. I've been lying to you this entire time. I had no such friend. The reporter, the one who killed the innocent woman That was me. Lightning : I had a feeling. The way you've been telling the story Lightning: How many times do I have to tell you? I'm just here for the steak. Lightning: Think about it. If someone else was making every choice for me , is there any way I could really know the truth?

Tropes N-Z. Even though there's only one ending, the game encourages multiple play-throughs since you can't max out your EP or item slots without a second play-through and the option to power up your weapons, shields and accessories isn't available until then.

Interestingly, this feature is acknowledged by the characters themselves: when Lightning begins again in the Ark on Day 1, she remarks an odd sense of deja vu - Hope worries for her sanity when she says this, though he also admits when introducing the Crystal of Atonement that she could have a point.

No Hero Discount : On the last day, there're shops that still charge Gil for their services. What are they going to do with the money? It's the end of the world. Inverted during the tutorial stretch, where a shop will sell you potions for a low, low price of 0 Gil.

Lightning "levels up", though the concept of numbered levels is gone, through doing Quests which raise her stats once you complete them.

Instead of gaining abilities and commands when you level up after doing quests, you gain them by either drops from monsters or synthesizing existing ones and you can also upgrade your abilities to make them stronger. Not So Stoic : Lightning breaks after she realizes she'll be left all alone if she becomes the new Goddess of Death after confronting Lumina for the last time.

Hope rescues her afterwards, even though she told him to leave her. On a more humorous note, Lightning visibly breaks her stoic demeanor when being asked by Hope to be the star in the Goddess Play in Yusnaan, and she becomes more and more embarrassed whenever she has to say "Meow-meow Choco-chow", even trying to speed it up so that Hope or anyone else can't hear it.

Numerical Hard : On Hard Mode, enemies have 2. They have better drops, but no new special moves. At the other end of the scale, enemies are weaker on Easy than on Normal note HP x 0. Old Save Bonus : Lightning's equipment from the previous two games will be available for her to wear if the player has save data from the games in question.

This of course turns out to be Lightning - it's justified since the angel is actually the reincarnation of her Eidolon, Odin. Order vs. Chaos : Bhunivelze, the embodiment of order, against, the Chaos. The former has a religion, many worshipers and imposes social structure upon the population.

He's also going to strip humans of their emotions so he can better control them. Chaos is basically otherworldly energy which eats away at the physical world and makes monsters stronger. It also is where souls, including human souls, and emotions come from. Peninsula of Power Leveling : You cannot grind for experience in this game, but you can grind for items, money and Energy Points.

There is a side quest in Yusnaan which requires you to kill 30 monsters in a time limit hint: Chronostasis. If you quit before fulfilling your quota you fail the quest, but keep all of your drops and EP.

You can re-take the quest as often as you like until you complete it. Cactuars spawn at a point in the Dead Dunes. They have a base value of gil, rising to 15, on Day 13, and 25, if you unlock Day Please, Don't Leave Me! She ends up saved by Lumina and Hope, who decided he'd rather be reborn with her rather than his parents. Lightning will have none of it , and, after knocking him to his senses, encourages him to have hope that one day he and Serah will be reunited in the new world.

In a sidequest, a sick man in Poltae is expecting, and welcoming, a woman in Jagd Village to send him poison disguised as medicine. He is guilty of the crime of murdering said woman's husband, so he is quite confused when he drinks the concoction Lightning delivers only to find himself healthier.

Despite his expectations, it really WAS medicine. Psychic Powers : When she awoke, Vanille gained the ability to hear the souls of the dead. Purely Aesthetic Glasses : Lightning has a large selection of non-prescription glasses as adornments, with multiple frame colors. Purple Is Powerful : All the Last Ones glow bright purple-pink, as do the weapons you get from a select few of them. The Garb Purple Lightning is a ninja-themed purple-colored Garb.

It is amazingly useful and powerful, especially when combined with the Katana-type weapons since high attack powers mesh well with the Garb's locked Ninjutsu skills. Rainbow Pimp Gear : While most Garbs are designed to be stylish, some achieve this effect. For example, the Garb Carnaval Crusher has Lightning wear what is essentially rainbow-colored feathers attached to a swimsuit.

Ditto Rhapsody in Rose, except with pink feathers. Even worse, while the examples above can be recolored, no such option exists for Soldier of Peace, in which its jungle-themed mishmash of colors will look great in the few jungle-themed places that the game world has, and nowhere else.

Which is a shame, considering how powerful Soldier of Peace is. Really Years Old : Everyone alive is years older due to the time crash allowing people to not be able to die naturally. Fang did the math and concluded that she was the oldest hag on the planet.

How is Lightning able to cast Last Resort? Where did she pull the Survival Knife from? How did the party spontaneously summon their Eidolons again? Who cares, it's thematically and visually awesome! Sand Is Water : Lightning can surf on sand dunes.

Oddly, she can do this even when the ground is not sloped enough to facilitate movement. Previous games gave us the Sahagin, a presumably amphibious animal found next to water.

In Lightning Returns we get the Desert Sahagin, which swims through the sand. Save Scumming : Abusing the Crystal of Atonement can have a similar effect. If you're feeling particularly shameless, you can also indulge in some vanilla Save Scumming during this period. Scenery Porn : Really, the entire series is known for this, but there is an even more beautiful one near the end of the game.