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Customer reviews

Rating 4.3 out of 5 stars with 151 reviews

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87%
would recommend
to a friend

Customers are saying

Customers regard the gameplay, story, and battle system of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII very favorably, with many praising the changes and improvements made. The game's side quests and replay value also receive positive feedback. However, a significant concern among customers centers on the game's time limit, which some find creates a rushed experience and limits exploration.

This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.

The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 151 reviews
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battle system, Gameplay, Story

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    A fantastic addition to the series

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Bought this as a long time Final Fantasy fan, and was not disappointed. The game uses a unique blend of strategic thinking with button mashing for combat, and it worked surprisingly well. The story closed up the loose ends from the previous two games, and if you are one of those players who must have every item/weapon/attack in a game, this one will keep you busy for a good while.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Gameplay, Replay value, Story

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Not what I expected but still good

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Despite what I am about to say I do enjoy the game and will probably play through it multiple times, however this is not anything like I expected. The gameplay/fighting is different from 13 & 13-2 and what I expected however this is not a bad thing. Instead of just hitting "X" and auto attacking through the whole game, you have to actually chose your attacks (magic, normal or guard). You also get to choose where to go & when, but there is a time limit with-in the game (gametime not real time) to complete certain tasks and the game. This makes the game challenging will require multiple plays to see everything. The story is interesting to say the least. Without giving much away you are God's henchwoman & the world's savior. You must choose who will and won't be saved from the end of the world. I would give this game a 4/5 due to replay value and challenge.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Gameplay, Story

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Awesome!!!!!!

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The story is great and the fighting scenes differ from the previous titles as always, but it's mainly a single fighter game in only a couple of times some one tags along, but you only upgrade the main character.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Gameplay, Side quests

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Play if you interested in FF13 series.

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Like the title says, get this if you've been playing the FFXIII series. Otherwise, you're just gonna be lost and confused even more. However, as a veteran, this game has changed everything that made 13 been known. For example, it's more openworld even more so compared to 13-2, engaging battle mechanics rather than just sit around and press x, lots of sidequests, and customization in costumes only. The only bad thing about this game is the praise I gave it. Because it's openworld, everything has low-resolution textures to give the game less headaches on fps yet even then it still goes on 13fps. The battle system changes completely from the paradigm system which is debatably the best in the FF series to a more action version of it with some nods from FFx-2. The Sidequests are really a waste of time as they're all fetch quests yet they're the only way for you to level up in the game as they reward stats so there's no way for you to in a sense get stronger just by grinding on a few mobs. The costumes are mostly fanservice and the only way for you to ever really get stronger is getting skill drops from enemy monster to use in garbs which can be a waste of time as well. Skip if you never played 13. Try if you did. Buy instantly if you complete the previous games and want to witness the conclusion of this flawed series.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Gameplay, Story

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Great game that builds on its predecessors.

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This game was actually really good. played all of the final fantasy games and the 13 trilogy just isn't my favorite. great graphics decent story and fun combat. Love the worst based system not a fan of level up system

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Gameplay, Story

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Good sequel!

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Cool continuation of the story, and also had some gameplay improvements. Overall pretty cool.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battle system, Gameplay

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Story

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Time mechanic brings sense of urgency, beautiful visuals and cut-scenes, terrific battling and leveling systems. The journey through Final Fantasy XIII's trilogy of games has been a dizzying one, with each game hopping between gameplay styles, lead characters and narrative arcs, seemingly on a whim. Lightning Returns manages to bring the entire messy saga to a satisfying conclusion, breaking off in a totally new direction, chucking a lot of the series' extraneous pontification and getting down to the core simplicities. Whether or not it's a "real" Final Fantasy game is up for debate, but it's a consistently entertaining, beautiful adventure that places as much importance on the mundane as it does the ostentatious: a fitting farewell for the final chapter of XIII's saga. Everything is great. Final Fantasy series are my favorite games!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Side quests, Story

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Happy it's the last of the "13" series.

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I've had a hard time wanting to finish the game. I feel like that has been primarily driven by the "end of the world counter." I feel most accomplished in a a game when I completely fulfill every side quest, and find every treasure. Not saying it can't be done. The timer gives the game a very restricting feeling. On a positive note...the story so far, is great. Particularly love the angel of Valhalla side quests. I wish I had my own real-life, white chocobo. Also, it's nice to see familiar faces show up in the game, and made me feel rewarded for playing both XIII, and XIII-2.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battle system, Gameplay

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Good game, but time constraint detracts

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    As a completionist game player, it's tough to recognize that you can't do everything. At first you can be really paranoid about it, but as the game progresses you figure out ways to work in a lot of the sidequests. But I would really have preferred exploring and fighting more. However, it is a good game and I do not regret the purchase. Especially good for those who played and enjoyed the earlier games. The new combat system takes some getting used to, but in the end, it's easy to pick up.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Gameplay, Story

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Complete the FFXIII Trilogy

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I'm a big fan of the Final Fantasy series. However, sometimes I think Square-Enix is trying way too hard to appeal to gamers. I enjoy the battle sequences, story, voice acting and visuals, but sometimes I get so turned off by all the reading and learning I have to do. Let me play the game without getting interrupted by catalogs of information and tutorials.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battle system, Gameplay

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Decent Conclusion To The Series.

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The third game in the Final Fantasy XIII series is a pretty satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Gameplay and the battle system has been nicely tweaked from previous iterations so as not to make it feel repetative. The storyline is adequately wrapped up as well. Graphically the game is very well represented...some of the nicest visuals of this generation.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battle system

    Rated 3 out of 5 stars

    New spin on combat brings new life to FFXIII

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The game was fairly enjoyable mainly due to the new combat system. It makes you realize this is what XIII and XIII-2 should have been from the start. The story is just to convoluted though. Decent dialog, good combat, overall a fair entry to the series. give it a shot if you played the prior 2 entries. Otherwise I would pass on this.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battle system

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    More of the same, in a good way

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    If you liked XIII and XIII-2, you will like this game. If you hated those, you shouldn't buy this. (You'd think that would be obvious, but at least half the comments I loved Lightning and pretty much everything about XIII, including the very linear story. I enjoyed the openness of XIII-2, but missed Lightning. So far, "Lightning Returns" is enjoyable, but not amazing. The constantly running clock is incredibly stressful. I like to play FF games for the leisure of taking my time to really take in the story and the world that is often so meticulously built, but I feel so hurried through this one. It's clearly supposed to be experienced through multiple playthrough, but I'm having a hard time not completely focusing on the clock. As for the new battle system, I thought it would take longer to get a handle on, but the game does a decent job of easing you into it. And I do miss having party members. I know there is a lot of hate out there for Lightning and the XIII trilogy in general, but I love the character and the series. So again, if you liked part 1 and 2, you'll like part 3. If not, skip it and save yourself from ranting online about how FF sucks and the only good games were pre-FFVII.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Gameplay

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Best of the trilogy

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Thus trilogy has been hit or miss. This game is enjoyable though. If you like RPGs, you will more than likely like this.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Gameplay

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Fun action-RPG

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The first FF to have a trilogy is met with a lot of ambivalence but this was a pretty awesome game and had plenty of actions and amazing visual flare as with most Square games.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Gameplay

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    solid entry in a cherished franchise

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Lightning Returns keeps a lot of strong points of its predecessors including graphics, music and gameplay

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Gameplay, Story

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    It is a fantastic continuation of the FF XIII stor

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The game has an excellent story, the graphics are amazing, and the controls handle fantastically.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Gameplay

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Engaging.

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Kept my son engaged for several days. It played a little different than earlier games.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battle system, Story

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    great gameplay, but lacks in leveling system.

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This game has a good story line. The battle system is very well thought out and new. However, I am disappointed in the leveling system as you only gain stats from gear and side quests. All and all this game is not as good ss you would expect from the final fantsdy franchise.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battle system

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Cool new entry in the series

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Different battle system from the previous two games, but works in a fun way

    I would recommend this to a friend
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