March 9, 2010 the game I have been eagerly anticipating for the last couple of years was finally released.  Final Fantasy XIII (13) hit shelves across the country at 12:01 AM.  Originally thought I was going to have to get a Playstation 3 in order to play this game, but Square Enix decided to port it over to the Xbox 360 which made me one happy camper.  But there was another item that I only found out a week before the release that would add to my joy.

Let’s step back in time for a moment.  The ‘launch event’ was scheduled to begin at 10:oo PM but I didn’t want to be standing around the game store for two hours.  So I figured I would leave base around 11:20 since it wouldn’t take but ten minutes to get there.  When I arrived, there were like six people already there.  Clerk rang up my order so that when 12:01 rolled around I could handed the game and leave.  Wanted to take a few pics with my camera but clerk wasn’t to keen on that so I had to do it ninja style with the iPhone.   Not much Final Fantasy stuff up to be honest, had this display poster up.

Few of the regular edition strategy guides out for those that wanted to be cheap and know all the game’s secrets.  I have to say that when it comes to RPGs I do like to get strategy guides.  Not so much to be cheap and know all the game’s secrets, but sometimes the writer can provide some good insights on hard parts of the game.  I wasn’t interested in this though…I had my eyes set on a bigger prize.

Lucky I arrived when I did too.  Had us line up at 11:55 and about that time a lot of folks started to show up.  I was second in my line, so I wasn’t going to wait long.  In fact, I was out of there and home by 12:10 ^^

This was the main reason I wanted to go to the midnight release.  Clerk almost seemed like he wasn’t interested in selling these as they were out of sight, and kinda stunned I even knew about it.  In fact, guy that was standing around waiting heard me ask for it and wanted a copy as well ^o^  (I made him two sales LOL).

This thing is a true work of art that you have to see in order to appreciate.  Hardcover tome with beautiful Final Fantasy XIII logo embossed on the front.  The back has some writing also embossed on it, but I couldn’t make it out.  Must be from the game – so hopefully the meaning behind it will be revealed as I play.

According the Gamestop website, this guide will only be printed once and as you can see each one is numbered.  I examined this thing all around and couldn’t find a number on it, so I must be inside the book.  Perhaps to keep the value of the guides up they are wrapped in plastic.  Now this leads me mention something – I like to collect things, BUT I am not one of those folks that will not take something out of the box or open the package.  Collecting is fine, but I also like to enjoy my collectibles and I can’t do that with them in the box or still wrapped up.  So I may lower the value of it by handling it, but at least I get to enjoy it and not just look at it.

Obviously I got the game too.  But I won’t be talking much about that here.  Let’s face it, you can get a more in-depth review by the professionals at the various gaming sites.  I just play them for the entertainment value.

Busted up the game.  Obviously have manual, registration card (which is cool that Square now lets you do that online with a code, filling out those cards was a pain), and 3 disc.  I found that to be a bit surprising because Lost Odyssey had like 5 or 6 disc.  So this game will be pretty short in comparison I guess.  Its okay, its Final Fantasy so I think I’ll enjoy it.  I’ll show you my Final Fantasy collection another time.

Started to open the book.  Time to look inside!

Inside cover.  We have our cast of heroes.  I look forward to getting to know them and their stories very soon.  And look…what’s that in the corner…looks like numbers.  Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

Looks like I got number 127,176 out of 210,000.  Guess we know how many of these guides were made.  Was hoping for a super low number but lets face it, those are probably held back to give to people who helped put the guide together.  I would have settled for number 210,000 too ^^;

Another thing about this guide is it reminds me a year book.  That being said…it would be super cool to get the voice talent for the heroes to sign this.  I would love to get the signatures from the creators too!  That would make this a super collectible then.  I wouldn’t be able to part with it then, but then again I don’t want to part with it now.

And the first character to greet us is the lovely Vanille.  What a cutie!

Our main hero emerges, its Lightning!!  I love this image, its simply gorgeous.  I need that in poster form.

Another Lightning image.  I’m going to flip through it now and see what catches my eye.  Be back in a moment.

Here we have Snow.  I heard that his Eidolon (Summon) was Shiva Sisters.  Also heard that their Gestalt (Vehicle or Riding) form was a motorcycle.  I wouldn’t mind having the Shiva Sisters as my Eidolon =D  Snow, you are a lucky guy LOL!!!

Character pages.  Quite a few different character specific sections in this book.

Fang is a hottie.  She is still a mystery to me, haven’t read much about her.  So interested in knowing her story / role in the game.

Information about the characters’ Eidolons.

Here we have Sazh.  I love this dude.  Afro + Gunslinger = Win in my book.  And his Eidolon is a knight that transform into a sleek car.  His power is OVER NINE THOUSAND!!!

This just caught my eye.  It’s pretty.

This guy must be a villain.  I mean look what section he is on.  I’ll know before long what his role is.

Bad looking guys here.  Hope they are later in the game LOL

Sahz has a baby chocobo that lives in his afro =D

Books has some beautiful artwork of the locales.  Wish there was more in it.

I take these are fal’Cie.

And here we have the back cover.  Another gorgeous illustration with the credits to those responsible for putting the guide together.

Overall its a pretty good book.  If you are just wanting a strategy guide you may want to just get the regular edition.  Considering US release did not get a collector’s edition version of the game though, this is a nice consolation prize.  May want to hurry and secure your copy though, as once they are gone that is it.  Already popping up on eBay, so if this is something you want to add to your collection I would suggest getting a copy soon.

I remember some years ago getting a Xenogears Perfect Works artbook for under $50 US.  Afraid that would be good fortune now.

Final Fantasy XIII (FF 13) is scheduled to release in Japan on December 17th, 2009 with a North America release scheduled for sometime in 2010.

I will be the first to admit I was not a big Final Fantasy fan at first.  I liked Secret of Mana over Final Fantasy and couldn’t get into the turn-based system.  I have always been a Square fan, but it wasn’t until I played Final Fantasy VIII that got into the Final Fantasy franchise.  After playing it, I went back and got FF VII and eventually all the remade games released on the Playstation.

I think part of the reason I wasn’t a fan at first was I was still pretty young and couldn’t appreciate the games.  When I was a teenager I could appreciate the gameplay and story more, which I think is what kept drawing me back to the franchise.  Most of the Final Fantasy games have good stories and gameplay.  So when I heard about Final Fantasy I was instantly interested.

Here is the Final Fantasy XIII E3 Trailer.  This trailer got me amped, especially when I saw the gameplay in action around 2:04.  I knew I would have to play this game.

Tokyo Game Show 2009 trailer.  Only recently saw this when browsing the video marketplace on Xbox Live.  After seeing this, I can honestly say this game will be truly epic.  Square continues to take the CG in games to the next level.  The graphics of so amazing and the story looks like it will be quite memorable.  And the gameplay looks pretty fluid from these videos, hope that’s the case in the actual product.

Of course leave it to Square Enix to go big with this release.  The game was originally advertised for the Playstation 3, so you can bet they would work out a deal Sony to get a bundle put together for the release.  Sure that will help sell some PS3 hardware to fans wanting to play FF XIII on the PS3

White PS3 slim with our main protagonist Lightning gracing the top of the new console.  The pink may turn off some people, but looks cool to me.  Those interested in picking up this console can head over to PlayAsia to secure a unit when preorder begins.

For the rest of us, you can pre-order a copy of the game for you either the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 (PS3) home consoles.

Not much on the Final Fantasy 13′s North America site quite yet, but if you stick around you will at least be treated with some very high resolution CG images of four of your main characters.  Once again I have to applaud Square Enix’s skill with the CG ^o^  So life-like!!

Again we have Lightning.  Apparently when they designed her, she was suppose to be a “female Cloud Strife” but I hope she is more emotionally stable ^^

This guy is named Snow.  He reminds me of someone I know.  From the trailer I gather he has a big part in the overall story.

This cutie’s name is Vanille.  Don’t really know what her story is, but sure by the time the end credits of the game roll I will.

And this guy is Sazh.  I am digging this guy for a couple of reasons.  Big one being he is a gun-slinger and apparently uses fire magic.  Plus he has a sweet afro.  ^^;

You can visit the website and download high resolution wallpapers of all four characters.  Certainly can’t wait to play this, how may of you plan on giving FF XIII a play (or pass)?

Now we just have to wait on more info to be released about Versus!!