Here's how you level up in Final Fantasy XIII

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Home Final Fantasy

8:00 PM on 11.01.2009, Jim Sterling

64 comments | 5589 views

Here's how you level up in Final Fantasy XIII photo

#Final Fantasy #PS3 #Role Playing Games #Square Enix #Xbox 360

Final Fantasy XIII won't have a traditional level up system, instead swapping out the familiar EXP of your average RPG with Crystalium. Despite the pompous name (would we expect anything else from a Square Enix game?), the Crystalium system is an interesting new way to progress your characters, totally doing away old concepts.

The new method of character leveling takes some cues from Final Fantasy X, given that you spend Crystal Points, earned after each battle, to unlock skills and abilities on a circular chart. Special abilities like "Fire" spells, and attribute improvements like HP, are all found on this chart, and new paths on the chart open up as skills are unlocked.

So, that's your experience system in Final Fantasy XIII. Now let us all sit back and imagine a world where Square Enix has run out of silly made-up words for its game features.

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next 50 comments

64 comments | showing # 1 to 50

DGX Goggles

I don't care what anyone's going to say about Tidus and HAHAHAHA, but aside from that crap one of the awesome points of the game was the really well-done leveling system. Made it a much more interesting experience.

wox42

Nostalgia, the recent DS RPG, did something like this. You still leveled up for attributes, but you also earned skill points from battles to put into magic, skills, etc.

...Here's hoping it'll work better for FFXIII.

wanderingpixel

Anything they can do to innovate the JRPG genre is fine by me.

Ace Flibble

So they're using FFX's system again, apparently to the letter.
It was okay before, but I hope they tweak it, limit it a bit more for each character. The problem with FFX was by the time you were halfway through the game you could have every character with every important skill, Tidus could become better at black magic than Lulu, etc. Character selection became entirely irrelevant after a few hours, as did any ''tactical'' levelling up paths. I hope they restrict it back in this so every character still has a unique use and you need to think a bit more about who you use rather than plumping for whoever has the not-quite-as-bad voice acting.

Scary Womanizing Pig Mask

YES! I've been replaying X now and I'm convinced that the Sphere Grid is the best thing ever :)

Nic128

Should be cool.

Zac Bentz

As long as Squeenix doesn't start to literally make me eat shit while playing their games, I couldn't care less about how they function. Just give them to me now, thank you.

Dexter345

Rad. I loved the Sphere Grid from FFX, and though I never played it, I liked what I saw of the License Board in FFXII. I can dig it.

Josh Tolentino

If it's like the Sphere Grid and the License Board, it's good.

slbr

I din't liked much the Sphere Grid in FF X or the License System in XII.
I thought they should come with something better and the first sign is not.
I used to love the system of FF IX.

Unassuming Local Guy

Does each character have his/her own unique Crystallum board to progress on? I sure hope so, because character distinction in RPGs is always preferable.

pedrovay2003

Sounds like Digital Devil Saga's magic system, only more in a circle shape.

Shadowiii

FFX had one of the most addicting level up systems in the business, so I can see this turning out quite nicely.
Now just no more awkward laughing scenes, please Square? Pleeeease?

CRAZYAPE69

i want 10 xp per kill, sometimes doubled on weekends and new weapons and perks every level up.

Zombie Dinosaur

Sounds great. The Sphere Grid was great in FFX. I'm glad to see they went that route as opposed to the License Board. The fact you had to spend points to use weapons YOU STILL HAD TO BUY made that system pure shite. Speaking of FFX, having a very similair combat system to Lost Odyssey, what do you think of the game Jim?

UglyDuck

I do not understand the world you live in, Sirs, or how this is an acceptable practice in your realm.

peachboy

hardly a new concept...the idea of this makes me gag a little but i don't remember being pissed off about it during ffx so...we'll see i guess.

Magnalon

So it's kind of like Kingdom Hearts 358/2.

I can dig it.

Dreamsower

With all the buildup they had in how this would be a "new take on leveling" this news is disappointing in a way. These kinda systems can be addictive but I find it amusing how much they wanna toot their horn since it's Square and they wanna give it a "cool name" heh. Less grandiose promises and just wow me when I put the disc in and start playing imo.

texasgoldrush

This isn't innovation...........

If a JRPG allowed choices, that would be innovation.

FFXIII will look outdated in game mechanics compared to WRPGs such as Dragon Age, Mass Effect 2, Fallout New Vegas, Alpha Protocol, The Witcher 2, and Fable III.

Magnalon

@Texas
EVERYTHING looks outdated in terms of mechanics when it comes to The Witcher 1

;D

Electrium

The sphere grid was my absolute favorite. I'm glad they're recycling/re-imaging/whatever this system! =D

I'm supposed to not read things like this anymore, I'm trying to avoid spoilers. But I can't resist..!

texasgoldrush

"@Texas
EVERYTHING looks outdated in terms of mechanics when it comes to The Witcher 1

;D"

Actually its ahead in WRPG game structure, where there is no clear right or wrong actions as well as your decisions made early in the game make an impact later. Most WRPGs have no real impact on your decisions except through a morality meter.

texasgoldrush

Alpha Protocol looks like another huge innovation in RPGs as well, where personal interactions matter a lot more than most RPGs.

Ace Flibble

@texasgoldrush

Yes, but not everyone cares about innovation, many people want traditional gameplay and in fact I'm sure there are are many people who would be happier if FFXIII used the systems of FFV, VI or VII instead of X's.

Dreamsower

@Ace Flibble
I think texasgoldrush's point was that they were hyping the leveling system to be shiny and revolutionary when it doesn't sound like it will be. While that is the PR guy's duty to build hype for the game, this was a bit of a stretch on their part. I'm not saying I always want innovation here, I'm just trying to call 'em out on trying to promise so much. I love new takes on things and I also dig some straight-up older mechanic affairs in new games like DQVIII, I boner that game.

JtheYellow

There better be an auto-leveling feature for people who don't want to have to keep poking squares on a wheel every level.

Midgetsnowman

@JTheYellow: No offense..but if you dont wanna personally customize the hell out of your character..why the hell are you playing an MMO?

Zen Albatross

This might be blasphemous, but I'm opposed to heavy customization in RPG's. I play them for the story, and systems like the sphere grid from FF10 and the license board in FF12 just made me spend waaaaay too much time contemplating my character's skill choices.

Why can't characters just be specialized like in FF6? Having a preset 'job' or 'class' helps define their roles within the game's setting anyway.

Zarathustra

Others have said it already, but once again, how exactly is this "an interesting new way to progress your characters"? I'm not saying I don't like the system, I've just used it before in many other games.

RBinator

I just hope that the characters each have a "role" or class of some sort so they don't end up almost the same. FFVII, VIII, X, and XII all made it possible for the characters to be very similar to each other, with only their weapons and limit breaks being different and even those differences was missing in XII. Stat differences alone isn't enough IMO.

How does the circular chart change things much from the sphere grid? Doesn't seem to be enough information at the moment to determine what the system is like, but spoilers should be flooring across the 'net once the game hits Japan soon enough to reveal it.

Xhumation

Sounds nice and non linear. I just want the game to come out personally.

EnigmaticHarle

I feel like I've just won the lottery.

Dan CiTi

I hope it doesn't suck like FFX. I don't want every character to be basically the same like in FF7.

Nitex

FFX has the best experience system of any FF game so if its like that then its all awesomeness.

WankerJist

Sounds like a good system, but why the name "Crystalium"? At least Sphere Grid, Junction, License Board, and even Materia Linking kind of sounds like what you're doing is growing.

DO WANT

ndschroede23

@Midgetsnowman

MMO? What gave you that impression?

Double J

@Midgetsnowman

I think you're thinking of FFXIV.

Also, this sounds very much the same as FFX. Meh.

Senger

Silly made up names? Crystalium sounds like a drug or something, I find it a catchy name

Brlito

ROGUE GALAXY DID IT BETTER.

Mentok the Mindtaker

@Brlito - YOU DON'T KNOW BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT PLAYED 13 YET

robotbebop

I don't care how you level, as long as you don't have to spend an inordinate amount of time grinding Crystal Points I'll be happy. Yes, I am going to keep making these anti grinding comments in every FFXIII article I come across. It is a fact that FFXII shot my dog, kicked me in the nuts and stole my truck. There's a country song about it even.

Serpentish

I can't wait until they change the gameplay so much so that Final Fantasy just turns into an FPS.

Los255

In the end, they are all gonna end up the same exact way. 10 and 12 gave you a choice for a while, but in the end everything was the same.

Unless all the characters are going to be specifically designed to be specialists in their own way, I doubt thisll be interesting.

dwolfwood

@Los255
Yea, with the exception of FF12:Zodiac Brave System. I really hope they implement that kind of extra customization to 13. It really made 12 a whole lot better imo.

Brlito

@MENTOK: YOU CAN'T STOP ME LAWLAWLAWLAWLALWLAWLAWLAWLAWLALWLAWLAWLAW

taiki

If you guys hated the Sphere System FF2's, "You level up whenever we tell you you gained stats" system sucked even more.

Even worse you could completely game the FF2 level up system by hitting yourself over and over with magic and weapons leveling everything up before you left the starting area.

Shin Oni

great...now we can make the mage user a ridiculously strong Physical attacker again.

EggmaniMN

As long as they go with FFXII: Zodiac Edition's customized license board for each character type thing for 13, then I'll be fine. I don't want every character to be the same and I don't want them picking from the same abilities. I want Snow to be a powerhouse brawler.

Non-linear does not always mean good.

dwolfwood

quite honestly, the gameplay is just a vehicle to experience the story for me, and there has been no final fantasy, with FFXI as the exception, that have not failed to deliver since my first entry to the series with FF4(FF2 when first released stateside.)

Looking forward to it.

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