New Bodhum 003 AF Part 1

New Bodhum 003 AF

Episode 1: A World Without Cocoon

Lightning: Time flows without pause. In a world where I no longer exist, the future is about to change.

Lightning: Serah. The truth still survives. But only you remember it.

(Serah, sleeping in the bed, stirs. Her clothing glows and transforms into a totally different outfit.)

Serah: Lightning… She was fighting. I guess it was just a dream. (pause) Such a strange dream…

(An explosion outside.)

Serah: What? What was that?

(Serah finally notices her clothes.)

Serah: Where did these clothes come from? (pause) What’s happening out there?

Datalog: Camera Settings

Primers: For Beginners

Camera Settings: A total of four camera control schemes and 11 levels of camera control sensitivity are available for selection.

To modify your current setting, press ∆ to open the main menu and then select Settings.

Datalog: Datalog

Primers: For Beginners

Datalog: As you progress through the game, the datalog will gradually fill with entries on a variety of subjects.

A message will appear in the upper left corner of the screen whenever a new entry is added. To browse this information, press ∆ to access the main menu and then select Datalog.

Those who have yet to play FINAL FANTASY XIII can brush up on basic gameplay by reading through ‘Primers: For Beginners.’

(Datalog Updated!)

Significant Persons

Lighting: Lightning is Serah’s older sister, and a former soldier. She is also one of the l’Cie who helped stop the fall of the skyborne paradise, Cocoon, saving millions of lives in the process.

Three years ago, one of the supernatural fal’Cie gave Lightning a Focus – an order to destroy Cocoon. She resisted her fate, however, and protected her floating home.

Shortly after these events, Lightning ceased to exist in this world. Most believe that she gave her life in return for Cocoon’s salvation.

Serah Farron: Serah is Lightning’s younger sister. Three years ago, she unwittingly became part of events that threatened the entire world, and was eventually saved by her older sibling. Serah is still unable to accept the fact that Lightning is gone.

She left her home on Cocoon, and now lives as a teacher in the Gran Pulse frontier town of New Bodhum. Serah is engaged to the NORA leader, Snow, but current circumstances prevent them from being together.

NORA: NORA is a vigilante group of young do-gooders from the Cocoon town of Bodhum. No strangers to fending for themselves, the group went on to found the settlement of New Bodhum in the harsh environment of Pulse.

NORA consists of four core members: the intimidating Gadot, Snow’s right-hand man; the amiable mood maker, Yuj; the mechanical genius, Maqui; and the NORA House resident chef, Lebreau.

Snow, NORA’s founding member, is presently away from New Bodhum.

Society

Fal’Cie and L’Cie: The fal’Cie are supernatural entities that once governed the floating paradise of Cocoon.

These godlike beings possess the power to curse humans, transforming them into ‘l’Cie.’ Lightning and Serah were once enslaved as l’Cie, and given the task of destroying Cocoon.

Lightning defied the will of the fal’Cie, and steered her fate down a different road. Following the catastrophe, the fal’Cie of Cocoon fell into slumber. A different group of fal’Cie exists on Gran Pulse, but they show little interest in the activities of humans.

L’Cie and Cie’th: L’Cie are the cursed human servants of the fal’Cie. Those chosen to serve find their bodies marked with a ‘brand,’ and are given orders in the form of a vague vision. This vision is known as a ‘Focus,’ and l’Cie are granted magical powers in order to fulfill their abstract destiny.

L’Cie that complete their Focus are transformed into eternal crystals. Those who fail to do so within the allotted time are stripped of their brand, and become hideous monsters known as ‘Cie’th.’ These mindless creatures are bereft of emotion and reason, and lose all semblance of humanity.

Serah was once chosen as a l’Cie, but through the heroic efforts of her fiancé and her sister she was safely returned to her human self.

Catastrophe: Three years ago, mankind stared into the face of extinction when Cocoon almost crashed onto the surface of Pulse.

The sphere’s fall was halted by Lightning’s companions, Fang and Vanille. Their desperate sacrifice summoned a massive pillar that cradled the plummeting Cocoon in its crystalline branches, averting an unimaginable disaster. The two l’Cie now sleep within the pillar in crystal form, and there are some who believe Lightning slumbers alongside them.

A new age began from that day forth, with each subsequent year marked by the letters AF, or ‘After the Fall.’

Locales

Cocoon and Pulse: Cocoon is a massive sphere, constructed and set in the sky by the powerful and enigmatic beings known as the ‘fal’Cie,’ Up until 0 AF, it was a floating paradise that was home to several million people. Now, however, the broken shell rests on an immense crystal pillar, bereft of the power source that once kept it aloft. The interior of the sphere has deteriorated, forcing the population to relocate to the land below.

The lowerworld, known as either ‘Pulse’ or ‘Gran Pulse,’ is an unforgiving wilderness infested with predatory monsters. This world once boasted a civilization that stood in conflict with Cocoon, but traces of its culture exist only in ruins.

New Bodhum: New Bodhum in one of the settlements built by immigrants from Cocoon on the shores of Pulse. Many of its residents, including Serah Farron, are former inhabitants of Cocoon’s seaside town of Bodhum.

Serah’s fiancé, Snow, chose the settlement’s name. The members of his group, NORA, help work the fields and protect the townspeople from roaming monsters.

Primers: For Beginners

Basic Controls: L: Move character

R: Rotate camera

R3: Reset camera position

∆: Open main menu

X: Perform action

START: Pause game, access Save option

While exploring the map, certain occurrences or important LIVE events may partially restrict movement or camera controls.

The Mini-map: The mini-map in the upper right corner of the screen displays a variety of helpful information.

In addition to revealing the surrounding terrain, the mini-map indicates the direction of your objective and the positions of your companions. Destinations marked with a ! represent important objectives that must be completed to progress through the game. Optional objectives are marked with a !.

You can turn off the mini-map at any time. To toggle its display, simply press SELECT. To configure the mini-map navigation settings, press ∆ to open the main menu and select Settings.

Jumping: You can press O to jump up small steps or over objects blocking your path.

You can also jump over larger obstacles in certain locations. Press O while standing on the glowing blue rings, and your character will automatically leap over the obstacle.

Conversing with Others: Upon approaching the other characters you encounter while exploring, you will often be spoken to, or overhear something being said. These conversations occur automatically and do not require any action on your part.

Certain conversations require a button press to initiate. In these instances, press X when the TALK sign is displayed. If there is more than one person you can speak to nearby, press ∆ to switch between the available TALK signs.

Treasure and Gadgets: When approaching treasure spheres or controllable switches, a button prompt will appear.

Press X to perform actions such as obtaining items or activating machines.

These actions will be ‘locked’ when enemies are nearby, so be sure to first clear the area of hostiles.

Battle Difficulty: The battle difficulty can be changed by going into the main menu and selecting Settings.

There are two options: NORMAL MODE and EASY MODE.

The current difficulty mode is displayed on the battle results screen.

Switching to Easy Mode is one way to deal with tough monsters. However, the difficulty mode does affect your battle rank, and you will get more stars and rare items in Normal Mode.

Skippable Cutscenes: You can press START at any time during a cutscene to pause the action. After doing so, pressing SELECT will allow you to skip the rest of the scene if you so desire.

Conversations between characters and LIVE events that occur during exploration can also be skipped in the same manner.

Objective: Open the door and head outside

Live Trigger: Dreams of strange worlds; clothes appearing from nowhere. What’s going on?

∆: “Was that a vision of the future?”

Serah: That dream felt so familiar. Like my horrible vision of Cocoon’s collapse. Maybe the dream was really a vision. Maybe it was Lightning in the future. But no… that can’t be right. Lightning is gone, transformed into that crystal pillar…

O: “Am I still dreaming?”

Serah: Is this a dream? These clothes aren’t even mine. I must still be asleep. I have to wake up. Lightning… Lightning is gone.

X: “A message from Lightning?”

Serah: Lightning? Lightning is gone… But then… what was that dream I just had…? A message from the other side? No. She can’t be dead. And these clothes. Are they from the other side as well?

□: “Is someone coming here?”

Serah: That guy I saw with Lightning… I don’t think I’ve ever seen him before. So why does he seem so familiar? Maybe we’re going to meet in the future.

(Suddenly, the world around her distorts. Instead of New Bodhum, she sees a barren wasteland.)

Serah: What’s happening?

Live Trigger: Where’s the village? Everything out here is completely different. What is this place?

∆: “Is everything I remember a lie?”

Serah: This place… Did I always live here? Are my memories just lies? Was it all fake? This has happened before… I felt things change when Lightning disappeared. Why? I don’t know this place – I don’t belong here!

O: “Is this still a dream?”

Serah: What is this place? Could I still be dreaming? No more… I can’t take this. How do I get away from here? This is all just a bad dream. Wake up. I just have to wake up.

X: “Is this the future?”

Serah: How… how did I get here? This place – it’s like the world has ended… Wait, maybe this is the future. Is this what’s going to happen to us? But why? Enough! I want to go home!

□: “Have I died?”

Serah: Where on Pulse is this? There’s nothing here, not one living thing. Is this the afterlife? But how did I die? If I’m dead, then maybe I can find Lightning.

(Serah kneels to the ground. Then, New Bodhum comes into focus again. Scenes of the NORA members fighting strange monsters freeze before everything sets in motion again.)

Serah: Gadot!

Gadot: Serah, come on!

Yuj: Everyone, this way!

(Gogmagog appears.)

Maqui: What is that!?

Gadot: Take that!

(Serah is confronted by one of the monsters.)

Serah: No, please, no!

Serah: Lightning, help me!

(Gunfire rains on the monster. Lebreau comes running in, machine gunning, and grabs Serah by the arm.)

Lebreau: Get ahold of yourself! Lightning can’t protect you anymore. You have to look after yourself now. Do you hear me? Your sister’s dead. She can’t help you!

(Lebreau is tackled by the monster.)

Serah: Lebreau!

(Another barrage suddenly takes down the monsters in front of them.)

Noel: You want her? Then you’re gonna have to go through me!

(Noel jumps between Serah and the monsters.)

Noel: Get up, Serah.

Serah: You were in my dream. I saw you.

Noel: Save it for later. (offers her the crossbow) Can you fight?

Serah: If I have to?

(Serah takes the bow and gets up.)

Noel: You’re gonna have to. (brandishing his sword) One more thing. Don’t ever lay down and wait to die!

(Datalog Updated!)

Primers: Gameplay Basics

Live Triggers: During events and conversations, you will often come across Live Trigger options.

By pressing the relevant button, you can choose how you will act or respond. Certain conversations allow you to explore all of a Live Trigger’s options. Some Live Triggers with special options only appear after you have fulfilled certain requirements.

The selections you make leave their mark on history, and may lead to the appearance of valuable items from the edges of spacetime. Try all the options you can, and discover what the twists and turns of the timeline hold in store!

Primers: Battle

ATB (Active Time Battle): Characters perform abilities in battle by expending segments of the ATB gauge, which charges continuously over time.

Auto-battle and other similar commands queue up a set of abilities automatically based on the character’s role and the situation at hand, only requiring you to choose a target.

The Abilities command, on the other hand, allows you to specify individual abilities as you see fit. The number to the right of each ability’s name is its ATB cost – the number of charged segments required to perform that action. Naturally, abilities with higher ATB costs require you to wait longer until the ATB gauge is sufficiently charged.

Command Tips

If you add an ability to the queue by mistake, cancel it with O.

Pressing ∆ executes a partial command queue. Queue up a single ability and press ∆ to execute it immediately, or press ∆ after entering a full queue to act before your ATB gauge has filled. Abilities with charged segments will be performed, and the rest will be canceled.

By pressing L or → at the Abilities command, you can select Repeat, which queues up the last set of abilities used.

Game Over and Retry

A character whose HP reaches zero is KO’d. If this happens to the battle leader, control will pass to the nest available character. If all of your controllable characters are KO’d, the game is over.

You can pause a battle with Start and then select Retry, which will return you to a moment just before the battle. Items will be returned, but not all damage to enemies will be reset. (You cannot retry the battle if the option does not appear.)

Cinematic Action: During key points in important battles you will sometimes encounter Cinematic Action events. These events will require you to make quick decisions and press certain buttons, the results of which will alter how the battle unfolds.

When a cinematic action sequence begins, follow the on-screen directions and hit the correct control inputs within the time limit!

Objective: Defeat all hostiles

Lebreau: Ugh.

Lebreau: Ow…

Lebreau: Hmm…

Gadot: Serah! You okay?

Gadot: Is Lebreau okay?

Gadot: We gotta handle this mess!

Gadot: You’re askin’ for it!

Gadot: Dammit!

Gadot: This’s the real thing, boys and girls!

Maqui: They don’t give up!

Maqui: I-I-I got this!

Maqui: I’m not cut out for this…

Maqui: What the… when… where!?

Maqui: This ain’t lookin’ good!

Yuj: No end to these things!

Yuj: Serah! Be careful!

Yuj: Everyone! Stay close!

Yuj: We need Snow here!

Yuj: You want some!?

They’re not from around here, that’s for sure.

We’re in trouble!

How’s this?

Gadot! Help me!

Leave this to me!

You gotta help them! You gotta help them!

All right, let’s do this!

Argh!?

Let’s finish them off!

Oof!

I gotta stay tough!

Gadot! Quick! Over here!

Maqui: Hey, Serah, are you okay?

Serah: Yeah.

Yuj: Maqui!

Maqui: Gotta go!

Serah: Okay.

(Maqui runs off to a group gathering near the town barricade.)

Gadot: Alright, everyone, listen up. The meteorite hit over there. We’re gonna check it out.

Yuj: Team Yuj, ready to roll.

Maqui: And careful. That area’s crawling with monsters.

Gadot: So stay close. C’mon.

Yuj: You heard him. Move out!

Maqui: With you!

(Over by the NORA House, Serah and Noel stand over Lebreau.)

Serah: (to Lebreau) You’re okay.

Noel: She took a hit, but she’s gonna be fine. She just needs some rest.

Serah: Thank goodness. And thank you… Whoever you are.

Noel: Noel Kreiss.

Serah: Okay.

Noel: And before I forget… It wasn’t just me. You should probably thank this little guy, too.

(The bow suddenly turns into a moogle.)

Serah: Wow. Is that a toy moogle?

Noel: He’s supposed to be your lucky charm. Your sister gave him to me.

Serah: Wait, you know Lightning?

(Serah grabs the moogle and clutches him tightly. He squirms uncomfortably.)

Noel: She’s the one who told me to come here.

Serah: Where? Where did you see her? Was it… Valhalla?

Noel: Yeah. How’d you guess?

(Serah finally lets go of the moogle.)

Serah: I saw it in a dream. I saw my sister. She gave you the moogle. Then the meteorite came…

Noel: …and dragged me along with it, I guess.

Serah: Do you mean, you actually rode here on that meteorite?

Noel: Maybe, I don’t know. Damned if I can remember. Why don’t we go and check it out?

Serah: Okay.

Serah: Now I know for sure. Lightning is alive. She’s in a place called Valhalla. I’d only just met Noel, but I believed him. I believed every word he said. Even though it couldn’t possibly be true. It seems like only yesterday. The smile on Lightning’s face when she gave her blessing for Snow and me to get married. But, I’m the only one who ever remembered that. No one believes. It’s just a dream, they say, from when I slept in the crystal. An illusion. They say my sister is gone. That three years ago, she sacrificed herself to stop the fall of Cocoon. She turned into the crystal pillar that holds Cocoon above the surface of Pulse, and saved both worlds. That’s what they say. But even so…

(Datalog Updated!)

Significant Persons

Mog: Mog is a small, mysterious creature covered in white fur. He had bat-like wings that he often beats as he flits around, but his power of flight down not appear to rely on them.

Mog has a crystal bobble that reacts to the presence of anomalies, and he is proficient at finding lost objects, but his most astounding feature is his ability to transform into a weapon. With the right components available, Mog is capable of evolving into even more powerful weaponry.

Lightning came across Mog in Valhalla, and asked the strange little being to act as Serah’s protector and good luck charm.

Although he closely resembles the fictitious moogles described in Cocoon’s fairy tales, the connection is uncertain.

Society

Magic: ‘Magic’ is the ability to draw on the crystal power residing within oneself and make possible all manner of incredible feats. This power was once only the province of l’Cie, but since the catastrophe and the migration to Pulse, some former citizens of Cocoon have suddenly developed the ability to wield magic. Serah is one of these people.

Many of those who now command magical energies are simple civilians, and have never had Serah’s experience of once being a l’Cie. It is theorized that the move to Gran Pulse has awoken these abilities, and people are beginning to see magic as just another tool in their everyday lives. Noel is also capable of casting spells, but doesn’t seem to think of himself as anything special.

Primers: Battle

Paradigm Shift: An efficient battle strategy is the key to victory. When you wish to change your battle strategy during battle, press L1 to perform a paradigm shift.

Your characters will acquire various Roles as they progress through the game, such as the defense-oriented Sentinel, the damage-dealing Commando, and the spell-casting Ravager. Combinations of these roles are known as Paradigms.

Your current Paradigm is Double Trouble, as strategy that makes each ally focus on their own target. To boost your chain bonus and stagger a single target, use Slash & Burn. To reduce incoming damage from powerful attacks, try switching to Twin Shields.

When shifting paradigms, be aware of the bonuses that roles confer upon your entire party. For example:

Commando: Augmented Attacks

Ravager: Chain Bonus Boost

Sentinel: Damage Reduction

Different roles offer more than just a different set of abilities!

Keep the characteristics of each role in mind when creating your paradigm!

Chains and Staggering: Each time you land a successful attack on an enemy, the enemy’s chain gauge – displayed in the upper right corner of the screen – will charge slightly. This gauge drains slowly over time, but by maintain a steady series of attacks you can drive the chain bonus (the percentage of damage dealt by each attack) upward.

Deliver enough hits in rapid succession, and the gauge will eventually fill. If you connect once more with an enemy in this state, you will stagger that enemy.

Staggered enemies take a great deal of damage from every attack. There are also a number of abilities that take advantage of this vulnerable state. When fighting, do your best to stagger your foe as quickly as possible.

Role: Commando: The Commando

Commandos have the most damage-dealing potential and their powerful attacks maintain the chain gauge longer than others. Pair them with the Ravager, whose magic attacks boost the chain gauge, to inflict a constant stream of damage.

Role Bonus: Physical and magical attacks deal extra damage

Role: Ravager: The Ravager

Ravager attacks are infused with the four elements: fire, ice, lightning, and wind. A combination of the Ravager’s various abilities can increase the chain bonus and unleash more damage.

Find out the enemy’s vulnerability and execute commands that zero in on its weakness. Pair Ravagers with the stabilizing Commando to make an efficient chain-building machine.

Role Bonus: Improved chain bonuses

Role: Sentinel: The Sentinel

Sentinels bear the brunt of enemy attacks to protect the rest of the party. With their high defensive capabilities, they have the ability to lessen the amount of damage taken and to launch counterattacks.

They can also increase chain bonus duration with the Provoke command. Use this role when fighting multiple foes who deal heavy physical damage.

Role Bonus: Physical and magic resistance is increased

Using Items: During battle, when HP is low, items such as Potions can be used to restore health.

To revive someone who has been KO’d, use a Phoenix Down. To cure someone’s status ailment, use an item such as a Remedy. Items are consumed per use and will take effect immediately. They do not affect the ATB gauge in any way.

Go to Items in the main menu to sort your items. Putting the items most used in combat at the top of the list will be a great time-saver during battle.

Battle Results: Your battle score is based on the speed with which hyou dispatch the enemy, and varies depending on how your time compares to the target time.

The score determines your battle rank, which is displayed using stars. If you finish the battle within the target time, you will receive between three to five stars.

The rank in turn determines what items you receive at the end of the battle. A higher rank grant better spoils.

The Recent Battle Total is the total score of the latest twenty battles.