I have played the game through once at the time of reviewing.

This is a whole different ballgame from the other two. You play as Lightning solo almost the whole game. She does get help occasionally, but the party members are more just along for the ride than participants in battles. Player doesn't have any control over them. You have 4 move slots for corresponding controller buttons that you can assign and three garbs with embedded abilities(or not) and equipment for each one for you to gather and equip.

I almost left this game unplayed. I was so pissed that it has a time-limit, which I hate because I want to explore and sweep every corner. I also didn't enjoy battling at all. I solved the latter by equipping some dlc garbs that had superior moves embedded(cheated, maybe) and the first just by playing forward. Time-limit wasn't so bad afterall, you can do everything you want to and you have tools to extend your timeframe. Battling was also good after I got the hang of it, in the end I had only one dlc garb in use.

As usual, the game is gorgeous and now you have 4 free-roam areas to explore. They are not huge and after progressing the story, they get easier to get around in. This game has the most striking moments in all the series. Graphically and storywise. You could probably do all but two boss battles in one playthrough. This game has no post-content, the story ENDS. I like it, good job developers.

Speaking of the story, I messed it up for myself. I played almost to the end and it was SWEET. Well, Light was always sour, but the story was great. Full of mystery, excitement, longing, sorrow....well, you get my point. Very emotion filled game. Then I had to take a two weeks break. I couldn't play it at the time. When I returned to it, the immersion had faded and as I had only about 2-3 hours left of the game I couldn't get it back. The end fell a bit flat for me, but that had nothing to do with the game itself, it has all the bells and whistles. I don't really know why I put that here as it has zero to do with the game. Wanted to share I guess...But anyway, killer story, a great end to a great trilogy.

I'm sure everyone who wanted to play this has already done so and if you are thinking about getting the whole trilogy, you won't read this anyway so I leave you with this comment.

XIII-2 is the best game in the trilogy.

the trilogy deserved this ending but the game they attached it to was rough