When you're an enemy of the state, forced to work for the other side, with nothing but the magical powers you've been granted and a gun-saber to help you get to the bottom of the truth, what do you do? You get to the bottom of the truth, kicking a lot of ass along the way.

The latest instalment in the smash hit 'Final Fantasy' series; Final Fantasy XIII has already shifted over 2 million copies since its release. The game begins on the hollow world of Cocoon, following a mismatched group of individuals who have been branded by a god-like being from the vicious world of Pulse. Now branded as enemies of the state, their journey to find the truth and to avoid capture from their own people takes you through the worlds of Cocoon and Pulse, each level filled with beautifully created locations and characters. The first 10 chapters of the game are pretty linear, which is a good way to ease in the FF newcomers, but can be frustrating to the veterans. Come chapter 11, however, and the world opens up and lets you explore the world of Final Fantasy, with plenty of side missions and mouth-watering graphics.

The playable characters are believable too, with great voice acting bringing them to life, making them seem more human than past FFXIII characters. The different traits of the characters pull you in too. Whether its Hope's anguish at being alone that makes you sigh, or Vanille's undying optimism that makes you smile, each character makes the plot that little more enticing. Lightning, the main playable character, although supposed to come across as strong and determined, sometimes comes across as bland and monotonous. However, she seems to develop along with the plot, and the enthusiasm of the other characters makes up for it.

Whilst holding onto the flair and detail of the previous games, FFXIII brings new and innovative game play aspects to the table. The Crystarium is a welcomed addition, similar to the Sphere Grid in FF X. Successful battles reward you with Crystogen Points, which can be used to unlock and further your character's abilities in whichever role they play. Different characters can be assigned different roles during battles, whether it’s as a Medic, Ravagers, Commando, Synergist...the list goes on. The different roles can be added to a list of battle paradigms, making the battles more dynamic and fast-paced. The 'Active Time Battle' system returns, which can make the battles slightly frustrating whilst you're waiting for your bar to refill so you can attack. The return of the Eidolons is a huge hit too, with familiar Summons like Odin, Shiva, Alexander and Bahamut, with newcomers Hecatoncheir and Brynhildr as the final additions to the team. It really is quite rewarding when you summon your Eidolon, sit back and watch them lay waste to hordes of enemies. It makes you feel quite smug.

The game has enough cut scenes to make its own feature-length film, with each dynamic scene beautifully rendered, bringing the worlds of Cocoon and Pulse to life. Most of the creatures and enemies you encounter in your journey are highly detailed too, most of them great, regal creatures with grandiose attacks. Most of them. The rest look like baddies from a kid's cartoon, with names like 'Flan' and 'Rustpudding', making them even less scary. Nevertheless, it’s just more ass to kick and more points to earn. Levelling up can be a pain in the ass though, especially if you're up against a boss whom you cant seem to kill. It means turning around and killing a gazillion more enemies until you're levelled up enough. It can get frustrating and very repetitive with the constant battles in order to level up.

All in all, it’s a game filled with mouth-watering graphics indulging you at every turn, with lots of variety and a sturdy plot. It can get a little repetitive at times, and somewhat frustrating, but to be honest, it doesn't matter if you have to refight a boss twenty times. The game is so addictive, you really don't care.

Review written by Game Goddess Niansa