Why Play Lightning Returns More Than Once?

[00slash00]

Okay first of all, this is NOT a thread debating the quality of Lightning, Lightning Returns, the Final Fantasy 13 series, or Final Fantasy in general.

I got the game yesterday and haven't had time to play yet. I know there's an easy mode and a normal mode and that despite having one ending, the game encourages multiple playthroughs. Does anyone know what the game does to provide you with incentive to play more than once, if the story is the same no matter what you do? I've heard the game has some intense difficulty spikes and if I have good reason to play again, I want to start on easy to ease in to the new mechanics, and then play normal the second time. However, if there's not much reason to play a second or third time, I'm just going to start on normal mode.

Has anyone heard or read anything about what makes the game worth playing multiple times? What difficulty level did you choose?

 

[Blitsie]

From what I've read, it's impossible to do and see everything in the given time limit (like DeadRising basically) so the replay value comes in doing stuff you missed the first time around.

The new game+ also sounds very much like Dead Rising, where everything resets except your character.

 

[ShinyCharizard]

Here is some info I found.

Spoiler

1. You can start a NG+ in two ways:
- Getting Game Over by running out of days.
- Completing the game by defeating the final boss.

2. When you start a NG+, the following carries over:
- All items, except quest items.
- All weapons, except one sword which you get in final dungeon.
- All shields, except one shield which you get in final dungeon.
- Accumulated statistic bonuses, GP and ATB increments, as well as item slots. Even if you completed quest X on first play, complete it again on second play for a second (smaller) statistic boost.
- Gil obtained.
- All garbs and decorations collected.
- GP abilities obtained.
- Any and all quest progression is not carried over.
- Enemies killed counter for Omega versions is not carried over.

3. When you start a NG+ from a save on which you defeated final boss, you get following bonuses:
- You can choose HARD mode.
- You gain the ability to upgrade shields and weapons at the weapon stores. To upgrade a weapon or shield, you need cash and upgrade materials. Mats are either dropped by enemies of bought from certain shops. Weapons and shields can also be downgraded, if you so choose.
- Accessories are upgraded a bit differently. To cite an example: when you get to Luxerion for the first time, you begin just before the north train station. Look to your left to spot a ladder. Climb it and jump to nearby railing to find a treasure ball with accessory inside. When you open this same treasure ball again on NG+, the accessory you got on first round will get upgraded. You can upgrade it one more time on NG++. However, on NG+++ you will then get cash instead.
- Weapon stores carry more powerful equipment if you play on HARD.
- Damage output is increased in certain way (not exactly sure on tutorial that appeared with that, sorry I'm lacking details).
- FORCED NEW GAME+: When you get back in the Ark after 2nd day, you'll find an item which resembles a green hourglass. Examining this hourglass and confirming your choice twice will immediately suspend your current game progression. Make a save and use it to start the game from beginning (with stuff I described that carries over, of course). This is much better than having to manually truck through the days.