Final Fantasy XIII-2

This of course is a sequel to the popular Final Fantasy XIII which was released last year. It carries on from the end of the first game and generally looks the same. The areas, the monsters, the movement and the battle system are all practically identical apart from a few new extras which play a vital part in the story. As a first there is a new main character, Noel. Not much is known about him, apart from his impressive skills with his blades and that he enjoys Serah's company and travels with her by his side, it isn't quite clear whether he has a mission to perform, or if he just wants to get some.

Along with this new face accompanying you throughout the game there is a Moogle, which oddly reminds me of Navi. Your new best friend follows you around as you explore and travel, but from time to time it catches your attention(Hey!Hey listen!) by changing it's colour and then leads you off to go find some hidden underground treasure that for some reason it, and only it knows the location of.
A new feature is some magical dial which appears before each battle, and gives you random power ups if manage to get it in the green area, for example your moogle may transform into a sword or bow for your tag along Serah to wield.

Also included in the battle system is a cinematic attack, think summons, but without the summon. It's practically the same as the special attacks each character had in Final Fantasy X. There's some cut scene, and then you need to press the occassional button to do the most damage. On another note you can get a crystal which forces monsters in battle to become your slave, which you can then use to battle other monsters. Personally i can't wait to roam around with a couple of adamantortoises by both of my sides.

The second best bit of this game is the new open map, you can actually roam around and do what you want, you're not confined to a one way road that gives the illusion of splitting off into different directions just to join up again a couple a metres later. Thank god for that. And if that still is too linear for you then you actually have choices that effect the gameplay and the atmosphere, so much control, who would have thought it.
But the most outstanding new gimick introduced here is completely mind blowing. You wont even believe it. Wait for it... You can jump! Someone has finally saw the light over there and decided to let your character magically lift themselves into the air for a split second, mind blowing, it really is.

Our newly refurbished knight in shining armor stands back to back with the new kid, Noel

This game is set the hit stores this December for Japan and in early 2012 for the USA and Europe on both the PS3 and Xbox 360.