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Its sequel attempted to tip the scales by featuring a greater emphasis on player choice, but the plot continued to veer off the rails thanks to an over-reliance on time travel and “paradoxes.” Both games were deeply flawed, but still enjoyable, and I truthfully consider myself a big fan of the series. The first game in her trilogy was an audiovisual spectacle, but faced heavy criticism for its linearity and poorly-explained plot. So it’s ironic, perhaps, that the Final Fantasy XIII heroine of the same name has instead done the opposite lingering throughout an entire console generation. Lightning is, by definition, a brilliant flash that leaves as quickly as it arrives.
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