Square Enix Compares Final Fantasy: Lightning Returns XIII to Dark Souls

Final Fantasy: Lightning Returns XIII's producer Yoshinori Kitase has compared the game, which is the final installment of the Lightning series, to FromSoftware's notoriously difficult Dark Souls, Kotaku reports.  

In a Famitsu interview Kitase commented that "If I were to describe the gamplay, I'd say that there are some elements [of Lightning Returns] with the severity of [a game like] Dark Souls."

Also revealed in the interview is the fact that there's a limited amount of slots for items you can carry around with you meaning a degree of inventory management has been added to the game. In a break from Final Fantasy XIII and XIII-2 battles do not yield experience points. Players will be able to visit inns to heal but you're advised not to do so unless you really need to as battles don't net you money either.

"Thinking economically is very important in this game!" director Motomu Toriyama commented.

In the game, Lightning has seven days to save the world. However, players will be able to extend this to as many as 13 days by completing missions.

It's currently possible to play the game from beginning to end however the developers are making some balancing adjustments before it releases in Japan in November. Lightning Returns is set to be launched in North America on February 11th 2014 and three days later on February 14th in Europe on PS3 and Xbox 360.

At E3, Square Enix announced the next installments in the series with Final Fantasy XV and Kingdom Hearts 3 coming to next-gen platforms. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is set to be released this August.