Final Fantasy XIII Gets Budget Release in Japan During Summer

Video game publisher Square Enix has announced that the Japanese gamers who have missed out on Final Fantasy XIII until now will be able to pick up a lower priced version of the game for both the Xbox 360 from Microsoft and the PlayStation 3 from Sony on July 21.

Those who plan to play the game on the Sony home console will be able to pick up the Ultimate Hits version of Final Fantasy XIII, which will be priced at 3,990 Yen, which is a little under 50 dollars at the current exchange rate.

On the Xbox 360, the same game will be called Ultimate Hits International Final Fantasy XIII Platinum Collection and the price will be the same.

The difference between the two platforms comes in the form of a booklet called Final Fantasy XIII: Corridor of Memory, which was included in the original launch of the Xbox 360 version of the game and will now be offered just for those who will purchase the budget edition from the online store that Square Enix has.

Final Fantasy XIII was much hyped before the initial launch and fans of the franchise hoped for an experience that would redefine its mechanics and deliver a complex and engaging story.

A lot of people were let down by the game that Square Enix delivered, with some saying that the new battle system did not offer enough freedom and that the introduction to the game was too long.

Still the game sold well, mainly on the Japanese market, and Square Enix announced that it is working on a direct sequel, called Final Fantasy XIII-2, which will use the same universe and some of the same characters.

The developers at Square Enix are saying that they plan to deliver a better game, with main character Lightning having a more complex set of motivations and interests.