Checking out the new trailers for Square-Enix’s PS3 epics Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII initiates a trademark Final Fantasy impeccable - enlightening, revealing, enticing and confounding any red-blooded gamer in one fell swoop. Bear in mind that these titles are still a ways off; FF XIII has only shown smidgeons of gameplay footage and is scheduled for release in late 2008. FF Versus XIII only has CG-animated cut-scenes to its credit and understandably hasn’t been given an official date. However, the fate of the franchise and the two pillars supporting the massive Fabula Nova Crystallis project are, make no mistake about it, drop-fucking-dead gorgeous in an age where looking gorgeous is about as passé as making an FPS.

Let’s start with the series newest iteration, Final Fantasy XIII. The new trailer showcases what the last did - speeding bullet-train (only now a glider based craft seems to be dancing around above it), security bot for Lightning, the main lead female, to point a sword at, and quick GunxSword battles; here, we see an extended version of the fight, with some fancy footwork, the use of a flame projectile, and a new vibration grenade that sends enemies flying in slow-mo while our girl slices them to ribbons. She also seems to be having a comparatively worse day than most of us with nearly legions of gun-toting lankies, a highway duel with a fangful beast and jet-powered mechs after her sun-tanned, hot-pants hide, but the unveiling of a blond, streetwear-decked bishie operating a motorcycle and machine gun hints at a possible ally, as he busts her out of a predicament.

The techno-mages have pretty much grown up. Along with the devices shown in the earlier trailer are on equal standing with the hover-cycle transports, moon-sized battleships ( FU George Lucas, indeed) and armor-adorned Volgas of the water queen variety. Lightning’s transitions from bare-hands to gun-fu and then to sword fighting still remain an awe to watch.

On the other extreme is Final Fantasy Versus XIII, helmed by Tetsuya Nomura (director of Kingdom Hearts 2 and reputed character designer for Square-Enix). This title takes a darker, less kitschy route. XIII (not his official name), the king of a fallen Crystal kingdom, is where we last left him – about to take on an army of gun-toting baddies before him. Details about his arrival on the empty throne amidst a group of tearful statues is also revealed: The VIP-esque cavalcade was laid to waste by the aforementioned army, who then play Duckhunt with XIII upon his discovery of the same. Utilizing a flicker-like dash and his multiple studded blades, he lays waste to them all amidst some vicious stunts and succinct gore before halting a rocket and settling back inside on his lonesome throne, unfazed and contemplative. XIII’s actions oddly mirror Lightning’s, complete with a similar looking sword he carries at all time. With a vaguely familiar Kingdom Hearts 2 background score, the Advent Children-like flicker, the actual odd thing is the contrast to FFXIII: Less fantasy, more stark and gritty.

Both games seem to share so much in common, with both protagonists facing opposition numbering in the dozens. What’s with the conflicting worlds of whimsical machina and Gotham noir? What is the relationship between XIII and Lightning? Is this all really real-time (well, at least its been staked that the trailer of FF Versus XIII is all real-time)? Whatever the case, Square-Enix certainly has their enigmatic role playing card ready for them in the next year. With these new developments, its not even a concern whether fans of the long-standing series are ready with theirs. As long as Square-Enix keeps providing us high-quality team killing footage like this, we’ll be satisfied till the game’s release.

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