When not busying himself with his development duties, Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai has been able to sink some time into Square Enix’s Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. And, he’s full of praise.
In his Weekly Famitsu column, Sakurai expressed that he was able to “see the culmination of the Active Time Battle system,” which has been an integral part of the publisher’s iconic series since Final Fantasy IV.
Throughout the years, they’ve tinkered with and refined the battle system, and Sakurai revealed that Lightning Returns made him remember the importance of never being satisfied with what you’ve already achieved.
“I was amazed at how, even under the limitations of there being only one party member [in Lightning Returns], [the ATB system] has evolved,” he wrote, continuing: “It’s easy to pick up an already released game and simply enjoy it, but in order to generate entertainment, you need to keep your eyes peeled.
“I was reminded that if you take what seems natural for granted, nothing will evolve or change for the better.”
[Thanks Kotaku]
Sakurai “amazed” at Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII battle system evolution
