So, I've really enjoyed Final Fantasy XIII, and decided to go out and buy XIII-2.  Before I peel away the plastic wrapper though, I've got to ask: is it a sequel in the way that X-2 was a sequel to X?  If so, this thing's going right back to the store.  I loved X so I bought X-2, thinking, "How bad could it be?"  Turns out it was NOTHING like the original game (and yes, I know you all warned me, but I didn't take you seriously), and I just... I-- eh--  Alright, three words: Yuna. Gullwings. Cheesy.  'Nuff said.

 

My favorite characters from XIII were Vanille, Hope, and Snow, and I know at least one of them--if not two of them--aren't present in XIII-2.  Is XIII-2 drastically different from XIII?  If I liked Final Fantasy XIII, will I still like XIII-2?  Or is this another "Final Fantasy X-2" all over again?

I think you'll like XIII-2. i wouldnt say it's drastically different from XIII and another thing:

 

 

vanille,hope and snow all shows up in XIII-2 owo

 

 

have fun with the game owo

XIII-2 is a better sequel than X-2. I was disappointed with the lack of cast from the original XIII, but the universe itself is decent. Also, the villain is superb. Not to give any spoilers, but Caius is more of an anti-hero than evil doer. Sort of. It's complicated and if you're curious, you'll have to see for yourself. XIII-2 isn't all I hoped it would be (believe me, I had high hopes since I loved XIII so much), but XIII-2 is still definitely worth a play. 

XIII-2 is a better sequel than X-2. I was disappointed with the lack of cast from the original XIII, but the universe itself is decent. Also, the villain is superb. Not to give any spoilers, but Caius is more of an anti-hero than evil doer. Sort of. It's complicated and if you're curious, you'll have to see for yourself. XIII-2 isn't all I hoped it would be (believe me, I had high hopes since I loved XIII so much), but XIII-2 is still definitely worth a play. 

Hmm, yeah, I hope I end up liking it.  I was so disappointed by X-2 after I'd fallen in love with X that I'm afraid I'll do the very same with XIII and its sequel.  I think I'm going to keep my copy, and just say, "Well, there goes $20" if I don't end up liking it.  It's funny, the guy at the checkout was practically discouraging me from buying it, haha!  He was like, "Yeah...I loved XIII, but I'm not so sure about this second one."  Thanks for your advice, though!  It sounds like I might like it, though probably not as much as the first game because I'm quite attached to the current cast and feared that most of them won't be there.

Trust me man, you'll love it. The gameplay is better now, so lets say the character you're playing as gets KO'ed, but the other one is alive, you switch to that character, so its not an insta Game Over.

 

Also, now there is wound damage(or blood damage as the Japanese call it, LOL) that reduces your Max HP, but you can use that against other enemies who heal constantly, to make sure they die. Besides if you get annoyed with Wound damage, just stock up on Wound Potions, they help later in the game. There are only 2 playable characters in this game(Noel and Serah) so you can use the crystarium with them like in XIII, but the other characters are monsters you collect from crystals. You can have 3 monsters at a time. I recommend getting a Commando, Sentinel and Synthergist to start with.