I finished Lightning Returns for the first time. I saw what I needed to do for the remaining trophies, so I'm hoping to have the platinum by the end of the week. I'll post impressions later.
Edit and Update:
I'm surprised at how much good, old-fashioned fun I had with Lightning Returns. I think that the series could have been finished after the end of the first XIII, but XIII-2 and LR were fun games in their own right. The story in LR was ridiculous, but at the same time, heartwarming. It was worth dealing with the inane dialogue to reach the conclusion. The best thing about the game was the battle system. Lightning was always a competent fighter, but watching her in LR is just magnificent. No matter how you feel about the XIII saga, I highly recommend checking out the LR demo so you can see what the battle system offers. There is so much customization with the Schemata that it feels like it's its own game. The fact that you can add adornments and change the colors of them, though? Perfection. I always thought Lightning was stylish, but now she's a bona fide fashion model.
I always wondered if people like Lightning more if she were a man. I love seeing strong, no-nonsense women take the lead in video games. Lightning is all of that and more. I'm bummed that we won't be seeing any more of her. Now that FFXV is going to be Square's next big thing, I'm anxious to see how the leading character compares to Lightning.
Some final thoughts:
*It was fun seeing the gang from the first XIII in a new light
*Chocobos are still adorable, but Lightning's is the most adorable (I named him Fluffer)
*I cared more about which sword and shield complemented which outfit instead of which was more useful
*The last trophy I'm going to get before unlocking the platinum requires me to re-find 30 head accessories - I'm not looking forward to that
*Fire and Aero magic are highly recommended in magic Schemata; they are perfect for staggering
*My favorite Schemata was Midnight Mauve but the most useful one was Jungle Hunter