"Who will change the future, change the past." - Uh ... what?

After I had FF13 shunned long, because I had heard so many bad things about this game, I made logically to its sequel a wide berth. Not least because it's a sequel, which also vorraussetzt that you have played the predecessors. That reminds me FF13 ultimately but liked pretty well, I finally wanted to see how the continuation to play and, yes, this game has given me some very enjoyable hours of play.

Well, what happens is that Pulse and Cocoon device again in evil difficulties? Well, a friend of Caius Ballad, the reborn seer July, passed away again. The eternal wasting away Juls no longer enduring it will put an end to this nonsense by Caius wants to destroy time itself. Lightning, heroine of its predecessor, to her new adversary opposes brave, stupid only that Caius is far too powerful.
Determined to put Caius the craft brings Lightning boys Noel Kreiss to help - a hunter of living 700 years in the future and the last living man after Cocoon and Pulse collided. By placing Serah Lights sister to bring her, he travels to the year 3 AF.
There Serah has built a new life in Neo Bodhum although Lightning has disappeared and her fiance's wedding has summarily blown to find his sister-in-law. If that were not enough problems, Caius has enough tampered with the timeline that now timelines merge together and paradoxes arise. Together, make Serah and Noel, to meet Lightning in Valhalla and to eliminate the paradox to make the regular timeline again.

Serah and Noel are the only characters, over which we have control, more party members there are in theory not. The main characters from the previous play a really small role, apart from Hope. In fact, even some interesting things to be cut, but are themselves never pursued and clarified in the game. For example, Snow is again a L'Cie, established is the "To be strong enough to find Lightning" with a sloppy and that's it. After the brief meeting with Snow This entire story arc is simply dropped. Snow occurs after not even again. Also we do not see Sazh before the end of the game and Vanille and Fang are mentioned. Anyone who has played the predecessors know why they did not personally appear.
Other figures come a little short, especially Alyssa, the drops one short twist towards the end of the game and will be completed with an excuse / justification on their part.
Great twists it seems to 13-2 do not give to how the events in chapter 9 of its predecessor.
For me were Serah and Noel quite sympathetic. Especially Noel I found quite refreshing, as it is not the typical "hero Hotheaded with loose tongue" is. Only Mog is a little peculiar, but what can you expect from annoying mascot even more? But compared to the shrill Chocolina he is harmless.

Another point is the live dialogues. At given points in the game Serah or Noel can choose what they want to say. This has no influence on the course of action and if the correct dialogue option is selected, you can even einheimsen a reward. Here, even dialogue options that Serah Show, as if she had her head in the clouds. Some of these ... er ... dropouts are screamingly funny.
Even monsters can be recruited. Most monsters except C'ieth and bosses have a chance that they can "win" in the struggle. Each monster has its own this class that can not be changed. A maximum of three monsters can be taken into the active team and are used in the different paradigms in order to get a three-member party.

As in the previous Figures are revalued by Crystal points are used in Crystarium. This was overhauled for 13-2 and now offers a much finer development system for Serah and Noel in. Was it in the predecessor so that the individual arias Krist values ​​increased by a fixed component, we can do here and let what we want.
First of all, the Krist arias are divided into stages. Each level has a set number of small and large knots. By being invested in a single role KP, a node is activated, thereby increasing the attributes of the character. Mostly only the HP are angehöht.
Large hubs are particularly important because they awarded a bonus when disconnecting, depending on the class that receives this node. Gets the breakers roll the big knot, there is an attack bonus, Ravager get a bonus magician, healer and defender a HP bonus and Augmentur and manipulator awarded bonuses depending on which level they reach.
Sounds complicated? Is not it because Noel and Serah get slipped certain bonuses even with small knots. Basically Noel gets more physical attack power and HP, Serah has for a magical attack value of almost explodes at the end. Those who wish to turn the rollers must have a clue how the Crystarium can be manipulated to make for a better magician Noel and Serah tease out from a lot of TP and attack power.
Monster can also be aufstufen, but they do not do that by collecting KP, no, Monster Krist arias must be extended by item. these items can be won in battles or buy at Chocolina. Depending on type and stage monster other items can be used, while each item has its merits. Astral drops increase all attributes, whereas fat droplets increase the TP. That is, for each level in order that the monster all attributes increases increases, only the item grants retrospectively a bonus one. Logically, defender monsters pleased more about HP and crusher more about Physical Attack Strength.
Also is important to note, when each monster "mature" is. A precocious monster has normally only a Kristariumsebene, a late mature monsters can be brought up to the fifth level.
Is a Kristariumsstufe full, the next will be activated and we must choose a little bonus, to get the figures. For Serah and Noel new sections in the ATB gauge can be purchased, new roles unlocked, existing roles are revalued and, last but not least, the capacity for accessories can be increased. For Monster there are, however, only ATB gauge and roller bonuses.

The accessory capacity determines how many accessories are allowed to create the figures. Noel and Serah start both with 50 points and every accessory has a fixed value. Particularly good accessories have a high capacitance value and can of course only be created if sufficient capacity is there. Is the item equipped, the capacity of the figure to the value of the item is decreased. So to say, we equip an item with a value of 45, the capacitance reduces by that amount. If the item is stored, you get the points back.
In Chocolina can also be weaker versions buy, "eat" the less capacity, but are also less effective. Conversely, this is also true for upgraded items.

Also running Monster no longer open to the upper world around, they just popping in. Random fights per se are not, because once the Monster auftachen, Noel and Serah have plenty of time to turn tail and give the opponents one on the head, to start the actual fight. Most monsters remain after their appearance are short, others are aggressive from the start. With the appearance of monsters, a clock appears which slowly runs to zero. Can we not escape in time, we have to fight the enemies and may not even start the fight again.
In itself not a bad system to which I have become accustomed quickly. Only in Akademia 400 AF not. This section is flooded by monsters and you can not escape, because they come from all directions. But that is the only time at which the system is cumbersome.

The season is also shorter than in the predecessor. I have sat at FF13 50 hours, before I saw the guy, it was 13-2 at just under 35 hours. But only because I squandered time in-game casino. Would that not have been, I would have the game well in loose 25 - completed 30 hours.
If that's not enough can collect fragments. These are items that can be obtained by completing side quests and provide background information. But who wants to have all 160 artifacts will be quite busy. In addition to simple missions there are thankless tasks such as completing all cards in the game and complete the Bestiary.
Fragments can unlock small skills as slowly glide after jumping to the ground to jump so on can (useful in the final dungeon which is a platforming insert). Not to mention that each fragment a KP bonus awards, which is very respectable.
After passing games can be unlocked even Paradox ends. These are, as the name suggests, alternate endings and can only anch completion of the main game will be unlocked.

One more thing, the game nothing can be lost forever. Have you chosen a wrong dialogue trigger and get no bonus, because you can undo area to zero in order to experience the storyline again allowed using artifacts. Already selected trigger dialog are grayed out to show you, which can be chosen.
Also, certain bosses connected to Achievements. Who graduated from the fights with a 5-star ranking gets a success, also have climatic bosses at end of combat action sequences, a little reminiscent of the RE4. On the screen, a button input is given that you should press it. Can you manage to press all the buttons, there is a bonus. , Is used to happiness, but only very rarely.
Who has a lot of time, may squander his hard earned Gil at slot machines in the casino and bet on chocobo race to win prizes. The slot machines are heavily dependent on luck - one and only to have a file of FF13 improves the odds. Chocoborennen I have, however, never tried.

What I also found a bit of a shame, although you can go to old places now at any time, but many areas are merhfach represented in the game. Right off the bat I can think of three zones where Oerba and Brescha ruins can be visited. These differ only minimally from each other and having their own places that are allowed to enter her, others are locked by barricades. But all with their own monsters and missions, anyway ...

Also FF13-2 DLC offers. That reminds me the game I almost liked the Sazh- and Lightning DLC ​​concerned. A few words about this:
The Sazh DLC offers two new games of chance, which are much easier than the available in the game - poker and "Chronobind". Especially the latter is very simple and can improve your poker chips in no time. However, this is only of interest to completists who want to have all the artifacts and have no luck at the races or slots.
The Lightning DLC ​​lets Light up against two bosses. Both fights complete with a 5-star rating they unlock a monster - and it is a Gamebreaker. I used it only for playing back and she has turned the last bosses in figures of fun.
Also bonus bosses offered that may be challenged in the arena. As befits bonus bosses they are very strong and can even be recruited with a certain chance, if you're lucky, and if you win the fight. Included are also bonus weapons and costumes. Nothing earth-shattering so.

Conclusion
As I said, I liked the game. The story is confused because the time travel banter and some story elements are not resolved. This has been but probably reserved for a continuation, because the game ends with a nasty cliffhanger. For me, the figures were quite personable and interested in how the game plays out well. Although FF13-2 like his shortcomings in storytelling have (open Plotstränge, confused time travel) and recycled places, but I had certainly had my enjoyment of the game. Who liked the predecessor, so it can access like. All others should consider it to borrow and then to see if you like the game or not.