Truth be told, we’d never planned writing a Performance Analysis for any of the Final Fantasy games that were recently released on Steam. However, after all the performance issues surrounding Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII-2, we decided to give Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII a spin.
As always, we used an Intel i7 4930K (turbo boosted at 4.0Ghz) with 8GB RAM, NVIDIA’s GTX690, Windows 8.1 64-bit and the latest WHQL version of the GeForce drivers. NVIDIA has not included any SLI profile for this title, however we are pretty sure that most of you won’t need one as the game does not require a high-end GPU in order to be enjoyed.
In order to find out how this game performed on older CPUs, we simulated a dual-core CPU. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII can be almost fully enjoyed with a modern-day dual-core Intel CPU. While most of the scenes run with constant 60fps at 1080p and with max settings on our simulated dual-core system, there were some noticeable stutters (especially when the game was loading new areas).
We’ve also experienced stuttering – to a lesser degree however – with our hexa-core, meaning that this game will benefit from an SSD, so make sure to install it in your solid-state drive (in case you own one).
Regarding its GPU requirements, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII ran like a dream on our GTX690 (that performed like a GTX680 since there is no SLI profile for this game as of yet), and the game did not stress it at all (GPU usage was around 40-50%). This means that the game will run with 60fps on a lot of PC configurations. AMD users have not reported any performance issues, so it’s almost safe to say that this third part of the Final Fantasy XIII series runs great on the PC.
Unfortunately, the game suffers from some porting issues. Mouse is not supported, something that really disappointed us. Proper mouse mechanics would be ideal in such a title, so let’s hope that Square Enix will release a patch to address this issue. Not only that, but the game supports only specific resolutions, and then there is the following screenshot that asks players to not turn off their… Playstation 3 while the game saves. Really Square Enix now? Really?
For what is worth, we really liked the new options that Square Enix implemented. There is a menu bar at the top of the game, via which you can adjust/tweak the game’s graphics options. PC gamers can tweak Scale Display Area, Colour Correction, Glares, Depth of Field, Shadowing, Lighting, Texture Filtering and Framerate (Dynamic=60fps and Fixed=30fps).
Graphics wise, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is not a really impressive title. There are a lot of low-res textures and it’s a shame Square Enix did not include a HD pack in this new version. Higher quality textures with slightly better meshes would greatly benefit this game. As it is, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII looks okay and most gamers will appreciate the fact that the game finally runs at 60fps, however if we exclude the nostalgia factor, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII does not look that sexy graphically.
All in all, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is an okay console port. The game shows proper on-screen indicators which is great for keyboard fans but then again, who would play it via keyboard without mouse support? The game runs great on the PC, and a lot of players will be able to enjoy it at 60fps. Let’s hope that Square Enix will release a patch to add more resolutions, implement proper mouse support, and improve the game’s stutter issues.
Enjoy!
John is the founder and Editor in Chief at DSOGaming. He is a PC gaming fan and highly supports the modding and indie communities. Before creating DSOGaming, John worked on numerous gaming websites. While he is a die-hard PC gamer, his gaming roots can be found on consoles. John loved – and still does – the 16-bit consoles, and considers SNES to be one of the best consoles. Still, the PC platform won him over consoles. That was mainly due to 3DFX and its iconic dedicated 3D accelerator graphics card, Voodoo 2. John has also written a higher degree thesis on the “The Evolution of PC graphics cards.”
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By using a hex editor I was able to achieve 2, 4 and 8K resolutions; not just the internal resolutions but also the ones for the window. This means the game will look like this: http://i.imgur.com/zoEjWTj.jpg
that uber pixelated GUI doe.
I guess we should be happy it stays at 60 fps on a 680 GPU and does not have awkward 34fps dips like X2 does…
I wish I was getting 34fps in some parts in XIII-2. Seriously, down to like 12fps for extended periods sometimes.
Yeah that’s due to the poor frame pacing that is used in the game. And I don’t think it matters what GPU you have you will never have a stable frame rate in X2.
I think one user came up with something that was supposed to strip out the frame pacer from FFXIII-2. But it didn’t work for me in the slightest 🙁
Using .jpg to illustrate graphics quality ;D
Well even if it were a PNG or FLIF, imgur compresses all image files over 5MB with Lossy compression.
Yep!
I wasn’t showing off the graphics, I was posting proof of being able to run it above full HD. I thought that that was clear.
People are saying that game requires you to be online on Steam while you’re playing, otherwise it simply won’t launch.
Just Like GTA V DRM
yeah and DAI, not really the same drm but they are just acting the same, sort of.
F’ them, why ? why a single player only game needs such a s**ty drm ?
Maybe they were not happy with the sales of the previous FF XIII titles on Steam, and decided that they could sell more if they’ll include always online DRM. After all, it’s not like these games have sheetty PC ports, no sir, it’s all pirates.
:)) it reminded me of MGSV TPP, it sold almost the same number as that overpriced demo “MGS: GZ” but unlike that demo it has denuvo on it so no one can pirate it. looks like these DRMs wont really help them to sell more but they sure love them. funny thing is most of these games with these types of drms are just crappy games or they are just broken.
That’s been changed–FFXIII:LR now runs offline!
No mouse support = No buy
please make a separate article for GOTY choices. also thanks for including games like Soma and Legacy of the Void in the voting. i know they won’t win but just having them is enough.
Great review guys. I am getting this game Saturday when I have time to play it. I was really worried about performance because of the issues I had with XIII and X2 on PC dealing with the games frame pacing. So I am happy they have fixed that aspect from my understanding.
they are always promoting playstation platform on another platform. what a good advertisement strategy 🙂
no mouse support? lolo
Who plays FF with a mouse?
i play every game with a kbm on my pc so yea. its also the MAIN input on pc, cant even remember another game that did this, let alone from an AAA company
http://store.steampowered.com/app/397820/?snr=1_7_7_comingsoon_150_3
let’s sing 2016 coming to pc !
Sweet my daughter will love that.
Well here is my take on it after playing for a day of testing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewlgH1Ah004&feature=youtu.be
I don’t know why people say that this series Final Fantasy XIII, is so ugly, bad port, graphics is not good, no mouse support. THOSE PREVIOUS SERIES GAMES WHERE PLAY STATION EXCLUSIVES till XIII when XBOX360 was also in the mix. THESE GAMES WHERE ON LAST GEN X360 AND PS3, what do you excpect Final Fantasy XV Quality?!?!? These are only PORT’S not REMAKE, REWORK, REBOOT’S, and mouse problem, those games ALL of them where to be played with CONTROLLER (PS1,PS2,PS3 AND X360). i have an XBOX360 gamepad i play every game since 2008 with gamepad, FPS too, and since then i’m pretty good with a gamepad. At least WE HAVE THESE GAMES ON PC. And by the way Nov 21, 2013 XBOX360/PS3 JAPAN release date. So what? Don’t expect CRYSIS 4. BUT…… Square Enix could’ve released with some HD Texture PACK’s…. we are in 2016 almost and you know NEXT GEN, at least texture pack, and some mouse support for PC PLAYERS only. anyway SQUARE bring XV and VII REMAKE to PC!