FFXIII and Versus - New Trailers

[Lenny]

They seem to have the original trailers from a few years back at their cores, with extra scenes in each. They're still bloody good though, even if you have seen most of each already.

Final Fantasy XIII
http://ps3.psu.com/Final-Fantasy-XIII-Extended-Cloud-Trailer--vid16668.php

Final Fantasy Versus XIII
http://ps3.psu.com/Final-Fantasy-Versus-XIII-Extended-Cloud-Trailer--vid16667.php

[WetWired]

So are these going to be more action-RPGs than previous games? The bit in the first one where it showed combat with the overlay doesn't seem to show them selecting moves

[Lenny]

Versus is going to be a lot darker than usual Final Fantasies, with a battle system more like Kingdom Hearts with a dash of Dirge of Cerberus.

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FFXIII has still got a command driven battle system:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/48/ATB_System.jpg

I've made a post elsewhere about the battle system, so I'll quote:

Right, I'll explain the battle system next. The battle system director is one you'll probably love without knowing it - Toshiro Tsuchida, the battle system director of FFX. The aim of the battle system crew, and their director, is to create a system that mirrors battles in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, and placing them in a playable environment. The basic concept of the FFXIII battle system is a strategic, command-input, menu-driven, real-time, fast-paced, ATB-esque battle system (parties still feature, by the way). Try saying that drunk. Commands are selected from a reel at the bottom left of the screen, each one with an ATB cost. A bar at the bottom of the screen is depleted with each command, but slowly fills up again. Unlike past Final Fantasy's, you can input commands as the bar is still filling. Selected commands are placed on a row of upcoming commands above the ATB bar, with current ones in yellow. Commands can be chained together for certain effects, and the environment also plays a part – the E3 2006 trailer, for example, shows a man propelled into a light, smashing it, and electrocuting himself for extra damage.

In the top right-hand corner, is a small circular shaped gauge, which represents Overclock mode – a mode that will probably replace the traditional Limit Break. When the gauge is full, you can induce a slow-motion type effect, effectively pausing time for everything/one but the player. The gauge quickly depletes, however, so you've only got a limited amount of time in which to kick some ass.

In the upper left-hand corner of the screen is a map populated by a blue dot in the middle (Lightning) and surrounded by red dots. It is assumed that the red dots are those who are affected by the fighting. Indeed, if you look at the picture linked above, you can see that there is a circled red dot next to the circled blue dot, which I assume is the enemy that Lightning is attacking.

Summons make a welcome return, with the Shiva sisters having been seen in all trailers. It is believed that all summons will be seen in their true form, and in their transformed form, which may be vehicles, or objects that the player can use.