While theres no doubt in anyones minds that Lightnings last two outings - Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIII-2 - were beautiful pieces of game design with stunning environments, barring a few exceptions such as Archylte Steppe and XIII-2s Dying World they were often quite linear. Lightning Returns is set to change all that. The game follows the events of XIII and XIII-2 and stars the titular hero, fighting desperately to save a dying world from ultimate destruction. Square Enix is calling the game world driven. The expansive environment drives the gameplay, with the world constantly changing and evolving over time and affecting players progress as it does. Theres a wealth of villages, non-player characters and side missions spread across the game world - enough that no two play-throughs are likely to be the same. Theres also a sense that everything in the game serves a purpose. Stores have specific functions now, so rather that just stocking up on Chocolina as you might have done in XIII-2, you might go to the Outfitters to pick up one of numerous outfits for Lightning, or to the Forge to get new equipment such as swords and shields. Lightning has a number of moves to use to save the world, including the power to pause time using the Chronostasis. Whats more, her moves will develop and change based on the choices you make when buying equipment and outfits. Lightning Returns is a real evolution of Final Fantasy XIII, expanding and growing its rich world.