New FFXIII Details Announced
One new character and more inside.
07.16.09 - 5:08 PM

Square Enix has released some new information regarding its highly anticipated PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 RPG Final Fantasy XIII. The newest and fifth playable character is a blond boy named Hope Estheim. His weapon of choice is a boomerang. Hope despises Snow, whom he blames for his mother's death. He still has a very childish and fragile side to him.

We also learned that Vanille uses a fishing rod as weapon. The hook attached to the rod's wire serves as the primary damage dealer in this curious setup. Today's update also introduced a new enemy known as Cie Corpse. This creature is the final form of Lucie that failed to accomplish the mission it had been tasked with. Apparently, even playable characters like Snow can turn into Cie Corpses.

Final Fantasy XIII will be available for PlayStation 3 in Japan later this year. The American and European multiplatform releases will follow in early 2010.

• Geemu Jouhou! Geemu no Hanashi