Final Fantasy XIII-2 - Page 6

(I'd say the gamespot score of FF13 getting an 8.5 is right. Basically the problem was it gets really grindy in end [farming turtles anyone?] + the monster encounters near the end are really tedious. Also it could use a bit more customization. Finally Vanille's Eidolon doesn't have Curaga for some reason despite all the others having it. Also Eidolons are really impractical [most of the time you're using it just for farming turtles or the poison trick. Other than that, it's probably faster just to battle without Eidolons since you'll deal more damage usually and you'd save TP.)

As for the whole game being linear (with no towns or NPCs) and basically being a tunnel simulator for most of the game - that's an understandable negative too.

It's stated (I think it's from her narration during scene with her and Serah? Forgot exactly) she'd rather turn to a Cie'th than destroy Cocoon (her focus). So basically don't do anything and wait for the end.

It makes sense to me - in universe the options seemed hopeless [two options - kill or "get killed"], she tried choosing the latter but in the end they all took some third option and managed to save Cocoon and complete their Focus.

It started with her narration. She seemed sad overall) + her scenes with her crying, + <insert more sad scenes featuring Vanille>. Made me want to hug her <3. (Yes I know some may feel the opposite )

1. Like I mentioned earlier - She's chooses to become a Cie'th rather than destroy cocoon. *In universe, it makes sense because the options seem hopeless [kill or "be killed".]

*I say in universe because we know how every Final Fantasy (or in general most games where you play a good guy) end - you save the world somehow despite all the odds. The characters do not know this however[Well at least Vanille didn't know.]

So her whole seeming childish thing or wanting to run away is justified IMO - She doesn't really think everything is all "sugar and rainbows" but she knows the reality of the situation [grim, seemingly hopeless, etc].

Additionally she doesn't really want to bring others into her despair (for example - She lied to Fang and said she was the one who became Ragnarok and destroyed/killed all those people. She had good and thoughtful intentions IMO.)

An important thing to note is that Fang had a white brand which meant she couldn't turn into a Cie'th (Fang and Vanille knows this. Fang mentioned it to Lightning the first time they met.)

So it's not like Vanille didn't care about Fang either, she knew Fang would be all right even if they didn't complete their Focus (Destroy Cocoon).

She also knew Fang would be willing to do anything to save her (Fang says this exactly) which is why she lied to her (lied about forgotten their Focus. Fang forgot but Vanille remembered their Focus was to destroy Cocoon).

So since (this is the summary/condensed version):
a. Vanille doesn't want to destroy Cocoon (she doesn't want to harm anyone)
b. She feels there are only two options - wait to become a Cie'th or destroy Cocoon. She doesn't want to hurt anyone, so she picks the latter. Again in universe it makes sense [they don't know they'll end up saving the world and saving themselves at the same time, so yeah.]
c. She knows Fang will be alright even if they don't complete their Focus. Fang can't become a Cie'th.

So taking into the account of the above - Vanille hides her despair with her cheerfulness and waits to become a Cie'th (rather than destroy Cocoon).

2. Additionally she is shown to be kind and thoughtful (her hugging Hope when Hope lost her mother, her reassuring Snow about Serah really wanting to save Cocoon, etc).

She also isn't one to actually run away. She blames herself and is ready to face punishment for it "despite" it not actually being her fault at all.

She had a good intention but her actions (or her just being passive and waiting for the end) is what caused the events of FF13.

[Long background stuff about FF13's world and story and stuff]

They live in a crappy world where they're slaves to the fal'Cie [them being able to brand anyone a l'Cie any time to do their bidding (if they don't, someone else gets it and the person gets turn into a Cie'th. If they do they have to kill others[Pulse fal'Cie Focus] then may be called to do "another" Focus later on.] so it's really a lose-lose situation.

Vanille doesn't know that if she doesn't complete her Focus, someone else will be branded to do it instead.

So Serah ends up being branded a "Pulse l'cie" to replace her.

There are two types of l'Cie - Pulse and Sanctum l'cie. The former is bad (because Gran Pulse is viewed as bad by Cocoon) but the latter is less bad since it's origin of Cocoon rather than Gran Pulse. Cocoon inhabitants generally hunt down Pulse l'cie but not Sanctum l'cie.

In either case, even if they complete their Focus (turn to Crystal), they can be turned back into non crystal form and be given a new Focus (what happened to Vanille and Fang).

Dajh became a Sanctum l'cie which is different he was branded due to Fang attempting to attack a Cocoon fal'Cie. Dajh wandered by alone [Sazh wasn't paying attention >.>] and the fal'Cie branded Dajh a Sanctum l'cie with the ability to detect Pulse l'cie [All the other characters were branded "Pulse l'cie])

[//////End Long background stuff]

So anyway it wasn't really her fault any of this really happen (it all comes back to they live in a crappy world) but her intentions overall were noble and selfless.

(Before anyone says they now view Vanille as a Purity Sue [variant of a Mary Sue] - take note everyone acts the opposite towards her in game (Everyone is kind of "harsh" with Vanille in story [sadly IRL too >.<] which doesn't fit with the TVT definition of Purity Sue).

(This isn't explained in game) but Snow and Serah met in University. I guess Snow wowed Serah with well maybe his theme music or something (okay probably with him being a nice guy overall and maybe funny . It isn't really explained how but Serah fell for Snow).

Anyway there were a few flashbacks showing Snow and Serah. The most prominent one is probably when Serah reveals she's a l'Cie to Snow. Snow believes her and comforts her (well after Serah ran away and Snow found her that is).

Lightning (Serah's sister) however did not believe Serah and thought she was making it up as an excuse for Snow and Serah to be together (Lightning didn't approve). Snow did however believe Serah and he always remained with her.

The reason Lightning did not believe her was that a "Pulse l'Cie" has never existed for centuries on Cocoon (Serah was the first one branded and caused the ruckus in Cocoon with the purge to Gran Pulse, etc).

(So overall Snow was the only one who believed and comforted Serah [well before the news reports made it obvious she really was a l'Cie later on to Lightning])

As for why did Serah become a l'Cie? This was due to Vanille and Fang being reawakened (they were brought by someone and hidden somewhere in Cocoon) to complete their Focus. When Vanille refused to destroy Cocoon/complete her Focus, one of the fal'Cie (Anima I think) branded Serah (who happened to close enough) so Serah could do it instead.

Finally as for Serah turning into a Crystal early in the game, it's revealed that l'Cie can change their Focus (though it takes a strong will + hope or <insert power of friendship and love speech here>).