begins with a dizzying spin on its pseudo-familiar narrative, but it's the slower, more methodical pace of its story that really establishes it as a must-play RPG. The second installment in the trilogy that began with has the same quality and polish that permeated its predecessor, and the decision to pay greater attention to its cast pays off at nearly every turn. For Square Enix, it's another mark of excellence for a franchise that has seen no shortage of Game of the Year contenders in recent years; for the trilogy of games following Cloud, it's reassurance that the segmented release schedule is the right call.