FFXIII-2 - Noel is the star, hybrid soundtrack, more

Want more Final Fantasy XIII-2 information? Sure you do!

Culling from Dengeki, Andriasang reports new character Noel will be the primary protagonist of FFXIII-2.

Director Motomu Toriyama said Noel will be the game's frontline fighter, with companion [FFXIII-ending-spoiler-name-redacted] taking a backseat support role.

Noel is said to a be a cool character, the equivalent of FFXIII's Lightning. He's a monster hunter from Gran Pulse.

FFXIII composer Masashi Hamauzu has returned for the sequel, and aims to keep the feel of the first title, while new composers will be brought in to add new material.

Following on from comments that NPCs in towns will have AI, Toriyma revealed townsfolk will shelter from weather. Weather will also have an effect on battle.

The demo from E3 is said to have been spliced together from two separate chapters, with story segments ruthlessly cut. The same section in the full game will tell the story of how the two protagonists meet.

As well as a third monster party member, players will sometimes temporarily recruit extra guest characters.

FFXIII-2 is expected on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in Japan in December, and everywhere else in early 2012.