Was Final Fantasy XIII too linear for you? Square Enix has heard the complaints, and answers them with a mechanic that's about as non-linear as they come: Time travel. How does it work? Director Motomu Toriyama has the answers.

At the heart of Final Fantasy XIII-2's story and gameplay progression is the Historia Crux, a mechanic that allows players to travel back and forth through time, experiencing events in the future or redoing choices they've made in the past. Game director Motomu Toriyama likens it to a webpage filled with links the player can pick and choose as they please. Players yearning for more depth can plumb the darkest reaches of the system, unlocking hidden endings, priceless treasures, and hours of play time.

It sounds complicated, but Toriyama says it's had some likening the new game to Chrono Trigger, which is a horrible thing to say to fans that have been waiting for a new sequel to that classic for years. You don't get to say that name unless you've got more on the way!

Flip through the gallery for a look at the Q&A session Square Enix provided with Toriyama in the hopes of explaining the new system. It doesn't help much, but the pictures are pretty.