Final Fantasy XIII

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Created by

NomNom - GreenThumb2 - N12734 - Surihix

Uploaded by

NomNom1712

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About this mod

All the Pre-Rendered Cutscenes are remastered to 4K, whilst integrated with Higher Quality Cutscene Audio Mod. Special thanks to NC Team, GreenThumb2, N12734, and Surihix for their contribution on making this happen, along with streamlining the process of installing this.

Requirements
Permissions and credits
Changelogs
First and foremost, I would like to thank GreenThumb2 who developed his own utilities/tools/mods [alongside N12734 - For better quality cutscene audio] to make this possible. Alongside, giving me the permission to integrate their work into this. Without them, this would not have been possible.



By using AI upscaling software, I have remastered the FMVs [Full Motion Videos] and Pre-Rendered Cutscenes of Final Fantasy XIII. By carefully fragmenting each section of an FMV and Pre-Rendered Cutscenes into sequences, so that each sequence can be upscaled with the best results that can be achieved.

Using GreenThumb2's Cutscene Extraction Tool, I have been able to extract the WMPs. Thanks to the tool, these have been organised nicely, into chapter folders. From there, I was able to start the remastering process.

This is where N12734's mod comes into play. When I have successfully upscaled the cutscenes to 4K and converted to Bink, I have mixed the audio tracks from his mod into this upscales. This was easy to do as they were clearly labelled with their filename and their track number.

Starting from v2.2, all English FMVs will support 60 FPS playback, along with Japanese FMVs (for the first time).


To keep up to date with all the releases, announcements and get support, join my new Discord Server: Discord Invite Link


Installing using Nova Chrysalia
First off, download and extract Nova Chrysalia from the link provided below. Preferably, to extract the files within a folder, on your desktop.
Nova Chrysalia Page - Hidden, join their server to download NC.

Fabula Nova Chrysallis Server

Next, download any v2.0 of the FMVs/Pre-Rendered Cutscenes of your choosing. Extract the modpack (with the file extension of .ncmp) anywhere. Again, it is preferable to extract these into a folder on your desktop.

Launch up Nova Chrysalia Mod Tool. Ensure that you have unpacked the files of FFXIII already (and make sure you have directed the mod tool to the correct FFXIII directory path). To do this, simply hit the Unpack Game Files (EN) or (JP).



After you have done that (use the above screenshot for reference), under the Filesystem on the right, make sure it is changed to Unpacked Mode.

Next up, hit over to ModPack Manager on the second tab.



In this section, you will be able to see all the mods you have added to the Nova Chrysalia tools. You will be able to install, uninstall, read the readme files for any mods that were created and added for Nova Chrysalia.

Let's start off by hitting the Add ModPack button on the right.
Now, a new window will appear, requiring you to add a NCMP (Nova Chrysalia ModPack) to the tool. Direct the window to the file you have extracted not so long ago, then open it.



You will now be able to see the 4K Remastered FMV added into the Nova Chrysalia tool. Double-Click it and click on Install Mod. This may take few minutes depending on how fast your storage is and the amount of files being added/overwritten.


You will be told afterwards, when the FMV have been installed successfully like this. Alongside this, you are good to go and play the game with the FMV installed. You will need to open Nova Chrysalia and launch the game every time to play the game in unpacked mode.

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Installing using 4K Movie Installer [for v2.0+\Packed Files Only]
Using the installer, is very easy and self-explanatory. Majority of the instructions are provided when you open the installer.
<NOTES>
  • You still need to download v2.0 or newer FMVs from either Google Drive or Nexus Mods.
  • You will need approximately up to 20 GB free space for each 4K pack, to allow the installer to unpack the files and install them for you.

  • Download and extract the 4K Movie Installer, made by Surihix. Extract the entire contents of the archive to the desktop or any other preferred location.
  • Download either each or all of the 4K Remastered FMVs and Pre-Rendered Cutscenes from Google Drive or Nexus Mods. Open the archive and extract the NCMPs into the movie_data folder, located in the same directory, containing the 4K Movie Installer contents.
  • Open up “FFXIII4kMovieMod.exe” and follow the instructions provided clearly on the console.
  • After the installation, you may delete the files under movie_data.
==============================================================================================================

Why are the FMVs are so Goddamn BIG?!


Simple, Bink 1 loves to add a lot of compression noise. Plus, 4K contains four times more pixels than 1080p. I had to up the Bitrate else there are very noticeable mild-moderate-slightly severe macro-blocking alongside numbed details within the frames. This game consists of between 2-3 minutes FMVs that contains anywhere between 2000-6000+ frames.

Furthermore, some of the FMVs are detailed and some FMVs becomes more detailed when processed through Topaz VEAI. Who would rather prefer compression noise over detail?

Due to the high bitrate, the playback of these FMVs may STUTTER for the first few seconds. This could also be a side effect of having a slow HDD, that is slowly reading the movie files. When you have installed the FMVs, it is best to run a third-party defragmentation tool like Defraggler, to optimise the playback of the FMVs (if they are fragmented).


Finally, Bink 1 is an ancient codec, that is much more inefficient than Bink 2. What Bink 1 cannot do, Bink 2 can, like providing much more cleaner frames, lower file sizes and such. This game natively uses Bink 2.3d, which I do not have an encoder for.

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Original Mod Pages
FFXIII HD Movie FMVs by GreenThumb2: FF XIII HD Full Motion Video - English at Final Fantasy XIII Nexus - Mods and Community (nexusmods.com)  - Use this if you are playing on 1080p instead of 4K. [Uses FMV Main Program from that mod into this.]
Higher Quality Cutscene Audio by N12734: Higher quality cutscene audio (English) at Final Fantasy XIII Nexus - Mods and Community (nexusmods.com) - Extracted from the PS3 version of FFXIII. [Implements the audio tracks into the this upscales.]



GreenThumb2 - For his Cutscene Extraction tool, to enable me in extracting each cutscene easily and efficiently. For his Main FMV Program, that allows efficient and ease of use installation of cutscenes, also provides a streamlined naming convention that is flexible. And finally, for generally helping me, alongside granting me permission to use his tools and his main FMV program within this mod. Without him, mods for FFXIII would have been impossible. Plus, he's a very friendly guy, who committed his time in helping me understand more about Bink and this game's trilogy internals.
N12734 - For extracting the audio tracks from the PS3 version and porting them over to the PC side. For granting me permission to mix the audio tracks from his mod into the upscales.
Surihix - Created 4K FMVs Installer, for the end user to install the FMVs while the files remain packed.

FluffyQuack - For his ff13tool. I assume this is used for extracting game files directly.
Krisan Thyme [+ the rest of the team] - For the development of Nova Chrysalia!

Please let me know if I have forgotten to credit anyone else or add anything into this.

Reporting Bugs
If you have found any bugs within the FMVs or the installation process, make sure you open a bug report. I will try to have a look at it as soon as possible.

NomNom's Other Remastered Projects
Blair Witch - 4K Remastered Pre-Rendered Cutscenes [Encoded to H264 & HEVC]
Bully: Scholarship Edition - 4K Remastered R* Logo and Opening Cutscene
Fable 3 - 4K 60 FPS Remastered FMV and Pre-Rendered Cutscenes
Hogwarts Legacy - 60 FPS FMVs [Encoded to Bink 2]
FINAL FANTASY XIII - 4K 60 FPS Remastered FMVs and Pre-Rendered Cutscenes [EN | JP]
FINAL FANTASY XIII: LIGHTNING RETURNS - 60 FPS FMVs [EN | JP] [Encoded to Bink 2]
FINAL FANTASY XV - 4K 60 FPS Remastered FMVs and Pre-Rendered Cutscenes [EN | JP] [Encoded to Bink 2]
Left 4 Dead 2 - 4K Remastered Opening Cutscene, Valve Logo, and Main Menu Pre-Rendered Backgrounds
Mafia II: Definitive Edition - 60 FPS FMVs [Encoded to Bink 2]
NieR Replicant - 4K 60 FPS Remastered Pre-Rendered Cutscenes [Encoded to HEVC & AV1]
Poppy Playtime - 4K Remastered Pre-Rendered Cutscenes [Still requires game page to be created.]
RESIDENT EVIL 3: NEMESIS - 4K Remastered CGI Pre-Rendered Cutscenes
RESIDENT EVIL 4: REMAKE - 60 FPS FMVs
Resident Evil 5 - QHD Upscaled Pre-Rendered Cutscenes
Resident Evil 6 - QHD Upscaled FMVs and Pre-Rendered Cutscenes
Skyrim Special Edition - 8K Remastered Bethesda Logo [Encoded to Bink 2]
Silent Hill Homecoming - 4K Upscaled Pre-Rendered Cutscenes
Starfield - 8K 60 FPS Remastered FMVs [Encoded to Bink 2.8]
The Evil Within - 4K Remastered Pre-Rendered Cutscenes
The Evil Within 2 - 4K 60 FPS Remastered Pre-Rendered Cutscenes [Encoded to Bink 2]
Tomb Raider Anniversary - 4K Remastered Pre-Rendered Cutscene
Tomb Raider Legend - 4K Remastered Pre-Rendered Cutscene
Tomb Raider Underworld - 4K Remastered Pre-Rendered Cutscenes