Final Fantasy XII (PS2) - Reviews

(4.2)

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23.5.2007

Let me start with some small history. My first Final Fantasy (FF) was FFVII. I then played them in this order: FFVIII, FFIX, FFVI, FFX, FF Tactics Advance, FFX-2, FF Crystal Chronicles, FFV, and FFIV. So I'm very experienced with Final Fantasy. I know A LOT about this series, I know most of the developer names at SQUARE ENIX off by heart and also all the games they have worked on. I'm not bragging; I'm just building a foundation so you can hopefully respect and understand my review more.This game has already caused a split in the FF fan base and for the following reasons:- There is a lack of plot development compared to Final Fantasy X (FFX).- There are less in-game cut-scenes compared to FFX.-In-game cinematics happen after 2 - 3 hours play rather then after every 10 - 30 minutes of play like FFX.- There is less voice acting (obviously, since there are less cinematics)- There is around 30 minutes of FMV though FFX had around 50 minutes.- The battle system does away with random battles and is much more intense then past games in the series.- The difficulty curve is higher then most of the past games in the series.These views are valid but when weighed against what FFXII has achieved in terms of innovation, freedom and game design they only become minor flaws. People who complain about the above and say the entire game is bad because of it are people who have completely lost sight of what FF is. When FF first started there was hardly any story. Story only became a REALLY big factor from Final Fantasy VI onward. The creator of FF, Hironobu Sakaguchi, stated in the FFX Bonus DVD that FF was about challenging himself with each new installment and doing something new. FFXII represents one of the biggest leaps in terms of this because of the revolutionary battle system it has and unique story presentation.The Final Fantasy XII team (SQUARE ENIX Product Development Division 4) saw how linear and story driven FFX was and decided to go in the opposite direction and make an FF that was primarily about gameplay and freedom for the player. They didn't get rid of the story completely, of course, but they chose NOT to make it the FOCUS of this installment. There is so much to do in FFXII. It has over 100 hours of gameplay and most of this time is ACTUAL GAMEPLAY. Not watching 20 min long in-game cinematics every half an hour like in FFX. FFXII throws you at a dungeon that you will travel through with FULL gameplay and NO cut-scenes for 2-3 hours then AFTER you complete it you get the 20 min long cut-scene. This method makes the cinematics stand out more and feel more rewarding.The graphics of Final Fantasy XII are some of the best you will ever see on the PlayStation 2. SQUARE ENIX are well known as a games company that doesn't play when it comes to graphics. Final Fantasy XII has probably some of the best Art Direction you will see in any PS2 game. Every area you go to is very intricately detailed. In fact, areas are so detailed there are chances you will not even notice them. The Character Designs by Akihiko Yoshida are very detailed and you'll be amazed at how the in-game models look. The movement and facial animations of the in-game character models are so good that they look more "real" then the FMV models. How SQUARE ENIX managed to do this is beyond me.As I said before, they have introduced a new battle system that is a revolution to the RPG genre. The battle system is still turn-based but you now fight enemies on the exploration field. I often describe the new system like Zelda but turn-based and with numbers. I love how there is so much gameplay in this game as it really let's you flex out the battle system. After all, when you are given something new you can't wait to use it as much as possible right? The Battle System is hard to explain but once you first try it out you will quickly catch on. I admit that even I was skeptical about it at first but once you get into it you realize you're playing one the greatest revolutions in Turn-Based RPG history.The story of this game is deep and but NOT spoon fed to the player. You will of course be given the main gist of the story, but you will have to go out of your way to find the connections between the main characters; their hidden agendas and true motives are not given to you directly. The same can be said about the enemies; a clever player who reads between the lines will even begin to question if the main antagonist is even really "bad" in the literal sense of the word. If you like to find out the truth about a story yourself, you will find FFXII a break from the norm and very rewarding. In past FF games we were told everything while playing and we would then just think about them. In FFXII you never told everything but are left thinking about what could be. I love this as there is never a time when you know the complete story, it is hidden from you; you are often left in the dark and the imagination of you controls what the story is leading to. Unfortunately most FF fans like to be spoon fed so they complain that FFXII has a lack of story. I can honestly highly praise FFXII for being the first FF that encourages the player to read between the lines and discover the truth for themselves.To sum up, I'd say FFXII is like a book with characters and a setting but loads of pages that are missing text. But it also includes a pen and that pen is the imagination of the player. You must use this pen to fill in the missing text according to what you believe is happening. Once you finish FFXII, it leads to very interesting conversations and debates about the story with other players who have played the game. Why did this event happen? Is it because of what this character said in this scene? Why did this character say that anyway? It is not often FF fans are put in the position to think out a story for themselves and many fans don't like FFXII for this reason.Not only does FFXII revolutionize the turn-based RPG genre, it also revolutionizes the way stories are portrayed in games. We are no longer only observers but now have the ability to control what we believe takes place in a story. This innovative point though is one most FF fans who are accustomed to being spoon fed just don't get. This FF really challenges the player to draw up their own conclusions on the story.Ignore the people that don't like this game. Go in expecting change to the FF norm, both in gameplay and in the delivery of story. Also, watch characters words and actions carefully as they WILL reveal things that are not presented to you directly via the story. Play this game but listen to and observe characters carefully and read between the lines as you will discover things not presented to you directly.FFXII is a Diamond but unfortunately there are FF fans out there that think it is a Rock. Don't let yourself become one of them.

28.10.2008

When I first got this game, it bored me rigid. Two years later I bothered to read the manual and play it properly, and since then I've been pretty much unable to turn it off.When you first play Final Fantasy XII, you might be struck by a complicated system that means you can't use a weapon until you've a) bought it and b)unlocked a licence for it, and a frequent interchanging of characters - who is the actual protagonist here? What's the focus of the story?Also, since you have the option of automatically programming your characters' commands, doesn't the game kind of play itself?However, if you give this game a chance, it turns out to be one of the most fun and flexible role-playing games ever,and here are 10 reasons why:1) It's entirely customisableThere are six characters in the game, and although each starts off with their own weapon or background, it's entirely your choice who does what. So, you could make the slender, thinly-veiled-Playboy-bunny character Fran into an axe-wielding barbarian, or make the suave, gun-slinging sky pirate Balthier into a master sorcerer. Every weapon, piece of armour or accessory is unlockable for every character, so it's up to you what your team does and which character takes part.2) It frequently challenges your strategyThe controversial (and optional) gambit system is where you collect commands during the course of the game (for example: If ALLY status = Poison - Use Antidote), and assign them to your characters, so they perform them automatically. You can order them by priority too, so for instance casting a phoenix down on a fallen ally can take precedence over casting blind on an enemy, and so on. The enemies and bosses you encounter are so varied in their attacks and weaknesses that you are constantly forced to reassess which gambits should be used and in which order, and by which character.3) The story doesn't talk down to its audienceIn all fairness, it took me a few playthroughs to understand what was happening in some parts, but that could be because I personally have a very feeble grasp of politics. The main point of note is that there is no forced or blatant romance - the characters certainly have an affinity with each other, but anything romantic presumably takes place off-screen, if at all. Are street urchins Vaan and Penelo together, or are they more like brother and sister? Do Fran and Balthier the sky pirates have an "agreement", or is Balthier having a secret affair with Princess Ashe? The story and characters are much more underplayed in this installment.4) The game actually rewards you for sneaking aheadWhen your character is first unleashed into the open world, if you run past the tougher enemies and visit places the story hasn't taken you to yet, you can get hold of very advanced weapons that will help you in spades. With these advanced weapons you can then take down more advanced monsters (bar the occasional flattening), and be rewarded with yet more advanced weapons ahead of time. This is by no means easy, but it happens often enough for it to be worth your while.5) The expressions look much more realisticBy now this is behind the times, but in comparison to Final Fantasy X and many other Playstation 2 games, the facial expressions of XII's characters are extremely lifelike - they are subtle and underplayed, much like the characters themselves, conveying more with less.6) Clan CenturioThe main side quests in Final Fantasy XII revolve around a hunter's clan. Rather than playing cards or blitzball, you are basically a monster bounty hunter, facing much stronger and more interesting monsters than usual and reaping more useful rewards. At first it may feel like this is lacking - a card game and even blitzball can be a nice change of pace rather than more battles - but Clan Hunts are surprisingly addictive and as above, help you get more advanced weapons earlier on.7) Mist AttacksWhile the summoned creatures in this game, called Espers, are rather a disappointment (they take too long to unleash their attacks; they're not much stronger than your character, and your character stays on screen and can be hurt at the same time), the mist attacks are great fun. This is a special attack (like a limit break or overdrive from the other games) that not only deals more damage to the enemy, but can be joined to the other characters' mist attacks to form a chain. If the chain is long enough or powerful enough, this unleashes a further attack or "concurrence" afterwards, such as Inferno, Torrent, or the most powerful, Black Hole, which helps knock your opponent for six or off the map altogether.8) EnvironmentsThis is the first Final Fantasy game entirely in 3D, and there are some gorgeous visuals (again, this is behind the times by now!). Although the towns are often a bit too big and overwhelming, the environments outside are wonderfully realised, from swooping desert dunes and their marbled-caramel cliffs to looming mountainsides haloed by thunderheads.9) The musicThe score for this game was composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto, and although he had plenty to live up to given Nobuo Uematsu's record, he's done a great job. You have introspective, melancholic piano for a trek through a snowy rift thronged with refugees; softly echoing percussion while exploring the tomb of a long dead king, and epic clashes of orchestra for the boss and empire battles.10) Levelling upThis is often the biggest complaint about role-playing games - hours of endless grinding to make your characters stronger. In Final Fantasy XII, you can see every enemy on the battlefield and choose whether or not to engage them, so no more unexpected enemy attacks when you are trying to get somewhere. But most importantly of all, levelling up feels like it takes a fraction of the time, because you don't have to sit through 5 sections of dramatic camera swoops and 5 seconds of victory gestures every time you kill a monster - they just collapse, disappear, and leave whatever loot they were carrying behind. The only exception to this is a 5-7 second dolly of the camera once you have defeated a big boss or an Esper. This means pummelling your way to the next level is so much simpler and quicker than in previous games, and actually makes it much more enjoyable.So there you have it - 10 reasons Final Fantasy XII is worth playing, despite the initial hurdles that some (most) people will come across. Since its systems and set up are different to the previous installments, it may be a love it or hate it game for some, but after giving it some time I'm firmly in the "love" camp.

18.7.2010

I'm a huge fan of the Final Fantasy series of games and have played (and completed) most of them. I love the way the combination of exceptional graphics, complex storyline and multiple sub-plots immerse me in a fantasy world. Final Fantasy XII (FFXII) is no exception and I must say it's probably my favourite of the series. As with all the Final Fantasy (FF) games, this is a RPG or Role Playing Game, where the player takes on the role of a hero in a world that needs saving.In FFXII you take on the persona of Vaan, a young street rat, a mere boy whose brother was treacherously murdered 2 years ago and while looking for revenge Vaan finds himself in a position where the fate of his home town and indeed whole world falls in his hands.The plot is well thought out, if a little contrived in places and needs to be followed in order for the game to be completed. As well as the main plot there are a number of sub-plots and mini-games that make this the most complex FF yet.Graphically speaking this is the most impressive FF yet, backdrops are beautifully rendered and look extremely realistic with very few glitches. The characters are also beautifully drawn even to the point that when the weapon equipped is changed the character will be carrying the new weapon. But, there is something very familiar about some of the characters. If you've played FFX or FFX2 then you'd probably notice that Vaan has something of the look of Tidus (the main character from FFX), and Ashe could easily be Yuna's sister. This isn't just something that I have noticed, my partner noticed it too and he doesn't play the games, he's only ever watched me playing them. The score is not so impressive, yes it is haunting, but it's also very similar to that in other FF games, and it never takes long before I turn the sound down.For seasoned FF players, FFXII brings a whole new system of play, from controlling characters, to battles, to levelling up and even in gaining money to buy new weapons, it's all different (and in my opinion better). One of my favourite new aspects is that the view can be changed (using the right joystick), this makes it easier to spot monsters, switches and little things that are otherwise missed. The random battles of the past are gone with the majority of monsters being marked on the map. I find this makes levelling up far less frustrating as I know where the different monsters are in any area and as they re-spawn regularly I know that I can gain a certain number of points from each area. The old system of just waiting for the action bar to fill and then controlling each characters actions one at a time has as gone, it's now possible to set `gambits' for each character so that they automatically perform certain actions in particular circumstances. I found this a little confusing to start with, but now love the fact I can play around with these settings and so work out the best plan of action for some of the tougher bosses. Even with these gambits set up there are areas of the game that are a real challenge and one boss in particular took me a total of about five hours to defeat.The monsters themselves are pretty varied, with a number of different strategies needed to defeat them. They also get progressively more difficult, and there's always something to challenge your characters, even when levelled up to the max. Aeons (powerful allies) also make a return appearance, but personally I didn't find these much help in the battles. The limit break system has been replaced with mist abilities, and combining these powerful attacks can be fun, but the cut sequences are simply too long.With previous FF games gil, the standard currency, could be gained simply by defeating monsters, but in FFXII the monsters drop items instead of money and these need to be sold in order to buy weapons, armour, magic and potions. But selling items also leads to something called `bazaar goods' being available, some of the rarer items can only be obtained in this way and I personally find that while this can be a little confusing and hit and miss, it does add a little something to the game. It can be quite challenging collecting all the different items needed to unlock a super-duper new weapon. Simply purchasing weapons, magics, etc does not mean that they are available for use. Each character needs to unlock licences by means of licence points that are gained after each battle. Again this adds to the challenge and it can occasionally be frustrating buying that fancy new weapon only to find you can't use it.The world map has also improved in FFXII, although only a few areas are available at the start of the game, this soon increases and quite early on you find that you can visit most places. (Even though if you do visit some too soon you'll find the monsters impossible to defeat). Each location is split into several areas and as they are explored they become visible on the map. There are plenty of save crystals, even if there are times that there's not one quite when you need it, and there's a new `teleport' crystal that allows instant re-location to areas already visited. Airships are also utilised between the main cities so it's very easy to go back to different areas to complete the side-quests.As with all FF games this takes a long time to complete. I finished the basic story within about 60 hours, but at 400+ hours I'm probably only 75% towards completing all the side quests and mini-games. There are actually a greater number of side-quests to complete here, and some of them are very difficult and a few are extremely frustrating. I'm not going to describe them all here, but I will say that I don't think I'd have even got as far as I have now without using an online FAQ to give me the occasional clue.So am I recommending FFXII? Without out a doubt my answer is yes, this is simply the best RPG I have ever played. It's not just a game, but a whole world, with beautiful graphics, complex puzzles and even when you think you've finished there's something else to discover. But this isn't a fast paced action game, it's a game where you have to think about strategies, solve puzzles and think `out-of-the-box'. The battle system is as near to perfect as it can be (although it can take a few seconds for areas to load) and although the different control aspects can be complex they are all introduced in an almost tutorial manner at the beginning of the game. The only problem that I can really think of is that as this is a PS2 game, it's unlikely that you'll be able to find it new on the High Street.

7.9.2007

Well, Where to begin.The graphics are up to the usual Square standard (I now know what PS3 graphics look like), the only problem here is that I often look at a blank screen whilst changing areas for a matter of seconds. But i will say that once you have acquired your first summon and escaped (no spoilers), you are in for an amazing cut scene so as far as I am concerned, that is a fair bargain.As for the game play, I pleased that square has moved away from the ATB system and the system in use in FFX (which I cannot remember the name of, but it was repetitive and very constrained). OK, so the system here isn't real time (press button, hack once, press button, hack again repeat until thumb drops off or enemies defeated)but it is somewhat realistic (and I use the term loosely, because the real world cannot be replicated by a series of in game equations and besides, I've never seen an eight foot tall flaming horse) in that those with fast weapons (like daggers) attack first and those with slow weapons (like claymores) attack last, but before your spell casters cast their spells, but more importantly, allows your characters to act on their own, IF YOU WISH or to act as you tell them, IF YOU WISH.Square have their usual in game tutorials, which cannot be skipped. But the FMV and Cutscenes can, though for the most rewarding game, I would recomend that you only do so if you have seen the scene before. The tutorials make the game easier, but can appear at annoying times.Square has decided to try out a three tier experience system for character development. When you beat a monster you gain two things, EXP and LP. Anyone who has played a role-play game knows what EXP is (EXPerience for those who haven't) and that it's for character level. LP is Licence Points. If you want to wear that armour or use that ultimate weapon, you will need the Licence. If you want to steal, you need the licence, Get the picture? All abilities, equipment and spells are handled this way as are Augments, which is a licence that will improve the character, but give no direct abilities. The third tier is Gil. When you beat monsters, sometime you'll 'acquire' items that seem to have no use, such as wolf pelts, when you sell these you will get varying amounts of Gil which can buy all of the abilities (first aid sells for 7,000 Gil) and equipment.Believe me, there is nothing more addictive than being three LP away from one ability, but thirty-three away from a better ability.The mini games are here, as per usual, with one being a play as you game style mini game, hunting specific monsters for cash and other rewards. Enjoy them, or don't do them, the choice is yours.On another note, the first city, Rabenastere feels huge and has so many people to talk to, but don't worry, because Square, in their wisdom, have given you a way to tell the important conversations from the unimportant ones and it is elegantly simple. Just before you talk to someone (literally, you only have to stand next to them), a name or a description appears over their head. If it's a name then it's likely an important question, but if it's a description, then it won't be important.The Main problem with this game isn't game-play, graphics or plot. The main problem with this game is that it is NOT Final Fantasy VII. Get over it. This title will suffer alot of comparisons to both Final Fantasy VII and VIII, so it will seem a weaker game than it is by virtue of the preceding (and amazing) titles in the series. No game, in any genre, can compare to Final Fantasy VII for depth and story, but this isn't about FFVII. The only advice I can give is forget that you have played Final Fantasy VIIAs for those who expect depth in their main character, I find this disturbing, as Vaan is only 17. Most 17 year olds I know don't aspire to be or do anything except to be old enough to drink and my line of work is such that I see many 17 year olds, so I would argue that Vaan IS deep, for a 17 year old. Those who are unconvinced by this argument will love Balthier, a 22 year old sky pirate who has quips and one liners for every occasion who has depths that I haven't entirely plumbed. The other supporting characters add even more depth (sorry, no spoilers) as they all act with reasons and motives that remain consistent (one character is VERY blunt about them, whereas Balthier is very much a mystery) and they all act consistently as personalities, even Vaan. But Vaan has the advantage over Tidus in that I have not once tried to kill him for being annoying and wimpy. Vaan is far from the worst main hero in a Square game, or indeed any RPG. Please forgive my apparent obsession with Vaan, but I feel that he is much maligned for little reason by some reviewers.All in all, a good game with the standard Square package. One that I would rate (almost) as highly as Final Fantasy VII and VIII because it is different enough to be a challenge, but similar enough that you can get into it very quickly.What makes this game so good is the array of choices open to you (try making your knight character into a mage and you'll see what I mean, and it can be done).If I haven't convinced you, borrow or rent a copy to prove me wrong and play through at least until you meet Balthier.

10.5.2007

The most irritating thing about this game is that I can completely understand why it got such good reviews. The games magazines, with the possible exception of Famitsu, judge all games under several review categories; graphics, gameplay, sound, value and sometimes presentation/production values. Games in series' are also judged by the progression or additions made, with attention to originality (Edge magazine especially).Final Fantasy 12 has excellent graphics. The production values, as you would expect from Square, are through the roof.Value? You can expect to spend at least 50 hours and probably the better part of 100 playing this game.Gameplay? An overhaul to say the least. Think Vagrant Story,but toned down, and with a dash of Final Fantasy and World of Warcraft thrown in. Original? Not hugely, but a massive departure for the FF series.Sound? Well, it's hardly memorable or captivating, but a solid soundtrack none the less.So, in terms of a typical game FF12 is pretty good.The few generic criticisms I have of it are that `grinding' through the many `dungeon' like areas can be unbalanced and tiresome. And the locations, although beautifully crafted, can often feel samey due to the grid-like, map-based slant on exploration. Not massive criticism I know, but as I said this game is pretty solid.The new gambit system is fine, slightly underwhelming maybe, but fine. The summoning system works well. The extras are plentiful and well thought out, finding the espars is particularly rewarding. The boss battles are exciting and evenly placed. The licence board is fine too, a bit like FF10's but more linear and-Wait a minute, its starting to seem like I am giving this game a positive review.......I suppose if I am comparing it to your average game, even your average RPG, this is a positive review.But this is a Final Fantasy game for f*+ks sakes! Anyone reading this remember the Battle of the Gardens in FF8? Or the Iifa tree bit on disk three of FF9? Anyone remember the tediousness of Clouds past or Midgar? Tedious it was, but worth it for the story that followed. The great music Cosmo Canyon had? Trance Kuja?..........Aeris?Well I've played through FF12 and did enjoy it some, but can I honestly remember any of the good plot bits or music? No, because there isn't any -of either. Full stop.Maybe compared to your average Tom Clancy game the story is pretty good, and every pissing games mag I've read goes on about the `political' elements and `understated' stuff......yeah, all good. But shouldn't stories be all about the characters? I can tell you that there is no real relationship between any of FF12's characters, in fact I would say that it has at least 10, maybe even 20 times less dialogue than FF10.....which had much less dialogue than the previous 3. Greed, hatred, vengeance...all present, but hardly well done. Love? humour? Nope, pretty much none.And that pretty much brings us down to the crux of the thing. Final fantasy games have always been about the story. Story first, then worry about the music -which is meant to highlight the emotional content of the story. Then worry about the graphics, which bring the other two to life. The, and only then, worry about the gameplay.The story makes all else tolerable. People complain about the random battles, the `grinding' necessary to beat bosses etc. But in FF7, 8, 9 and 10 the dungeon areas were highlighted by dialogue, were never really distinctively separate from the story. 12 follows the pattern: Dungeon, story, dungeon, story...and probably at about a 80%-20% ratio...labourios,no?I suppose the line `what did you expect' applies here. A good proportion of the FF development team have defected to Microsoft, including both Squares long time composer and long time producer/creator. The game was designed to revitalise the series and bring in new players, which it surely has done. And long time FF fans are hardly not going to buy it, even if it were diabolical -which it isn't.So FF12 is in turn a really good game and a corporate sell out -designed to encourage new buyers and relying on brand loyalty. Is it worth buying and playing? Yes, it's pretty good, just don't expect the emotional content of earlier titles.

4.3.2007

Final Fantasy 12 has , as i'm sure your aware alot of new ideas, and systems. such as the gambit system and the license board. Graphics wise its pushing the best on ps2, with precise facial expressions and movements. its been complimented for great voice acting, which i did not agree with at first but after you get a couple of hours in the voice acting really does improve a great deal. i liked the music alot as it has taken some of the best music from other FF games which i like and added a few extra unique ones. The gambit system i like because you can step in any time and tell them what to do, and obviously the game is more fluent,unlike 10-2 were it was fluent but to do a special attack or spell you had to wait twice as long as usual which i was worried would happen to 12 but thankfully it didn't. in comparison to 10 it continues to deliver strong in depth graphic clips, and also further into the game rather than the latter which got almost lazy. when you get to a new city you can ussually expect a decent graphic cutscene. The story itself starts off as very star wars meets lord of the rings but gradually becomes final fantasy which was good. About the characters i was shocked to find out that i liked Penelo who just by looking at i thought i would hate, but didnt like ashe as much as i thought i would, considering she looks a lot like yuna i almost expected her to be like her, which of course was a bad mistake but she did grow on me once you reach a certain point, not too long after obtaning her. The gambit system has been complimented as you can still step in at any time. however whilst you can step in when neccasary. you can't play it like normal FF very well at all, as it just doesnt seem to work. Believe me i planned to not use the Gambit system at all, but it does grow on you. i would say get used to the idea of Gambits or don't bother with the game to be honest. As for the license board it doesn't offer as much freedom as you might think, in my opinion its just as restricting as the sphere grid. except you can choose weapon and armour types other than that theres not much in it. the grids are the same for everyone exept with quickenings (limit break equivalent) and espers. The biggest dissapointment in the game is probably the Espers. they are stronger than a basic member of your party true, but they're not stronger than 2. which is how many members get removed to summon them. i wasnt too bothered at Ifrit and Bahamut not being in it. Shiva was one of my fav summons previously but it can be forgiven with its replacement. and i'm very happy that there's no Odin who i hate with a passion or Ramuh whos an old pensioner with a trident being in it. the thunder replacement is much better in this one. another thing about the Espers is that some of the hidden ones are really difficult to find without help from the internet or from a guide which can be a problem for someone wanting to complete the game 100% without help. this is easily the most difficult game to do it on.As a whole i think this is a great game which i would recomend you buy. i happen to be amongst the 1% of fans who doesnt think that FF7 is the greatest game ever, and i believe this is better. It has its positives and negatives in comparison to other games of the series but as a whole is one of the better ones. whilst i like 10 a lot this game is also great its only problem story wise is that it lacks the emotional qualities previous games have had. But by far best Sound, very good graphics, good story, Good Gameplay. I dont think it will overtake 7 as leader but it will be one of the more respected games i think.Graphics :10/10 (all FF's deserve 10/10 (except 7 but its forgivable, this one deserves 11/10)Sound :10/10 (very good sound)Gameplay :8/10 (sorry preffered 10's system)Value :9/10 (worth it)Camera/Tilt :10/10 (best camera angles and most control)

17.3.2007

First of I'd like to say I'm not one to usually write online reviews, but based on some of the previous ones here I think a few points need to be made.First of, let's get the obvious out of the way. Graphically it's nothing but stunning, some of the best (if not the best) seen on the PS2. The cut scenes and cinematics are excellent, and allthough some are a bit long they do tell the story wonderfully. The story isn't the best in the series, and yes I've played all that have hit the UK shelves. Some of the characters seem a bit well....pointless, some seem to be there just to make up the numbers. Which is ok I guess, as the game play does require there to be 6 main characters.I didn't find the story anywhere neer as emmersive as that of FF-X (my personal faviroute in terms of story). I wont comment on this any more as it really is a matter of taste and I've known some people to say that some of the stories in the series are just to deep.Now to the gameplay, and as the title of the review suggests this is mostly comparable to it's immediate predecessor: Final Fantasy XI. Now by comparison FFXI had far less UK players. It was an MMORPH (Massively multiplayer Online RPG)that was only released on the PC in this country, which, becuase of it's nature had to have a very different gameplay style. Think world of Warcraft for Adults. Anyway, as suggested FFXII takes so many gameplay elements from FFXI.1. The battle system is the most obvious. The system in 12 is a direct desendant of 11's. With only one player instead of many a sollution had to be made on how to control the party as it operates in real time instead of turn based. This is where the Gambit system comes in. This allows you to assign commands to party members in advance in case of sertain conditions. For example you can set up a gambit (command) so one party member can cast Cure on another who's Hit points fall below 50%. This is very well done as it allows you to prioritise gambits in order of which should be done in the event of the conditions for multiple gambits are met. Random battles are no more as you can see the enemies before you fight them, you can examine them (with the Libra ability) to check strength and weaknesses and decide whether or not you want to take them on.2. Esploration is also very similar. Areas are broken down into smaller zones that only party members can cross. There are chocobo (A type of mountable bird) stables in all major towns which allow you to rent a chocobo to travel safely between areas. Despite some previous reviews, this does all make for some very non linear gameplay, in fact the game encourages you to stray of course at times.3. Quests from 11 have been replaced with Hunts. These involve you answering a call to kill a monster, finding it and doing what has to be done (kill it!). You are then rewarded with money and items from the NPC (non player character) who posted the hunt. You are awarded clan points which works much like the fame system in 11. The higher your clan ranking the more hunts come available and the greater the rewards.Honestly, the only real differences between the two is that this one has a more compelling story than 11, that is tolled through CGI and voice acting, and of course the lack of other human players. It has much less in common with FFI - FFX-2 than it does with XI and the character development system (licensing as it's known) is quite horrible. You run the risk of concentrating on just 3 of your 6 characters leaving 3 much weaker at later points in the game.To sum it up this game is stunning in many ways but does lack a bit in others. Definatly worth a look, but I do hope they go for the more traditional final fantasy feel for the next installment. Don't expect to much though and you will be pleasently surprised.

12.2.2012

Okay so this game has been out for a while now but I felt this review was important to give a decent all round review to help with people still looking to buy the game.Okay I'll say it straight I have never played all of the series nor wish to which is an important point as this review is as much for those geting into the series.First of this game sees a new combat system, this free form system is what I have been waiting for, an entertaining way of traveling and levelling through the game where you can avoid battles if you like or take on half a dozen opponents at a time.Plot wise this game has been criticised as being overly political but is somewhat a breath of fresh air from the quite melodramatic and tedious plots of other series (FFX and FFVII for example)it is in a sense much lighter in feel as result while being somewhat more grown up.This is a game better suited to adults in the sense that it carries none of the attention deficit type plots and twists of many games.There are no obvious love stories or tear jerking twists but reading between the lines there are many underplayed sub plots that make interesting stories on their own, including a highly underplayed romantic side that is warming and subtle in executon and encompasses every character.It is very subtle but keep your eye out it is definitly there and if you like that sort of thing it can be quite sweet.The characters are all likeable (a rare thing in final fantasy games to be honest) all have their own foibles and unique personalities, without trying to spoil the game I will say that the truth is the character you play is in many senses not the main character, that role is sort of shared between four of the playable characters with each one trying to acheive their goals.Longevity: This game is truly enormous there are a lot of side quests and as always there are bonus dungeons, quests and bosses.It is by far the hardest game to 100% complete I have ever seen and is considerably tougher than its two predecessors.For example on the mark hunting side quest; the weakest of the high ranking marks is nearly twice as strong as th final boss and the the final mark is known to be the most powerful enemy in final fantasy history.Even actions such as opening the wrong jar make it impossible to complete 100% making this a true gamers challenge.The main story takes about 50-80 hours to finish depending on skill and the amount of side quests you take on.I have to say I went quite far into a lot of the side quests before finishing the game which meant that my party was far too strong for the final boss which made it a little anticlimactic.However when you tie in all of the side quests (three of which are as large as the game itself) you have hundreds of hours of gameplay.The only thing I will say is replay value wise it is a bit marmite-esque if you fancy another epic time consumoing quest where you know the plot then great but the only incentive to replay the game is if (like me) you botched opening a jar or missed a one off bonus and want those last weapons and the more intangible bonus of a 100% completion.So all in all this game is a welcome addition to the genre and if you are only getting one game for your PS2 you cannot go wrong with this title.As far as the hardcore fans go this game is a definite change from the early swords and dragons games and the fantasy meets soap opera of the previous five titles.As a pure game it outstrips any of them in terms of accessability longevity and playability.So if you want a cheap addition to your games that will take up enormous amounts of time, skill and give tremendous enjoyment (something we all want..) and less of the usual teenage dramatics of the series then you cannot go far wrong with this.

17.11.2006

Final Fantasy is sometimes thought of as a kiddy game with chocobos and moogles. Final Fantasy XII proves that this series can present an awesome storyline and graphics that all ages will adore.Don't worry if you haven't played all of the other Final Fantasy games. You don't need to. There are subtle carry-overs, but this game is meant to stand alone. You are a young orphan in a city recovering after a war. The cruel Empire has taken over your home town, and you enjoy causing trouble for the soldiers.Soon, of course, you're swept up in an epic rebellion. The storyline here is just *amazing*. Not just the plot itself, but the voice acting, the dialogue, the graphics, they are top notch.This is really like being a part of an extremely well done drama movie. They delve into issues of honor, loyalty, love, betrayal, and more. I'm an adult gamer, and I was staying up many long nights because I wanted to see where the story was going. Some of the subtle interactions between characters in cut scenes are just amazing. The small nods, the looks in their eyes, you are hard pressed to remember that they are animated in a computer game.Gameplay itself revolves around a party of characters going on quests, fighting in battles and moving through the large world. Each character gains experience and skills as they go. You buy them new weapons and armor, train them in spells, and aim them in their career growth however you wish. There is a dual system in play here. First, you need to physically own the weapon or item you wish to use - say an iron sword. But then you need to KNOW how to use it too! You can't just hand an iron sword to a 10 year old piano player and expect her to know how to use it. That skill is called a "license". You have an online license chart that lets you manage what each character knows. Licenses relate to each other. If your character learns the basics of sword work, now they can learn a more advanced version. It is very intuitive and adds a fun element to the game. It's not just one straight line that you choose and are stuck with. It's an all-directions layout where you can try new skills or expand out as you learn the system better.I really like combat in this Final Fantasy as well. Instead of random battles where enemies appear out of nowhere to assault you, all enemies are "on the map" with you. If you're running along a path in the desert and see something really scary in the distance, you run away from it! You don't have to worry about enemies springing up out of nowhere to slam you into the ground.The enemies in general are challenging but not impossible. There are spots where you really have to think about the enemy and what its weakness is to defeat it. You can't just brute force bash away at everything and hope to succeed.Still, as great as the gameplay is, and as gorgeous as the visuals and music and voice acting are, I really have to come back to the plot and characters as standing out here. There's been a lot of talk in the gaming world about a game that finally goes from "little pixels on the screen" that you move from X to Y to the point of *caring* about these characters, about what they are going through, and feeling emotional about their highs and lows. I really think Final Fantasy XII has hit that level. Yes, there are one or two twerpy characters that can be annoying. Even Star Wars had Luke whining about the Takashi Station at the beginning, to set his "basis for growth". In general, though, every single character here seems real, seems complex, and you don't want to put the game down.Highly, highly recommended.

30.5.2007

I have played all of the main (numbered) Final Fantasy games, Crystal Chronicles, Tactics, Mystic Quest and several offshoots (eg Dirge of Cerberus, X-2...). I honestly believe that this is the best Final Fantasy since FFVII hit the PS1 like a thunderbolt ten years ago. I do not think that it is better, or even as good, but it is closer than anything else I have played since. It is also the first game since that, the same day I completed it, I started again.I love RPGs and have a massive collection. The thing that really draws me to them is the storyline - I will only spend half an hour levelling up somewhere if I think that the storyline is going to deserve that time (FFVII,Oblivion and Suikoden I and II all come to mind). In true Final Fantasy fashion, XII does not disappoint. I honestly do not know why people are so critical of this story (read the manufacturer's description for that). It is well told, both through cutscenes and Square's famous FMV sequences. In the true tradition of fantasy, deals out enough surprises, and retains enough for later, to keep you enthralled from beginning to end. It is also long and detailed enough to provide great replay value.The characters are interesting and varied, from the energetic but naive Vaan, to the confident and dapper Balthier and the deep character of Ashe, whos inner turmoil is a battle she fights the whole way through the story. The voice actors do a great job of bringing the characters to life. I especially enjoy Balthier's clipped English accent - it just suits the character perfectly. Another 'since VII' is that I think that these are the characters I've cared about most since then (as a whole, not necessarily individuals). On a similar line, the musical score is brilliant and, although I don't think that there is anything quite as memorable as One Winged Angel, I found myself humming a few of the tunes on many an occasion.The gameplay is wildly different for all those of you who haven't played XI in that the separate field and battle screens are no more. You fight your enemies on the same screen and you see them there as well - battles are not random, but chosen by you (unless scripted, obviously). This adds a massive amount to the game, both in terms of reducing frustration at hitting a battle every time you move five steps (now you can, if you wish, just hold down R2 and run past the lot!) and in allowing you to hunt down particular monsters, whether it be to complete the bestiary (or 'Clan Primer') or just for the items or experience they yield.The graphics are superb as well. The FMVs are the best I've seen the console produce and the in-game graphics are excellent. The only problem is that, because of this, you sometimes only see a certain number of people in town or monsters on the field, which can make finding that particular person a little tricky. This is most annoying when a shop-keeper doesn't appear, but a simple sweep of the camera away from the people you can see usually solves the problem.Finally the game length. This is much the same as other FFs - variable. I completed the game the first time in just over 50 hours, although I did some extra levelling up and a few extra quests. However, by no means did I do even a quarter of what is available. If you get all the espers, fill the clan primer by defeating all the monsters and complete all side-quests, there must be a good 100 hours of gameplay.To summarise, an excellent game, worthy of the name Final Fantasy, and definitely something I would recommend for an RPG player to have in their collection.

6.5.2007

In a word yes. Top marks from both Japan Playstation mag (40/40) and from Official Playstation mag here in the UK (10/10)Yes it's one of the most beautiful games ever. Yes it's terrific fun. Yes it's involving. But I often find its the flaws in a game that give it character and loveability.The more perceptive of you will notice that this game is also almost a direct rip off of Squaresoft's (not Enix) Vagrant Story for the PS1. In the first 5 minutes of playing this game I found numerous similarities: 1) the styling 2) the music 3) the battle system 4)the weapons, armour etc 5)how they speak etc etc you get my point.This is not a bad thing as Vagrant Story is brilliant but I was hugely disappointed in the lack of imagination here.The characters are very good even though the lead character IS a blonde whiney teen (who speaks perfect American where as all the others speak in so complex English it's pointless and often pretentious)There is also little humour (play Shadow Hearts and you will know what funny is) I do not share the opinion that the voice acting is good because it isn't: it's wooden and sounds as if they're reading directly from a script with no feeling or passion and you will want to smack Vaan in the first five minutes for having an awful nasaly voice.I always thought it was the relationships and bonds between the characters that seperated FF from any other RPG (as well as it's unmatchable graphics) The moogles are also disappointing as they look wrong!! They're not bunnies!!! They're moogles!!! The other races that populate Ivalice are very good though from the Viera to the Garifs, wonderful!The music I unfortunately find dull, repetitive and lifeless in comparison to it's earlier games; the grandeur of VII and the liveliness of IX and X.(FFX-2 was not composed by Mr Uematsu so has not been included)but never the less still good and I'm sure I'll end up buying it.The battle system is extremley well thought out in this installment. Gone are the days of tiresome walking around for hours levelling up and buying weapons (FFX was the worst for this) and in come License points and a variety of different ranged weapons because like real life just because you buy a gun doesn't mean you can use it. The license board itself is fairly straight forward and easy to use. Random battles have gone, Hurrah!! The Gambit system is also a good idea by telling your team what they can and can't do and then letting them get on with it, genius I say, so as to keep the tactical element in which i thought would be gone.The plot I found a bit confusing on first play with names of people and places being thrown about and cut scenes out of nowhere involving the rulers of the nations. I often found myself not caring about the plot and just getting on with the fun of exploring the HUGE world of Ivalice in which you are in.This game will certainly be remembered for its huge leaps in graphic technologies and still being on the PS2! As a game on it's own merit it is incredible, being a game coming from a series with lots of history and pedigree there are better out there but it is an experience, to be sure!If you're a die hard fan like I am you will probably have mixed feelings about this game. One thing for sure is that it will be a while before anything can match this in terms of scale, brilliance and down right fun!!

13.3.2007

Well first off let me start off by saying congratz to square Enix as they have truly come a long way since FFX because this game IS simply AMAZING!!! However I know that there are many of us who think different and some who are even in denial by saying it is good because it is the new final fantasy. Every game has its ups and downs smiles and frowns, first of all looking at the characters as a whole, well.... Vaan is.... pretty basic to be honest, if you compare him to Tidus, or Cloud he is really not got that much depth to him, for me the best character HAS TO BE Balthier, he's really funny and i like his smart remarks (and how he really doesent care that he has a bounty to his name),very early on in the game u will find that the group is complete, the pace of the game is quite fast and you dnt really get time to know the characters enough, but then again i,m only 25 hours in (which in the ff games is nowhere near a lot)so i am expecting some real blending withing the group. Been an mmorpg gamer i have to say HALLELUJAH to the new active dimension battle system, FINALLY we arent seeing the turn-taking system in where it is "I hit you and then you hit me ok?", you really do feel free with this new system for example: like i do a hit and run technique where i hit the monster and run as i,m waiting for my attack gauge to go bak up then go bak to the monster and hit im again, the gambit system is quite useful too and i cant complain there. SO yea i love it, BUT..... yes theres the big but, if its one thing that really is a dissapointment to me which i am surprised no one has commented on before its got to be the esper system, having played all the final fantasys if its two things i have always not been able to wait for is the summoned ceatures and the amazingly (and long......VERY long) storylines, oh no dont get me wrong the espers ARE AWESOME though i only have one at the moment despite the fact that i am 25 hours in, what the problem is is that you now have no control over them, the so -called "artificial intelligence" (basically the computer) controls them, moreover there is a time limit, YES A TIME LIMIT, WOOOOT!!!?!!!?!! for one minute and 30 seconds your esper will fight along side you then dismiss itself, not only is this a let down for us final fantasy fans, it actually has a big disadvantage in the game play, once the chosen summoner summons their esper, the two other fighting comrades dissapear leaving just the summoner and the esper which is extremely bad as i find my self many times been targeted before my esper and being killed which therefore in the process also dismisses the esper. Phew, glad i got that off my chest, well looking onto the brighter sides there are 13 espers....THIRTEEN :) very nice :)Overall i have to say that this is an extremely good game and i am a diehard ff fan but i can't say i wasnt expecting the changes by square enix, some for the better and a few disadvantages, this game has to be given a whooping 10 out of 10 so even you people out there who have never played a final fantasy before, GET THIS ONE because it is absolutly amazing awesome, (just had to use alliteration there to reflect the alliteration with Final Fantasy) :)

5.7.2009

I'm a die-hard FF fan, I've been playing it since the first PS-1 release and in my opinion, so far, FF12 is the best game of the series.Some argue that the story and the characters were not as good as in the previous games which is a fair point. But to be honest I always found the plots a bit flimsy and the acting terrible - in FF10 the characters were always waving their arms every time they spoke. So I guess there isn't a lot of change in this aspect apart from the fact that there is not a lot of story and break-scenes as it used to. I won't say whether this is a bad or a good thing. I always watch the scenes but I know a lot of people that just skip all that.About the character development,I really enjoyed it. In the previous games a character would be "stuck" with some specific abilities (one is good with swords, another with white magic and so on...) but FF12 gives you more freedom to make you character stronger in whichever way you like. Of course there are the "innate" abilities for each one, but it does not cripple the development of the others abilities. So your strong guy will be able to cast a white spell just as the delicate heroine will be able to slash and dice with the biggest sword in the world. The character development is made through a sort of grid with each grid representing different things, from enabling your character to fight with a certain type of weapon to increasing its strength. Each grid requires a number of points that you collect while defeating foes. You'll need the grip to equip the character with weapons and protectives and also to use magic.The fighting mechanics is also a new step - no, sorry - a great leap forward. You have a sort of GPS of the area you're in and you can see the position of each enemy in relation to your team. I found it awesome that you can actually avoid fighting if you're too weak or you just cannot be bothered. Also you have non-aggressive foes which are much stronger but it will only fight you if you start fighting first. Another introduction to the fighting items is the Quickening. It's a special element that you have to develop using the grid, that allows you to chain commands from other characters in one go if you press the right sequence of buttons fast enough. It can be a life saver in some tough fights especially when there's a time limit.Some missions were endless and boring (i.e. talking to a lot of people in the right order) - thankfully there were not a lot of them. But some are really gratifying like the Hunting Clan - even though is optional I think it is totally worth to do it. You can get special weapons and items through the hunts and a lot of money as well. Which brings me to another change in the series, where you can't loot Gil from the defeated foes anymore, but some items that you can sell to make some bucks.I could go on and on with this review, but I'll stop here. There are loads of improvements that made the game more dynamic and less repetitive and even though the story won't bring tears to your eyes, you'll feel at the end that you don't want to finish and keep playing until you're sick of it.

15.11.2008

There had been some negative reaction to the new battle system that replaces the traditional Final Fantasy random time battles. But when you get used to it, you will find that the new system works very well and is much faster, less repetitive and overall better than the old method.On top of the refined battle system and improved graphics, the game is absolutely massive. The average player will probably need to put in at least 60 - 70 hours to get through, but to fully explore the world of FFXII and complete the numerous optional side quests and hunts will take over 150 hours.While the game play and graphics have evolved from the previous Final Fantasy games, it FFXII's story that surprisingly is its biggest weakness.The plot itself isn't actually bad, but it is too much to take in and keep track of over the course of play.With so many different characters, names and places appearing in such a complex plot, it's easy for a gamer to get confused. You often spend so long away from the actual storyline that you forget what is going on as any momentum or excitement built up by the plot gets lost as you level up and pursue hunts and side quests.The developers have gone to great length to create a spiralling world and populate it with so many varied characters. The problem is that the storyline seems to be designed to take you through every location and squeeze in as many characters as possible. The result is that you don't appreciate the places you visit as many of them seem un-necessary, while too many characters come and go without actually contributing very much. The other big problem with trying to squeeze so much in is that there's simply no room left for character development. Over the course of the game you don't really get to know the characters you control and as a result you don't really feel anything for them. This does diminish the interest in the plot and is ultimately disappointing for a game franchise that has prided itself on building characters that the gamer can relate to and care about.Overall FFXII looks good, feels epic and it terms of actual game play is arguably the best FF game so far. The game is so big and there is so much to do that you certainly get value for money. But the over complication of what could have been a great story combined with cramming in so much other stuff at the expense of character development, really lets the rest of the game down.With its game play and graphics FFXII genuinely had the potential to be the best of the series so far. But it's ultimately the storyline and main characters that define a truly great game. Unfortunately in this instance it feels like the writers and developers have tried to be too clever for their own good and have unfortunately fallen short.If you are willing to look past these faults then FFXII is an enjoyable gaming experience, but it won't give you the same satisfaction or emotional rollercoaster that previous Final Fantasy games have done in the past.

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