Final Fantasy XII
A fond farewell to the PS2
It's nearly time for us all to say farewell to the PlayStation 2 after watching it sustain seven successful years at the top of its game. Once a truly cutting edge piece of kit ("it plays DVDs an' all!"), slowly but surely its ageing hardware is being eclipsed by the sheer horsepower of the next-generation of machines, namely its successor, the PlayStation 3 and the Microsoft Xbox 360 - not forgetting of course the motion-sensing wizardry in the case of the Nintendo Wii. But, like any great leader, the PlayStation 2 has refused to go quietly. Even in its twilight era titles such as Okami and the upcoming God of War II prove that there's fight in the old dog yet. Final Fantasy XII compounds this sentiment in what proves a revolutionary shift for the franchise and one that continues to define some of videogaming's greatest moments.
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The first of these noticeable shifts is the game's setting. Unlike any before it, number twelve's backdrop has previously been established within the Final Fantasy universe - in 1998's Final Fantasy Tactics and later in the Game Boy Advance remake, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. The world of Ivalice (not the name of a nit-removing chemical for children with itchy scalps) is inhabited by a mix of humans and all manner of strange creatures, reminiscent of those so familiar to fans of the Star Wars films.
The game's protagonist is the rather uninspiring figure of Vaan, a young man living on the streets of Rabanastre within the kingdom of Dalmasca on Ivalice. Two years after the invasion and subsequent fall of the region at the hands of the more technologically advanced Archadian Empire, Vaan is out for revenge against the power whose insatiability for world supremacy and subsequent warring resulted in the death of his older brother. Desperately angry at the loss of his only living relative and of the directionless state of Dalmasca, Vaan hatches a plan to steal from neighbouring imperials - an idea which soon snowballs into an epic adventure to uncover the deeper reasons for the Archadian Empire's military decisions and leaves the fate of the entire planet resting upon Vaan and the small group of adventurers that tag along for the ride.
The second and most significant difference in Final Fantasy XII is the dynamic shift in its combat structure. Gone are the days of random battles (where for those who despised the structure, every stride across any significant stretch of land began with an overwhelming sense of trepidation followed by one of absolute despair after falling victim to yet another random battle just inches from the entrance to your destination). Instead, combat takes place in real-time, allowing you to square up the opposition before deciding whether you want to fight them or not. Often you don't have a choice in the matter, but not being forced into certain needlessly damaging bouts helps make the experience that bit more seamless.
Conflict now centres on a gambit system, where the player must assign any number of options to the members of their party. Once set, any orders will be carried out automatically when enemies are encountered. For example, you might simply suggest to one AI character that you'd like them to heal everyone when their health falls below a certain level or ask that they always attack enemies at first sight. As you press forward through the game, the options in your list of gambits will increase, affording the chance to concoct a more convoluted tactical approach. Putting it like that might make it seem like fisticuffs boils down to nothing more than choosing the optimal method of attack, then just sitting back and watching the fray unfold until your ultimate victory, but that most certainly isn't the case - especially when encountering Ivalice's bigger foes. In these instances, the way in which you manage Vaan and the rest of your team by constantly tweaking gambits depending on the state of battle becomes essential. Whilst the sheer sense of scale might have been lost in the transition to real-time combat, the satisfaction of conquering a monster the size of a house (including the garage and conservatory extension at the back) is as brilliant and involving an experience as ever.
Adding another dimension of depth (or complication, depending on your viewpoint) to the combat system is what's been called the license system. In a nutshell, this element sees every member of your party earning license points for every enemy they defeat. License points can then be exchanged for new weapons, upgrades, magic spells and the like on the license board - the place where upgrades in weaponry, armour, accessories and the like can be worked through steadily until your attributes are fine enough to swipe aside the toughest of foes. Of course, the way the system works means that even if you have obtained a weapon, you aren't going to be able to use it unless you have acquired its specific license.
Familiarising yourself with the gambit and license board system is crucial to your progression through the game, particularly since you'll be spending so much of your time jigging and re-jigging the wealth of tactical options that they offer you. Levelling up and earning money are the most direct ways to improving the abilities of your group, but particularly in the case of some of the most advanced and expensive attributes, it'll be an uphill struggle. While a lot of players will enjoy the somewhat tamer nod to 'grinding' to improve (as typical in some MMORPGs), newcomers to the series might well be put off. Still, as with many RPGs, perseverance is the key, and before you know it, all your hard work will have paid off when you're able to purchase a killer weapon or ability.
While the PlayStation 2's graphical innards are no match for the might of the polygon-pushing power of the next-generation machines, there's no doubting that Final Fantasy XII is one of the finest-looking PS2 games to date, proving, similar to the way that Resident Evil 4 did on the GameCube, that even in its dying days, the technical ability of a console still has the ability to impress. Similarly, the title's art direction is impeccable throughout, with a sense of scale and grandeur that permeates near enough every square inch of Ivalice. In addition, the unlikely event of strong voice casting and the inclusion of a predictably epic and impressive musical score helps bolster the aesthetics of Final Fantasy's last outing on the PS2.
If any major criticism can be levelled at Final Fantasy XII, a finger would have to be pointed at the game's less than endearing storyline. It's easy to sympathise with Vaan and his troupe of plucky comrades in the game's beginning, but after hours of exploration interspersed with lengthy cut-scenes, it becomes harder by the minute to care about the in-game events when all you want to do is play. Otherwise, the frequency of loading times in some areas that caused this reviewer into occasional boredom is the only other significant gripe.
All things considered, whether you think that Final Fantasy needed re-inventing or not doesn't really come into question. Square-Enix's brave step beyond all that was previously thought of the series has paid-off in what must be one of the PlayStation 2's greatest RPGs and a fitting swansong. With upwards of 40 hours of play, there can be no complaining that you aren't getting your money's worth - especially when Final Fantasy XII is gunning to be one this year's most impressive titles. The PlayStation 3 is released in under a week's time, but going by the continuing strength of the PlayStation 2's line-up, you wouldn't be blamed for not knowing it.
89%
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"...one of the finest-looking PS2 games to date,"
"...one of the PlayStation 2's greatest RPGs.."
"...one [of] this year's most impressive titles."
Sorry for criticising, mate, but why only 89% then? Or do I just score too high on my stuff?
:)
when square soft joined enix that was the end of the good square games ff 12 sucks the battle system blows and storyline sucks. and im an avid ff fan 1 to 10 lets think back to the good days of ff7 the best rpg ever. now why did that do so well 1 killler Story line awsome graphic (for its day) and active battle system* key note there it was turnbased it was fun and you got a lot out of it this free roaming crap reminds me of star ocean it was a good game butt the free roam sucked on it to this is a Rpg not an action rpg i dont want to sit back and watch the action i want to choose what attacks and who does them and then when its the mobs turn they can attack simple as that ff12 is not a game im ever going to play again hands down a 1 out of 5
It was horrible..the beginning was fun then it all went down hill...the payoff is so lame its not worth it to play its too long at 80 plus hours
The story is almost inconsiquential in the fact that your actions are meaningless. The main character is not Vaan, they lied to us. He's pretty pointless and there's no meaning behind him. Also the music, while well played and beautifully composed, is boring. It equates to nothing more than background noise as you continue to hack n slash your way to an easy win. But those are just the bad points, the god points are obvious and well documented.
Also the gameplay is too openended, and there is NO POINT to having a sole magic caster in your party. All of my characters were tank/mage/healers, and it made the game too easy.
Whatever!..final fantasy 12 is something brilliantly different! It reminds me of 9 in so many ways...just becouse the story is more politically complex rather than deeply complex dousn't mean anything...And for the first time it's not the story that it's strong point but it's world and sidequest...final fantasy 12 rules!!...its different....But Rules!
I can't play it, I really can't. It's not that it's too difficult or I'm incompetent to do so, it's just it's ruined what was a really good franchise. I've been a huge FF fan since FFVII, played and enjoyed FFI-FFX-2 and was really hoping that XII would rectify the horrible mess that was FFXI, but the combat system is dull and repetitive, the story decent but plodding and the characterisation generic.
For me, FFVIII was the best in the series. It had a good story, hell of a battle system and a brilliant ending that beat VII hands down. That said, I've enjoyed all of the series up to and including X-2 (I even defended the battle system to my friends who thought it girly - admittedly it IS a bit, but it WORKS and is FUN). FFXII has none of these qualities and, unless things take a drastic step backwards for the next installment, I won't be buying FFXIII.
The battle system is garbage! there are so many games like it sure they were ok but never as good as ff's. 7 had the best story 8 was good 9 was great fun and 10 was amazing, 11 is just another online rpg but ff12 does not even deserve the name of final fantasy!
I loved all final fantasies, they all had their own taste and style to each of them. Final fantasy 6,7,8,9, and (especially) 10 all had there own excellent and unique story line. Then there's 12.. which is just a very bland, boring, and a generic star wars ish rip off. FF 10 had the most gripping story line i've ever experienced in any video game, it pulled you in and made you love the characters (just like they all did really).
FF 12 is the most boring game i've ever played, i hate it. The gambit system is a joke i could just watch my characters beat up any bad guy (even bosses for the most part). The time required in this game is close to what it takes on WoW to get to rank 12 (old school rank days that is). I actually got to the last part of the game but i just couldn't force myself to play the hideously monotonous game any longer, so i quit and played FF 8 and beat it again.
for those of you who love FF 12 somehow, well i applaud you because you must have an enormous amount of patience. i'd give the game 8/10 with a personal fun factor of 3/10
X is my alltime favorite. I love the Chars, music and story. XII is the boringist game ive ever played i got bored when i was in the Giza plains
Seriously dissapointed, i was one of the greatest fan of ff, now that ff12 screwed up am really gonna hesitate to buy ff13......
I've been a huge Final Fantasy fan since grade school, that's been ten years since I've first played FFVIII, which is my first FF game. Then I went on and played VII, IX, X, X-2 and even managed to obtain VI, which is my current favorite FF of all time.
And then along came XII... I was very skeptical of it first when I rented it. About an hour's worth of play, I just turned it off. I was *very* disappointed in the game. I really hate the battle system, I'm the kind of person who'd rather fight the enemies at my command rather then having the game fight for me. The story started out good, I will admit, but then it seriously took a nosedive. And the characters... I just wanted to shoot the main characters for being so annoying and irritable. The graphics are great, but... I personally think the colors are a bit monotonous. =/
I've only played it once, I'm never playing it again. Now to get back to my SNES and play a REAL game.
I've been a huge Final Fantasy fan since grade school, that's been ten years since I've first played FFVIII, which is my first FF game. Then I went on and played VII, IX, X, X-2 and even managed to obtain VI, which is my current favorite FF of all time.
And then along came XII... I was very skeptical of it first when I rented it. About an hour's worth of play, I just turned it off. I was *very* disappointed in the game. I really hate the battle system, I'm the kind of person who'd rather fight the enemies at my command rather then having the game fight for me. The story started out good, I will admit, but then it seriously took a nosedive. And the characters... I just wanted to shoot the main characters for being so annoying and irritable. The graphics are great, but... I personally think the colors are a bit monotonous. =/
I've only played it once, I'm never playing it again. Now to get back to my SNES and play a REAL game.
why it sucks:
1)it is the 'failed version of star wars'
2)the combat system is sucks and looks messy when characters move around.
3)the storyline, the name of characters and places sound so stupid, it is like they have no idea.
4)they determine for you of who you want to talk to.(press triangle to talk!!). Unlike previous series, you can talk to anyone.
5)nothing special, dramatic, funny and interesting about the characters. Unlike other ff series, the characters of barret, cloud, squall etc are still fresh in your mind.
6)the dialogue is most of the time meaningless and pointless.
overall, it sucks. I am looking forward to play ff7:crisis core in psp, but I still believe it will be kinda sucks, as they are using the name of 'final fantasy' especially vii to make money out of us.
I wonder how worse it will be if the sequel/remake of vii comes out.
personally, I thought it was kind of a letdown from the rest of the final fantasys. that said, Im not a very big fan of the world of ivalice. it felt like it was just running from point A to point B while hacking and slashing whatever you could. thought most final fantasy dungens consist of a point A to point B theme, they all acomplish it nicely... 12 on the other hand feels like a dungen crawler. another thing I didnt like was the music (where was nobou?) and whats up with this sci-fi airship battle stuff?
oh yeah and I didnt like the battle system
THIS GAME IS SCRUMCIOUS...I MEAN
EXELENNT I AM 319 hours into the game and made another file where i only use vaan fun
REPLAY VALUE - 10/10
SOUND - 9/10
GAMEPLAY - 9/10
STORY - 6/10
alright ff XII is the worst game i have eveer played and i t was a huge waste of money.
Best RPG on PS2.
At least if focuses on interactivity and exploration and isn't cut-scene heavy and linear like FFX.
It may not have a good story but as a VIDEO GAME it is better than FFX.
Umm I admit it's not the best game ever, story is getting very boring, and it's no elder scrolls or VII, but for those who hate the gambit system, you can turn it off!
I've never loved Final fantasies systems of levelling up, it makes every character seem similar and lack individuality - they all are tank/mages etc.
But it's still fun for the time being!