Something went wrong. Try again later
    Follow

    Final Fantasy XII

    Game » consists of 9 releases. Released Mar 16, 2006

    The last Final Fantasy game released on the PS2, Final Fantasy XII is distinguished by its condition-driven "gambit" battle system, its Monster Hunter-like open environments and side quests, and its setting in the existing fictional universe of Ivalice.

    lllstinglll's Final Fantasy XII (PlayStation 2) review

    Avatar image for lllstinglll

    Progress in Ivalice

    i've played through a ton of ff games, and even though ff12 totally revamps the ATB system into something totally different, i was instantly drawn into this game. the lack of random battles is so welcome and so well done, it makes battles quick, strategic, and enjoyable. i love the option to play with the new system in a semi-turn based way, which i did during most boss battles. the battle system was probably the most impressive point of progress in ff12, but not far behind it was the shift to a more mature or "realistic' story. in a well-conceived, if not perfectly executed, world where everything has a place, history, and relationship with the other locals, a sense of realness is achieved. 

    the characters are also less one-dimensional than other ff of the past, with ethical questions plagueing their decisions, and even a party at odds with each other. ashe, princess of dalmasca, is a very interesting character. as a character, she stays true to her princess roots, staying aloof, and never quite a part of the others. at first glance, vaan, the typical metro-boy, is lame. however, he actually comes across as a boy learning lessons and maturing into a friend and trusted ally. i won't go into every character's varied attitudes and changes, but i think their 'realistic' personalities made a strong impression on me. i loved ff8, with squall maturing throughout his ordeals, as he was faced with different decisions. maybe that's what resonated with me for ff12.

     the problem is that as the game nears the end (last quarter or fifth), the story and characterization seems to stall until the very end, where you learn a lot about everything. for example, you start going through many long 'dungeons' near the end to accomplish somewhat vague goals, which wouldn't be so bad if rooms, items, and boss fights were accompanied with more dialogue, or story exposition. this is just near the end, i find the pacing to be good for most of the game. 

    as a ff game, of course there is a ton of other stuff to do than follow the main storyline. it might not be for everyone, but i loved going on hunts (search and destroy missions taken for extra rewards) not just for the challenge, but also for seeing the world of ivalice opened up as a living, breathing entity going on outside of the main story arc. the graphics and music are great, but to me, i expect that from a ff game. this is a serious game, so if you like a lot of funny or quirky humor in your games (like disgaea), this game may bore you. but if you are up for a rpg with mature characterization and world, and a great battle system, ff12 is a great choice.

    Other reviews for Final Fantasy XII (PlayStation 2)

      Sorely Underrated and Underappreciated 0

      Final Fantasy XII is the first single-player game in the long-running Japanese RPG series to diverge from the classic turn-based combat and take a more innovative Western approach to RPG gameplay.  Drawing inspiration from such titles as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, World of Warcraft, the original Baldur's Gate series on PC, as well as past Final Fantasy titles, Final Fantasy XII creates a unique play experience that combines the best of traditional Japanese RPG's and Western PC RPG's...

      13 out of 13 found this review helpful.

      The best game in the series 0

      When discussing FFXII, I occasionally see criticism for how it "didn't feel like a Final Fantasy game".This has always confused me. I must admit, I don't truly understand what is necessary to be a Final Fantasy game other than the title. Looking at the series as a whole, the only connections I can find between them are purely superficial ones, such as crystals, chocobos, airships, and a guy named Cid. FFXII has all of these, so I don't understand the conflict. That said, I can accept the possibi...

      6 out of 6 found this review helpful.

    This edit will also create new pages on Giant Bomb for:

    Beware, you are proposing to add brand new pages to the wiki along with your edits. Make sure this is what you intended. This will likely increase the time it takes for your changes to go live.

    Comment and Save

    Until you earn 1000 points all your submissions need to be vetted by other Giant Bomb users. This process takes no more than a few hours and we'll send you an email once approved.