My first impression of this game was one of annoyance, I mean; can I get a little game with my movie please?
It seemed like cut scenes and cinematics were constantly interrupting my game play. Not that the cinematics were bad, just the opposite. The graphics are top quality. The introduction itself will leave players breathless. The voice acting is also surprisingly realistic in comparison to other games in the series. Unfortunately, I can read faster than the characters speak and that is where my impatience grew.
There's much more to be said about the game however. The game itself has proved to be more challenging than many other RPGs. I find myself in constant need of leveling up my characters in order to proceed with the game.
Random high-level monsters are thrown in with lower level creatures and it's good luck if you run into one unprepared. The game also has side quests throughout called hunts. Hunts basically required the player to go kill a named creature in exchange for money or equipment. So far keeping up with the hunts and defeating the creatures has been quit a challenge.
Another difficult aspect of the game is acquiring gil (money). Most run of the mill monsters won't be dropping gil, but instead loot, which must be sold for gil.
Weapons and armor become pricey early on in the game, so it's hard to actually keep money in your pockets. Average loot dropped will be worth very little, while harder monsters will drop loot that can fetch a higher price.
The magics, equipment, and battle system are unique to this Final Fantasy. The magics and equipment system are based on a new license point (LP) system. LP is obtained by beating monsters along with normal experience. The LP is then used to obtain license for spells, weapons, accessories, etc.
The equipment and spells must then be purchased in order to complete the process. For the record, I love this system. There's more freedom to it as far as spells, as opposed to the learn-as-you-level technique, and it gives one the opportunity to customize his or her characters abilities.
Article comments
1 - LordGustave
Mainly agree.
The Battle System was somewhat unique, though reminded me of Summoner II(and other games). I prefer the classic battle system better.
I finally realized that the monsters difficulty varry from character to character and it would seem to me that this is sort of glitchy since ex. a worgen is red to my level 20 Vann, well i hit it three times and its dead (using just vann). This happens on many occasions.
Graphics are always top notch(well considering the times), always praise here.
Music is fair, I won't say good because well as most know Uematsu(sp.?) always lead the way. Two of the songs including intro are from FFIV (FF II US) which is not a problem but a good thing because it needs it.
HMM. Well besides Tidus..er Vann ah um yeah the blonde characters are fine. Props to Balthier for being sarcastic and fully and nicely clothed.
MINI Game. Maybe I'm not far along but where is it? FFX blitzball, and FFVIII cards are amazing. Unless this Bounty hunting is it then well.. I'm disappointed.
Summons! Useless! Hell besides a few monsters all I do is use the QUICKENING (because I am immortal i have inside me the blood of kings yeah!...sorry yes highlander) because well all i have to do is click r2 hit one of ethier buttons that appear and WHAM instant win, if not...well just sub in someone else and away yea go.
Anyways yeah I would rate it a strong 7.5. Good game just not top notch like it's predecessors.
2 - Guest
I really have enjoyed this game so far. I am roughly forty hours into it and I agree- the license board system is great. It's really nice not to be forced into any particular direction with any character as you are with many games of the series.
And in defense of the new battle system- I do agree that sometimes you feel as if you could just leave and it would make no difference, but I REALLY appreciate it for the fact that it ends some of the frustrations of running into a random battle every step of the way (remember the Terra Caverns of FF1? or the final area with a battle every two steps?).
And one more thing- the plot, while hard to get a grasp on sometimes, is probably the most involved yet. It's dark at times, but always powerful. It stays true to the series, is a good balance of a magical but not over-advanced world (like FFVIII was), and the character personalities add so much more to the game than some of the others that I've played. Also, props to the graphics and intro music : )
My only complaint is the amount of leveling you have to do sometimes. But hey, where's the fun in an easy game?
The game, I think, is very well done. I'd give it a 9/10. Good job to the FFXII crew.
3 - Eric
I think you're being a little too hard on final fantasy XII. First off in my opinion the cut scenes are feature film qaulity and the story is both epic and touching. This is all done without a sappy melodramatic love story. For example toward the end of the game at pharos fran almost dies, and I found myself holding back the tears. Never in my life have I been so moved by something in a video game. In addition to the huge main story line there are optional espers to obtain, marks to hunt, and rare monsters to find. Not to mention the other side quests. As far as RPG's go this game is the total package. It's games like this that remind me why I love rpg's so much in the first place. It simply doesn't get any better than this. Put it this way, when xplay on g4, who historically hates final fantasy games gives it a five out of five you know square is doing something right. All in all it was the best 50 dollars I've ever spent and I've been playing for over 50 hours and still am nowhere even close to getting everything done. I have one complaint. Sometimes the side quests marks and rare monsters are a little too difficult but the chllenge is never insurmountable.
4 - superfurrycookiemonster
I havnt played a final fantasy since ffix, so this game a came as a real surprise. it took me a while to get used to the battle system and the lack of a world map ect. once i had got past this i found self enjoying it for a while and addicted, but i found the game overly hard i found you couldn't just let the story run you have to take time away from the plot to level up exceedingly slowly, also gaining gil takes ages and the equpiment is ridiculesly expensive
5 - GameNinja
My comments on Final Fantasy 12:
1.Battle system: Excellent
2.Gambit system: Master using this and you will become invincible.
3.License board: This is simply a refined sphere grid similair to 10. Easy to use, easy to master.
4. Leveling: If you play FF's, then you know this is part of any FF title. (I was lvl.15 fighting Mimic Queen) Anyone who play's FF's know that you are gonna be level 60+ when the game ends...might as well start early. Dont be in a rush to advance in the game story. If you dont know already...you are advancing simply by leveling your characters.
5. Story: Good story line, right up there with FF7, FF8 and FF10. No FF title has come close to duplicating the US release FF3 for SNES console. That was hands down the best FF story to date.
6. Sidequests: Plenty of questing to do in this game, hours and hours. The mark hunts, gathering hidden espers...there are enough of these to match the actual playing time of the game. Basically if it takes you 40 hours to beat the game going straight through, then there are 40 more hours of sidequesting to do. Making it 80 hours of play time.
10. Gill: Easy to get. You will earn gill while you are leveling your char's. So what if you have to sell the loot you get.
11. Weapons & Armor: You get them as you advance in the game. This has always been the way. You didnt get the Ultima Weapon in FF7 10 hours into the game did you?
12. Magic: My single complaint about FF12 is right here. Learning it on the license board..then having to wait until you either find it or it shows up to buy. I think this was done to balance learning advance spells to early. Could of avoided this buy requiring the characters to be at a certain level to obtain certain spells. (i.e. Black magic 2 lvl. 10)
13. Espers/Summons: Great help in some later battles, enjoy'd fighting them.
All Final Fantasy's have changes from the previous one. Some are liked more then others.
Final Fantasy 12 earns its place in the ranks and is easily qualified for the FF title. Some of the things ive done in previous FF titles that you should try if you enjoy playing:
FF2 - beat game in 7 hours
FF3 - Lvl'd all chars to 99, learned all magic spells for each char, learned all strago's Lores and all Gau's velt skills (this is my favorite FF title and there isnt anything I havent done in this game)
FF7 - Beat Emerald and Ruby weapons (have done much more, this was the notable item to mention) Everyone gets the gold Chocobo and Knights of the Round, not an incredible accomplishment.
FF8 - Obtained all playing cards, all GF's, all side quests completed.
FF10 - Nothing spectacular to mention here, tried playing Blitzball..could never really get into it.
FF12 - Still active playing, but..
All char's have completed the license board, all hunts are finished, I have 2 Zodiac Spears and are at an average level of 96 for each character. I have beaten the final boss 4 times without a single character getting KO'd.
There is always so much to do in Final Fantasy games, that its never really over. Enjoy and master the new features as they come.
6 - jordan
best game in the world
7 - robert
how to find carrot and were to get it and were to get more hunts for mehemoth king hunt
8 - essica
I like final fantasy 12, the story is good, but wow, the battle system drives me crazy! i hate it! it is so hard to get used to. Im not used to having 20 monters -chase- me around and kill me. Its so.. unfinal fantasy like. it is a good game, just kind of complicated.. like the liscence stuff.
I have beat 7,8,9,& 10. so far i liked 8 & 10 the best. 9 was good. couldnt really get into 7 that muchh.
9 - brad
Well I am sure that noone reads this review anymore. But I just wanted to touch on the gill subject. If you correctly UsE your "chain level" you will NEVER have a problem getting loot to sell.