Final Fantasy XII

[redxiiixi]

I got the game in Jan, and I've loved every minute of it. I've almost beat the game (I've just begun Pharos), and I really wish the game was even longer!

Have any of you guys played FF XII? What are your thoughts on it?

I personally think the game[llay is the best ever for the series, and although the story was really weak in the lfirst 75% of the game, it really starts to pick up afterwards.

One thing I think the game is lacking in is character development. Compared to FF X, this category suffers.

[Spongedaddy]

Re: Final Fantasy XII

I liked it a lot, but eventually the gambit system got the better of me. I just couldn't figure out a good strategy and my guys kept dying during that level where you have to cross the desert/oil fields.

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: Final Fantasy XII

I just finished it after 70+ hours (!!) and loved every minute. While the story was a bit slow, the warring Empire's and political intrigue definately took the game to the top tiers of Final Fantasy gamedom, IMO.

Where's the Pharos part though? I read that and was a bit unsure which part of the game it was.

And Spongedaddy, I can help with the Gambits if you want (the best part of the new system and I hope they never drop it). Also, the Yensa Sandsea, which you described, is easily the easiest place to level up early on...especially if you still have Vossler in your party (before you get to Raithwall's Tomb). Set up some good Gambits and just whomp on those little jawa-like guys!

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Final Fantasy XII

I took some time off this game during winter break and I still have to finish it.

I really like how it was done though. Something FFT should've been like, but the poor translation held it back.

[Thunder]

Re: Final Fantasy XII

I'm pretty sure that I'm close to ending it. I just got out of the Crystal and my party is around level 45-50. I got it on release day and played it a good amount before taking a huge break to work on Oblivion and other 360 games.

I found this to be a very entertaining installment, better than X. The story is ho hum so far and I hope it does pick up in the end. The battle system is pretty cool and the gambits can be allright if you use them right (Raise > Ally > Any - is a must have). License Points are okay. Better than the system used in X, but it wasn't the most enthralling way to go.

I don't understand, however, why they just don't bring back the materia system of FFVII. FFVII is still the best game I have ever played and it seems foolish not to borrow from the system that made it so incredibly addictive and great. Everything that they've put out since is too linear or too narrow in comparison to VII. I mean, you had endless possibilities and countless choices with materia. Since VII the creativity from the users' standpoint has been sucked dry. Maybe the developers are too prideful and want to always push the bounds, but they've yet to produce something that is in the same ballpark as FFVII.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: Final Fantasy XII

I'm pretty sure that I'm close to ending it. I just got out of the Crystal and my party is around level 45-50. I got it on release day and played it a good amount before taking a huge break to work on Oblivion and other 360 games.

I found this to be a very entertaining installment, better than X. The story is ho hum so far and I hope it does pick up in the end. The battle system is pretty cool and the gambits can be allright if you use them right (Raise > Ally > Any - is a must have). License Points are okay. Better than the system used in X, but it wasn't the most enthralling way to go.

I don't understand, however, why they just don't bring back the materia system of FFVII. FFVII is still the best game I have ever played and it seems foolish not to borrow from the system that made it so incredibly addictive and great. Everything that they've put out since is too linear or too narrow in comparison to VII. I mean, you had endless possibilities and countless choices with materia. Since VII the creativity from the users' standpoint has been sucked dry. Maybe the developers are too prideful and want to always push the bounds, but they've yet to produce something that is in the same ballpark as FFVII.

Every game has had a unique system, but FFVII Materia system was probably the best one. I would love to see the gambits put together with the materia system... although I think that'd be a little too complex for people.

I would love to see Knights of the Round make a come back.

(Enemy = Cactuar > Summon Knights of the Round)

[MachoMyers]

Re: Final Fantasy XII

I'm pretty sure that I'm close to ending it. I just got out of the Crystal and my party is around level 45-50. I got it on release day and played it a good amount before taking a huge break to work on Oblivion and other 360 games.

I found this to be a very entertaining installment, better than X. The story is ho hum so far and I hope it does pick up in the end. The battle system is pretty cool and the gambits can be allright if you use them right (Raise > Ally > Any - is a must have). License Points are okay. Better than the system used in X, but it wasn't the most enthralling way to go.

I don't understand, however, why they just don't bring back the materia system of FFVII. FFVII is still the best game I have ever played and it seems foolish not to borrow from the system that made it so incredibly addictive and great. Everything that they've put out since is too linear or too narrow in comparison to VII. I mean, you had endless possibilities and countless choices with materia. Since VII the creativity from the users' standpoint has been sucked dry. Maybe the developers are too prideful and want to always push the bounds, but they've yet to produce something that is in the same ballpark as FFVII.

At least they didn't bring back FFVIII's system.

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: Final Fantasy XII

I've never liked the first two PSone battle systems (FFVII and FFVIII) because of the customization. I prefer my characters to have defined roles, mage, fighter, thief, etc...so a system like FFX and to a lesser extent FFXII are perfect.

Best Final Fantasy, though, would be FFVI. The diversity there and story was awesome!

[Defel]

Re: Final Fantasy XII

I've never liked the first two PSone battle systems (FFVII and FFVIII) because of the customization. I prefer my characters to have defined roles, mage, fighter, thief, etc...so a system like FFX and to a lesser extent FFXII are perfect.

Best Final Fantasy, though, would be FFVI. The diversity there and story was awesome!

I also prefer the characters to have well defined roles in japanese RPGs and I thought FFXII was great. However, I wouldn't say the characters had well-defined roles. Aren't the roles even less defined in XII than VII and VIII? At least, the characters in FFVII and FFVIII had different limit breaks and weapons. I can't think of a single way the characters were different except for minor stat differences.

With that said, none since have surpassed FFVI. Although, I prefer FFIV myself.

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: Final Fantasy XII

Defel, I just sort of made the characters into defined roles. I mean Balthier is a sky pirate, so he was my thief. Basch was just the bad *** fighter. Penelo, being weak, became a white mage (she was a "kind soul"), Fran having strong magic and fighting skills was a sort of red mage (a little of everything plus strength), Vaan was the wild card rogue as a fighter and thief, and I made Ashe a black mage (all that pent up anger ).

FFIV was an excellent game as well, but DAMN was it difficult at points. I also prefer FFIX for my PSone kicks, and I wish they still had the four person active party from the old days as well.

*EDIT: Forgot to add that every character has three individual Quickenings, no matter what slot on the License Board they get picked up from.*

[Defel]

Re: Final Fantasy XII

I see what you're saying...

I didn't mind that the characters were basically all the same because they were made interesting and different by the dialogue that wasn't terrible and excellent voice acting. VII and VIII had neither of these things. I didn't think FFX had it either, though.