|
Final Fantasy XII from Square Enix
 |
|
Rating:  
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
| | <![CDATA[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000F5IH2I/toysshopper-20"><img border="0" src="http://www.toys-shopper.com/images/view_details.gif" alt="View Final Fantasy XII details at Amazon"></a>]]> |
Customers who purchased this item also bought:
Our Editorial Review
Product Description Two years after the fall of Dalmasca, the citizens are without guidance and direction. In the capital city of Rabanastre, the denizens gather and await the introduction of Archadia's new consul. To Vaan, a young man living on the streets of Rabanastre, the Empire is a hated enemy who took the life of his brother, the only family he had left. In an effort to exact revenge, Vaan hatches a plot to break into the palace and steal from the occupying imperials. There, he gets more than he bargained for as he runs into Princess Ashe, the sole surviving heir to the Dalmascan throne. Together, the two will embark on an incredible journey through Ivalice, tracing the mysteries behind the Archadian Empire's invasion. The choices they make will determine the very fate of the world. License board gives the player the ability to customize each character's skills and abilities
Customer Reviews
Final Fantasy is back to Greatness Posted 14 March 2007
Man I HATED this game so bad when i first started it. Dont get me wrong the intro was awesome and the story started from the get go, but once the gameplay kicked in, I almost instantaniously wanted to press the off on my PS2. Where could I begin, probably the camera which can be awarded the worst camera in a game ever. then there was the battle system. Not to say there is anything wrong with change, it just didnt sit right with me. and then there was the license system. I thought that was the stupidest idea ever. I knew for sure the next 60 plus hours were going to be a horrible grind if I actually went through playing it....and boy am I glad I did.
Maybe a few FF fans like me felt the same way I did when they first started this game. It is a wild departure from all the others and in fact if it wasnt for the FF traditions such as moogles KUPO!! chocobos, crystals and the such, it could be an entirely different game altogether. It did take me awhile to get used to it, but let me advise all the people who are greeted by the initial shock i did. it is worth it to keep playing.
Yes the camera system sucks. you can somewhat get used to it but after 40 hours of play im still at times going ARGGGH!!! at points when the view gets totally skewed. I mean it is an RPG so there isnt really any cheap falling to your death cause of camera work like in action or platformer games. it is more like a major annoyance.
The battle system, although it takes some getting used to is actually very innovative and fun&easy once you get into the meat of the game. and it makes travel a breeze. no longer do you stop every twenty steps to a blured screen and monsters (although i do miss battle music) so no load times and no random battles means that the dungeons are more of a fun experience. and if you want to avoid enemies its a cinch also. the only complaint i have about the system is out of combat you still have to deal with action times. in all the other FF games all you had to do wqs go to the item menu and pop tonics or potions and it took just a few seconds. now if you are hurting and you have multiple status ailments, you have to pop one potion wait a few seconds go back to the action menu pop another one, add nausem. a small complaint, but it does get annoying once in a while. another small complaint, is you cant skip the mist ability animations, so everytime you do a 10 hit combo, it takes forever!!!! yeah they look cool the FIRST time.
And the license system. it sounded like a dumb idea, and it was annyoing at first, but it actually gives me a lot of goals to work for,and its actually kind of addicting. i would be working my way to a boss and get to a save point, then i would alocate points for licenses, and i would be like ohhh only 15 more points till a HP agment. I would earn that and then would be like ohhhh 10 more points to attack power augment. and before you know it, i would be leveled up. I was lvl 44 by the time i was traveling to arcadia through the coast.
The storyline is one of the best and most interesting of the FFs, certainly the most political. It is a little more complex than some of the other storylines, more mature, so it does take more attention to grasp everything, but it holds your attention well. and keeps you playing.
Graphics are to FF standard. Unreal cutscenes which makes me wonder if we need a new PS or XBox, and stellar in game graphics. musical score is also superb, although some world music can get a little bland and repetative during some of the longer dungeons. i wish they had some battle music or more atmospoheric music during some of the fights.
Over all this is a great game. to be honest with you, i havent been able to get excited about FF as much as I used to, In my opinion they havent come out with a truly Awesome FF since 6 (7 is WAY over rated). 9 and 10 were pretty entertaining, and i wasn't to thrilled with 11 being a MMO and all that. 12 is a big step forward, and i feel if 13 is anything near this quality then that is reason to be excited about FF once more.
i give this game 4.5 stars, not 4.
Final Fantasy fans and first-timers alike REJOICE!!! Posted 11 March 2007
A while ago, I tried Final Fantasy X-2, hated it, and vowed to never EVER play a Final Fantasy game ever again. But my curiousity about Final Fantasy XII was killing me, so I picked it up from the video store...and bought it a few days later. I was instantly hooked.
Gameplay:
The first time trying the ADB system, I thought it was totally bizarre. But I kept testing and experimenting and I found that it's actually quite simple and really really great.
The "Wait" feature (which you can turn on and off at your leisure) is really handy. It gives you the time to make important decisions during tough battles without having to pause the entire game.
But some people may have a hard time with the Gambits. Gambits allow you to automate the character's actions (even the party leader's). At first, this really confused me, but it's ESSENTIAL to playing the game. It takes the pressure off of the party leader to do all of the healing and allows you to customize the different types of Licenses you acquire for each party member. Although, I've found it easiest to turn the Gambits off for my party leader. I like to have full control of what ever character I'm leading.
I touched briefly on Licenses. This is a very new experience that adds a new element to the game. To be able to use various magick/techniques/weapons, you have to buy the appropriate License to use it. Again, some people may find this unnecessery, but it's easy enough to earn LP (License Points) and pretty straight-forward to figure out. This allows for full customization of party members (Example: focusing on weapon Licenses for Vaan, but buying more magick Licenses for Penelo). The License board is also where you acquire Quickenings (high-power magick spells) and Espers (summoned beasts with high attack/magick power).
The ADB system is also interesting in that you're able to choose what monsters you fight. Monsters are allowed to roam freely through the maps and can be avoided or confronted. Some are even neutral, and won't attack unless you attack them first. And if you enter into a fight that is too overwhelming, you can utilize the "Escape" feature.
Storyline:
The storyline is full of life, although the character development is lacking. It's unique in that there is no "main" theme or goal to be achieved. One event leads into the next and it flows together expertly, but it's not too complex that your head is swimming (FF X-2, anyone?). Although, I do feel that the character development was on the weak side. You get a pretty good idea about who the characters are, but not much beyond that. There's not a whole lot of character history, which would have added to the game somewhat.
Graphics:
As always, Square Enix deserves a standing ovation. Every single world, cutscene, texture, character is done marvelously, especially on the aging PS2! You start the game expecting perfection, and you get much better.
Speaking of the worlds, they are HUGE!!! It's mind-boggling to think how much time it took to create them. Every insignificant detail is done to the extreme. Something as simple as a tipped over mining car, or falling-apart bridge make the enviorment come alive.
The monster and character animation is nothing to sneeze at either. The clothing, facial expressions, movements, use of weapons, and everything else is superb. Just superb! You actually get scared when a hulking Slaven or Mesmenir comes barreling after you. Never had that happen before!
Audio:
The music is great and every world theme fits perfectly with the surroundings. It's gorgeous and I wouldn't mind getting the soundtrack (if one exists). The voice acting is...okay... It could have been much better, but I love the different accents! Sound effects were good, but again, could have been improved greatly (some get a little annoying after a while).
Overall, I'd say that for any Final Fantasy lover, or any lover of fantasy RPG games, this is a MUST HAVE for your gaming arsenal. With 80+ hours of gameplay (IF you exclude the side quests, hunts, and other things I didn't mention), you won't be bored or dissapointed! Good job, Square Enix, and keep up the good work! :-)
not bad, kinda silly Posted 09 March 2007
I think the game is great except for one thing. I played Final Fantasy 7,8 and 9 several times all without the use of the book, And then played them again with it. I dont like the fact that the book for Final Fantasy XII is an absolute necessity, You cannot get the best weapon in the game if you open certain treasure chests all throughout this game. You cannot get certain places without a ridiculous labrinth of "Go through the second tunnel, Then back out.. Through the first then loop around to the third then exit the area and do it all over again and the boss will appear" Stuff like that is the norm for this game and it just gets redundant and silly. I dont like the marketing scheme at work here. The book should be optional not mandatory.
Final Fantasy 12 the BEST RPG ever!! Posted 08 March 2007
I have played many many RPG games my favorite catagory of gaming. This game absolutely is grand. It has hours and upon hours of game play. The side quests and the extra's are never ending, the graphics are stupendous. I had never played any of the other Final Fantasy games but was intrigued by this one. DO not miss it or you miss the best RPG game out to date!
a better game Posted 08 March 2007
much better than the earlier versions of final fantasy. better combat but still more about management than fighting. visually more of a treat. all in all a very good game.
|
|
