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. af 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.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. This is the approach that many game franchises take. Sure, they’ll make a few changes here and there, but the core game stays the same. Final Fantasy is at the top of that list. Despite p... Read Full Review
The road embarked was rocky, to say the least. The departure of Hironobu Sakaguchi from the critically acclaimed RPG series wasn’t the best injection of confidence fans needed. Music dictatorship by Nobuo Uematsu was ove... Read Full Review
