A good RPG, although lacking the true feel of a Final Fantasy game.
If you were to remove the "Final Fantasy" brand name and look at it as a general RPG, the game is actually very enjoyable. The problem is that many Final Fantasy fans now know what to expect from each new game in the series – and it seems that FFXII deviated from the set formula just a little too much.
The new combat system was changed so as to eliminate random encounters, and was replaced with a system allowing you to explore and fight on the same screen. Although random encounters become repetitive after a while, they were one of the trademarks of the Final Fantasy series. Thee FFXII system felt more like you were playing a non-online MMORPG. If you're able to overlook this, though, combat actually works very smoothly and can be interesting and entertaining.
Gambits were a major gripe with most fans, the most common complaint being that they allowed you to programme the game to play itself. While this did feel like the case at times, gambits are optional – so you can equip the bare minimum to keep your party in check, enough to have them do everything automatically, or you can choose not to equip them at all. Having them turned off, though, makes the game significantly tougher.
Another thing that stood out as being different was the development of the characters and the story. The standard "hero and his friends save the world" was replaced by a political plotline in which the designated main character had no impact at all. Harsh as it may seem, I just didn't care enough about the politics to pay much attention to the story, and found myself skipping long exposition-filled cutscenes. While there were a few noteworthy characters, (Balthier, Fran and Dr. Cid spring to mind) most of the PCs and NPCs alike were either boring (Penelo was even less interesting than Vaan) or predictable (Ashe quickly descended into Mary-Sue territory).
The graphics, however, were simply stunning. While flashy graphics don't make a game, they can certainly enhance it. Environments were rich and detailed, never feeling boxed in or flat, and the weather effects were a nice touch too. Cutscenes were of very high quality, almost eliminating the need for FMVs altogether. For all its flaws, FFXII was pretty to look at.
Although it can be frustrating at times, FFXII is an engaging RPG with plenty of room for exploration and adventure. If you're prepared to accept that it's very different in style from the other games in the series, it's well worth a play and can be extremely enjoyable.