Square comes up with the next killer app. Truely the best gameplay in the FF series to date and the best RPG on the PS2

User Rating: 10 | Final Fantasy XII PS2
By netdragon75 | Review Date:
Having played most of the FF games on the market as well as numerous other RPG's I had high hopes when I saw the previews. Especially after finishing Oblivion I wondered would the new FF wow me. The answer is... Oh yeah! The graphics are fantastic and about the best I've seen on the PS2. The music fits in and the voices of the characters fit with the way they look. I have to say the 2 parts I like best in the game are the character customization and the seemless world. As far as the customization goes you earn points in combat that you can use to add abilities to your characters so they can be whatever you want them to be. The wide range of weapons and abilities add many hours of gameplay as you try and get the right ones so you can level even the tough and I do mean tough monsters in many of the sidequests. Yes, FF fans we finally have lots of sidequests. I've found that by completing these sidequests you can get some of the better items in the game sooner so you don't have to sit there chucking Raise spells and Phoenix Downs untill you're blue in the face when you face a tough enemy. An important note because some of the features in the game are new to the series like the seemless world and the Gambit system the game eases you into the features by unlocking them over the first 3-4 hours of gameplay. I should point out on the sidequests that they game doesn't just say "Hey Player I've got a sidequest for you!" you have to actually talk to the characters in the game to uncover them. The only exception are the clan quests which you will get from the hunt board. These hunts are posted and after you accept them you will unertake a quest that ultimately ends in facing a unique monster. The rewards are often good so I recommend completing hunts early and often.

Now I have to congratulate Square on finally making the world truely seemless. You can actually see your enemies and with the proper ability a little info on their stats in the game world. Battles are now fought in the world not in some seperate combat mode. You no longer have to be heading back to town and all of a sudden the screen shifts and you're in combat. You can see your foes and descide to fight them, run away, sneak around, turn invisible, or immoblize them and run very fast. It really adds an extra element to the game that keeps you on your toes. I would like to point out a personal experience that really livened up my gameplay. I was on a sidequest to capture one of the 13 Espers which after defeating them you can summon into battle on your side. After sneaking down into the cavern past all manner of unplesent high level monster I finally found the Esper. Needless to say I bit off a little more than I could chew and he along with his summoned cronies gave me a serious thumping. I did take his health down to almost 1/3 but I had no choice but to get out of dodge. So I ran, and ran with a whole train of nasties on my heels. Of my 6 party members 5 were KO'd so I ran with one poor little girl back to the exit. That's my little story. Oh and about the party members. You have 6 permenant party members of which 3 can be in battle at any one time. You also have guest party members that join you at various times so you actually have 4 on the field. Changing party members is very easy and you can also change their equipment on the fly. For example you are fighting some regular ground foes and the brawl attracts the attention of a flying monster who joins the fray. You can easilly switch to bows, crossbows, guns or whatever strikes your fancy. Oh yes and in a nod to being more realistic the environment DOES have an effect on combat. For example firing bows at an enemy during a thunderstorm or sandstorm is not a very good idea and hence you'll miss alot more. Also enemies have various strengths and weaknesses so be mindfull when selling off your old equipment. I really strong Icebrand sword isn't going to help when fighting against something that is strong against it or even absorbs that damage. Typeless damage weapons are great so don't sell them unless you have the next better model. One of the best typeless damage swords you get early on is Demonbane. Don't sell it untll you get the Diamond Sword.

Well that does it have fun it's truely a great game.

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