FG's Final Fantasy XII Hands-On; Basic Tutorial; mini-FAQ

I got a copy of FFXII JP and now I'm playing it from time to time (but not one of my priorities). I think Orasion_Seiz is also playing it.

So, what can I say about it?

The FMV is good just like the previous FFs, but it most resembles those used in FFX and FFX-2.

Like in the old-school FFs, there are some Prologue reading at the start of the game.

The battle system is a cross between real-time movement and turn-based action (attack, magic, etc). Unlike the ATB where you charge your ATB bar then you can act, here, you chooose your action and then it will charge to allow you to do the chosen action... Like the reverse of ATB. The only difference is that you can run around the field while in battle... There's no transition between the field and battles screens... Both are merged in one screen.

Inside towns, I was fooled by the videos in the internet. I thought the towns are really more lively with all races walking, chatting, fighting in the streets. Yes the town is really lively... But you can only talk to specific NPCs. About 90-95% of the NPCs are just decorations. The ones you can talk to are only those that have smiley of sorts on top of their head.

Hmmm, I'm only in the first town and it's quite big. If you think Esthar (FF8) is big, maybe you can double it for the first town in FF12.

Anyway, even if the towns are huge, you will not be lost easily 'coz there's a map in the city. It shows the location of the tavern the shops and the entrance/exit points. Also, it will also show where you will be going next o even if you have stopped playing it for a while, you'll easily know where you will go to continue your game.

The new power up system? It's called the Gambit and the License Grid. O'll talk about it in a different thread. f I'm not too busy, I'll try to make a guide for it and FF12 as a whole.

For the races, there are the humes, bangaas, moogles and vierras. FF12 did not include FFTA's nu mou race. Instead, it featured the bulky yet ferocious seeq race. Most NPCs yu will see are humes, bangaas and seeqs. Very few vierras around.

As for the first mission, you have to fight this tomato monster. It's easy. The first monster you'll encounter ouside the town are cactuars. :)

I've seen FFTA's Montblanc, the moogle in one of the places!

That's all for now.

Inside towns, I was fooled by the videos in the internet. I thought the towns are really more lively with all races walking, chatting, fighting in the streets. Yes the town is really lively... But you can only talk to specific NPCs. About 90-95% of the NPCs are just decorations. The ones you can talk to are only those that have smiley of sorts on top of their head.

Fantasy_Gamer

that is dissapointing but how good are the convosations with the npcs that can talk, do they have personality and depth or are they just sources of single sentence information like previous FFs

Wow, you have the japanese version? I can't ever play games in another language, I'll get to frustrated xP. I'd only get a Japanese game that never came out here in NA. Like Code Age Commanders.

I've only played the demo for FF XII that came with DQ VIII. I really liked it.

To Jumbo: Got it at a local videogame shop. I'm lucky to find one. There are not too many Japanese release that find its way in the Philippine shores.

To RedNEXUS: I think the NPCs have some sort of personality in the way they talk. When you talk to most of them, I have to press the circle button many times before the conversation ends so I think they say more information now than just a mere "Hi!".

Outside the first town is a wide desert. There are cactuars and these orange hyena-like monsters. Further to the south, you'll find this gigantic T-Rex-like dino. I'm so frightened that I immediately ran far away from it. It is sees me, I would surely relive the Dino Crisis experience I had some 5-6 years ago.

Outside the first town is a wide desert. There are cactuars and these orange hyena-like monsters. Further to the south, you'll find this gigantic T-Rex-like dino. I'm so frightened that I immediately ran far away from it. It is sees me, I would surely relive the Dino Crisis experience I had some 5-6 years ago.

Fantasy_Gamer

All right. The field and the battle screen is the same. No transition whatsoever. Any time (except inside towns), you can press the circle button and the regular menu for battle will come out... You know, attack, magic, items...

Now you can choose an action. For example, "Attack/Fight". Now, you will have to wait for your charge bar to be filled up... Just like in FFX-2. After it is filled up, yur character will execute the action.

oh ok so its basically like FFX-2 just without the screen shattering thingy??The1andOnlyMG

Yeah, FFX-2... Just without the initial charge time for your individua turns. Only the action has charge time, not the turn. Btw, that only pertains to your main character.

The other 2 active characters in your party works a little bit different.

[QUOTE="The1andOnlyMG"]oh ok so its basically like FFX-2 just without the screen shattering thingy??Fantasy_Gamer

Yeah, FFX-2... Just without the initial charge time for your individua turns. Only the action has charge time, not the turn. Btw, that only pertains to your main character.

The other 2 active characters in your party works a little bit different.

also i'm assuming your other 2 party members do their own thing for the most part and you can set up parameters for how they behave in combat...i think i'm right :):?

Another old-school feature: You buy magic and skills at shops. :( Buy a particular magic/skill and it will be available for all characters.Fantasy_Gamer

Yes, that's right. You can only control their mode of fighting... I wish there was a 2 player option. :PFantasy_Gamer

[QUOTE="Fantasy_Gamer"]Another old-school feature: You buy magic and skills at shops. :( Buy a particular magic/skill and it will be available for all characters.The1andOnlyMG

Yes. It's quite disappointing. It  could have been better if they adopt the FF9/FFTA style of learning magic and skills.

[QUOTE="Fantasy_Gamer"]Yes, that's right. You can only control their mode of fighting... I wish there was a 2 player option. :PThe1andOnlyMG

It's not too late. If only square wil lrealize it, they can still include it in the U.S. version of FF12.

[QUOTE="The1andOnlyMG"][QUOTE="Fantasy_Gamer"]Yes, that's right. You can only control their mode of fighting... I wish there was a 2 player option. :PFantasy_Gamer

It's not too late. If only square wil lrealize it, they can still include it in the U.S. version of FF12.

^ No way! They will already announce FF13 on May's E3!Fantasy_Gamer

*drools*

should be for PS3

*drools more*

Haven't you read our update today?Fantasy_Gamer

Now you know! :P

^ That's why I want to learn Japanese language .

"For the races, there are the humes, bangaas, moogles and vierras. FF12 did not include FFTA's nu mou race. Instead, it featured the bulky yet ferocious seeq race. Most NPCs yu will see are humes, bangaas and seeqs. Very few vierras around."

POSSIBLE SPOILERS!!!

Hum... if you search closely, not in that town, you will find some nu mous ,not many, (they seem to be like small bangaas)  theres also another race that has bird faces.

Umm... I tend to genralize the whole game based on my experience on the firstcity. Sorry for that.

I'l definitely look for those other races you'v etold us. Thanks for the additional info!