Kind of unbelievable that I'm actually nearing the end of what has truly felt like a big, sweeping adventure. I mean, I've been working on my FFXII gamesave since last November, off and on, but now after 123 or so hours, I'm nearing the end.

I spent all day - when I wasn't at work - ascending the Pharos Lighthouse at the Ridorana Cataract. With no spoilers, let's just say that if you've played Golden Sun 2 and remember the "end of the world" or whatever that place is called, it was just like that. Here, just watch the first fifty-five seconds and you'll see what I mean (but no more if you want to remain spoiler-free!!!). Anyway, it literally took all morning, early afternoon, and night to get through this dungeon. It was like three dungeons in one! Clearly, it was the final dungeon of the game, but c'mon! FFVII's final dungeon can be travelled through with purpose in less than half an hour if you're not underleveled or undergeared. This took HOURS! But I digress. It's always fun to grind enemies in the game, letting Gambits enforce their usefulness in different circumstances.

It was funny...I just woke up yesterday and said, "This week is the week I beat FFXII." Granted, it almost has to be if I want to get a good deal of Pacific Rift and Uncharted 2 in before ModNation Racers arrives in a few weeks. My plans with XII beyond beating the game are hazy, though. There are certainly still at least 50 hours of content or general things I could choose to do (like level and farm for loot, fill out my characters' License Boards) even after I beat the game proper. Will I run back to do some of that stuff right after I beat the game? Maybe, maybe not. Something tells me I'll wander right into UC2. But that's not to say I'll be leaving that XII save for good. Oh, no. Just like there was an indescribable pull towards the game through the years when I didn't even own the game nor a working PS2, there will be a pull now, to continue exploring Ivalice, to obtain the remaining Espers, to go after all the remaining Hunts I've left unhunted, to do copious fishing with Cactaurs...haha, yes, among many MANY other things. I don't weep for the end of this journey; I merely put it on pause and will come back to it when I hear its sweet song calling to me in my sleep. There probably won't ever be an official end to the journey.

And so today will most likely be the day that I beat FFXII. So, wish me luck!