FFXII: What's the verdict?

[memory2zack]

FFXII is a very good RPG. It has an amazing combat system that manages to give the most of control of all 3 party members out of all other real-time RPGs. This is the ADB system, an advanced version of the popular and successfull ATB system that is being used in every FF since IV with unfortunately the exception of X. The licenses grid is incomplete, as every character has the same one, however this doesn´t mean you can´t specialize your characters. It does actually way better than the the sphere-grid of FFX as it allows way more options of customization. FFXII features a huge world for a ps2 RPG with bigger cities and dungeons than every other FF and they all are beautiful. It also features a very wide and detailed collection of monsters, much bigger than every other FF game so far. Hunting rare and notorious monsters really becomes very fun and challenging as well. Honestly, you´ll never get bored with it if you love customizing your characters, exploring vast areas and hunting monsters. Also, the artistical design is very good and is done by none other than Yoshida, the guy behind Vagrant Story´s artwork. All in all, FFXII brought FF in the technical department way ahead. Actually, all the stuff that was missing in FFX is present in FFXII and in the best shape

What FFXII lacks is a strong story and character development. The political setting is good, but wasn´t developed enough and there´s practically no character interaction. Though the characters are interesting. If you´ll ever get bored in this game will be when you progress into the story, otherwise in the rest of the game it will be a great joy to explore new areas, further explore areas you left and hunt marks.

Imo, FFXII is the opposite of FFX. It features a great battle system, a good license grid, a vast world that you can walk it all if you want to, impressive monsters and a wide variety, lots of places to visit and majestic, big cities. All this stuff was missing in FFX, which had that utterly boring CTB system, that was even more worse than those of the 3 first FFs, and that rugid sphere grid that had little options. Though, the story and character development of FFX beats the crap out of FFXII´s.