On the first bit, sounds good. Having Fran as main party leader is something I can get behind...

On the later, if you put it like that, then technically FFX was just a giant escort mission (get Yuna to Final Summon. :P).

On the plot, many seem indifferent about it. I thought it was very clever, your rag tag group were minor in reality to it all as many other parties conspired against each other for power. Cid and his buddy, Larsa, Vayne and even outside source from Rozarria to avert war. All very clever. But personal opinion and all that. 

Funny how I've just been playing the International Version just a few days ago. xD

One of the best final fantasies with one of the most badass characters in balthier

Yay, finally a release date :)
This will be great, with the other remasters and emulations this was the last game for me to use the ps2.
Now only need a remaster of IX and there is no need for the ps1 either..

I'll probably buy this day one. Uncertain yet but I know myself...

The problem is, FF X had this escort mission as plot-base but greatly variated and altered from there and there were sub-plots, and the characters were likable and relatable. Yuna fragile and yet super strong personality and Tidus being a boy with golden heart instead of being an emo or socially dysfunctional guy even going through life hardships. And there are a fair number of plot twists. FF XII ( spoilers ahead) began as a super complex political conspiracy and ended up being a game to catch some kind of weapon. The game ended, not started, as a fetch quest to get those f....cking relics to prove Ashley ascendance because they didn`t have DNA tests in that world.

And those characters, they all were annoying, with the exception of Balthier and maybe Fran. I do think if Balthier or even Fran were the protagonists the game could have been much better, but we had, Vaan, who the hell thought Vaan was a good character, to begin with? Vaan manages to even worse protagonist the Lightning and Squall. 

thank fuck it's not march like some rumors were saying. I have PSN+ Zelda and Nier that month. This is good news. I can wait but will be excited to play the last great FF in HD.

Finally, I bought so many SE remasters to get to this, day one, my 6th playthrough

While I agree, Vaan isn't the best, he was meant to be the clean slate we learnt about things through, we did just that, but after his first set of stuff he became... well you know.  Ashe was too prideful, determined to gain power to retake her nation inspite of what could happen with that power, I can see what you mean but disagree with was a giant fetch quest. Far more happened then just you wandering around looking for an item in temples, FFX had an escort mission as a plot base but greatly varied, well FFXII was a fetch question which did the same. Just because you went around looking for items of legend to get a nation back, doesn't mean that's all it was about.

Plus, Squall was awesome.

Niiiiice! I haven't been following this too closely, but I know I want to buy it. July seems like a good time of the year for it to release, at least in my gaming schedule. Thanks, SE!