Character development was why I loved FFXII's narrative so much. Finally, a Japanese RPG that doesn't rely on constant flashbacks to flesh out a character! Thank you, oh merciful gods, for delivering this unto me, your servant in perpetuity.

Gabranth was also the best-written character ever, which helped.

As to the battle system: I don't see how you can dislike the Gambit system. It was just aces, and made everything so much faster and more energetic in big battles.

@Xen: Yeah, actually, I did like Vaan. He actually developed and grew up as the story went on, which was pretty nice, and he wasn't some big whiny tit like Tidus.

The original plan, if I remember correctly focused on Basch as the main character. This is before that person left....don't remember his name.

That idea was scrapped long before the director had to bow out.

Tidus is ok because he gave me the lulz. Vaan... couldn't connect with that guy. As for the Gambit system, it was terrific.

Maybe, but to me it does sound more appealing. Matsuna is his name BTW!

I'm assuming you mean Yasumi Matsuno

Basch as main character? I dunno how that'd work. Still, there was no defined main character in the game. Vaan, Ashe and Balthier had equally important roles

Basch wouldn't be the best main... Balthier.. now that's a cool guy.

Ashe was easily the focus of FFXII, though in terms of narrative Basch got just as much importance. So did Balthier. Fran came close, too, I suppose.

Basch would have worked as well as the hero in Vagrant Story, the (lack of) success of which was the reason that Vaan was created - to increase the appeal of the game.

Basch character would have been developed like a person who was betrayed by his own brother and now seeks justice and to fix his name that had been destroyed by this. Vaan could have been the confused person who actually believes the frame up and fights Basch across the game. (You guys do remember the frame up right)

Balthier is just Han Solo Final Fantasy style.  That is to say... Han Solo as played by David Bowie.

Real cool guy but he can't carry a story.

Storys where the cool badass is your main character don't go anywhere... because Cool badasses don't do much but be cool badasses.

You just get some guy going from battle to battle making wise ass remarks every once in a while.  Not exactly the height of narrative. (oddly happens a lot in games though, probably because it's easy, and everyone likes pretending to be a cool badass.)

Now a whiny wuss, you can slowly turn him into a semi-capable hero.

Of course a lot of people wills till hate him for being a whiny wuss.

Dame Luke Skywalker.

I mean... Van.