So let's talk about it. About why it's awesome, why the setting is awesome, why it gets better with a second playthrough, why the characters are awesome, why the battle system is awesome, and so forth.

It deserves some celebration.

I'll make a real post tomorrow about why I think FF12 is awesome.

For people who don't think FF12 is awesome: you're also welcome in this discussion. We can discuss the finer points of genre norms and expectations, adherence to form, the franchise's radical shift with this game, and whether or not it is indicative of Square moving away from the "true spirit" of Final Fantasy.

But if you post an unqualified argument in line with "worst FF ever, I was so bored" or "this game sucks the characters are all cardboard" then you will be ignored.

So, yes.

Let's talk about how awesome this awesome game is.

Because it's awesome.

It's awesome because it is so unique in its gameplay mechanics, and because it's so different from previous FF games.

FFXII is the proof that jRPG genre still can move forward, can evolve, is not stuck in the past. FFXII is the key for non-jRPG fans to get into the genre. FFXII is the game the jRPG genre needed so much for years.

Do you see it having any particular lasting effect in terms of narrative and style? Or is the effect more in terms of design philosophy, where the designer is willing to take more risks, like with FFXIII's combo system?

 In terms of narrative and style I dont know. As for the design philosophy - absolutely.

   The jRPG genre, being niche is very dependant on its core fanbase. Developers of jRPG games are affraid to take any risks, because they know that if they do something their core fans do not approve of - they are done. And there are almost no newcomers to the genre, so it's difficult to find a new audience. They have to stick with their fans and their tastes. And most of these fans dont want any major changes or innovations.

   FFXII, however, proved that there is another way. A way some other jRPG devs will follow.

I had posted about this in a twesterm thread, and since it was completely ignored and think it's a good opportunity to post some of it again here:

For me Final Fantasy 12 took the franchise in the right direction, gameplay-wise, world design wise, screenplay-wise. The early stuff I've seen from XIII worries me a little in that it may turn out to be a step backwards to a Final Fantasy X kind of game, I hope it's just an early impression (not that it would be awful, but as I just said, it would be a step back)

Final Fantasy 12, I think it's what a Japanese developer like Square needed to set itself apart from the tired anime-themed JRPGs most japanese companies are about. There's nothing wrong with anime or super-deformed characters, but there's a time and a place for everything and specially today a Japanese videogame company must produce games that help them restore their status in this industry. I think Square-Enix hopefully won't dissapoint.

SE with FF7 and every FF after it seemed to have made a commitment to raise the bar high for JRPGs, they just don't please themselves doing more of the same, they like to explore new things, they have no real set formula. It's hard to please everyone by doing that, and probably it's a very risky business model too. It's just hard. They set out to reinvent the franchise in every game, you could say. Not many developers do that or even achieve a great level of success while doing it. They've been doing that for over 20 years now. That's admirable.

I really liked the game's stance on character relationships, and how nobody just fell in love in the scope of the game. That was nice. The relationship that Ashe had with Rasler was very much the driving force behind most of her decisions, but it wasn'nt handled in a hamfisted way.

Another thing I liked was how they did not fill in the characterization with useless backstory exposition. I do not need to see your backstory to understand your motivation, Mr. FF hero with Amnesia!

Edit:

@Magnific0: Agreed!

I've tried to play FF12, but I just can't get into it. At all. I've hardly gotten anywhere in the game, really, but I just don't find it that interesting, and the battle system feels somewhat dull. Does it pick up later, or do you think I might be doing something wrong to begin with? I'd really like to play and complete this game, I'm just lacking the motivation to.

I really liked FF 12, but I didn't like that it was the first FF I had to actually grind in.


Not fun.

I never finished it and I don't think I ever fully understood how to play it. Actually, I don't even really remember much about my experience with it apart from not having any fun whatsoever.

Final Fantasy XII was the second FF i enjoyed (first was FFX, oh and FFVIII so thats third), I tryed to play FF7 but couldn't force my self to finish it...

Story is excellent, one of the best in my opinion, and gameplay is so well made i couldn't stop playing....

Well if it lasted 500 hours it wouldn't be enough for me....
Can't wait for FFXIII...................................