Title: Final Fantasy XII

Date: 03.30.2006

Genre: Console RPG

Platform: PlayStation 2

Developer: Square Enix

Publisher: Square Enix

(Review continued...)

Clan Conquest

Those familiar with MMORPGs may already be familiar with the idea of undertaking missions/quests for rewards, hunting for specific monsters, or helping out your clan to improve its reputation. (Additionally, those familiar with Final Fantasy Tactics Advance will also find familiarity, as well as a certain Mont Blanc). XII features a much more open-ended vision of progression such that the player is frequently given the opportunity to undertake side-stories and quests that have little to nothing to do with the main story, but which yield major benefits. Additionally, as you progress throughout the game, the party earns Clan Points which can be redeemed for rewards of increasing value, as well as a prominent reputation.

While the prospect of monster hunting might not be appealing to everyone, the game does not always force you to partake on these extravagant search-and-destroy ventures. Players who wish to plow through the game and see little the world of Ivalice has to offer can more or less do so, however given the challenge at hand, it is most certainly better to find “excuses” to engage in combat. The idea of working for a larger team definitely brings some of the MMORPG feel along for the ride, yet at the same time, those gamers who dislike multiplayer experiences can feel comforted in knowing that it’s all you.

Musical Madness

For those who felt that the long standing series composer, Nobuo Uematsu, could make of break a Final Fantasy game, you may be surprised to learn that XII fares quite well with the “meager” offerings of the gifted Hitoshi Sakimoto. Very well indeed. With the Final Fantasy Tactics series under his belt, as well as the now-classic PSOne game Vagrant Story, Sakimoto serves up musical melodies that work perfectly with the game’s settings and environments. Perhaps more importantly however, they serve to totally distance XII from its ancestors with compositions that are truly original and which do not rehash key pieces of music from earlier ones; this is a totally original score that works perfectly with a totally altered game. Each track has such sophistication, such beauty, such magnificence to it; sometimes it’s amazing that anyone could actually create such perfection.

Additionally, voice acting is equally resplendent. Whereas so many other games adhere to immature, stereotypical “anime cliches”, XII seems to elevate itself far above such nonsense with mature, endearing acting and spot-on personality matching. It goes without saying that Japanese voice stars are truly worthy of being classified as actors, however those who lent their talents to this game have truly done an incredible job that is to be commended.

A Crisis of Character

Given the combat “woes”, many skeptics immediately lodged charges that XII would feature severely diminished character interaction, a washed out story, and a de-centralised plot. The prospect of undertaking Missions as opposed to following a linear progression of events served to entrench this belief even further. Lo and behold, however, the powers that be recognized that XII is most certainly an offline game, and even more importantly-a Final Fantasy installment. No corners were cut at all and in fact, as one might easily argue, the character development and story arcs have never been as epic and rewarding.

While each of the game’s main characters could easily be found in dozens of other games and settings, Square managed to imbue them with a sense of life and tenacity that is a rare find in gaming. Aiding the writing brilliance are some of the most impressive character models seen to date-on any console. The protagonist, Vaan, for example, looks like a living cartoon yet still realistic enough to fit appropriately in the highly stylized and heavily detailed environments. It goes without saying that the “pastel wash” graphical presentation used to smooth out what might otherwise be jagged polygons does some major justice to this game-it is almost tantamount to a modified version of Square’s Unlimited Saga yet presented in total package (as opposed to said game which used “comic panels” to tell the story).

Additionally, despite the absence of Tetsuya Nomura (the man responsible for Kingdom Hearts, as well as the character designs of Final Fantasy VII, VIII, X, X-2, and XI and many other Square games) the artwork is positively fantastic. Featuring a more European looking cast (and setting) compared to the more Asian/Japanese assortment seen in Final Fantasy X, these characters are truly some of the most striking bunch in gaming. From the innocent bad-boy looks of Balflear to the sweet charm of Penelo to the questionable intentions of Vayne, each of the game’s central cast members is littered with detail, expression, and attention.

War and Peace

Without giving away any specific details, the story of Final Fantasy XII is truly an epic tale filled with deceit, heartbreak, love, tragedy, adventure, and magic. By far the most mature installment in the series, the game opens with a cinema tour de force showcasing a hostile takeover, a murder, and a mystery. As in real life, there is much at hand when one nation decides to take over another by force; when countries are at war with one another. Somewhere in the middle of this prolonged crisis, this state of eternal conflict is Vaan, a pirate in training who wishes for nothing more than to sail the skies. Little does he know that his dream will become a reality, and that his actions may very well shape history itself. Then there are the menacing Judges, individuals of massive power, stature, and prominence…the end result is a total package like no other.

Some gamers expressed concern over the prospect of party members joining so close to the game’s start, and gaining access to an airship so quickly; previous FF installments saw a staggered party membership system and the airship as a final mode of transportation. These individuals need not fret however, because although things are somewhat different than the “norm”, they work wonderfully. Because XII does not suffer from the “tunnel” linearity syndrome that plagued FFX, you simply must have an airship to travel to-and-from the expansive regions. In terms of story bonuses, consider that having access to most every party member from the first few hours means more opportunities for character development and plot-something that has never held true for “last minute” party additions thrown in near a game’s climax. Rest assured, however, that there will be many surprises in store, as NPCs can and will join your party as “Guest Characters”, ensuring that the line up remains diverse throughout the adventure.

Those gamers worried that Square let too much out of the bag with their PR blitzkrieg can also rest easy as-like always-their “scenario outlook” is just that-a glossing over the setting of the events that take place prior to the game’s start (or immediately after) leaving out basically everything that occurs next. While it would be difficult to claim veteran RPG addicts will find anything revolutionary or astonishing about the events in XII, suffice to say that this is truly a story of amazing quality and quantity which may very well be the best tale ever told in a Final Fantasy game.

Price for Perfection and Critical Controversy

As with any game, Final Fantasy XII is not perfect. Combat, for instance, can be quite unbalanced with high level monsters cruising in immediate proximity to those of weak capabilities. Cities, while large, can sometimes be a hassle to navigate through in light of loading times and size. The fact that the game’s full-scale area map (accessed by pressing “Select”) always lists the goal location totally defeats any element of player exploration if viewed. Related to this, many of the dungeons and environments are somewhat repetitive and consist of unrealistic paths and spaces that feel less like a natural landscape and more like a constricted location designed specifically for a videogame. Finally, at times the game can get repetitive with generic fetch quests and errand running, the likes of which plague every RPG in existence.

Obviously depending on what one considers a fault, there can be an unlimited number of additional grievances lodged against this product. Fighting may be too “hands off” for some gamers, AI-dictated party activity might seem out of place in what was once a traditional RPG series, save points are few and far between, the story might not be as benign as some would have hoped, the License Point system may not offer enough gameplay “depth”, etc. As with any review, the faults and praises are totally subjective however those listed in the proceeding paragraph detail some of the more “agreed upon” issues.

It’s worth paying special heed to three particular “touchy” issues however:

1. As others have complained, the game offers no Auto Run ability. For those unfamiliar with MMORPGs, many of these games allow the player to input a simple command sequence to initiate an automatic running process so as to alleviate the tedium with manually traversing such large environments. In crowded areas (like cities) XII has no real need for this, but with respect to the dungeons and “overworld” locations, some might find it tiring to have to constantly control your lead character.

2. Many gamers have been outraged by the lack of a “reversible” camera control setting. While XII is the first offline FF game to feature a truly 3-D world with a 100% player controlled camera (if desires), the mapping which Square used to facilitate this is unnatural to most people and hence cumbersome. Many expected the game to allow players to customize the movement to their desired alignment however there is no such feature.

3. The final issue of immense controversy (at least for those who don’t have the game or demo) will be the manner in which you obtain Gil. In the past, Final Fantasy games used the unrealistic “defeated monster drop” method wherein by some otherworldly means, wild, savage beasts would apparently be in possession of stockpiles of money on their person. In XII however, you obtain only Experience and Licence Ponts by defeating opponents; Gil must be obtained from other means (such as completing side-quests, selling various types of items, or finding it in treasure boxes). While this may seem fresh, there are times when the issue will boil down to sheer repetition and may become annoying as players search for rare and valuable items just to buy an item less they manage to undertake a Clan Mission that happens to pay off in money.

Manifest Destiny

Given the endless development process, it would seem logical that XII would either be absolutely enthralling or else a major disaster. Fortunately, the former is most certainly the case and everyone benefits. Many wonder how XII can possibly feel like a Final Fantasy game when it seems so different. The answer, to be perfectly honest, is that it doesn’t. Final Fantasy XII is so unique and inspired that it’s in a universe of its own. Were this a stand alone entry in a brand new series, it would be reasonable to assume Square would have a major contender for a long running franchise. At a quick glance, it might seem as if XII borrows too heavily from the MMORPG genre, it does not in practice. Put aside concerns about the gameplay “disaster” and realize that this is a dedicated single-player experience offered by a company that knows damn well how to make single-player RPGs. You can expect the world of a Final Fantasy game and should assume no less of XII.

Although the radical change in design elements and gameplay concepts may not please everyone, there is little denying their polish and refinement…or their potential for fun. The best manner to approach XII is with an open mind, with an appreciation for the hard work of some very talented individuals, and for a company that-despite falling from gaming “perfection” in recent years-still holds true to its laurels where things really count. If one considers “Final Fantasy” to mean nothing more than a prehistoric combat system with state-of-the-art visuals, then “yes”, this game may loose face. If one considers “Final Fantasy” to be a name synonymous with fantastic storytelling, thoroughly realized ideas, wonderful music, charming characters, and an epic quest, then “yes”: This sure as hell is Final Fantasy.

Game Score

9.4

Reviewed By: Ashley Winchester