A Final Fantasy XII

Final Fantasy XII is the latest game in the Final Fantasy Series as such by Square Enix. As with any main Final Fantasy game it follows a unique storyline as does its predecessors like FF10, along with different characters. It is an amazing game, one of the best game ive played for the PS2 and definitely one of the best Role Playing Games (RPG) ive tried.

It is set in the world of Ivalice, with two Empires by the names of Rozarria and Archadia fighting each other continously in war. The game starts with an introduction scene as FF10 does, it starts  in Dalmasca’s capital city of Rabanastre, where  the marriageof Princess Ashe of Dalmasca and Prince Rasler of Nabradia is interrupted by the Archadian Empire’s invasion of Nabradia, and where you play out an introduction as Reks. Then you start the game properly in Rabanastare set two years later than the video.

The gameplay features live fighting and battles rather than morphing into an appropriate battleground. Which makes the gameplay more realistic than previous titles such as Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2. And like Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 you get guest party members that fight alongside you, however unlike Kingdom Hearts, you can still use your three ‘normal’ party members as well as have the guest. You can use different weapons such as guns, swords, and carry shields and various other equipment.

In this game, you use the license board to purchase licenses to use better weapons, and aquire Espers. You can only buy the Espers with points on the License Board after you’ve found and defeated the Esper. Espers by the way are beings that in the game are created by the Gods themselves and you can summon  their power to aid you in battle, like the Aeons in Final Fantasy X. There are 13 Espers in Total, each with their own element, and overdrive as it were. However you can’t actually fight or play as the esper as you could in Final Fantasy X. Also you can visit other cities and regions by using the Airships, as public transports.

The good points of the game: The creatures you fight against or hunt are well designed creatures, such as the T-Rex like creatures, the Flans are still present from previous games. The story line is very good and intricate, but can be slightly confusing at times. The characters of the game are very likeable with my favorite being Balthier, Ashe, Vayne Solidor and Penelo.

The bad points of the game: You can’t maximise the HP or various other properties for your Espers unlike in FF10 where you can max them out completely, rather in FF12 they grow levels. There is no love story to it unlike again in Final Fanatsy X.

I strongly suggest that overall if you haven’t played the game yet, it is worth buying just for the experience.