Final Fantasy XII

[WhirlwindMonk]

At risk of having an explosion, what system is it on? Sorry if that angers anyone

PS2

 

[dramaking]

I wish I could say I have played it already but I did read up on it and have to eat a large ammount of crow. I thought that the game would be bad, the battle system seemed a bit to far out and it seemed a bit to Kingdom Hearts for me.
However, after reading the reviews for it I have to say that it sounds like it has a great plot that can make up for the rest of it.
And I take this opportunity to apologize to Whirlwind for some thing I said in a different thread, you were right and I don't mind saying, I am VERY glad.

 

[Dawn Marie]

Looking forward to seeing what it's like. I've been hearing a lot of good about it, other than how it takes awhile to get used to... but I can deal with that.

When I bought Dragon Quest VIII, it came with a FFXII demo... which was absolutely awful in many ways. But I'm guessing they made some changes... so... yeah... looking forward to it! I'll be getting it for Christmas I think...

 

[dramaking]

Is it worth a fifty dollar price tag? And more importantly is it too complex for a fairly casual player? I love the idea of the game but I really don't want to be stuck with an overcomplex gameplay that you can't really enjoy until you have played it twice.
Opinions?

 

[WhirlwindMonk]

Looking forward to seeing what it's like. I've been hearing a lot of good about it, other than how it takes awhile to get used to... but I can deal with that.

When I bought Dragon Quest VIII, it came with a FFXII demo... which was absolutely awful in many ways. But I'm guessing they made some changes... so... yeah... looking forward to it! I'll be getting it for Christmas I think...

Depends on what about the demo you thought was awful. The combat is pretty much the same, except in the demo you couldn't play with the gambits, which I find to be a lot of fun and really presents some strategy about how to set up your characters to be as useful as possible.

Is it worth a fifty dollar price tag? And more importantly is it too complex for a fairly casual player? I love the idea of the game but I really don't want to be stuck with an overcomplex gameplay that you can't really enjoy until you have played it twice.
Opinions?

The only thing about the game that can get complex is the gambits. I personally found it to be very easy, but I also have a lot of experience with logic proofs in math and in programming, so the concept isn't new to me at all, your mileage may vary.

 

[Dragoon]

FFXII is very good. The battle system is top notch and the freedom you get makes for a very fun experience. I'm not too far into it, but it seems to me that the story is not their best. However, it's just starting to pick up where I'm at so maybe it will get better. The only real problem I have with the game is the occasional horrible dialogue. I just have a thing about the quality of dialogue.

But overall, it is definitely worth buying.

 

[Utah Knight]

Is it worth a fifty dollar price tag? And more importantly is it too complex for a fairly casual player? I love the idea of the game but I really don't want to be stuck with an overcomplex gameplay that you can't really enjoy until you have played it twice.
Opinions?

i bought the special edition and it is worth the $60 I put into it it does not seem too complex at the moment

 

[WhirlwindMonk]

FFXII is very good. The battle system is top notch and the freedom you get makes for a very fun experience. I'm not too far into it, but it seems to me that the story is not their best. However, it's just starting to pick up where I'm at so maybe it will get better. The only real problem I have with the game is the occasional horrible dialogue. I just have a thing about the quality of dialogue.

But overall, it is definitely worth buying.

First, dude, you cannot judge an RPG's story when you're only a little bit into it. Often times, the truth of the main plot isn't even revealed until halfway through the game or later.

As for "horrible dialogue", I'm over 20 hours in and I have yet to hear anything I would call "horrible". No, it's not perfect, but it still is some of the best I've heard from a video game. I think the voices fit the characters well, and are generally well done with the exception of a few cheesy lines.

 

[Dragoon]

First, dude, you cannot judge an RPG's story when you're only a little bit into it. Often times, the truth of the main plot isn't even revealed until halfway through the game or later.

I agree which is why I say it may get better because of a major plot event that just took place where I am currently. But I think it's fair to say that a group of people trying to take down an empire is really not all that spectacular, mainly because it has been done a lot in RPGs. But that's not to say I think it's bad. I just think it's not the best.

As for "horrible dialogue", I'm over 20 hours in and I have yet to hear anything I would call "horrible". No, it's not perfect, but it still is some of the best I've heard from a video game. I think the voices fit the characters well, and are generally well done with the exception of a few cheesy lines.

*POSSIBLE SLIGHT SPOILERS*

I don't actually know how far I'm into it as far as time goes, but I just got the second summon and I have noticed plenty of bad, unnecessary, or just stupid dialogue. Again, that doesn't mean I don't like the game. It's just that better dialogue could have been thought up. Here's some dialogue I thought of:

*SPOILERS AHEAD. ALL DIALOGUE BEFORE SECOND SUMMON*

The scene where Vaan asks how old Fran is. An attempt for humor but a failure, in my opinion.

When Ashe asks Vaan if he saw her husband again, he says: "I didn't see him...I saw no one...I didn't see my brother...I didn't see anything." ...good dialogue, you say?

When Ashe says something about bad things ultimately leading to good things, Vaan adds on his comment. Something like: "I hope you're right about that." It was totally unnecessary.

Mostly it's Vaan's dialogue that is bad. I guess it was an attempt to make him the main character, though in actuality he really isn't.

 

[WhirlwindMonk]

I agree which is why I say it may get better because of a major plot event that just took place where I am currently. But I think it's fair to say that a group of people trying to take down an empire is really not all that spectacular, mainly because it has been done a lot in RPGs. But that's not to say I think it's bad. I just think it's not the best.

OK, I see what you're saying. And I guess from the second part, which I only read the first line of, you're further than me. And though a group of people taking down an empire is done a lot, that doesn't make it any less cool when the game is well done, at least in my opinion.

And an interesting thing I was told, is that there are something like 8 or 12 different plots and almost every plot (if not every) falls into one of those. So when you break stuff down far enough, many things technically have the same plot. What matters more is the little twists you put in it and the characters involved (I am personally quite fond of the characters in XII).

I will, however, reserve all my final opinions for when I beat the game and after I observe my roommate beat the game. He's significantly behind me since I started XII while he was still finishing IX, and in rewatching the cutscenes, I'm noticing little things that I didn't notice the first time that suggest correlations with things that come up later.

 

[Izzibeth]

I am not very far into the game myself, but I love it already. The graphics are amazing (I sometimes wish my television was just a little bit bigger) and I love the new fighting style they have implemented. It took some getting used to because I was so accustomed to the fighting style of FFVII and the like. But I do like a lot of the new things they have added (I have done a few of the Hunts. I think 3 so far.) and the gambits are a really good idea... almost necessary with the new fighting system.

Overall, awesome game (once you get past that loooooong beginning sequence) and I'm sure the story will prove itself as time goes on. And again.... graphics are awesome.

 

[Darth_Klim]

beat it!! super AWSOME! game!!

 

[JAS4Yeshua]

Thought I'd chime in here.

I just got this game a couple weeks ago. I'm on my wait to the Tomb of Raithwall. Currently at 21st level across the board (trying to keep everyone even). Didn't pay attention to how many hours I'm at, probably around 20 or so. The three "main" characters in my party are Balthier, Basch and Ashe. Leaving the other three as my "alternate" team.

I haven't yet used a chocobo, as I prefer to wander to gain experience. Same goes for the teleport crystals. Don't know if I'll need to use one later in the game, but I'm one who would rather wander around, gain loot, experience and LP than try to take the "easy way."

 

[willard3]

Teleport stones get real handy, especially when you're advancing the plot and then think "man I feel like doing some hunts", but you're all the way across the world from Rabanastre or somewhere.

I'm about 20-25 hours into it, all my guys are roughly level 20, with Ashe, Vaan, and Penelo as my mains. Plotwise, I'm heading to that mountain whatever you call it, but as we speak I'm building up redunkulous chains in the Sandseas (I'm up to something like 80 now).

 

[JAS4Yeshua]

I've been doing the hunts as I go along as well, and generally hanging around verious areas just to level up. I've done every hunt available to me thus far, and have accepted the wyvern hunt. That's partly why I haven't gotten to the tomb yet. My main 3 are 24th level and I switched to my alternate to bring them up to the same level. I've gotten to the second half of the sandsea, but haven't wandered around there yet. Primarily been going through the caverns and the first half of the sandsea. Will probably go into the second half with my primary group after my alternate has gotten up to level 24 (maybe 25).

 

[peterxrikuxaxel]

it's AWESOME!
my fave is Balthier (then Vaan)

 

[JAS4Yeshua]

I'm about 105 hours into the game now, my characters are 55/56 level. I keep switching between my main and alternate teams as they level up, to keep them about equal. I've completed Draklor Laboratories, and now I'm doing all the level 5 hunts currently available to me, have gained a couple of the optional espers (bringing me up to 4 or 5), and have gained the Zodiac Spear (most powerful spear in the game). I've also maxed out everyone's license boards.

I'm really enjoying the game. I'm used to these types of games lasting only 40-60 hours, and this lasts so much longer when you are trying to accomplish all the various tasks. There are some slow points, as I wander from place to place (I try to avoid teleport stones and chocobos when possible), but overall, it is worth it.

 

[joelkaziro]

Yeshua seems to have time to play this game. I only got it 2 weeks ago and it ruined my life (for the better) in the first couple of days that I played it because I am a Final Fantasy freak. I think the longest chain I've pulled off is around 30 but I'm sure I could pull off a lot more, especially around that Ogir San Yensa (those people are gangsters). Does anyone else think that Fran is way hot ?!?

In any case, I think the battle system is fantastic and will draw alot of 'on the fence' final fantasy fans into the 'I'm mad about FF' crowd.

At the minute I'm in the Spirit Wood facing some huge boss, who even after 5 times of trying, cannot get past so I'm going to do some adventuring/level building and battling before going back to continue advancing into the story. I'm going to the Osmo...(orsomething) plain because they have got some GANGSTERS there!!

I just thank God that we have such games like this. Im also an AVID Elder Scrols 4: Oblivion freak as well as a Halo fan (and need for speed - best player ever at that)

 

[JAS4Yeshua]

Time to play? That's funny.

I don't play it every day. Considering I got the game around the first of the year, I think I average about 10 hours a week. Some weeks more, some weeks less.

Quickenings help in boss battles. They've helped me to turn the tide a few times. One thing I do is try to summon first, while magic is still high, then I'll use my quickenings. Since that wipes out my characters' mp, I'll swap in a character (one only) that has full mp and do another quickening. Repeat for the other two that still have full magic as necessary. That gives you four quickening attempts in the battle. Can usually do a lot of damage that way, but you'll completely deplete your party's mp.

 

[Silent Enigma]

I've played the demo of FF12, and I liked how you didn't go into a separate screen for battles and how the other party members don't disappear when the battle is done. That aspect reminded me of Ultima 6 on my ol' Tandy.

Note-- the last FF game I played was FF3 on the SNES.