Final Fantasy XII (PS2) Preview

[RainOfTerror]

Fans who pick up Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King this week can also get a taste of the long-awaited, much-delayed next installment of the Final Fantasy series. Final Fantasy XII shakes the series to its core with the introduction of a unique new combat system, while still honoring the franchise's reputation for epic storytelling, incredible spectacle, and compelling characters. Final Fantasy XII is undeniably FF, but it's also something completely different. WorthPlaying (http://www.worthplaying.com) had a chance to check out the upcoming demo, here is a snip:

You may be boggling as you read this description of the combat engine, and for good reason. FFXII is the first console Final Fantasy game to entirely dispense with turn-based combat. However, it's not an action RPG, either. The battle system is a unique style that seems to exist somewhere between the Tri-Ace (Star Ocean, Radiata Stories) approach and the very action-oriented Kingdom Hearts style. In FFXII, monsters appear on the map and roam around in much the same way they do in Kingdom Hearts; combat begins when your party walks into an area where monsters are present.
Read the complete Final Fantasy XII preview (http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=29833) over at WorthPlaying.

[emperordahc]

Wish they'd break the series up, brand wise. As in continue w/ "Final Fantasy XII" for turn based, and then have "Final Fantasy: Online I" and "Final Fantasy: Online II", and then do "Final Fantasy RT (Real Time) I", "Final Fantasy RT II" or something.

Don't mess w/ the formula and then stick the next number in line. Make it obviously different branding so we don't expect the same things.

IMO.

[bean19]

Wish they'd break the series up, brand wise. As in continue w/ "Final Fantasy XII" for turn based, and then have "Final Fantasy: Online I" and "Final Fantasy: Online II", and then do "Final Fantasy RT (Real Time) I", "Final Fantasy RT II" or something.

Don't mess w/ the formula and then stick the next number in line. Make it obviously different branding so we don't expect the same things.

IMO.

Final Fantasy has always been much more about the cool effects and the great story lines (great until the end when they become esoteric gibberish - but I tend to forgive that and pretty much focus on the character part of the endings rather than the overblown and uninsightful philosphical tones).

I'd be happy with a turn-based Final Fantasy too, but I won't be turning my nose up at this game just for breaking the formula. It is still probably going to be fun, and it is still going to look beautiful. . . although, that might not remain true if they really won't release for 10 more months. By then, next-gen consoles will be well and truly entrenched and even the best-looking older games will look like ass in comparison. I remember playing FF IX after I had played Skies of Arcadia on my Dreamcast and lamenting over how bad the game looked.

[JazGalaxy]

I kind of see this game as people getting their just deserts. When FF7 came out with the new "final fantasy is one big movie!" brand of gameplay, old fans were upset and new fans were like "shut up! This is how it is now and it's better!"

Well... to FF7 8 and 10 fans... "Shut up. This is how it is now."

I have no idea if it's better or not...

O_o

[Imelman]

Most players can expect to spend about forty-five minutes playing it, and then the next ten months arguing about it on message boards.

FFXII is going to SUCK! :p

[Rirath]

The only Final Fantasy that I believe didn't deserve to be in the main numbered lineup is XI. Final Fantasy Online would have been fine, but compared to every other game in the lineup, it just doesn't fit.

[endrom]

I just want a RPG where the main character isnt a teenager and looks like a um, A guy.
I Won't be picking this one up unless i hear something amazing like the blonde main character shown gets killed and is replaced with a black guy or something.

[EvilBob46]

I just want a RPG where the main character isnt a teenager and looks like a um, A guy.
I Won't be picking this one up unless i hear something amazing like the blonde main character shown gets killed and is replaced with a black guy or something.

What's with people not playing a game because of how a certain character looks? Who the f cares?

[bean19]

I just want a RPG where the main character isnt a teenager and looks like a um, A guy.
I Won't be picking this one up unless i hear something amazing like the blonde main character shown gets killed and is replaced with a black guy or something.

This is one of the things I love about Japanese RPGs. The "kid" in this game is actually a lot more buff than I am. Also, I get described by girls often as "cute" but never as "handsome". So I find these characters a lot more relatable than pretty much EVERY character in games made in the U.S. I tend to think that the flock of 14 year olds that both Tidus and I resemble and who are a large portion of this game's audience would tend to agree. (Btw, I'm much older than 14, being a Junior in college, but I'm freakishly young looking as I am 5'9" and only weigh 125 lbs.)

I'm happy with the compromises too though. I'll play a Han Solo/Indiana Jones type, and relate pretty well to the storyline, but while I enjoy some games that feature Duke Nuke'em clones, it is never because the character and/or story are interesting or relatable. I'll never be invested in their emotional dilemnas (as if they have any) like I have been with characters like Link, Cloud, or even Sora (of Kingdom Hearts fame).

One of the things that most games do terribly is characterization. Those who do characterization right are nearly always huge successes. The only game with superior characterization that has not done incredibly well (that I can think of off hand) is Psychonauts, and they were by no means bankrupted as pretty much everyone I know owns the game. Of course, everyone who I know well enough to know what games they own is also a gamer, so that's a pretty weak thermometer.

[The Great Gatsby]

What's with people not playing a game because of how a certain character looks? Who the f cares?

Its the same as the retarded graphics whores who won't play a top quality game cuz "them grafix is da kiddie, yo."

[Imelman]

Its the same as the retarded graphics whores who won't play a top quality game cuz "them grafix is da kiddie, yo."

Yeah! I loved Windwaker!

[endrom]

Its the same as the retarded graphics whores who won't play a top quality game cuz "them grafix is da kiddie, yo."
Alright its not becuase of that, honestly i think the whole kids saving the universe is over done, to death. I really jsut want some originallity in my games. Not the same formula over and over again. big hair and swords was okay for FF7, but that was the 90s. welcome to the year 2005 where being original is looked down upon i guess.

[Rirath]

honestly i think the whole kids saving the universe is over done, to death.

Not the same formula over and over again. big hair and swords was okay for FF7, but that was the 90s. welcome to the year 2005 where being original is looked down upon i guess.

Then don't get your stuff from Japan, because seriously... that's their bread and butter.
Long before, and long after, the 90's. Might as well ask the US to stop making sports or FPS games.

[JazGalaxy]

It's just nuts how people seriously think that Final Fantasy original. HOW IN THE WORLD, can someone who has seen any anime at all, or played any Final Fantasy games before FF7 think it was original? I give Nomura credit for the wicked art direction, but that is all that game has going for it. The charachters were weak, the story was trite (been done a million times before in anime), and the gameplay was shallow (compared to previous FF games or the likes of Chrono Trigger).

[endrom]

Then don't get your stuff from Japan, because seriously... that's their bread and butter.
Long before, and long after, the 90's. Might as well ask the US to stop making sports or FPS games.
I know man your absolutely right. Fps's can be unique though, a Japanese first person perspective game called breakdown was. which i thought was pretty good. Got it for $20 bucks and even though it was alot like the matrix but with aliens, it was alot of fun punching and kicking in First person, becuase aside form riddick you dont really do that alot. back to the point, I won't be picking up FF12 becuase i fear the over used, unoriginality of the game will make it bland.

[JazGalaxy]

There are lots of really unique RPGs out there, and indeed there were far more before the whole movie thing became popular. People don't WANT those, though.


The Xbox, in fact, has kind of turned into the "RPG alternative" with fantastic real RPGs like KOTOR, Deus Ex, and Morrowind. The 360 looks to carry the tradition with Shadowrun (WHOOO!) and Mass Effect (KOTOR spiritual sequel) and of course Oblivion. I'm looking forward to seeing what developers take a chance and bring more PC centric games to 360.