FF...back to roots? (Final Fantasy XII (PS2))

Member Name: shaneo632

Product:	Final Fantasy XII (PS2)
Date:	24/06/09 (12 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Feels more like the PS1 FF games...

Disadvantages: May alienate core fanbase...

It has been some time since a Final Fantasy game has been released that truly retained the tone of the series. Final Fantasy X and X-2 were rather grand departures from that aspect, and whilst fine RPGs in their own rights, left fans wanting for the type of game of yesteryear. Final Fantasy XII, it appears, is the antidote to this.

The PS2 has certainly been kind to the Final Fantasy series on a visual level. As, along with God of War 2, FF12 is one of the swan song titles of the console, it's no surprise that it is a fantastic looking game, and a real surprise that the console ha come this far. It wouldn't be too far stating the case to suggest that the visuals of FF12 aren't too far removed from the cut scenes of FF7, the first PS1 FF game. It is, even now, in the seventh generation of gaming, a ridiculous achievement for the hardware it is being played on, and whilst Square Enix clearly recycled some textures from the previous titles on the PS2, they have also been refined considerably.

The visuals aren't the only thing undergoing a facelift, though - the gameplay has been honed remarkably, although it is sure to be divisive with gamers, notably hardcore fans of the series. The random battles, which you will have considered either a great, easy way to level-up, or the bane of your existence, are gone, and instead, you can see all enemies before you encounter them. Also, the game doesn't shift into another mode or area as per the previous games: the environment where you encounter the enemy is the battle zone itself, which helps with speeding up battles and makes for a far more streamlined experience.

Another important facet of the game is the Gambit system - it is essentially a buffer system that allows you to, to an extent, automate the activities of your party. In its most extreme forms, it means that some battles can be fought without you even really touching the controller, although that may well take the fun out of it for some players. It is overall a helpful and welcome system that makes micromanagement of tough battles easier, although some may argue that it makes the game too easy.

There are a few little changes that I'm not too please with, though - no longer do enemies drop Gil and other goodies like the previous titles. Generally, they drop scraps and trash that you then have to sell to a merchant for Gil. It becomes quite an arduous process after a while, and whilst the previous method was absurd, this isn't exactly the most realistic series of games now, is it? Also, I'm still surprised that saving automatically restores your health and other stats - perhaps I'm just nostalgic for the older FF titles, but I always liked the Tent item!

As far as Final Fantasy games go, this feels like a return to old form. It feels a little more rustic and austere, and the dialogue often feels rather Shakespearian. Boss battles are typically outstanding, as has always been a series perk, and the sheer scale and aesthetic of the adventure is breathtaking. FF12 may alienate some of the core fanbase with some pretty drastic changes - i.e. doing away with random battles - but there is enough here that they should identify that this is an excellent slice of RPG entertainment.

Summary: An excellent RPG and PS2 swan song