First Impressions:

I’d like to start this review off by saying I’ve been a long time Final Fantasy fan. From playing the old Final Fantasy “III” on Super Nintendo before I even knew what RPGs were, to getting Final Fantasy VIII for Christmas one year on the first non-Nintendo console I’d ever owned, I’ve since fallen in love and played every entry in the series, even so far as to pick up the original Final Fantasy III. However, none could compare to what I felt when so many years later, I saw the announcement for Final Fantasy XII in a copy of Electronic Gaming Monthly. With a totally different feel from old Final Fantasies, and yet still possessing that oh-so-familiar Squaresoft sheen, I was hooked from the word go.

Finally, October 2006 rolled around, and I finally got to play the finished product I’d been waiting for. As soon as I put the disc in my PS2 and fired it up, I was blown away by the production going into the opening video alone, and the seamless integration into the title screen and opening scenes of gameplay were flawless. There was simply no denying it. Square had done it again, and this time they were taking no prisoners.

Graphics:

As usual, Square is at the top of their game when it comes to graphics. Heck, make it the top of everyone’s game. Even if you’re not a fan, there’s no denying that Square makes some of the prettiest games in the business, and the latest Final Fantasy is no exception. The artists have totally outdone themselves this time, going for a very different feel this time around. Akihiko Yoshida of Vagrant Story fame has done the character design for this Final Fantasy, and it certainly shows.

Aside from the typical androgynous male lead found in Vaan, almost all of the characters are shown in a much more realistic light compared to most other Final Fantasies, especially the more recent ones. The styles are more conservative--save for Fran, of the rabbit-like Viera race. Adding to that, the coloring is much more subdued. Gone are the bright pinks and purples of Final Fantasy X’s Yuna, to make way for dull browns, blacks, and grays for a much more natural feel.

To those of you who are fans of such opulence, however, not all is lost! The many environs you and your party will venture to are just as grand and bright as ever. The opening city of Rabanastre alone is a grand, bustling desert metropolis, filled with huge crowds and colorful decorations. The next city too, Bhujerba, floats high in the sky, with gaudy ramparts and bright plant life scattered throughout the streets. These types of areas contrast very nicely with the dullness found in such areas as the dungeons of Nalbina, where all hope is lost, deadened by encroaching darkness and dusty floors.

Finally, the art style on a whole has received a total facelift since Final Fantasy X, and it’s amazing the game even fits on a single DVD. Gorgeous videos that look better than we’ve ever seen are very frequent throughout the game and often quite lengthy, but even the normal graphics put anything else on the console to shame. Final Fantasy XII Is truly a work of art, clearly pushing the Playstation 2’s power to the limit.

Sound/Music:

Many of us know by now that long-time series favorite Nobuo Uematsu is no longer with Square, and many fans were a bit nervous to see who would step up to fill such grand shoes. Fear not, as composer Hitoshi Sakamoto has more than risen to the occasion. The music definitely has a different feel compared to the melodies of Uematsu, but Sakamoto does a wonderful job of pulling you into the world of Ivalice. Featuring sweeping, bombastic marches, and quiet, pensive moments, every piece seems perfectly suited to the scene it’s used for. However, I do have one qualm about the score. Compared to Uematsu’s works, I’ve found that the soundtrack to Final Fantasy XII simply isn’t as enjoyable to listen to on it’s own. Without the accompanying scenes, many pieces seem to fall flat. This is merely an opinion, of course, and the music is by no means in poor quality, so your mileage may vary when trying it out for yourself.

Gameplay:

This is the segment a lot of fans have been worried about. From the minute Square announced the drastic changes to Final Fantasy’s once-familiar battle system, the internet was in an uproar. Fortunately, I can say the battle system is much more enjoyable than ever before, and incredibly streamlined to make for a very pleasant experience. Gone is the Active-Time-Battle structure of Final Fantasies past, to be replaced by a Final Fantasy XI-like real-time system. There are no scene transitions, and all combat happens directly in the field.

When it comes to the actual battles, you can handle each team member yourself, or you can let the game’s AI handle things for you. This is done through a system called “Gambits.” Gambits consist of two parts, an action and a target. Both of these can be either found in treasure during game play, or bought in Gambit shops in various towns. From the Gambit menu screen, you create a target and an action, and then set it to a character. For example, you could have Fran set to cast Cure on any character that falls below 80% of their hit points, or you could have Ashe set to cast Fire on any enemy weak to that particular element. Many detractors say the game plays itself by this system, but I can assure you that is far from the case. Not once did I feel like I wasn’t a part of the battle, and boss fights are more grandiose and stressful than ever. Every time a major battle popped up throughout the dungeons, my adrenaline was pumping like any fast-paced action game!

Enjoyment:

Final Fantasy XII is by far the most enjoyable game I’ve played in months. Numerous other releases of the month, like Namco’s Tales of the Abyss have been relegated to temporary shelf duty as Square’s latest effort commandeers the PS2. The game play makes leveling entertaining, and every bit of the game shines with polish and perfection worthy of the long years it took to finally see release.

Overall Impression:

Overall, I would have to recommend this game to any and all PS2 owners. The plot is riveting, and you honestly care about each character in your entourage. Coupled with the music, art, and entertaining game play, this is truly a legendary game. I will be the first to tell you I’m not a huge Final Fantasy fan, as well, and even hated the oft-praised Final Fantasy VII, but you’re only doing yourself a disservice if you pass up Final Fantasy XII.

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