The Offical Final Fantasy Game Thread

[Avalanche]

I could never play the Japanese version. The story is key to Final Fantasy games. I'd need to understand the story to get the most out of it.

 

[Anubis]

Well, there's always "Japanese for dummies".

 

[Avalanche]

With the type of language used in Final Fantasy? That'd be no good.

 

[Anubis]

Yeah, you just know there's gonna be talk of Mythological and existential mumbo jumbo that most people barely understand in English, much less in one of the hardest languages in the world to learn.

 

[Iceman]

Right, a collection of reviews for FFXII. They're all good.

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps2/finalfantasyxii

100% Weekly Famitsu
10 / 10 / 10 / 10 - 40 [platinum ; Mar 2006]

100% Play Magazine
The scale of FFXII is so grand, so overwhelming, so vast, that comparisons to other video games--a proper review, in other words--borders on the impossible. [Jun 2006, p.69]

95% Deeko
This is an extremely well-crafted game and the time taken to create it is highly evident. [JPN Import]

95% PSM Magazine
Even without any special incentives to replay through it once it's over, Final Fantasy XII offers a beautiful, well written, fun RPG experience that is both long and rewarding. Matsuno's team took some real chances with the gameplay this time around, but the results are pleasantly surprising. [Oct 2006, p.56]

93% GameBrink
It’s a flawed great game. The battle system is fast and fun, yet it’s a bit simple and repetitive. The license board provides non-linear character growth, yet there aren’t that many ways to raise the characters. The towns feel alive and outdo anything to date, yet the dungeons feel all too similar and repetitive. [JPN Import]
93% Play UK
Despite the demo being met with scepticism, Square Enix has crafted a truly fantastic game that is a stunning change of pace and feel for the Final Fantasy series, but still manages to stay largely true to its roots. Beautiful. [JPN Import; Issue #139, p.60]

91% Games Master UK
After its stormy development, FF12 isn't just a worthy installment of the series, but a great RPG in its own right, one that thinks differently and feels all the better for it. [JPN Import; June 2006, p.72]

90% PSM2 Magazine UK
FFXII is a gargantuan, gorgeous game with a gripping plot, likeable characters and an interesting new combat system that injects some much-needed life into the series. Wonderful. [JPN Import; June 2006, p.44]

90% EuroGamer
Hands-down the best instalment in the series since "VII." There, we said it. It succeeds on just about every imaginable level, combining a loveable and well-designed cast and suitably twist-ridden storyline with the most unique slant on the series' traditional turn-based combat system since it went all tactical to stunning effect. [JPN Import]

80% games(TM)
Like it or not, the Final Fantasy series has come of age and this new approach to the genre is a breath of fresh air. [JPN Import; June 2006, p.108]

Lookin' good. I haven't seen any negative reviews anywhere.

 

[Iceman]

^

I do think it's odd they've completely dropped the usual summons. Ifrit, Shiva and Bahamut are series regulars, and I'm not to sure about this new bunch. They're just not familiar enough.

That said, I did look down that summon list and there are a couple of cool looking espers to pick from.

Apparantly, you only unlock 5 of the summons if you just follow the story. To unlock the rest, you need to do some hunting outside of the story.

That is strange. I hope the new ones are worthy replacements. Maybe KOTR will make a hidden guest appearance.

 

[Avalanche]

^

Some of the previous summons appear, but as enemies that can never be selected for use as an esper.

I've seen the name Pandemonian pop up a couple of times, who I remember from VIII, and Fenrir, from IX.

 

[Iceman]

Which game had the best guardian forces / summons?

 

[Avalanche]

I personally really liked the Aeons in FFX.

FFVIII, had plenty of Guardian Forces I loved, but plenty that I didn't much like too. Doomtrain anyone?

 

[Iceman]

Yeah a lot of X and VIII were good. I liked the ones from VII although some of them went on for about half an hour so weren't that practical. Remember Bahamut Zero & KOTR

 

[Avalanche]

The entrances do drag a little after the first few times. I remember Eden in VIII. Went on for bloody ever!

My favourite summons:

Shiva:

Ifrit:

Diablos:

Quezacotl:

Bahamut:

 

[Da Docta]

Shiva's Diamond Dust attack is awesome.

 

[Iceman]

Shiva, Ifrit & Bahamut are classic summons. It's a shame if they're not including any of them.

 

[Avalanche]

Shiva has always been my favourite of favourites. I doubt no other summon will ever topple her. She was excellent in FFX.

Quezacotl would probably come in second. Strange looking, and hardly a classic series summon, but there's something about it I like. Perhaps because it was my first ever Final Fantasy summon.

 

[Hack and Slash]

I could never play the Japanese version. The story is key to Final Fantasy games. I'd need to understand the story to get the most out of it.

I am able to understand 50 percent of japanese so i played it and i was happy that i beat the optional bosses at a new record time and got everything. I will be playing the english version again when it comes out just for the fun of it

 

[Trigger]

Shiva, Ifrit & Bahamut are classic summons. It's a shame if they're not including any of them.

They're included in XII, just not as summons.

 

[Avalanche]

They're included in XII, just not as summons.

In what context? Are they available to battle against? I know there are a couple of other previous summons, such as Fenrir, available in the game, but not as espers.

 

[Trigger]

Ifrit, Shiva, and Bahamut are airships. Not sure about Fenrir though. I'd have to ask a few associates about him.

 

[Iceman]

They're included in XII, just not as summons.

Ifrit, Shiva, and Bahamut are airships. Not sure about Fenrir though. I'd have to ask a few associates about him.

Not quite what I had in mind.

 

[Avalanche]

Not quite what I had in mind.

Lol, me neither.

I fear Shiva won't be quite the Shiva we know and love in airship form.

 

[Trigger]

I'm sure she'll be a pretty blue one though.

 

[Avalanche]

If she doesn't leave a trail of icy particles in her wake I'm going to be one very unhappy bunny.

 

[Iceman]

FF needs a big game to get back it's position as one of the leading (if not the leading) RPGs. The hype seems to have died down a little from the days of VII, VIII & X.

 

[Avalanche]

^

I don't know. FFXII has really good review scores across the board. I think it registers as a big game.

 

[Iceman]

Yeah I'm hoping this is the one. X-2 and XI seemed to drift past and get forgotten.