Product Description

Two years after the fall of Dalmasca, the citizens are without guidance and direction. In the capital city of Rabanastre, the denizens gather and await the introduction of Archadia's new consul. To Vaan, a young man living on the streets of Rabanastre, the Empire is a hated enemy who took the life of his brother, the only family he had left. In an effort to exact revenge, Vaan hatches a plot to break into the palace and steal from the occupying imperials. There, he gets more than he bargained for as he runs into Princess Ashe, the sole surviving heir to the Dalmascan throne. Together, the two will embark on an incredible journey through Ivalice, tracing the mysteries behind the Archadian Empire's invasion. The choices they make will determine the very fate of the world. License board gives the player the ability to customize each character's skills and abilities

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #546 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Square Enix
• Model: P2SQE 662248904078
• Published on: 2006-10
• Released on: 2006-10-31
• ESRB Rating: Teen
• Platform: PlayStation2
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .57" h x 5.45" w x 7.53" l, .38 pounds

Customer Reviews

Ivabeen in Ivalice
It's been years waiting for a new story in the ever-expanding universe of Final Fantasy. SquareEnix has tried very very hard not to disappoint, and so far they are sending the series off from the PS2 platform deliciously. This edition continues to grow the established stories, delving into the world of Ivalice from Final Fantasy Tactics.

It's safe to say that better graphics and sound will not be found on the PS2 for the remainder of its lifecycle. On a widescreen, 720p television, you would almost not believe this console is mere Y2K technology.

While long-time players might balk at the new battle system, it has been refined since the early demos to flow quickly and offer a minimum of tedious button-pressing. Those that wish to micromanage can still do so in a Wait Battle system, with no autopilot. The AI, especially of the monsters, is the most organic I've seen in any offline RPG. Efficient control over the survival of your party takes planning and logic skills, a refreshing dalliance from mindless leveling up to boost stats.

This opinion is writ after only 5 solid hours of play, but so far there is no disappointment to be found. Not even in the voice-over cast. Well done SQEX.

Wow
First off you should know I've played the majority of the FF games out there, all the way back from the Super Nintendo days. This by far is my new favorite from the company. The story and dialogue is very mature, which is a welcome change and kept me glued and addicted to see more. So mature it could be written as a play along the likes of Hamlet or some other Shakespearian work, no joke! The setting of the game takes place in Ivalice, which is the same world that the popular Final Fantasy Tactics takes place in, and the equally if not more excellent game, Vagrant Story on PSone.

There is more textures on all of the games environments and characters than were in FFX or it's sequel, which makes for a stunning and more realistic look to the game overall. In past games you would run through static environments. However that is not the case this time around, you are able to move the camera around freely as all the environments are in 3D. I haven't played FFXI but I imagine that is where the camera system came from. Before I get into gameplay I just want to state first that this game is long! I've been playing for over 40 hours and I feel like I'm still quiet away from the end, but 40 hours of fun! Ahem, anyway, the gameplay and combat system have completely been revamped, you don't randomly teleport into a different screen to fight enemies for example, as all the enemies are running around in the environments and you can see them! This is very nice, besides it being more realistic you can choose to avoid or to fight easier than past games. The thing is, you'll WANT to fight the enemies, because the combat system is more intuitive and more fun than it has ever been in the past with the new "Gambit System," in a way it streamlines the fighting and at the same time it adds depth to game play that was growing stale, you'll have to play to see what I mean. The character building is more open, and customizable which is also very welcome! I don't want to go on too long so I'll stop there. Oh, and one last thing I want to mention, some of the environments are just massive, almost ridicously so, which is a good thing!

Ok, let's do a brief recap, great mature engaging story, interesting characters, nicely detailed and gorgeous environments and graphics, fresh and engaging game play, hours and hours of game play, massive environments and deeper more intuitive battle system. What is there not to like? I'm very hard to get praise out of, but this game impressed me, this makes previous Final Fantasies look just silly and not worth my time.

For PS2 it is a must own for all RPG fanatics.

What Every RPG Should Aspire to Be
Final Fantasy XII is a wonderful new installment that is truly deserving of the franchise name. In fact, it might even be the best to date.

The world of Ivalice features memorable characters with personalities that break the traditional RPG stereotypes (such as happy-go-lucky-magic-girl, and dark-ominous-sword-guy). Each character has their own personality, accompanied by specific mannerisms that raise the level of realism by leaps and bounds. To accompany and flesh out the believability of Ivalice's populace is a fantastic cast of voice actors. Though their names are relatively little known, the talent and personality they bring to the characters is amazing. In my humble opinion, the voice acting of Final Fantasy XII is the best of any Final Fantasy title to date, including sequels and movies.

On another note, the graphics featured are awe-inspiring (a word that, in itself, does not do the visuals justice) both in-game and during FMV cutscenes. The settings of dungeons, cities, and nature alike are beautifully designed and executed, and, thanks to the new camera control, you can truly enjoy your bewitching surroundins. The character designs (both of the main cast and villagers) are fantastic as well, with complex, ornate clothing and patterns. The out-of-game visuals, such as the FMV cutscenes, rival graphics of even Pixar and Disney's most pleasantly pixelated love-children.

While die-hard Final Fantasy veterans may be turned off by the newly designed battle system at first glance, it is in fact quite refreshing. Revolutionary in its audacity to defy the tried and true RPG formula, the gambit and license systems are wonderful, fusing in-game exploration with combat to produce a seamless role-playing experience. Infusing a strategic edge into traditional beast-slaying, the gambit system requires a flexible finesse that is as rewarding as it is fun. The license system allows the player free range over their characters, granting the ability to choose classes, armor-types, and weapon aptitudes.

Set in a majestic world with believable characters, exceptional voice acting, stunning visuals, and incredible combat, Final Fantasy XII is a must-have for any fan of the franchise, the genre, or even just the Playstation 2. I would stay and gush more, but I'm afraid it's beckoning my name in the other room, and it would be such a terribly catastrophic shame to not heed its enticingly lyrical call.