[PS2] Final Fantasy XII

Having played FFXI extensively, I was immediately reminded of it when I first checked out the demo that came with DQVIII (actually I played the FFXII demo before even touching DQVIII, go figure, that's the power of Final Fantasy name for you). It would seem that FFXII is indeed, to a degree, trying to create the idea of the vast world of an mmorpg in a single player game. Combat was similar to using the menu system in FFXI combat, something I didn't often do (since you could use keyboard macros), but nevertheless, reasonably functional.

All in all, I'm glad to see the attempt at change since Square really needed to try to shake things up, I'd gotten to the point where I was wondering how good another FF game could be if it just blatantly copied the same formula again. So change is good, sure, they aren't going as far as say, Xenosaga II with it's complex break system in combat, but hey, it's a change, and the real time nature of the combat will undoutedly provide a different experience as the game goes on (though I'm still wondering a little about how "long boss fights" will work).

The story is another thing that I'm a little unsure of at this point, it certainly looks involved, and perhaps more "grown up" than some of the past FF games which could once again work to it's advantage in terms of change. After games like the Xenosaga series, Square definitely had their work cut out for them in the story category, the teen drama mixed with swords, magic, futuristic technology and summons wasn't going to work this time (well it would have, but it would have made the game seem a little lackluster compared to some recent titles imo).

The characters, appearence wise are the one thing that really haven't changed much at all in comparison to previous FFs imo, although it was nice to see they do have a few "races" established (another key "mmorpg type" element) which is nice to see, one being a little similar to Freyas race from FFIX it would seem. As far as their storylines I haven't read enough to really, really say a whole lot, based on the intro to the demo it sounds like we'll have some interesting backgrounds though, FF characters rarely disappoint in any case.

In the end I'm just as excited as everyone else to try this game but I definitely don't see it as the end all be all of PS2 RPGs. It shows that Square has hopefully realized that it is not invincible and that they, like other companies need to keep coming up with innovative systems, stories and characters to keep people interested, lest the Final Fantasy series be topped by games like Dragon Quest VIII (of course, since Enix is now part of Square, this is sort of strange sounding), and the upcoming Xeno III.

How ya doing, buddy?

Does anyone know exactly how the Diamond Armlet works? Mainly so far as, does the person wearing it need to be in your current party of 3 for it to affect chest loot, and is it ever a bad idea to use it?

I know you're not supposed to equip it when grabbing the Zodiac Spear chest in Nabudis but that's no big deal since I already have my spear. It clearly seems to be increasing the amount of gil in some chests but if anyone knows exactly how it works I'd love to hear more, thanks.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

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Once down there, it only leads to dead ends which go around this semi circle like area, and I don't have the Sluice Key

For the return to Garamsythe, you have to look for some small stairs which cross over into the other areas, I was confused by this as well at first since they are not marked on the map (so if you go only by the map, it appears as if you have no where to go but in a circle back to the save crystal area). Keep poking around the edges and you'll see the stairs (basically a small set of stairs that goes down then another that meets it going back up).

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I never actually got Bravery. What do it do?

Bravery increases attack power... pretty uber spell really, I can only assume you didn't do too many hunts, of course, as such, you wouldn't really need bravery since hunts are the main time it shines, but it's awfully nice to have regardless.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

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I get horny when I walk into my cabin and that cabin attendant bows down to me. I'm sick minded.

have you met Elza yet?

........

<3 <3

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I actually kinda like the simple look of the Zodiac Spear, Fomalhaut doesn't really look that intimidating either compared to some of the other guns but it sure does deliver.

I'd say the thing that annoys me more is since there's no way to remove the poison effect when you have the Ensanguined Shield equipped, you don't really get to see what it "normally" looks like since the character in question will always have that purple tint. Oh well, it's a minor thing.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Just for the hell of it, since I knew it was the only concurrence I hadn't yet performed, when I fired up FFXII tonight I immediately threw a level 3 quickening on the nearest mob in Giruvegan to see if I could pull off Whiteout.

First attempt:

1) Pyroclasm off the bat
2) 1 quick shuffle, Flame Purge
3) Resplendance with no shuffle (at this point I start to figure I'm lucky just to get the first 3 level 3's off that quickly)
4) lots of shuffles... no dice until I'm at less than one second and I don't get a level 3 on the mist charge I do get... attempt over

Second attempt:

1) Shatterheart off the bat
2) Element of Treachery with no shuffle
3) 1 quick shuffle, Maelstrom Bolt
4) shuffle, Mist Charge for Ashe, gets level 1, quickly shuffle again, gets Maelstrom again... (getting slightly excited knowing I'm one lucky level 3 away from nailing it)
4) lots of shuffles... Fran gets Mist Charge... just a level one, I fire it off in my state of overexcitement... about 1 second left...
5) Balthier gets Mist Charge without a need for shuffle... and wouldn't you know it, Element of Treachery, mission complete!

So yeah, I got Whiteout on my second attempt (about 4 minutes spent total), not trying to brag or anything since it's totally just random luck, but after what I'd read on this thread, it was a little humourous =9.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Spatula

Reposting the unanswered question (maybe it was answered, but I can't see it because lol):

Are there any save crystals in the Necrohol of Nabudis.

nope, it's just you and your trusty charge gambit here (and god knows that's gonna happen plenty, with those friendly oversouls using annul all the time).

FELIPE NO

I was actually surprised at how hard it was to find and start the fishing minigame. Not being a fan of word scrambles, I faqued my way through that part as well, and all things said and done, I think I went from downstem to fully done with Lu Shang Badge in something between 2 and 3 hours, counting the time spent to run around from place to place finding the clues, and back to Barheim etc.

What can I say, the fishing game was a pretty big letdown compared to something like say, Xeno III's HaKox, at least, if you're a fan of twitchy button pressy stuff like that.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Gambits are a godsend when you have tendonitis too =0. I absolutely cringe at how much more my left wrist would probably hurt right now if I had to input every single command manually.

Anyway, I just recently beat Zodiark (my characters were 65 and 66), and by far, the key to the last 20% was swapping in Pheasent Netsukes just before someone would use a phoenix down so people would be revived with full hp (otherwise I had 2 characters with bubble belt, 1 with opal ring). After that, the bubble-belt wearers could actually live long enough to avoid an endless cycle of death, and the opal-ring wearer could nuke Zodiark with flare or scathe, etc. Of course there's always the element of luck with darkja and the black masks... could be a full heal or a full wipe, usually somewhere in between.

Originally I had tried using 3 opal ring wearers to "finish him faster," but all that did was cause people to die almost instantly upon being revived due to not having enough hp to withstand a melee attack, let alone another scathe from Zodiark. I haven't done Ultima yet so I guess that's next, then maybe I'll finally have to give in and level to 99 to tackle the ultimate side bosses,

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Think it took me 5 tries to get that Fomalhaut behind Antlion, I didn't wear Armlet either, who knows, maybe take it off and try again.

There's nowhere I can't reach.