[PS2] Final Fantasy XII

Reply to Shenlon:

Spoiler:

Althought it doesn't really feel like Vaan is the true main character yet since there is not much focus on him. I hope theres some nice twist with him later.

- He's not really the main character. Much like FF6, FFXII has more of an ensemble cast. However, unlike FF6, FFXII is a plot-driven game and the characters take a back seat. They're never uninteresting but they aren't developed much either.

And it took you 18 hours to rescue Ashe? Assume you're referring to the airship raid, I was at that point within 8 hours. What *were* you doing?

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The game can be quite difficult if you're not prepared. Thankfully, it lets you know if you're in an area that you can't get out of (to level and stock up on whatever you need). I had to level up in during one of the story missions because I was getting slaughtered by the boss there.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

That's a respectable track-list but the best tracks are missing! And they even left out the Ending Theme, of all things!

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

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The dungeons near the last 1/3rd of the game are HORRIBLE (as in, the ABSOLUTE WORST I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED). They drag on and on and have no storyline, and just use the same tedious map designs repeated for like, 10 floors in a row. You feel like you're just on a treadmill for 3 hours, then the game says "enough, here's a boss" and you continue on with the game.

For a while, I was in love with the dungeons (even with the obnoxious random treasures). But then I got into the Sandsea. It just dragged... and dragged... and dragged... and dragged... and it was the same enemies... and the same tactics... and the same draggy feeling...

I gave up on the game for a while and went to TotA instead.

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

Abyss looks like a standard DVD.

I was speaking idiomatically.

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Oh, and "Mar-kwiss" annoys me over and over.

I remember when I saw the word on the subtitles and I had two seconds to think, "Please don't say it like an American. Please don't say it like an American."

Tragically, my hopes were not fulfilled.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

The game gets shockingly difficult. I was getting my ASS kicked in the Osmone Plains. I had to start running from all the enemies... which was unfortunate because I had about a dozen of them chasing after me.

FELIPE NO

FFVIII is my least favorite of the PSX FFs but it has it moments. The plot is an utter mess and the battle system a royal turd but I liked the characters and most of the music.

As for FFXII, I'm about twenty hours into it and it's pretty enjoyable. I am surprised how boring the plot is though. I'm trying to make myself care about all the things going on but right now, it's basically amounting to one big fetch quest. Go get this item, go meet this person, go to this place, kill the wildlife. Character development went on hiatus about ten hours in and hasn't returned.

Don't get me wrong, the game is entertaining but it's not captivating me nearly as much as TotA did.

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

If you had troubles with that boss, good luck with the next one.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

31 hours at the Tomb of Raithwall? Yeesh... I think I was around 12 hours at that point.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Yeah, the Elder Wyrm is pretty nasty. I suspected you'd have problems because I found Tiamat easy but the Elder Wyrm took some more work. Make sure you're at a decent level and that you have top-of-the-line equipment (the latter is ESPECIALLY important). He's not too bad as long as you keep up on curing the status changes.

How ya doing, buddy?

Honestly, if you're not able to beat the Wyrm, you're not going to fare any better if you move on ahead with the game. It doesn't get any easier.

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

Originally Posted by Forsety

Multiple status-effects, one of which being confuse really makes the fight a hair puller.

Really? Huh. The only status effect he used on me was oil. I didn't find the battle difficult as much as long. It helps that there's a helpful guest in your party. I didn't get a game over in this battle (although most of the bosses in this game have given them to me).

I was speaking idiomatically.

I had to run from all the enemies in the Ozmone plains... until I went and got better equipment. After that, the place was a breeze.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I haven't touched the game in about a week (I had just made it to the Salikawood). The mechanics of the game are still fun but there's nothing really pushing me forward.

I prefer my games with more emotion and characters who actually bother to develop. FFXII has none of these things. People keep saying that it's all about "political intrigue" but even that part of the plot is painfully underdeveloped.

Still, every time I turn on the game, I find myself wanting to kill one more panther, buy one more skill and explore the gigantic areas (aided by the wonderful music, some of Sakimoto's finest). I suppose in that regard, the game is a success. I just wish that I gave a damn about the story.

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Originally Posted by Cobalt Katze

Hehe, I must be playing a different game. I love the characters and how they interact, and there is some development for sure... can't say there isn't any unless you've played the whole thing

Considering much of the game is left, I'd say it's a case of too little, too late. Because the game is so open-ended, there are large chunks where I forget there even ARE characters (much less a plot). I'm glad that the mechanics work in a way that the game remains consistently fun to play... but at the same time, I'm hoping the next FF gives me a story that keeps me enthralled to the end.

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

Yeah, it's pretty important in this game that you keep up on your weapons and armor (which can get VERY expensive later on. I'm looking at shops that are selling armor for 10,000 gil a piece).

I personally don't find hunts all that useful. They take forever to do, they don't advance the plot any and the rewards are nothing special (at least the early ones. I haven't touched any of the rank III and above). At this point, I'm trying to finish up the game so I can start "Okami."

Jam it back in, in the dark.

For the majority of the game, I only used healing spells. Starting at Giruvegan, I spread some gambits around for haste, protect and shell. Wow, what a difference that made. I completely slaughtered the next several bosses. Of course, it helps if you have up-to-date armor and weapons (which I do).

I still don't use any attack magic.

I'm 41 hours in. If I bothered to go after the Espers (which I'm not. I never use the ones I have to begin with) and did all the hunts, I could easily see the play time doubling. I'm at the penultimate dungeon now.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I just beat it at 45 hours. I decided to check out the final dungeon on a whim (not buying the best weapons and spells) and it was STILL a cakewalk. The final battles were embarrassing (although entertaining).

Despite my overall dissatisfaction with the story, the ending was satisfying.

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

The biggest problem I have with the BradyGames guide is that it's terribly organized (without an index) and that it's incomplete. It doesn't even have maps for some of the optional areas!

On the bright side, it's certainly a gorgeous book with all the pictures and the charts are very handy (especially if you've beaten the game).

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

Originally Posted by PiccoloNamek

That is just so wrong on so many levels. Sakimoto's work is utterly brilliant.

I concur. It seems a lot of people aren't able to appreciate the complexities of his music. I think FFXII's music fit the game better than any FF score has since VI.

I was speaking idiomatically.

^

Actually, I agree with you. One of FFVIII's chief strengths were the amazing FMV sequences. Aside from the opening and the ending, FFXII doesn't have much in that arena to be impressed about (but that's partly because the in-engine cutscenes are getting closer and closer to the quality of FMV).

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I found the end boss pathetically easy and I didn't bother with most of the hunts and sidequests. I'm curious to see what it was like for you two.

(Why WERE the bounty hunters in the game anyway? It's not like they contributed to the plot in any way except to provide artificial jeopardy near the beginning)

FELIPE NO

ENDING SPOILERS

Spoiler:

My favorite exchange in the ending was when Fran suggested that Balthier was more of a supporting role type. His response was priceless. I loved the music in that movie as well, how it was building up to the final statement of the main theme just as the Bahamut was sinking. Very appropriate how the game began and ended with that melody.

And good point on the final bosses. I've had the worst experiences with the Suikoden series in that I was unable to beat the final bosses in both II and III. I did eventually see both endings but it required some effort.

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

I went in there at level 55 and had no problems. Just make sure you have shell, protect and haste cast at all times (with the best armor and weapons) and you should be fine.

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Also, holy crap. I thought I was the only one who had trouble finishing Suikoden III. I agree that the final boss/bosses shouldn't be too difficult, especially when there's a long slog through a dungeon involved.

Yup... I'd say Suikoden V is even worse (with NO save point in the final dungeon and three nasty bosses before the final one) but I vanquished that area in one try (thankfully).

Jam it back in, in the dark.