[PS2] Final Fantasy XII

That menu screen is pretty sexy. So it carries a page from Kingdom Hearts and overlaps the menu over your characters?

I have no doubts to the presentation of this behemoth, but it's going to be a little harder to impress me completely after witnessing Valkyrie Profile 2's insanely gorgeous lighting effects.

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

30 days left.

told you it'd be more dramatic.

Anyway, I did some digging on the VA's (well, by "digging", I mean I leeched off IMDB).

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Bobby Edner as Vaan

Yeah...I haven't seen anything with this guy in it. Funny, same thing happened when I read about James Arnold Taylor as Tidus, so whatever.

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Kari Walgren as Ashe

This one I'm well aware of. Fuu from Samurai Champloo, Lavie from Last Exile, Karin from Shadow Hearts 2, and just recently Shelke from Dirge of Cerberus. She hasn't missed a beat yet, and she won't do it with Ashe.

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Cat Taber as Panelo

Again, haven't played any games with her in it (Bard's Tale, X-Men Legends), but she has experience, so it should be good.

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Gideon Emery as Balthier

Another unknown. He's pretty creepy looking from his photo gallery. It's actually a good thing that they're going for little-known VA's, instead of the overused anime regulars.

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Nicole Fantl as Fran

Senator Lexi Dio in Star Wars Episode II. I have no idea who that is, so that makes her another unknown.

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Keith Ferguson as Basch

Despite my previous statement, I was really hoping Crispin Freeman would play Basch. Anyway, this guy's played lots of background voices in games like MGS3, but his most significant role in which I immediately recognize...

Spoiler:

I was speaking idiomatically.

I saw the link last night, but I didn't watch it. I also didn't post it here because I didn't want to encourage spoilers when the game's less than a month away. Granted it's just the intro, but still.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Casaubon just PM'd me the link right now, and it's definetely within my power to download it and run if off HD Loader.

But I'm not going to do it. Even if I'm still planning to buy the game legit and just call this download "an early start", I'm not in the right mindset to start the game now. For one thing, I just started a new job, and for another I'm still halfway done with XSII and just started with VP2.

As silly as it sounds, I'm just not "ready" for FFXII yet. I'd rather use the last remaining weeks to hype myself up to the fullest, which will make the release all the more sweeter.

Now if some of you want to play it now, go right ahead. But I think maybe we should create a seperate thread for the ones who are playing the leaked version, while the rest of us who will wait it out can use this thread up until the release. Then you can just merge the two together.

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I know it sounds similar, but in AC's case, it was a resistance to the japanese version, ripped from the DVD release. Even though I still feel pretty stupid for waiting an extra 8 months, I still didn't want to watch a less-than-perfect DVD rip.

That doesn't apply to FFXII here, which should run perfectly, if not faster. But it's true, I just don't have the free time right now. Maybe I'll give it a shot a week before, but I can't really fit it into my current schedule.

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If anyone wants to spoil stuff, put it in spoiler tags, I don't see why it'd have to be a new thread.

Excited fanboys/newbies who will ignore the tags.

And also, I downloaded DoC as soon as it was available. My priority for that one wasn't nearly as important as AC or FFXII, and I wasn't planning to buy it anyway.

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

"I have been zinged!"

But still, I don't have the free time right now. I'm not sure if I'll download it or not, but I'll consider it.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Jazzflight

FFX feels like an anime.
FFXII feels like Shakespeare (mixed with Star Wars).

That does sound like the best analogy. Truth be told, most of the stories told in past FF games were pretty silly, when you break it down. Traveling to the moon on a giant whale to fight an evil alien? A wimp who thought he was a badass due to a case of mistaken identity and implanted cells from an evil entity from space (I'll refrain from calling Jenova an alien, even though that's likely what she was)? Another evil alien who seeks to turn into a giant tree to rule the world?

So yeah, past FF stories were pretty standard anime-fare. But what made the series work was the execution of those stories, along with a strong cast of characters. That said, I always found FF Tactics to have the most believable story, good enough to use in novels or movies. Themes of political corruption, betrayals, nobles vs commoners, and good old devil worship made for the darkest story of any FF title, even though I personally found the bit involving

Spoiler:

Ramza's sister as the vessel for St Ajora

too convienient to the point of absurdity.

And that is the one thing I'm anticipating the most for FFXII. I'm not just hoping for RPG of the year, I'm hoping for an evolution of RPG storytelling, ditching the age-old cliches of aliens in space, love triangles, and even (yes, even) silver-haired villains, and delivering a story that even non-gamers would find interesting.

I'm surprised not too many people (at least in this board) have taken up and downloaded the game already. That said, I'm downloading it too, but I won't play it unless I crack. I definetely won't be playing it this week, since I'm adjusting to my new job, and next week isn't too likely either, since I have a final. But the week after that is possible, if I can't stand waiting a mere seven days from there.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I continue hoping that those figures will be out in time for the NA release. I would absolutely love to pick up the game on the 31st along with one of those figures. Even Vaan looks much better now, but I still want to make the Judge my first purchase, followed by Balthier.

Speaking of the Judges, are they living up to the hype as much as Balthier is? Matsuno created some awesome villains in FFT and Vagrant Story, and I'm hoping the trend continues with these guys.

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

Yeah, I know it's not very likely they would reach NA by the game's release. I suppose I could import them, but I have a feeling online stores are going to charge a stupid amount, given the quality and newness of the figures.

I'm hearing a lot of impressions comparing the game's story to Star Wars, right down to the character types (Vaan=Luke, Balthier=Han, Ashe=Leia, Fran=Chewie). Honestly, I don't find that encouraging. I was hoping FFXII's story would be something mostly original, or at least more rooted in LOTR than SW. It's going to be a disappointment if they insist on copying Star Wars' classic but tired elements without attempting something new to the story.

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

See? I got that figure from my last convention for an even $20. Not sure if I can wait for another convention to get the FFXII ones, though.

How ya doing, buddy?

I still haven't bought Cloud, as I keep holding out for a price drop for the Fenrir pack. That probably won't happen, though, so I just need to decide if that snazzy bike is worth the extra cash, or just buy Cloud now before he goes out of print.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Man, that Kefka is freaky looking, much freakier than he looked in the game. The KH figures are due real soon, too. Hope they all remain within the $20 price line. No date for the FFXII figures. Looks like they might not even hit NA this year.

That Trading Arts Tifa is horrible. And here I thought I suppressed it from memory. ; ;

FELIPE NO

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I just hope there's some truth to those October 24th release rumours...

? I hadn't heard about any rumors, but it wouldn't surprise me. My Gamestop said that they would receive their copies a week prior to the 31st, but they aren't authorized to distribute them until the targeted date. I'm hoping they'll be cool enough to let you purchase the game as soon as it's available.

If not, the game continues to sit comfortably in my PC in case I can't hold out.

How ya doing, buddy?

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I'm more interested in Penelo. She's suprisingly cute! <3

Seconded. I hope she gets some importance or development beyond "the cute one". Loved the FMV in the trailer that has her dancing with a veil. Plus, she's Vaan's childhood friend who works in a bar and uses martial arts.

where have I heard that before.

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The info I've been hearing is that EBgames/GameStop have been telling customers that those who have already preordered the title will be able to get the game on October 24th while those without preorders can get a copy at midnight openings on the 31st.

That would be awesome. It's a week after my final and other appointments (dental, doctor, etc), I don't work the day after, and it's before Halloween. Make it so.

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I've seen her fighting bare-handed, followed by a gun (!?). I guess you can change the weapons to whatever you want.

plus the martial arts thing was listed in her profile, so I think it's a given trait.

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Also, I have heard rumours that the NA version had additional scenes that were not in the Japan version, is this true? And if it was, are the scenes added in more Penelo scenes, since alot of her stuff was cut out in the JP copy, including the FMV of her dancing?

You mean that pretty scene with Penelo dancing isn't in the actual game? Can someone give a non-spoiler answer to the above?

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

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And yes, the FMV of Penelo dancing was only in the trailers, in fact alot of her scenes from the trailers were cut, like the parts where shes being held prisoner by some of those bangaa (did I get that right?) people. That is just one problem I had with the story, among many others.

Are you serious? What, did it look too much like "OMG TEH RAPE"(although I did briefly consider that, this being Matsuno and all)? So did this make it to the NA or what.

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

I just hope the claim about the game being handed out early (october 24th) to pre-orders proves true. I talked to a GS clerk last week and he denied it. I'm all set to play the game next week, considering how busy I've been this week (dentist, final, TB test).

I was speaking idiomatically.

I'm still greatly anticipating this game, but some recent ramblings from a friend who downloaded the torrent has lowered my expectations a little. Even though he claims that this is indeed the best FF he ever played, he did list some criticisms that I feel were rather unsettling for a game that's gotten such fantastic reviews.

1. The story is short; much of the game's length is attributed to the long dungeons and exploring. Strip those away and the actual story of the game is actually smaller than it appears to be.

2. Airships are pretty useless; so you get an airship early on, that's great. Unfortunately, you can't use it to travel everywhere. Most of the time, you'll get a line of dialogue that serves as an excuse from using your airship (examples he gave included "the enemy will spot us if we use the airship" or "that area is currently sealed off". he said there were even a couple of times where they don't even bother with an excuse).

3. Lack of diverse areas; he said there was "a forest....and a desert....and that's about it." I told him that I swore I saw a winter area, but he says it was removed.

4. The scene with Penelo and the orcs, along with the Penelo FMV, are nowhere to be found.

These might sound like minor complaints, but for a game that's undergone 4 or more years of development, I can't conceive why entire areas and story bits were removed entirely. It's a bit disappointing, especially if SE decides to release an FFXII: Director's Cut later on. And you know they will.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

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1: Sure, wanna strip away the gameplay then?

No, but adding more of the story equals a longer game in total. After rushed stories that would've been far better had the extra time and emotion had been added (XSIII), I dreaded hearing that FFXII may fall under the same category. My fears quelled somewhat when the same person said that storywise, it was around the same length as FFT. But still, it's always been a habit of Matsuno to add more game than story, and I'm not saying that's immediately a bad thing, but it remains to be see if it works (Vagrant Story) or doesn't (FFTA).

I'm glad the bit with the orcs remains in the US version at least, simply because I'm against entire scenarios being removed completely.

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Yep, that's the one. It's still a big letdown this isn't included, as it's a pretty gorgeous FMV, as is all the FMV for this game (as little as there is). I was also hoping this would've ended up as a fun albeit insignificant moment in the game (like Squall and Rinoa's dance number).

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

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I guess the scene handcuffed Panelo is in captivity was cut because it could make us think of a raping incident or something and then SE couldn't release FFXII JP for all ages.

I'm still wondering if that was the original intention (wouldn't be the first RPG to imply rape), or if it was wrongly interpreted that way. I don't want to delve too much because I don't want spoilers, but it still would be a pretty controversial moment in the FF series if it was even hinted at.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

By processed do you mean they're handing out copies now? Man, don't even tease me with that. I was convinced I could wait another week, since this week I'm going to be working on painting my room (and then someone is going to change all the carpeting upstairs with wooden floors).

Coincidentley, I'm stopping by my local GS tommorow, so maybe I'll get a straight answer by then.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Too bad. Still, if all the stores receive the game in stock a week early, I doubt all of them are going to be held over until the 31st. I guess it all depends which GS/EB managers will be cool enough to hand you the game early (causing instant jealousy to those of us who have to wait it out in full, despite constant begging).

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I asked my GS clerk about handing out copies early, but it doesn't look like they're going to budge for fear of being fined by SE. They said the earliest I can pick it up is at midnight on the 31st, which is pretty pointless (I'm playing this sucker with my Home Theater turned up). It stinks, but there's no way around it (unless another clerk decides to play it cool).

And while it's nice that the Penelo FMV will be re-used in the DS game, the change in art style is a bit weird. The outfit is cute, but what's with the longer torso line?

I suppose it's nice to know that whatever lack of story Vaan and Penelo get, they have a whole game devoted to them for the DS, but that isn't quite the same as seeing them beautifully rendered and with voices.

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