Final Fantasy XII

[Kkun]

Sweet goodness, I wish I had time to play it.

[Nate]

This only further cements my intent to never buy it, but I thought I'd post what Penny Arcade recently had to say. You guys know that like myself, they've been against it from the very beginning, even petitioning for it to "not suck." Well, Gabe posted a bit of positive news about it, praising it, so I thought I'd share it with you guys.

Kara and I started playing FF XII last night. Only got a few hours in but my initial impressions are actually positive. It’s interesting, Kara is the one playing it and she actually really likes the move away from random battles and turn based combat. Apparently those are not the things she likes about the FF series. She’s a WOW player and FFXII is essentially an MMO without the second M or the O. Last night we were taking quests and grinding mobs. It’s a beautiful game and I really enjoy watching it, I'm not sure how much I'd like playing it though.

Before it came out I couldn’t understand why they would change the combat system so much. In fact after playing the demo I really thought it was terrible. Now seeing Kara play the game it makes sense. It’s not bad, It’s just not for me anymore. It’s for a different sort of gamer and that person will really like it.

[oro!]

Hmm...I just don't know if I can stand the fanservice. The game sounds cool, but would it tempt those I play with *ahemmaleahem* somewhat too much in that area?

[GrubbTheFragger]

Hmm...I just don't know if I can stand the fanservice. The game sounds cool, but would it tempt those I play with *ahemmaleahem* somewhat too much in that area?

I beleave you are misunderstanding. I thought the same thing. The meaning of fanservice is that it has alot of content from tactics. Its more the fanservice of watching a anime and the animater decides to throw one of his other charecters from another anime to make his fans happy.

[Cognitive Gear]

I love the move away from random battles. I've never liked them, and it was always my biggest complaint about any FF. I don't understand exactly what there is to like about them in the first place, to me it has always seemed like an old game element that's been kept for no other reason than consistency.

Personally, I love the "changes". I actually hope that this sets a new precedent for FF: That the battle engine does not need to always be the same thing with new ways to obtain abilities tacked on.

Also: I honestly don't think that this game should EVER fall under the category of action RPG. Sure, things happen in real time, but they also always have with ATB.

[Radical Dreamer]

I love the move away from random battles. I've never liked them, and it was always my biggest complaint about any FF. I don't understand exactly what there is to like about them in the first place, to me it has always seemed like an old game element that's been kept for no other reason than consistency.

Personally, I love the "changes". I actually hope that this sets a new precedent for FF: That the battle engine does not need to always be the same thing with new ways to obtain abilities tacked on.

Also: I honestly don't think that this game should EVER fall under the category of action RPG. Sure, things happen in real time, but they also always have with ATB.

No random battles = ++ for me. XD I always found them bothersome and a major hindrance to any real progress in the game. That's probably why Chrono Cross is my favorite game, rather than FFVIII--I loved both of them to pieces, but you have to admit, taking two steps in FFVIII just to find that you've been launched into another random battle is a tad annoying. XD

(Not saying I don't like FFVIII, 'cause I do. Love it, actually. I'm just saying that I don't like random battles. XD)

[Kkun]

I love the move away from random battles. I've never liked them, and it was always my biggest complaint about any FF. I don't understand exactly what there is to like about them in the first place, to me it has always seemed like an old game element that's been kept for no other reason than consistency.

Personally, I love the "changes". I actually hope that this sets a new precedent for FF: That the battle engine does not need to always be the same thing with new ways to obtain abilities tacked on.

Also: I honestly don't think that this game should EVER fall under the category of action RPG. Sure, things happen in real time, but they also always have with ATB.

I agree, it's not an action RPG in any sense of the word, at all. The time flow of the battles is THE SAME as ATB, it's just that there's more going on at once.

[blue elf]

I actually prefer the type of battle system where you can see all the enemies in the area and possibly avoid them, and I'm glad more rpgs are using this method recently. Random battles just tend to get on my nerves. I'm not really far enough in FF XII yet to judge the whole new battle system, since I can't really use the gambit system yet, but I don't really have any complaints about the system so far.

[Myoti]

Ditto ikimasu. If anything, random battles were probably just an excuse for the old (NES) games, since it typically may have been harder to fit that much at once or something. It really shouldn't have been something that's gone on for this long.

[Solid Ronin]

I so want this game. But I have no money and im still playing Dark Cloud 2 ,pwning Noobs in Metal Gear Online....and getting pwned in MGO.

[Tommy]

I just got it and am absolutely loving it. While very different from other FF games, its new, unique, and very fun.

No offence Kae, but I find your opinion of not playing this game to be quite stubborn. You're basically saying:

"I don't wanna try anything new. If it's any different it will suck."

I believe :The Final Fantasy Series" needed a new twist because it felt like I was playing 10 versions of the same game, just with different plots and characters. Everything needs to change every once in awhile.

Then again, if you played the demo and disliked the battle engine, then that's an entirely different story.

After playing FF12, I think FF borrows from Star Wars in more ways than one. :/

[MasterDias]

The only times I've really been annoyed at random encounters are when the encounter rate is terribly high, when enemies keep attacking me when I'm trying to solve a puzzle(Golden Sun, I'm looking at you), or when I get completely lost in the blandest maze imaginable(certain parts of Suikoden V...).

Other than that, I don't mind them that much particularly. At least, they aren't a major complaint for me. You are going to have to fight a bunch of stuff to keep your levels up regardless. A large portion of RPGs have some sort of item or skill that reduces or eliminates encounters anyway...
Admittingly, I do use this at points, and would be far more annoyed if the games didn't have them.

...which leads me into...

rather than FFVIII--I loved both of them to pieces, but you have to admit, taking two steps in FFVIII just to find that you've been launched into another random battle is a tad annoying. XD

I don't remember the exact details but I remember that there is a skill(GF skill, I think) of some sort that eliminates and/or reduces random encounters. Leveling doesn't mean that much in FFVIII, so it's possible to put it on quite frequently.

Anyway, I'll probably be picking up Final Fantasy XII once I finish Tales of the Abyss. I might get it for my birthday or so.

[Radical Dreamer]

I don't remember the exact details but I remember that there is a skill(GF skill, I think) of some sort that eliminates random encounters.
Leveling doesn't mean that much in FFVIII, so it's possible to put it on quite frequently.

Anyway, I'll probably be picking up Final Fantasy XII once I finish Tales of the Abyss. I might get it for my birthday or so.

And believe me, I had that thing equipped a LOT. XD I forget which GF provides it...Quezacotl, I think...but yes, that was certainly one of my most commonly junctioned abilities. XD

[Stephen]

Just picked it up tonight. Won't be able to start playing it till I get my PS2 back from a friend of mine.

[Kawaiikneko]

Just got it Wednesday and I'm 6 hours in. I love it. Nothing else to say.

[Myoti]

I forget which GF provides it...Quezacotl, I think...but yes, that was certainly one of my most commonly junctioned abilities. XD

Diablo. =p

And sadly, I have to agree with Tom, Nate. That is pretty much what it sounds like you're saying because of this (which seems strange coming from Tom, the one who kept bashing all the Mario RP games... >.> ).

[Tommy]

Myoti, leave my past ignorant n00by opinions out of this.

Kae said he wasn't going to bother posting in this thread so I will tell you his responce to my post.

He said an example of a game series that kept their style the same and remains to be just as great if not better is Dragon Quest. He definately has a point there.

[termyt]

I'll definitely be picking up this game, but I'm not sure when I'll have time to play it. It will be played though.

[MasterDias]

He said an example of a game series that kept their style the same and remains to be just as great if not better is Dragon Quest. He definately has a point there.

That is very true.
However, Dragon Quest is not Final Fantasy.

Dragon Quest has always been about traditional role-playing. That's one of the central reasons it has been so successful in Japan, and is also one of the central reasons it has not been nearly as successful in the west unfortunately. Make any changes to that series, and you'll have a bunch of rabid Japanese fans breaking down Square-Enix's doors....

However, Final Fantasy has always been more about change and cinematic storytelling. Each game always has something different in it. VII had Materia. VIII had GF junctioning. IX was a traditional homage to the older Final Fantasy styles. X had the Sphere grid, and so forth. Some of the changes made in XII might be more major than some of those(although I'd like to refrain from making any serious comments on this until I've actually played the final game), however Final Fantasy has hardly remained a static series, especially compared to Dragon Quest.

[Stephen]

Man. I watched the opening cinema today between stints of hunting. And my goodness. If it plays as good as that opening...it will bury other Final Fantasys. It feels...very much akin to Tactics. Which I still hail as the best Final Fantasy.

[Azier the Swordsman]

Here's a little something I discovered this morning:

Azier's Nifty Early Level Up Trick

It is possible to get Vaan leveled up high very quickly at the start of the game.

First off; don't be shy about killing neutral enemies. (The ones with the green bars over there heads.)

Always cast Libra and scan them to find out their stats. Some of them will drop a huge chunk of XP when defeated. Be warned that some extremely high level neutral enemies have been dropped in that will massacre you in 5 seconds should you attack them. (Hence scanning them with Libra beforehand.)

Now, when you are in the Eastersand at the very beginning of the game, head as many screens to the north as you possibly can, till you get to a small desert nomad area. (Save at the crystal before attempting this.)

Preparations -

* You may not want to attempt this trick until your HP is around 200+. Do not dare even try it if your HP is lower than at least 175.

* Always keep several potions on hand. You can buy more from the merchant in the nomad area.

* You must have Thunder and Cure.

Okay, right outside the nomad area; look towards the oasis and note the neutral fish-like enemies. You are going to be attempting to take these on and defeat them. Be warned that they can kill you in two or three hits. However, they are easily beatable. First off; make sure there are no other enemies in the immediate area. You do not want having to suddenly have to deal with a Cockatrice appearing out of nowhere and causing much trouble. Now, ready yourself and cast Thunder twice really quick. Sometimes this is enough to take them down, but you will often have to cast it a third time. You will take a huge chunk of damage during this, so after the second time, use a Potion to heal yourself, then cast the final one. Do not use Cure as it takes to long to charge and you can easily get killed before it has a chance to finish.

When all is said and done, you will have gained 188 EXP from the battle, which is extremely high for that point of the game. Now, use Cure to heal yourself. (Don't waste those precious potions.) Make sure your MP recharges back to 24+ and then finish off the second one in the same manner. And, for the final touch, there are two easy to kill Cactoids also hanging around the area which drop around 36-40 EXP.

You can do this as many times as you want. Simply run back two screens and then come back each time to find them nicely respawned. All in all, you will gain around 455+ EXP each round, allowing you to get Vaan easily pumped up for that point in the game.

[Stephen]

I found out about high level enemys the hard way. Those big things in the desert with nasty big knives? Yeah. Took like 115 damage from one. Back to killing Hyenas...

[Kkun]

I haven't gotten that far (I'm in the dungeon with Balthier) but I have to say this...

...OH MY GOSH, I LOVE GAMBITS.

SERIOUSLY.

I thought I would hate them, but I love them. They make the game soooooo much fun.

[Stephen]

I have not really messed with Gambits yet. But I should mention, that I love this game. I still am not 100% sold on the battle system...but I don't care. I am having fun, and really enjoying the story. Oh, word of advise. Don't pick a fight with a T-rex at level like 10. Vaan hits for like 100 or somthing. T-rex one hit kills him. Steve>AHH! RUN!

[Azier the Swordsman]

You are going to learn to love gambits. For the first time; ally A.I. that actually acts/fights in a more highly intelligent manner and exactly as you want them too compared to 99% of games out there. What we need now is for Gambits to make their way into many action RPGs.

[Stephen]

Heh. Last night, I was in the part where I am searching for the tomb. So I am running around the desert, beating down those big jawa looking guys. When this big ball of fire casts firaga on all my team. I like the idea of having large enemys scattered in. But I mean, c'mon. Putting him in the middle of where you need to be, and having him be agro? Psh. No save points near either. Someone at Square needs to be punched for that.

[Cognitive Gear]

For everyone's future reference, what Ark most likely is talking about is called an Elemental. Elementals are indeed NOT agro unless you cast magic when near them, in which case they go psycho and kill you.

If they stay entirely true to FFXI's Elementals, they will drop things that are worth some very nice cash.

[Azier the Swordsman]

Heh. Last night, I was in the part where I am searching for the tomb. So I am running around the desert, beating down those big jawa looking guys. When this big ball of fire casts firaga on all my team. I like the idea of having large enemys scattered in. But I mean, c'mon. Putting him in the middle of where you need to be, and having him be agro? Psh. No save points near either. Someone at Square needs to be punched for that.

Yeah, I nearly did a double take when I came across that thing. Seriously, though. If you ever come across one of those, simply make sure that any magic gambits are turned off.

[Stephen]

Figures. I really don't use magic much. If I did around one, it was cure. Would that set him off?

[Cognitive Gear]

Yeah. Any magic of any kind will make Elementals attack you.