Final Fantasy XII (PS2) | 
| From: Square Enix
Category: Video Games
List Price: £29.35
Buy Used: £3.99
You Save: £25.36 (86%)
New (7) Used (31) from £3.99
Rating:  135 reviews
Platform: Playstation2
Genre: role-playing-games
Rating: To Be Announced
Media: Video Game
Number Of Items: 1
Age: 11 - 18 years
Operating System: Playstation 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5050053015983
ASIN: B000EYHBH2
Release Date: February 23, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
The UK has always had a very unique taste in games, never comparable exactly to either the U.S. or Europe. As such, Japanese role-playing games have never been very successful here, even such worldwide blockbusters as the Final Fantasy series. No matter how fancy the graphics, most Britons just can't be having with the tedious, randomly initiated, turn-based combat. So it's a bit of a shock to find that Square Enix has finally come around to our way of thinking, because this game completely ditches the usual battle system for a semi-automatic design that actually has you looking forwards to fights rather than dreading them. Although you can still take manual control of a character the game invites you to set-up a series of tactics and rules for your allies before a fight, so you only have to intercede directly in combat if something goes wrong. Character customisation is also much less regimented than before and the storyline has none of the teen angst emoting that made previous games so hard to stomach for some. In fact the only major feature remaining from the other games is the stunning graphics (and they really are stunning too - probably the best ever seen on the PlayStation 2). So thorough has Square Enix been in revamping and refining every aspect of the series' formula that the only people not likely to enjoy it are die hard fans of the originals. Other than that the only real criticism you could level against it is that it doesn't exactly rival Wii Sports in the accessibility stakes, but with a game of this length and depth that's a small price to pay.
HARRISON DENT
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| Customer Reviews:
Final Fantasy Gone Off Track December 20, 2006
J. Hall (Aberdeen, Scotland)
93 out of 102 found this review helpful
I recently finished FFXII after 80+ hours of enjoyable gameplay. When I first got this game I was surprised.
The first thing that struck me as odd was the battle system - there is no random encounters! A good thing this may seem, however, I was sceptical at first as the battle system is completely (almost) computer controlled. There is a pecuilar blend of time based action and real play, making it at some times chaotic and confusing. You are able to pre-program your characters actions using the Gambit system (you can buy gambits in shops and the like). This can be useful to save time when in a heated battle, however, to a degree it does take away some of the player involvement.
However, that said, the battle system began to grow on me. It is different but enjoyable and there is some satisfaction in watching your characters perform just as you ordered them!
The skills/magic system is comparable to FFX's Sphere Grid system. It is known as the License board - bascically you need a license to use or wear anything (so if you bought say a amulet you would first need the license to wear it). You gain license points by killing enemies which you can then spend to unlock licenses on the chess like board. I found this good as you could basically assign ANY roles to your characters as each have similiar stats (for instance you may want one to be black mage and one to specialise in great swords/katanas).
The story was one part where the game let itself down. Gone are all philosophical realisations and ponderings, to be replaced by a massive political debate that seems to span the entire world. Although this is a change, I feel that Square made it too complicated for it's own good and could have possibly focused more on character relationships and backgrounds as well as it did in it's previous titles. I also feel there is a disinct Star Wars feel to the story and graphics, making it more of a sc-fi than a fantasy. However, that being said, there are plenty of sidequests to flesh out the main storyline, giving a broader perspective of what is going on.
All in all FFXII is a magnificant game, perhaps not living up to it's predecessors, but nevertheless, a great RPG. The graphics are perhaps the best to be seen yet and the absolutely massive world can take many good hours to explore.
 Feb 23rd 2007? July 26, 2006
Mr. Adam C. Calderhead (Scotland, UK.)
57 out of 98 found this review helpful
Yet another disappointing release date for the UK.
It's outrageous that we have to once again wait stupid lengths of time to play the games we love.
Games like Kingdom Hearts 2 also follow this trend, released in Japan in Dec 22nd 2005, then in USA on Mar 28th 2006, and still the UK waits until Sep 29th 2006 for ours! It's not like they're translating it, all they're doing is changing the region format to PAL, I imagine that doesn't take 6months!
Apparently we're just not worth the effort.
Here now we have a Mar 16th 2006 Japanese release date on FFXII, then Oct 31st 2006 in USA....and where are we? Yup, Feb 23rd 2007! We're so insignificant we're expected to wait an extra 4months more than the USA. By then they'll have finished the game and beaten the Ultimate Weapon.
I'm left severely disappointed as usual.
 Quit Complaining - "It's Worth the Wait" September 29, 2006
G. Pugh (Gifu, Japan)
51 out of 60 found this review helpful
So, I live in Japan and speaking Japanese makes playing the JAP version easier. The combat system is NICE! Still following an active time battle system like previous versions, you control movement, but still attack and give commands as usual. Not as action based as Kingdom Hearts, but a lot more strategic than earlier versions.
The graphics are sweet as usual, and they gambit system is a REALLY nice way to control the AI. You're led in easily as well, so nothing too complicated. The liscence system is a little like the sphere grid, but not a great fan...everyone becomes exactly the same very quickly. Loading times...hah, there's always bound to be some, DVD technology isn't THAT good yet, but it's still pretty quick. Between areas there's a delay but once you're in an area, everything is pre loaded so you're set.
The big wait, however, isn't the conversion to PAL - wake up! The US gets an easier version of the game. Japan usually has two versions of each game. The original (which the American audience get) then the Extra version, i.e. Final Fantasy 10 International. These contain any extras that were released in Japan, which also have to be included. EG. Final Fantasy 10 was SO much harder and in depth in the UK than the US version.
As it stands, I don't know if there's anything extra in FF12. I do know we had FFX-2 earlier and therefore missed out on the Extra Missions given to the Japanese market. So if there's a few months wait for the chance to have a better version of the game, who can complain? If you're desperate, learn Japanese!
I can only hope with all that time they remove those annoying American voices; either put some real voice actors in or LEAVE THE ORIGINAL VOICES IN!! There's subtitles after all. There's plenty of other games coming out, including FF13 (AMAZING!!) so keep your pants on people, it's worth the wait.
FFXII: Square-enix strikes again November 15, 2006
Laura Pentassuglia
39 out of 50 found this review helpful
They did it again, and when you thought that they could not further improve this saga! I just started playing the american version and more i dig in it more I recognize elements from FFX and FFXI. They were great in fusing the two battle systems! I just love it! I can spend hours just wondering around the different reagions fighting monsters. The possibility to choose if you wand to engage a fight or not makes the game flowing as you wish. If you are in a hurry you can just stay away from the mobs, or you can tray to chain them to get better items. Also the possibility to teleport yourself in all the reagions that you have already visited makes you free to interupt the storyline anytime you want and go back to finish quest and hunting. About side quests and huntings: they are in an increadible number, if you want to have fun I will advice to buy the guide book, better the Collectors Edition, if you can, you will have an extra book with some cool art work! The summons has changed too, they are not anymore the classical Shiva and company (which are now names of airships) but they promise to be as cool as usual and the story behind them is just amazing. In conclusion for all the FF fans a chapter that is a must! You won't be deluted. For all the others, if you like RPG or you want to have a look in what RPGs are, this is the best starting point that you can find around!
Outstanding! October 24, 2006
J. Lynch (London UK)
38 out of 42 found this review helpful
I am about 2/3 of the way through the game at the moment and i can honestly say this is one of the best games I have ever played.
I only say this after much debate with myself due to the fact I play every new final fantasy with an open mind to how the game looks and feels. Before i played Final Fantasy XII I didn't like the fact square had changed the battle system nor how the game looks so much like a MMORPG.
The opening scene can only be described as epic with lush graphics bringing you 8 minutes of total eye candy. I will not tell you what happens because you need to see it for yourself.
The batte system does a fine job of bringing you in to the game with basics that most rpg players can quickly catch on to. The command list is still here in a familar fashion as always, you have the attack command, different magic spells (white,black,time,green) and items. Limit breaks are now called mist knacks and each player can have a total of 3 throughout the quest. Summons known as espers (FF6) are obtained by first finding them and then defeating them in battle, remember only one summon can be assigned to one character and once allocated can not be changed.
As you begin you adventure you will notice two things, one is how big the areas are, especially the main city of the game Rabanastre. The streets are full of life with lots of shops and people to talk to. Second is certain areas change weather over time thus bringing more dangerous creatures with it.
The story evloves around Vaan a wanna be sky pirate who walks the streets and often steals to make a living. You will soon be introduced to Vaan's friend Penelo who seems to come from a similar background as Vaan, Fran and Balthier who is sky pirate. You go to steal treasure from the royal palace and soon find yourself involved in a star wars like battle between different empires.
The music and sound feel right for the environment your playing in with tracks ranging from epic battle music to slow temple vibes.
Before I played the game I tried and tried to find faults, I was starting to go mad because I was convinced Final Fantasy XII was not going to be as good as previous titles in the series boy was i wrong.
One game one word OUTSTANDING!
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