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PS2 | RPG | Final Fantasy XII

Boxart for Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XII 136 screen shots
  • GRAPHICS: 4.50
  • SOUND: 5.00
  • CONTROL: 5.00
  • FUN FACTOR 5.00
  • AVG USER SCORE 4.5
  • AVG CRITIC SCORE 4.7
Winner of the GamePro Editor's Choice Award

First Look: Final Fantasy XII

First Look by Bones | 09/05/2006 | 23:22:23 PM PST

New features aside, the real show stoppers in FFXII are the incredible 3D environments. Rather than using pre-rendered backgrounds for your characters to explore as in previous Final Fantasy titles, FFXII instead sets you free to roam through a deluge of massive, architecturally complex, and drop dead gorgeous environments using a simple over-the-shoulder third-person perspective.

Waking through the sprawling, multi-leveled metropolis of Rabanastre, we were amazed by the size and grandeur of the bustling city streets. And while the camera did a fine job of tracking our movements through the crowded city streets, we also had full control of the view with the right analogue stick, giving us a picturesque look at the towering heights and plunging depths that surrounded us...all rendered, of course, in remarkable.

Not surprisingly, Final Fantasy XII looks incredibly good for a Playstation 2 game. Though it's not up to par next generation titles, this game looks about as good as any game can on the five year old console, and shines with incredible character and level design (combining elements of Vagrant Story, Final Fantasy Tactics and FFXI).

The cinematic cutscenes also look expectedly amazing, capturing all the intense drama and action in high style. In a break with tradition, Square Enix has emphasized in-engine cutscenes, leaving the more lavish pre-rendered cinemas only to particularly breathtaking moments. You won't mind, though, because even the real-time cinemas look better than most of the pre-rendered moments in previous Final Fantasy games. The audio also shows off a fantastic, booming score that's more reminiscent of the Final Fantasy Tactics games. And with miniscule load times and nigh-seamless transitions between locations, FFXII looks and feels like the return to greatness fans have been yearning for.

Fantasy Fulfillment

There is a reason this Final Fantasy XII sold over 1.3 million copies on first day of release in Japan -- it is simply that amazing. Put simply, this game has the potential to capture the crown for the best title in the series when it hits stores on Halloween. Die-hards will also be pleased to know that a special collector's edition -- containing a series of features, interviews, trailers and art galleries -- will also be available in a cool metal case exclusively at GameStop and EB Games stores. Final Fantasy XII is nearly here -- the wait is finally over!


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