I have to say, I'm impressed with this game. Usually Final Fantasy games have world-shattering consequences but the plots are pretty straight-forward. There's the good guys fighting the bad guys, everybody has their own plot line, and the bad guys are always opposed to the good guys. In FFXII, I loved the political intrigue and varying motives on the part of the Imperials as well as the fact that even the main bad guys weren't evil, they simply had different goals than the heroes. All-in-all I would say that this is a game of details, overall it's what we've come to expect in terms of quality from Square-Enix, but where the real genius lies is in the details. Graphically this game is stunning. The monsters are all pretty, the cinematography in the pre-rendered scenes are on par (if not exceeding in quality) with many full-length feature films, and in general the movements of the characters were crisp and smooth. As I mentioned above though, these things are to be expected from Square. What really impressed me was the attention to detail. For example when you talk to an NPC you could zoom in the right way and see their mouth move. From the normal camera angle this is all but invisible (at least on my TV) but the fact that it's there made me happy. Other things like the details on Balthier's guns, like adding little pinwheels to them (look on the butt of his first gun and you'll see it) aren't big things, however the attention to detail was highly appreciated. The soundtrack to this game is incredible (again, expected from Square). There's not really much more I can say on this. There were times when I wasn't even aware the music was playing and others where it was clearly heard and enhanced the tension or mood of the scene perfectly. Also, contrary to some "town music" in other games, the music in the various cities in FFXII did not grind my nerves and was actually rather pleasant. After all this impressiveness, it's a shame to have to talk about the game's weaknesses. The biggest problem I had with this game was the spell queue in the battle system. In the beginning of the game when spells are simple and lots of enemies don't cast it works perfectly, no lag, etc. In fact I like the general concept of the gambit system and the new approach to combat. However, later on when spell animations start getting big (Blizzaga was where it started for me) the spell queue begins to go haywire and has caused the deaths of multiple characters when I started a healing spell and it would get stuck in the queue and the battle would grind to a halt. Overall, however, a stunning game, and maybe if you don't follow in my footsteps and leave your PS2 on for days on end you won't have problems with the spell queue. Definitely worth buying.

Can't complain about the graphics or sound. They're some of the best you'll find on the aging PS2. Facial animations and the amount of detail in everything is amazing. And VERY few framerate drops. The control isn't bad either, it's sufficient to what is needed. Although the menu system can be cumbersome at times when trying to hunt down a particular special attack or spell. The Gambit system (programmable AI for the characters) definitely comes in handy. Without it, the game would be a micro-managing nightmare. It's nice that Square made the game to be played an unlimited number of ways with the various weapons types and skills unlike some of the earlier games. It allows for a lot of flexibility when it comes to character development and equipment. Unfortunately, money is hard to come by, unless you like killing critters for hours upon hours, leaving little resources to experiment. Still, the game is pretty easy to lose 100 hours in if you feel like doing some exploring or taking contracts from NCP's to kill special MOB's in events called Hunts. There isn't a whole lot of sidetracks like minigames in this one although I did come across some cleverly hidden sidequests. And you have Hunts, a lot of them. Some are extremely tough and require some puzzle solving. The story is alright, nothing too spectacular and pretty much standard fare for Final Fantasy. I do have a gripe about how the story progresses. After you complete one part of the story, the next part is in an area farthest from where you are nearly every time. And the best way to go, so you're not so short on levels or money, is by foot. Other than that, not a bad game.

Awsome gameplay,awsome battle system,awsome storyline,good music,great characters.Overall a hard ass kicking rpg.You play as a boy named Vaan Ratsbane and he and his friends are embarked on an adventure to take back whats rightfully theres rabanastre the city they live in.They are sort of pickpockets but just to survive. You have to play this game because I have not beaten it yet.Get this game now you won't be dissapointed.

I got this game for Christmas, and decided to play it after finishing FFX (which I had also recently recieved). I haven't gotten very far in the game, but so far, I am very pleased. The storyline is intriguing, and the graphics are pretty good. It can be confusing at times, but it's really only when you aren't paying attention to the conversations, which generally tell you what you need to do next.

Final Fantasy XII is the best one since VIII. But what makes a game great is a game with no hinderences to experience. That means liabilities should be nill for a game to truly get a 5.00, as many say it deserves. However, for all of the innovation, depth, and charisma, experiencing Final Fantasy XII is like experiencing sky diving with a parachute that may or may not open. To the specifics. Story line was great, except, interaction between characters left the whole story line in a skeletal state, or just plain malnurished. While complex and interesting, the characters do not display themselves often enough to get a smooth quality developement like in other Final Fantasy games. Having them interact on side quests would have added tons more to the game and cut down on the next liability, the side-quests. From finding ultimate weapons to hunts to rare game, Final Fantasy XII is merciless when it comes to any other obligation in your life. Many events aside from the main event are rediculously time consuming, detracting from potentially enjoyable experiences. From running in and out of an area to change the weather to slaying super-monster's with attacks that cap out at 10k, Final Fantasy saps time away from game play, and life in general. You don't get much more inconsiderate than that. Technicks, Espers, and Quickenings are all monstrous liabilities. Many-a-boss was I stuck at until I stopped using my Quickenings. Chance plays way too much of a part in this game to make the experience streamlined or enjoyable. Finding the ultimate weapons is not only unrewarding, but taxing. Some people can enjoy it non-the-less, but the game is an absolute nightmare for exestenialists who have other things to do. I liken the game's sidequests to its very own cursed shield. Their awsome, but they have so many liabilities that just aren't worth it.

Final Fantasy XII is just... wow. The graphics are superb in gameplay and the cutscenes,although a tad long sometimes, are just mind blowing. The controls feels smooth but the battle screen and all the menus can get quite confusing sometimes, but only when first starting. It's intricate storyline and the few and far between save crystals can keep you playing for hours on end. It is one of the best games that I've played in a while and is second only to Genji:Dawn of the Samurai. A great game overall.

this finaly takes a little time to get used to the new action menuu but once you get used to it, it is one of the best games i have ever played, not takeing anything away from finaly fantasy VII. i would recomend this game for every one that has a ps2.

One of the bes Final Fantasys i have ever played. If there is one drawback it could be that there should be more slots on the customization page, other than that it was great game, the ending will blow your mind!

I am one of the biggest FF fams around. I love the series, and think that it has been one of the most influential in teh gaming industry. With that said, I had high hopes for this game, which, sadly, were only partially fulfilled. In the end, the reviews of gaming sites and magazines led me to expect too much from this late PS2 title. Story is phenominal as always. Graphics look sub-par comared to FFX. The camera and new battle system are my biggest complaints. I have not been able to perfect using the camera and in the end i keep runnign into walls and enemies that I don't mean to. The battle system also feels like it drew a lot of the action and control away from me. The tunr based combat amde me feel like i controlle dthe battles fluidly, but now in FF12, I feel like I am just along for the ride since it is entirely possible to let the characters run the entire battle. Unfortunately since it came on the eve of the next gen consoles, this game feels a little bit behind the times. Square knows how to make a great RPG, which is easy to find here, but the old formula worked, and making FF closer to a MMORPG doesn't quite feel right.

There were a lot of differences between this Final Fantasy and its predecessors. First off, the new Active Deminsion Battle system that completely changed combat into real-time and gave it a more natural feel. Next was the Licensing system for acquiring of new skills and abilities that allows for even greater customization of your characters. Third, more of a focus on the storyline instead of certain FF mainstays like a love story, certain focus on a single character as the main character, etc. Concerning the third difference, many gamers were probably a little relieved about that. Even I was a little. However, the game does possess some drawbacks. For instance, the camera control could have been fixed up. Many times during the game little frustrating, but nothing you can't get used to, so it's not too much of a hassle. Also, as I mentioned before, there is a big storyline focus, so with the exception of the side quests, the game is pretty linear and not too difficult to complete. Besides these too minor gripes I have, this game is a perfect example of what a Final Fantasy game should be.