Final Fantasy XII
From FFTogether
| Final Fantasy XII | |
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| Publisher | Square Enix |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Platform | Playstation 2 |
| Release Date |  March 16, 2006  October 31, 2006  February 23, 2007 (INT) August 9, 2007
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| Rating | CERO: A / B (International Version) ESRB: T OFLC: M PEGI: 16+ USK: 12 |
Final Fantasy XII (ファイナルファンタジーXII ~ Fainaru Fantajī Tuerubu) is the twelfth title in the Final Fantasy series, developed and Published by Square Enix. The game was designed by Yasumi Matsuno, Hiroshi Minagawa, and Hiroyuki Itō; Written by Daisuke Watanabe and Miwa Shoda; Featuring the art of Akihiko Yoshida. The game was released in 2006 in Japan and North America; the Pal and international version where released in 2007. The game kept some of the old elements and themes of previous Final Fantasy titles, like monster names, summons and Chocobos.
Two million copies where sold in Japan alone, making it one of the most popular video game of 2006. A sequel, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, was released for the Nintendo DS in 2007. With new improved costumes for the returning characters.
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Gameplay
Final Fantasy XII introduces the Gambit System, which allows the player to create a list of commands to be carried out automatically in combat on how they are set. An example is setting a gambit, Ally: HP <70% - Cure; which will have the character to cast Cure on a character who's HP is below 70 percent.
The game also introduces the License Board, which is similar to Final Fantasy X's Sphere Grid. However, levels are present in the game. Through battle, characters gain 1 LP (License Points) for every monster they defeat regardless whether or not they are in the active party or not. In the License Board, players can spend License Points which they gain from battle to spend on new skills; or to equip certain armor and weapons. On the License Board, a skill or equipment will be highlighted gray if the item is not in your inventory. You must purchase both the License and the skill/equipment from a shop before you are able to fully use it. On the License Board, you will also find Quickening squares. Quickenings are special and unique abilities for each character. Purchasing a quickening for one character on their License Board makes the square they purchased it on disappear for every other character. There are three quickenings for each character, each time you buy a new one; it increases the characters MP.
Summons make a return in Final Fantasy XII as Espers. The player must prove their strength before them in order to use them. Once the Esper has been obtained, they will appear on each characters License Board. Only one character can have the Esper, although it does not matter who you give the Esper too.
Characters
Spoiler Alert: The part below contains spoilers. (Skip Spoiler)
Playable Characters
- Vaan - The main protagonist and male lead, however not in the traditional sense. The story is simply told and seen in his point of view. Vaan is a orphan living in Rabanastre's slums. He is a thief who is seen in the game to steal from Imperial Soldiers. His best friend, Penelo, always tries to keep him out of trouble. After a current of events throughout the game, Vaan ends up being involved in the war along with his new friends. His brother, Reks, was killed in the battle at Nalbana and this made him grow a hate and rebellious nature towards the empire.
- Ashe - The female lead of the game. Full name being Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca. She is a princess fallen from grace after her announced suicide from her uncle, Halim Ondore IV. She went to the underground and seeked Vossler's aid, taking the new name of Amalia. She is the last descendant of the Dynast-King, King Raithwall. Before the events in the game, she was married to Lord Rasler of Nabradia before his death in the battle at Nalbana. Later, her father and the king of Dalmasca was assassinated; which fueled her hate towards the Empire.
- Basch - He is a fallen knight of Dalmasca after his twin brother Gabranth, a Judge Magister of Archadia ruined his name by assassinating the king of Dalmasca in his name. He was arrested and charged with treason, and being thrown into the Nalbana Dungeons. Due to his disgraced name, this has caused him to be hated by both Vaan and Ashe; both of whom lost someone close to them. Basch was originally planned to be the main character of the game, but Square Enix shifted the focus towards Vaan and Penelo.
- Balthier - A sky pirate who travels around Ivalice on his airship; the Strahl. Along with his partner Fran. He ran away from his father, Dr. Cid and assumed the name Balthier. His real name discovered to be Ffamran Mied Bunansa late in the game.
- Fran - Balthier's partner and a member of the Viera race. She is considered to be a master of weapons and is also a skilled mechanic, she is in charge of maintenance on the Strahl.
- Penelo - Vaan's best friend. She is Vaan's love interest, although she does not have any direct involvement in the game's plot. In Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, Penelo was given a more female lead role and the game increased her releationship status with Vaan.
Temporary Playable Characters
- Reks - Vaan's brother and a soldier in the Dalmascan army. He is the only family Vaan has left and chose to fight for his homeland and his deceased parents. He was severely injured by Basch in the battle at Nalbana but was able to later explain the events. The Empire's methods, and the person who stabbed him as well as the assassination of the King of Dalmasca; Basch. He later died of his wounds, which led Vaan to swear revenge against the man who killed him.
- Larsa - The fourth son of the Emperor of Archadia's son and brother to the main antagonist, Vayne. He has come to believe that war is not the answer and seeks whatever way to stop it. When he first meets the player party, he goes on the alias Lamont to disguise his family name.
- Vossler - A former captain of the Dalmascan Knights who now fights against the Empire in the Resistance. He once fought alongside Basch at the Nalbana Fortress and now works to restore the kingdom he always serves.
- Reddas - A mysterious man who claims himself to be a sky pirate. In reality, he was once a Judge for the Archadian Army; his name being Judge Zecht. He vanished without a trace after being responsible for destroying the entire kingdom of Nabudis with a piece of nethicite. He later took refuge in the Balfonheim and drove out the corruption of the port town, taking the new name of Reddas.
International Version
- Zodiac Job System - There are now 12 different License Boards instead of one which each character shares. Each License Board represents a zodiac, which also represents a job for that character. Once the player has chosen a job, they may not change it at any time over the course of the game. Below are a list of jobs with their corresponding zodiac signs:
The game also has a Trial Mode which the player must fight through 100 stages of strong monsters, awaiting a battle with all 5 Judge Magisters towards the end. The game also introduces controllable Guests and Espers. Guests and Espers can have their Gambits changed as well. There is a Speed Boost; using the L1 button, you can speed up the game to speed up exploration. There are miscellaneous changes to the game including to Items, Equipments, Shops, Magicks, Treasure Chests and Enemies. New items and equipment have been added, others have either been removed or have a change in battle parameters. Some Magicks have been renamed or moved to a different category of Magick. For example, Bravery and Faith are now White Magick instead of Green Magick in the original. New enemies have been added as well as a change in others. Treasure Chests can now been respawned by just moving a screen away and coming back. Some Treasure Chests now contain new items as well as being switched around. Shop inventories have now been changed.
The game now has two New Game Plus options; Strong and Weak Mode. In Strong Mode, all characters start off at Level 90. In Weak Mode, all characters stay at Level 1 and never level up. The game's Damage Limit has been removed and it is now possible to hit over 100,000 damage with a weapon.
