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Final Fantasy XII (PS2) is still a gorgeous game

Capella

Member
If they were to announce a FF XII HD remaster, it would probably be at TGS or another show and not E3, right?

Hitoshi Sakimoto (FFXII's composer) will be at the Distant Worlds concert during E3 this year, which is a day after Square Enix's conference. It could mean nothing, but with him being there an announcement at E3 makes sense.

I really really hope him being there means there will be an announcement :(
 

Kadin

Member
For some reason this game always reminds me of Star Wars, Which isn't a bad thing.
Balthier immediately reminded me (and many others) of Han. Can't necessarily say Fran reminded me of Chewie directly but in a sense, as his sidekick, I can see it.

balthier_han.jpg


Hitoshi Sakimoto (FFXII's composer) will be at the Distant Worlds concert during E3 this year, which is a day after Square Enix's conference. It could mean nothing, but with him being there an announcement at E3 makes sense.

I really really hope him being there means there will be announcement :(
Is there anything that's happened recently that points to an HD port announcment at E3 or is it just wishful thinking and basically 'due' to arrive now?
 

Jabba

Banned
On gafs recommendation years ago, finished this on my ps3 60g fat. Would love a remaster as well as others.
 

dorkkaos

Member
Is there anything that's happened recently that points to an HD port announcment at E3 or is it just wishful thinking and basically 'due' to arrive now?

I remember SE saying that they will look into making FFXII HD based on how well FFX, X-2 HD sales are. And we know FFX/X-2 had really good sales... well. Yeah haha.
 

JC Lately

Member
Final Fantasy XII was such a miserable experience.

Cool, I got this new equipment that I want to use, oh wait, I have look on the internet to find out where it is on the license board. I can't control my other party members so I have to learn basic programming to make them not useless. Once I've done that, I can basically make the game play itself, awesome. Who are the people in this story and why am I supposed to care? Why do Vaan and Penelo even exist? Why do I only remember two audio tracks from both 30+ hour saves that I wasted my time on?

Okay, I'll give you that. The license board was needlessly obtuse. Does IZJS fix that?
 

Shepard

Member
Okay, I'll give you that. The license board was needlessly obtuse. Does IZJS fix that?

You still have to unlock their use, but you can actually see where they are located in the board and they fixed the fact that everyone could end up being basically the same character by adding jobs (different license boards/skills for each job).
 
Not sure why many hate gambits, you're basically programming your teammates to do what you would usually manually input over and over again in other RPGs.

Attack
If life < 30% Use Potion
If death Use Phoenix Down
If enemy's Weakness fire Use Flare

You know, things that you 'programmed' to do in your head can now be left to the AI system.

It's great that you can put this as automatic so you can focus on positioning and exploring instead. I would even go far and to say people romanticise fiddling around with attack menus so much. I remember people blasting it, THEN a mediocre version of it was implemented in Dragon Age: Awakening and I remember THAT being lauded. It kinda pissed me off actually (Although I loved the game as well)

The game is pretty much the prototypical action RPG that we have now, and I heard the Zodiac version is even better, with a fast forward function (!!) as well.

An HD Remaster would so very much be a Must Buy for me, but looking at Square Enix's mediocre remake of FF6... well....
 

Y2Kev

TLG Fan Caretaker Est. 2009
More like "Why is this particular RPG such a piece of shit?"

Like I've never played any other RPGs before. Get out of here with this garbage.

You seem to have a problem expressing yourself. Try harder please.
 

rhandino

Banned
Obviously, opinions... but what you've described, to me, is a disappointment in that the game didn't hold your hand. The fact that the game didn't play some sentimental music and tell you what to feel.

"Aerith, died! Isn't this music sad? This cut scene was in the trailer! Feel something, yet?"

"Isn't this opera memorable!? Isn't this music memorable? You should remember this!"

"Isn't this formal ball charming? Oh, she is pulling him to dance, how romantic! Aren't you romanticized yet!?"

Final Fantasy 12 doesn't really put a lot of stock in these moments because, frankly, it is too busy being an actual world -a world that doesn't always revolve around the player, or try to hang its hat on telling the player how to feel.

You know what I remember about XII?

I remember standing on the bank of the Nebra River with Penelo for the first time and having one of the strongest feelings of place I had ever had in a single player game. I needed to get a sunstone from the Giza Planes, but decided to take a detour through the Estersand. I had fought my way through a maze-like area, saw the rebuilding efforts at Nalbina Fortress, had almost been killed by a crazy cockatrice, and even visited a group at a small encampment that was worried about their family members across the channel. Here I stood on the edge of this near crystalline river under the mid-day sun totally of my own accord and felt that there was more to the world than what the plot had in store.

I remember crossing the Giza Planes during the rains and being killed by one of the water elementals that patrolled the grounds. It led me to feeling both an incredible sense of awe at the landscapes beauty, the thunderous sky reflected through the gathering water on the ground, while also giving me a great fear of what was around the next corner.

I remember watching airships skitter across the sky in Bhujerba for the first time.

I remember being an hour into traveling across the Ogir-Yensa Sandsea and realizing everything I saw on its edge I would get to touch.

I remember approaching Raithwall and being in awe of its architecture as towering columns flanked me on either side. Then, once inside seeing the ancient fires of the past dance in the distance. Also, running from one death wall only to be greeted by another.

I think what I love about the game so much is that it is a world first and a vehicle to drive a plot second. I look back at previous FFs and my enjoyment of those games largely relies on the plot. I love Final Fantasy X, but when replaying it everything I see (even camera angles) are always the same. I round the same bend looking at the lake the same way I always do. I will feel sad when Wandering Flame kicks in, in the same place it always does, like I always do. You default to giving Top 5 Moments (tm) because moments are fixed because previous Final Fantasies are fixed. There is always something new to discover about XII because it is a world and that world is alive.

So, I disagree with the assertion that Final Fantasy XII isn't memorable.
What a wonderful post, you nailed what I liked most about the game.

I loved every single game of this franchise (except the MMO ones since I haven't played them) yet this is the one that still gave me one of the most strong impressions because the world felt so lived in...
 

rhandino

Banned
Currently playing DA: Inquisition and fucking annoyed that FF12 has a far better macro system than a game that came out in 2014.

Please help me understand.
Some people hate those systems because they feel "that the game play itself" without noticing that they can automatize some of the most monotonous and constant things (Heal, Cover, Attack) while keeping their minds on other aspects of the battle...

I tweaked my gambits A LOT and I always needed to keep putting attention on most battle unless I wanted to see my characters die, granted I never used a guide while playing the game so I don't know if there are broken combinations =P

The best scifi JRPG ever made.
That's not Xenosaga tho
=P
 

Evolved1

make sure the pudding isn't too soggy but that just ruins everything
I've been wanting to play this game again for years.
 
Some people hate those systems because they feel "that the game play itself" without noticing that they can automatize some of the most monotonous and constant things (Heal, Cover, Attack) while keeping their minds on other aspects of the battle...

I tweaked my gambits A LOT and I always needed to keep putting attention on most battle unless I wanted to see my characters die, granted I never used a guide while playing the game so I don't know if there are broken combinations =P

Oh yep, and the best thing is figuring out a good gambit combination so you can take advantage to kill higher level monsters in an area by exploiting its weaknesses. You feel like a master tactician once you manage to take them down.
 

JC Lately

Member
You still have to unlock their use, but you can actually see where they are located in the board and they fixed the fact that everyone could end up being basically the same character by adding jobs (different license boards/skills for each job).

Nice. Just being able to see what license is on what square is a win in my book. Adding jobs with unique licenses is just icing.
 

Danny Dudekisser

I paid good money for this Dynex!
This thread is really, really making me want to play FFXII again.

I liked the game but didn't love it back in 2006. Played through it again at the beginning of 2011 and absolutely adored it. One of my favorite games ever now. There's something so satisfying about the dungeon crawling in this game... both exciting and relaxing. It's weird.
 

Capella

Member
Is there anything that's happened recently that points to an HD port announcment at E3 or is it just wishful thinking and basically 'due' to arrive now?
I can't think of anything too recent, but as darkkaos mentioned, SE did say that FFXII was a possibility based on FFX/FFX-2 sales and Verendus did say that FFXII HD was pretty much confirmed . I think the other game hinted at in his post ended up being Dissidia so maybe he's right about FFXII HD too.
 

AmanoBuff

Member
Hitoshi Sakimoto (FFXII's composer) will be at the Distant Worlds concert during E3 this year, which is a day after Square Enix's conference. It could mean nothing, but with him being there an announcement at E3 makes sense.

I really really hope him being there means there will be announcement :(

Oh I had no idea about him being there just on E3 days. Well, I was already hoping for an announcement at Sony's or SQEX's conferences, and this makes it even more plausible.


With basic programming even Modbot can destroy the disgusting haters of FFXII. And all will be right in the world.

Lmao
 

Y2Kev

TLG Fan Caretaker Est. 2009
Bring back Matsuno to finish the game. Like they did with Let us Cling Together. I WILL DIE. You will all die. TLG fans will finally all go fucking away and we will all rise to heaven.
 

Fdkn

Member
I just hope they don't cheap out and remaster the vanilla version because that game doesn't respect the time of the player at all. I hated FFXII until I played IZJS, and the most important feature of that version is the fast forward button.

I can't imagine how long would have taken me to replicate my 100+h savefile on the original lol.
 

OuterLimits

Member
Game did look damn good when it released. It started off so promising but the story fell apart quickly. I remember the treasure chests driving me crazy in the game.

Beautiful game to play though, and the monster hunts were fun. Although it could have been the best in series with more fleshed out characters and story.
 

Roto13

Member
I like the original license board because I like any system that lets you completely abuse it. (That's why I like Junctioning so much in FF VIII.)
 

Sign

Member
1993:


2006:

And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. And for twenty-two years, the game passed out of all knowledge.

Much that once was is lost; for none now live who remember it.

Lord of the Rings quote for those that don't recognize it.
 

duckroll

Member
Bring back Matsuno to finish the game. Like they did with Let us Cling Together. I WILL DIE. You will all die. TLG fans will finally all go fucking away and we will all rise to heaven.

Matsuno is too busy with that Playdek Kickstarter and the bonus scenario he's making for Terra Battle! (lol)
 

Niks

Member
Are squarenix aware theres demand for this remake? I remember there was a fan survey a while back, but thats it.
 
That seems more likely to me. But they do have an entire press conference this year.

Hitoshi Sakimoto (FFXII's composer) will be at the Distant Worlds concert during E3 this year, which is a day after Square Enix's conference. It could mean nothing, but with him being there an announcement at E3 makes sense.

I really really hope him being there means there will be announcement :(

Oh, so you're telling me there's a chance then? ;o
 

Zakkath

Member
I just hope they don't cheap out and remaster the vanilla version because that game doesn't respect the time of the player at all. I hated FFXII until I played IZJS, and the most important feature of that version is the fast forward button.

I can't imagine how long would have taken me to replicate my 100+h savefile on the original lol.

The fast-forward function was awesome, but I didn't really like the license board of the IZJS version. They'd probably need to improve some classes, because some of them felt really useless.
 

HeelPower

Member
I just want higher quality sound. FF12's voices sound so terrible.

I wonder how they could improve the audio of the game.

Do they have HQ recordings of the VA and cutscenes somewhere ? The game can definitely benefit greatly from that.

As for the music,One can pretty much rest assured that SE will do an amazing Job given their track record with remastered music.
 
I think I'm going to cry.

FFXII has those moments too, you know. Reddas' sacrifice. Fran's union with Mjrn. Any number of Balthier's monologues. Confronting Bergan at Mt. Bur-Omisace. Ashe's recognizing the Occuria have been screwing with her. Those are the "fixed" moments. But I agree the "floating" moments are as special. The feeling of low-town. The sheer breadth of the sandsea. Looking in wonderment at the facade of the Stillshrine of Miriam. Feeling the virtual wind in your hair as you trek across the Ozmone Plains. The excitement and danger of the Highwastes.

FFXII is just a monstrous, sprawling game that doesn't fully deliver on the promise of the spectacular first 5 or 10 hours, but that doesn't make it a bad game. The gameplay has holes in it and I personally would love to play ZJS.

Vayne's speech in Rabanastre is a serious "when will ur fav" moment for me in Final Fantasy. What touches that? Not much.

Don't forget.

"Silence! All was stripped from me! Only hatred, for the brother who fled our homeland, remains mine! Tell me... why is it that you forsake that, which you must hold most precious?"
 
Sad really, that Alexander O. Smith isn't given more Final Fantasies to translate.
Love his work on Final Fantasy XII, Tactics Ogre: Let's Cling Together, Vagrant Story, Phoenix Wright...
 

Son Of D

Member
Guess I should have googled what the game was. Thanks everyone for answering though.

I wonder how they could improve the audio of the game.

Do they have HQ recordings of the VA and cutscenes somewhere ? The game can definitely benefit greatly from that.

As for the music,One can pretty much rest assured that SE will do an amazing Job given their track record with remastered music.

If they have the uncompressed audio files still SE can use just that instead of the compressed audio the PS2 disc had. If not they'd either have to revoice everything (yeah right) or just use the compressed audio.

OST will likely be remastered so that being compressed in the PS2 version won't be an issue.

Can you implement Gambits so we can all program Modbot?

I'll set the Gambit to lock any thread when it gets over 7,000 replies. And to also ban users if they're weak to reading the TOS.
 
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