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[Kuranghi]

I have never played this game for a single second but I lived with two unemployed stoners when it came out so I think I've watched upwards of 100 hours of play, including a huge chunk of time just staring at the game playing itself with that boss with 50 health bars, Yiazmat according to my google search description

They had it set up so the damage output wasn't high but death was difficult due to conversative healing thresholds, then let it run overnight. I have no idea if thats a smart way to play or they should have came back at a higher lvl/with a greater damage output later but it was pretty funny having the TV taken over for that long of a period, reminded me of GT B-Spec. Or when my primary school friend didn't have a Memory Pak for his N64 so he just left it on all the time and one day it just burnt out and tuned off

I did enjoy watching the actual game as well, the characters were memorable and the enemy designs were mad, like those horse/unicorn sort of enemies. I remember a big mine and some grassy fields in terms of locations, also an airship

Great story, aweful gameplay.Zodiac was a bit better but still. Unlocking weapons to buy weopons really?!

This actually rings a bell, I remember my friends being pissed about something like that. One of them just lost interest and the other guy just kept grinding out the endgame content.

 

[Mr Hyde]

One of my favorite Final Fantasys. Loved it back on the PS2 and did a playthrough on PS4 with the Zodiac release. Next time it will be on Switch. The story, characters, art direction and the setting is amazing for an FF. Feels very mature, with real conflicts and events that are grounded in reality rather than fantasy. The combat system is unique and the different gambits you could set up was really fun. The job system in Zodiac made it all the better.

I was absolutely devastated when the fanbase took a collective dump on this game. All of the hard and amazing work that Matsuno did to craft the world of Ivalice and this is the thanks he gets. The man is a legend for his back to back work with Vagrant Story, FF Tactics and FF 12. Fortunately it seems like FF 12 has gotten a better reception with time but it deserved its high praise back when it released. The FF fanbase can be so toxic and ungrateful at times.

 

[lachesis]

My last FF was 9. After that, I completely lost interest. Perhaps I will give it a go one of these days.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

The Ivalice FF games are the best in the series.

They really are

FF12 and FFT are still a close second and third to FF9 in terms of my favorite FF

 

[JMZ555]

I never played 12.
A few years ago I did watch a complete movie version on Youtube and thought Story and especially Voice acting was top tier.

 

[StueyDuck]

Really wish I could get into this, 11 and 12 are literally the only 2 mainline games I couldnt finish (11 for reasons totally out of my control)

It looks like its cool though

 

[grvg]

After reading this thread, I started the Zodiac Age. I havent played ffxii since the year of it's release.

Everything they talked about wanting in FFXVI they accomplished in XII. The writing is genius. The usage of a POV character was well done and lent a lot of credibility to the story imho.

 

[Ceadeus]

The game was made in heaven

 

[vodka-bull]

Story was too convoluted in politics for me. Gameplay on the other hand was perfect. And I love Ivalice and every game that plays in it.

But protip to everyone who likes bunny girl: FF14 has loads of them!

 

[diffusionx]

I want to love FF12 but every time I play it I just get bored. But I've been thinking about giving it another (fourth or fifth) try on PS5.

 

[Generic]

I remember giving up on this game when I realized I would have to cross another area filled with wolf trash mobs.

 

[Alexios]

Should have played more like a next gen Vagrant Story.

 

[Kumomeme]

i like to see they revisit the foundation of the combat system with action hybrid twist like 7 remake. for example the gambit system can be set based on combo done, hp % or distance with target. they could make a combat system with cinematic choreography.

 

[Amish Prince]

FFXII is my favorite FF, tied with 6. I can't believe it's been 20 years. I remember being in junior high playing the ever loving shit out of that game. I miss those days. And I miss games like that.

 

[taylor34]

Core problem of this game is that your unused companions didn't autolevel like all the other past games, so when you get to the end and actually have to use them for some of the boss fights, they're completely useless. They either needed to make them not needed for the boss fights or autolevel the guys you weren't using. I just remember having these stupid boss fights at the end where for some reason I had to use these guys that were at half the level my other characters were.

I did not think FF12 was nearly as good as 9 or 10 before it.

 

[Gp1]

Core problem of this game is that your unused companions didn't autolevel like all the other past games, so when you get to the end and actually have to use them for some of the boss fights, they're completely useless. They either needed to make them not needed for the boss fights or autolevel the guys you weren't using. I just remember having these stupid boss fights at the end where for some reason I had to use these guys that were at half the level my other characters were.

I did not think FF12 was nearly as good as 9 or 10 before it.

https://www.nexusmods.com/finalfantasy12/mods/460

 

[Roni]

Well. There ya go. 20 years to output 13, 15 and 16 tells ya why younger people aren't interested in Final Fantasy.

 

[Signalis]

FF XII was the first mid FF game. Mostly downhill since then. Rebirth is the best FF game since X-2 and that's a remake. I'd take Lightning Returns and FFXIII-2 over XII.

You have no idea what you're talking about

 

[Exentryk]

Love FF12. One of the best and unique combat systems ever in an RPG.

 

[icecold1983]

Half the players love it, Half think its trash. Not the makings of an amazing game.

 

[Hudo]

Love FF12. One of the best and unique combat systems ever in an RPG.

It's one of the very, very few RPGs that made a real-time with pause combat system fun for me.

 

[Oberstein]

I have a complicated relationship with this game, like others have pointed out before me. I started it on PS2 but never finished it, and I recently picked up The Zodiac Age.

But after about thirty hours, I ended up dropping it again… It has everything I should love: that semi-open structure, the music, the absolutely incredible art direction, the lore that seeps through every corner, etc. But the story just never really takes off.

I know it was inspired by The Hidden Fortress, but the characters lack depth. Vaan feels too generic, likeable enough, but clearly forced into the story. Same goes for Penelo.

And thank God for the fast-forward option in combat, especially for grinding, because otherwise it's painfully slow.

I should probably give it another shot, but time is tight. Still, it has to be said: the level of detail in this game is insane for a PS2 title. It's honestly hard to believe when you think about it.

But hey, as Final Fantasy entries keep getting worse, the older ones only gain in value and this one is no exception.

 

[Judge Magister]

But the story just never really takes off.

The story editing is unbalanced unfortunately. On one hand it's cool to elaborately have the story presented, on the other hand running out of time result in a rushed ending. Let's say it ended up being neither a Theatrical Cut neither an Extended Cut.

I'm hoping for a GOG release to have an excuse to replay it.

 

[Pejo]

Anybody else like the original version instead of IZJS?

Also, one of the worst parts for me was the randomized/RNG treasure chest loot. Felt awful in a mainline FF game.

Fran's one of my favorite all time FF characters, and the worldbuilding was really solid. I am also a huge fan and veteran of FFXI, so the gameplay was really enjoyable for me. I even like the macro based party control, I wish more games used it.

 

[riko]

When it came out I was kind of mid on the game. It was fun but the story had the story kinda fell apart in the final act. Looking back on it, it was the last Final Fantasy game I enjoyed. Probably should replay it, maybe on the Steam Deck.

 

[mopspear]

I love this game. Now go.