The Final Fantasy XII Thread!

[schild]

So so so so so so so, who else is spending Monday/Midnight til Saturday night playing FFXII? I am. First time I've been excited for a Final Fantasy since 7. And if I don't finish it before Guitar Hero 2 it'll never get done. SO! Who's with me? Who will be playing this game regularly enough that we can actually talk about the content (even if we have to put absolute spoilers in black)?

And yes, I've had enough "hands-on" time to be this excited... and if you're thinking what you're thinking than you're probably right.

ROUND 1! DISCUSS!

[Trippy]

I'll be getting it but I'm hooked on PSU so I don't know how much I'll be playing it initially. Also when I play FF games I progress very very slowly since I take the time to do all the side quests and level up my characters.

[ahoythematey]

I'm with you!  I fucking hate your opinions of the 360, but you've got my full support here.  FFT was a godsend to gaming, I'm hoping they recapture the magic.

[schild]

HEY MAN, YOU CAN HATE MY OPINIONS ON THE 360. BUT YOU'LL BE IN MY CAMP WHEN LOST ODYSSEY DROPS.

CONTINUE FROTH.

[ahoythematey]

Probably.  I'm pretty weak when it comes to rpgs.

I have wild arms alter code F despite fucking HATING the original ps1 game.

People are broken, I am people.

[stray]

I'll get hooked for the first day, and then take *very slowly* from there.

[Moaner]

I work 4 consecutive 12 hour days starting on the 1st :(  I'll play till my eyes bleed on the 5th though.

[Merusk]

I'm still debating picking it up.  I wasn't that jazzed by the demo on DQVIII so it might wind-up like 8 and 9, where I pick them up down the line as the $20 'green stripe' version.

[Miasma]

I wasn't terribly thrilled with the demo either, but it didn't have any plot so that was probably the reason.  I also still feel nauseous about buying X-2.  I'll probably wind up getting it after I finish Bully though.

That's an awesome cover, are we actually getting that or are they saving the good stuff for Japan?

[Fabricated]

I post in more places than just here, and at most of those the filthy pirate types have been playing the english version of FF12 for over a month and a half.

Word is that it's very very very good. Better than any of the previous FF titles. Great plot, great characters. The pretty-boy character on the cover is basically an ancillary character and was only made the initial focus of the story and boxart because some suits high up didn't like Balthier being the frontman. Of course, the plot still revolves 99% around Balthier and Ashe, it's just that the pretty-boy gets most of the box.

[Velorath]

I'll probably be going back and forth between this and NWN2.  Haven't been much into Square since the end of the PS1 era where they abandoned what could have been promising series like Vagrant Story and Parasite Eve.  Aside from the Kingdom Hearts games which were good, and FFX which was ok, Square hasn't been too impressive during the PS2 era.  For what ever reason though I am getting a bit excited about FFXII, but maybe that's just because there hasn't been an entry in the main FF series in almost 4 years (FFXI doesn't count).

[MrHat]

I'll add this to the growing pile of games still in plastic sitting on my top shelf.

Edit: I'm weak for Final Fantasy.

[dusematic]

I've played all FF games up to 7 and including 10 AND 11.  Which is the new one most comparable to?  What is the feel of the world like?  All I know is there is no special combat screen, you just engage enemies that roam in the world and combat proceeds naturally.  It sounds like the main character isn't going to be a pussy this time?  Maybe a little grittier plot?  They should just remake FF6 with more.

[Signe]

I bought it so I'll probably be playing it although I'll have NWN2 at the same time, won't I?  I don't know what I'll be doing! 

Help.

[schild]

American Box art:


Japanese Box art:

[schild]

First post modified, game comes out midnight on monday, so less than 48 hours. Word.

[Velorath]

For those who don't know Circuit City is selling FFXII for the low price of $37.99.  It's in the Sunday ad also for anyone who likes to shop at a place that price matches.  I'm almost tempted to cancel my order on the Collector's Edition and just pick up the game at Circuit City, but I do like the look of the steel case on the CE.

[Signe]

I don't buy collector's editions of any console games because I usually end up giving them to my nephew after a while.  I like to think that's the reason I never finish them.   

[Velorath]

When it was just a $10 difference I figured it would be cool to get the case and whatever extras were on the DVD.  Now with a $23 difference in price I'm wondering how much is actually on the DVD.  If it's ends up being like 10 minutes of interviews and trailers than it would just be a waste to me.

[Strazos]

We had some kind of demo going today at work, and one of the guys played it for a bit. I haven't bothered with a FF title since 7, and I was thoroughly impressed with the battle mechanics from what I saw. If I had a PS2, this would be a must-buy.

And I hate Sony, and Squeenix by association.

[schild]

And I hate Sony, and Squeenix by association.

That's because you're irrational.

[Rasix]

I don't know which one to pick, this or NWN2. Maybe I'll just be smart and wait for the reviews.  If they both end up with good ratings, then one will have to wait for Christmas for my inlaws to buy me. I trust my inlaws more to find a PS2 game on the shelves since finding PC games can be a chore.

 

[schild]

You played NWN1, rite?

[Rasix]

You played NWN1, rite?

And liked it.  Well, I liked it when SoU and HoU were out and it was all patched up since the initial campaign was rather lackluster.  But it sounds like a better experience in this one with a proper party size and likely better main campaign (all signs point to yes).  Toolset seems rather nice too.

But I think I get where you're going here.  NWN2 will likely be a better game later on where FFXII will be the same.  So waiting for it can't hurt and can possibly help. 

Or you're just being snarky 

[Strazos]

And I hate Sony, and Squeenix by association.

That's because you're irrational.

Hate often works like that.

[schild]

Ok, now get out of my thread of love before I put you in a forum with Sinij.

[Strazos]

Did you miss the part where I praised this game?

Also, I am wondering if the action timers are based on weapon speeds? That would be pretty nice, such that people with daggers are much quicker than people with bows/2handers.

EDIT: I didn't get to pay too much attention to what was going on, as I was busy sorting the fucking GBA game slide-racks all day today. What a pile of shit...though I did find a River City Ransom game for GBA that I may have to check out.

ALSO - probably a stupid question, but any chance this will have any sort of 2-player functionality? Sort of like back in FF3 (US) a 2nd player could control some of the party members? That would be neat, but unlikely.

[Fabricated]

I am going to be such a poor piece of crap after this week. I've bought God Hand, PSU + One Month, The F.E.A.R. expansion which I didn't know came out, ate out too much, and had to buy and then rebuy a goddamn book for my poly sci class, plus other minor expenses.

[caladein]

Disgaea 2 and PSU beat FF12 to my wallet sadly.

That, and I don't have an irrational fear that FF12 will poof out of print and I'll need to give a minor organ for it on eBay like I do with Disgaea 2.

[Merusk]

That, and I don't have an irrational fear that FF12 will poof out of print and I'll need to give a minor organ for it on eBay like I do with Disgaea 2.

Crap, that reminds me.  Even if I don't get the game for a few months I need to buy the strat guide soon as it comes out.  Those things dissapear PDQ for FF games.

Fuck you for looking at me sideways like that.  I'm a completionist and I don't have time to dick around playing "find the hidden quest to the uberweapon" in a 100+hour game.

[Rasix]

Gamefaqs.com ftw.

[Merusk]

I use gamefaqs for most games if I get stuck.  For the FF stuff, I just prefer having the very nicely-formatted professional guides and tables instead of the ASCII garbage you need to print-out yourself, and never has all the info you want so you have to print out multiple different guides.

It's not about the walk-through so much as the charts & quick-reference for things like alchemy.

[Jobu]

If you can find it, I highly recommend the "Special Edition" Brady Games guide that comes with an artbook. I guess it's an exclusive to EB and Gamestop, but the art book is full of Square's usual amazing style. They picked up the Victorian fantasy style from Korea and ran with it really, really well.

[bhodi]

Isn't this the game that plays itself?

[WindupAtheist]

Saves me the trouble.  I'll play a Square game again when they learn what a male human looks like.  I liked Square's stuff back in the SNES era, but as soon as technology improved enough for the characters to go from little squat pixel-dudes to fruity femboys, I was out.