I just finished Final Fantasy XII.

[CurseoftheGods]

My biggest complaint with the game is the mediocre storyline. It was just disappointing. The game's story starts off beautifully and very engaging, but it never feels like it really goes anywhere. I kept waiting for something grande and epic to happen, but I ended up feeling like I wasn't given much (edit: that's what she said). There weren't any surprising revelations, which I found surprising for a Final Fantasy.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

I wish we got a deeper look into Balthier's history as a Judge, though.

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The game had an awesome cast of characters. It's a shame that my favourites (Balthier, Fran, and Larsa) weren't given more screen time and character development. I found Vaan and Penelo to be a worthless addition to the cast. I didn't care for their presence and felt as if they were not needed during most of the cut scenes.

The gameplay wasn't bad but got a fair bit tedious during the end (but this is more due to the fact that I let Gambits do most of my work). I found the Mist abilities to be worthless (aside from their MP boosts), and I really wished for character jobs when I was fleshing out my License Boards. In the end, all of the boards for all of my characters were full, and they all seemed to have very similar builds and stats. I kind of want to try the international version to see how this was fixed.

The game had an incredible and inspired art direction (arguably the best of any FF game). Some of the environments left me in awe. I don't remember the last time I stopped playing a game just to take a look at the scenery. It's a gorgeous game. The game's soundtrack is just as good, and one of the best in the FF series. I found myself looking browsing through YouTube to listen to some of the game's tracks. The OST is without doubt worth a purchase.

All in all, I feel like it's a good, but not great game. If Matsuno stayed on during the whole course of the game's development and realized the its full potential I am sure we'd all be singing a different tune. Regardless, I can't help but feel as if that I and many others been too harsh and critical of this game. I feel if this was named FF: Gaiden/Vagrant Story 2/The Ivalice Story or whatever, we would all be praising this as the second coming of Christ. 

Just my $0.02.

[Himu]

i agree with what drinky said in that ff12 thread at gaf 100%

[Van Cruncheon]

i just gave up out of boredom after completing the lighthouse dungeon. i might beat it someday, but i doubt it. i have all the good skills for all the characters in their license boards, but really, once you get a good 8 or 9 tier gambit stack set up, the game just becomes in exercise in holding directions on the analog stick and waiting.

[CurseoftheGods]

i just gave up out of boredom after completing the lighthouse dungeon. i might beat it someday, but i doubt it. i have all the good skills for all the characters in their license boards, but really, once you get a good 8 or 9 tier gambit stack set up, the game just becomes in exercise in holding directions on the analog stick and waiting.

This is very true, and from the looks of it, it wasn't fixed in the International version either. 

[Van Cruncheon]

well, to be honest, the last six or so espers and the super hunts require an unusual level of endurance along with the occasional flurry of in-battle micromanagement, but they're not only optional, they're totally worthless to pursue.

[CurseoftheGods]

well, to be honest, the last six or so espers and the super hunts require an unusual level of endurance along with the occasional flurry of in-battle micromanagement, but they're not only optional, they're totally worthless to pursue.

I didn't bother getting them, so I wouldn't know. Espers in general were kind of useless in the game. I don't remember a battle where I summoned an Esper because I needed it. I basically summoned them for shits and giggles and special effects.

[BlueTsunami]

This game had the biggest curve for me. It started off with me being iffy about the Gambit system to me thinking its pretty awesome then I realize the game is purely a dungeon romp with randomly generated loot and some Final Fantasy fanservice and totally lost all will to play the game. I'm at the area before the Lighthouse too, I think if I even attempt it, it'll kill whatever hidden desire I have left.

[Van Cruncheon]

some of the middle ones, like chaos and adrammelech, can be "tricked" into doing some pretty devastating attacks by casting shit like gravity on 'em, but like you said, there's almost no point: it isn't really needed anywhere in the main plot battles.

[tiesto]

i just gave up out of boredom after completing the lighthouse dungeon. i might beat it someday, but i doubt it. i have all the good skills for all the characters in their license boards, but really, once you get a good 8 or 9 tier gambit stack set up, the game just becomes in exercise in holding directions on the analog stick and waiting.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

You have like 15 minutes left of actual gameplay to go... just go for it!

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