Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age

 PC
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 311 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 253 out of 311
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 311
  3. Negative: 32 out of 311

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  1. Glenn_SM
    Dec 24, 2022
    10
    Um dos melhores Final Fantasy da franquia. O sistema de Gambit traz uma perspectiva mais dinâmica no sistema de combate em turnos sem perder a essência da franquia.
  2. Kaecilius17
    Jan 26, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Esse jogo ficou simplesmente incrível nessa versão, o update gráfico notável, teve algumas mudanças em questão as Jobs, porém, um jogo espetacular! Enredo e jogabilidade única!… Expand
  3. aecsuter
    Aug 18, 2022
    9
    O melhor FF que joguei até hoje!

    Prós: - Graficos bem superiores ao X/X-2 e ficou muito melhor para o PC, apesar de ser bom lembrar que é um jogo orginalmente de PS2. - Batalhas em Tempo real no que pra mim é o auge do ATB - Variedade grande de monstros - Variedade imensa de mapas - Sidequests bem interessantes e imersivas - História envolvente e bem madura - Sistema de Gambits    O melhor FF que joguei até hoje!

    Prós:
    - Graficos bem superiores ao X/X-2 e ficou muito melhor para o PC, apesar de ser bom lembrar que é um jogo orginalmente de PS2.
    - Batalhas em Tempo real no que pra mim é o auge do ATB
    - Variedade grande de monstros
    - Variedade imensa de mapas
    - Sidequests bem interessantes e imersivas
    - História envolvente e bem madura
    - Sistema de Gambits
    - CGS e cutscenes muito bonitas
    - Sistema de Evolução (Licenses) muito bom.
    - Summons muito legais, apesar de praticamente inuteis em batalha se focou nas sidequests
    - Side-boss incriveis, um mais forte que o outro

    Contras:
    - Dificuldade da história principal é extremamente baixa se faz tudo que o jogo oferece.
    - Preço salgadissimo mesmo em promoção.    … Expand
  4. LastResource
    Jan 14, 2023
    10
    worth it and glad to play this game again. so much memories and nostalgia within this twelveth game in the series.
  5. Naked_Snakee
    Apr 6, 2023
    10
    Just text (crutch) to save the game to the list. Such things. Maybe I'll do a review later.
  6. DeWyntr
    Jun 27, 2023
    8
    Perhaps one of my favorite entries into the franchise, Final Fantasy XII marks what, in my opinion, is the best middle ground to date between the turn-based entries and the new, modern action combat iterations of the games.

    For the relatively simple and trope-laden plot that XII holds, it is enchanting in it's execution, with break out roles by an amazing cast of voice actors and    Perhaps one of my favorite entries into the franchise, Final Fantasy XII marks what, in my opinion, is the best middle ground to date between the turn-based entries and the new, modern action combat iterations of the games.

    For the relatively simple and trope-laden plot that XII holds, it is enchanting in it's execution, with break out roles by an amazing cast of voice actors and actresses, commanding presences to be found on screen, and a surprisingly grounded narrative. The game play itself was divisive at the time, and remains so to this day, a combination of turn-based and free movement combat; it really was an innovation for the first time in the series XI not withstanding.

    The Gambit System allowed players to not need to micromanage every viable moment of battle and instead program their allies' priorities and considerations in combat by allowing the purchase of actions and parameters for them to take given certain conditions being met. While complicated on paper, this seamlessly integrated itself as a rather intuitive and easy to understand system which provided that core, strategy element to encounters in a live combat setting.

    The Hunts felt meaningful, the quests interesting, the story engaging enough to keep interest while light enough so as not to bore you entirely with political discourse of lore-dumping where it wasn't needed. FFXII does show it's age now, of course. There are a few quality of life advancements the series has made in the more recent entries, such as saving the game in-menu as opposed to dedicated, physical checkpoints, these I feel are easy enough to adapt to.

    The Zodiac and License Board systems are perhaps the biggest point of contention for me, as it is incredibly possible to build your characters poorly despite what they may usually come equipped with as far as narrative goes. With Fran, one of the titles main cast, being by far one of the worst options for Archery/Ranged in the game, despite her being clearly cast as such by the story. This level of customization and lacking in balance truly doesn't hold too great an effect however, and only comes into play within the games optional, higher-tier content endgame of which there are only a few.

    This specific title formulated my love for the series of Final Fantasy into something much deeper and meaningful, I don't think it's perfect, far from it. However if I were to recommend any Final Fantasy game to anyone, it would be this one.    … Expand
  7. Irorieh
    Dec 14, 2021
    9
    A near perfect remaster of the original. It's rare that a remaster adds elements that change a game as much as TZA did, and doesn't wind up damaging the gameplay, but TZA does. While the changes originally come from the Japanese exclusive Zodiac Job System, which released in Japan back in 2007, the revamp never made it's way oversees, meaning the system is brand new to fans of the originalA near perfect remaster of the original. It's rare that a remaster adds elements that change a game as much as TZA did, and doesn't wind up damaging the gameplay, but TZA does. While the changes originally come from the Japanese exclusive Zodiac Job System, which released in Japan back in 2007, the revamp never made it's way oversees, meaning the system is brand new to fans of the original in the west.
    While the game allows players to relive the same story as the original, the new elements add for a degree of specialisation, and character diversity that was sorely lacking in the original release. Now there is a need to think about how you want your characters to grow, experiment with different equipment and "jobs" (think "class"), and approach party building in a way that plays into individual strengths, rather than just building a team of OP everymen, dumping all your top level gear on them and calling it a day.
    Graphically its a massive upgrade from the PS2, little surprise, but it allows the world (which tbf had been impressive by PS2 standards) to really pop.    … Expand
  8. doproyee
    Feb 19, 2021
    9
    very attractive characters, still good graphics and nice details. enjoyable.
  9. regalrealm
    Mar 11, 2021
    10
    This game is extremely fun, once you've played it, you'll remember it after many years, it's replay value is very high.
  10. KyrenDuNord
    Apr 4, 2020
    9
    An almost perfect J-RPG with many quality of life improvements. The combat system is easily the best part about the game. For some reason, I'm heavily drawn to the semi-realtime nature of the combat and it's extremely engaging to play - though I understand this might not be everyone's cup of tea. The story itself is interesting and memorable. Overall, a must-play if you're into J-RPGs.
  11. SolidSovereign
    Nov 24, 2019
    10
    Final fantasy. Plainly put is art. I'm rarely disappointed with any direction they take and this was a fresh take on the combat system, and yet I still found myself fully immersed again.

    9.8/10
  12. innfinnity85
    Nov 17, 2019
    10
    Awesome Games in the world!!!!!!! Square enix good developer . Gameplay super
  13. RoloBianchi
    Sep 17, 2018
    9
    Recuerdo que fue el primer final fantasy que jugue en ps2 y mi primer juego de rol, la verdad que haberlo vuelto a jugar fue un placer! se han mejorado muchas cosas, tiempos de carga, fps, texturas, graficos, hubiera sido mejor un Remake, pero tampoco es que se vea fatal, a mi me encanto
  14. newjks
    May 12, 2023
    8
    Top world building and side quests in FF franchise, the story is good but the story telling, pacing and presentation are not in ff quality, battle and job system combine with gambits i think is the most fun gameplay i've ever experience in ff.

    The world map also is the best in the whole franchise, you can explore most of the location early if you have the skill and most of the high    Top world building and side quests in FF franchise, the story is good but the story telling, pacing and presentation are not in ff quality, battle and job system combine with gambits i think is the most fun gameplay i've ever experience in ff.

    The world map also is the best in the whole franchise, you can explore most of the location early if you have the skill and most of the high level area has powerful loot out there which makes exploring extremely fun and rewarding.    … Expand
  15. Louis88
    Feb 12, 2018
    10
    FF XII: The Zodiac Age is a revamped and expanded port for the PC of the PS4 title. The Zodiac Age contains many improvements on the original FF XII, the largest being the Zodiac job system. These improvements were unreleased outside of Japan until the release on the PS4.

    The PC port of the game is near perfect, complete with support for 60fps in 4k. The game looks very good and the    FF XII: The Zodiac Age is a revamped and expanded port for the PC of the PS4 title. The Zodiac Age contains many improvements on the original FF XII, the largest being the Zodiac job system. These improvements were unreleased outside of Japan until the release on the PS4.

    The PC port of the game is near perfect, complete with support for 60fps in 4k. The game looks very good and the performance is fantastic. It can be comfortably said that this is one of the best Final Fantasy ports on PC. If you are a fan of the game, or of the series in general, you owe it to yourself to get this definitive version of FF XII.    … Expand
  16. UnrealResults
    Mar 7, 2018
    9
    This game is so good, one of my favorite final fantasy games. I was very happy to see it remastered on the PS4.
  17. Watersson
    Jun 2, 2019
    10
    My dearly beloved game from the PS2 era finally came to PC and I am literally over the moon. As for remaster and a port from PS4 it's incredible. I enjoyed playing every single second of it, just like I did back 2006. Now it's even better, because I have the possibility to play international version. New items, class system - what else one would like to have?
  18. 22446688Bb
    Aug 6, 2019
    10
    Final Fantasy 12 is one of the most beautiful things you can see anyone who likes rpg and this thing is really surprising if you wish to be deeper than you are.
  19. AngrySir
    Jan 28, 2023
    10
    My favorite game of the franchise ported to PC with some improvements to visuals and gameplay options, to some this may not be enough, for me it is.
  20. YannySp101
    May 7, 2021
    9
    Normally, I wasn't planning on playing Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, but it went up for sale and I couldn't pass on it. In the end, I'm glad I decided to play this game because otherwise I'd miss out on a very interesting experience.
    Final Fantasy XII's story, while not as exciting as in most of the other Final Fantasy games, is still intriguing and well written.
    Same goes for the    Normally, I wasn't planning on playing Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, but it went up for sale and I couldn't pass on it. In the end, I'm glad I decided to play this game because otherwise I'd miss out on a very interesting experience.
    Final Fantasy XII's story, while not as exciting as in most of the other Final Fantasy games, is still intriguing and well written.
    Same goes for the gameplay; it's innovative because it makes you feel like playing an offline MMO game instead of a typical turn based JRPG. The gambit system is basically programming an AI, it's genius and I love it! The license boards add extra layers of character customization and optimization, giving you the opportunity to build each character differently. Overall, the combat system is extremely fun, the customization/optimization is fantastic and the mechanics work perfectly!
    The characters are good overall; Vaan is an underwhelming protagonist but the rest of the main characters impressed me, particularly Balthier, Basch and Ashe.
    The world of Final Fantasy XII is arguably the best in the series in my opinion; there are some spectacular places that you can explore in the game.
    Also, the music is great, the visuals hold up well and the CGI cutscenes are stunning.
    Now, although Final Fantasy XII excels in most areas, the story feels a bit boring at times and some dungeons get tedious after a while.

    Pros:
    + Decent story
    + Addictive gameplay
    + Unique mechanics
    + Nice characters
    + Beautiful world

    Cons:
    - Inconsistent narrative
    - Some dungeons are overwhelming and tiring

    Narrative: 6/10
    Gameplay: 9/10
    Content: 8/10
    Characters: 7/10
    Music: 8/10
    Graphics/Audio: ?/10

    Final Rating: 8.5/10
    - Really Great -
    Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a very unique and rewarding RPG.
    If you're a fan of J/RPGs but you haven't played the original version of Final Fantasy XII before, you should definitely give Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age a try, as it's arguably one of most enjoyable games in the series, despite not being one of the most engaging ones.

    Do I recommend it?:
    Yes, even to those who don't play JRPGs at all.    … Expand
  21. cyberlboss
    Jul 2, 2023
    10
    If you can, give it a try once its on sale. This is one of the best RPG to get into, even these days XII holds well.

    The battle system is very dynamic with and without the gambits active (i know, SHOCKING how people tend to criticize that "the AI plays for you" instead of just toggle the option OFF and play like a standard turn-based combat if you want to your choices to be precise as    If you can, give it a try once its on sale. This is one of the best RPG to get into, even these days XII holds well.

    The battle system is very dynamic with and without the gambits active (i know, SHOCKING how people tend to criticize that "the AI plays for you" instead of just toggle the option OFF and play like a standard turn-based combat if you want to your choices to be precise as such). Lots of classes, weapons, armors, magicks and builds to make.

    The graphics on the ps2 versions was beautiful and pretty much the best you could get for that time; in the remaster its... fine, the art design in almost everything looks stunning, but what can hold you back if you are more into the modern ultra-realistic type of graphics its the character models, they look too animesque, but since i don't go for that, it doesn't bother me at all.

    The story, not get into spoilers, reads like if you ask for a star wars fan to recite the main conflicts in the original and prequel trilogy's to a fan-fic writer; it will be too serious for some people sometimes, and it won't get your attention unless you open up to endure the politics of the world.

    And its a big BIG world that seems so alive and interconnected in an amazing way that we don't see as much these days. Every enemy, every boss, heck, even non-hostile NPC's seems believable where they spawn live, with the weather conditions of the region, like when you visit an area that its completely dry, the mobs that will spawn there will be more desert type creatures that can live in those environment; if you come back later in the game to these same region when the rain season start, all the human npcs won't be there anymore and the enemies that you'll encounter will be stronger and amphibious-like creatures that can live in that conditions. And also if you spend more time inside those regions, the rain can get heavy, turning into a thunderstorm, and you will encounter something really bad.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Best PC Game of 2018
76
#76 Most Discussed PC Game of 2018
98
#98 Most Shared PC Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Cubed3
    Sep 24, 2018
    60
    Final Fantasy XII is a good game that broke a lot of ground upon release, as an RPG, as a work of fantasy, and as a Final Fantasy entry. With that said, The Zodiac Age feels like a bare-minimum up-port, with little besides the textures being improved. Fans of the original adventure will probably love it, and fans of the series who never played it should give it a try, but on its own two legs in the present day, it doesn't offer much that other RPGs don't do while looking and feeling much better in today's technological landscape.
    Read full review
  2. Worth Playing
    May 29, 2018
    85
    Overall, The Zodiac Age is a game that genre fans will absolutely love.
    Read full review
  3. DarkStation
    Mar 21, 2018
    80
    The remaster might have some flaws that could have been prevented with just a little bit of effort. Despite that, Final Fantasy XII is still solid and just as fun as we remember it. Some aspects might be a bit too easy now, but perhaps the New Game Minus mode will encourage players to challenge themselves for a new kind of experience. All in all, I didn't regret playing the game again, but I also feel that there could have been a little bit more love put into it.
    Read full review
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