Final Fantasy XII

 PlayStation 2
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1542 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,062 out of 1542
  2. Mixed: 214 out of 1542
  3. Negative: 266 out of 1542
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  1. M1sfiT
    Sep 3, 2023
    8
    Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaameeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees! ffxii
  2. TheXxchaKing
    Jul 7, 2023
    9
    + Most brilliant and certainly most underrated soundtrack in the Final Fantasy franchise
    + Graphically the best looking game on the PS2
    + World design and various landscapes are creative masterpieces + Cinematic cutscenes were way ahead of its time + Boss fights and monster hunts are epic + Excellent atmosphere of political tension - Gambit system and license board are pretty lame    + Most brilliant and certainly most underrated soundtrack in the Final Fantasy franchise
    + Graphically the best looking game on the PS2
    + World design and various landscapes are creative masterpieces
    + Cinematic cutscenes were way ahead of its time
    + Boss fights and monster hunts are epic
    + Excellent atmosphere of political tension

    - Gambit system and license board are pretty lame but didn't ruin the game for me as much as it did for others
    - Unmemorable cast of characters and underwhelming story    … Expand
  3. Sha2n
    May 9, 2023
    10
    A unique work, one of the best to date. This game will definitely enter the top, created by a diverse, experienced, versatile and not envious gamer. A legend for a real dreamer. From Gabranth with Love.
  4. THOUSANDEYEKAii
    May 5, 2023
    9
    I admit I was let down by this game and didn't enjoy it much at first, but when I restarted years later I realized how great a game it really was.
  5. Albertomhg
    Mar 9, 2023
    10
    It's not perfect, but it's my favourite game every, despite all his flaws this game feels magic to me, the license board is well implemented and feels great to complete, the combat and gambit system is advanced to his era, side quests are the more satisfying to complete in any final fantasy game, and good story, lore and characters.
  6. LastResource
    Jan 14, 2023
    10
    worth it and glad to play this game again. so much memories and nostalgia within this eleventh game in the series. this collection is great.
  7. deathstramding
    Nov 8, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Masterpiece Masterpiece Masterpiece Masterpiece Masterpiece Masterpiece… Expand
  8. hector_bcn98
    Oct 31, 2022
    9
    Lo tenía todo para ser el mejor videojuego de la historia y se quedó en un top 5 de la saga. Lástima los problemas de dirección que tuvo a mitad del desarrollo. No me explico como la ps2 no explotaba al cargar los gráficos de este juego y el inmenso mundo que tiene. Los gambits, más que un truco, son una bendición a la hora de farmear. Una de las mejores bandas sonoras de la historia.
  9. paulop7x
    Jul 11, 2022
    10
    The Best Game of My Life
    um jogo complemente incrível, com uma atmosfera visual Star Wars, um bestiário amplo e diversificado, um mundo amplo e interligado, uma jogabilidade que não enjoa nunca, um game que da prazer ao explorar e fazer grind, tudo nesse jogo foi bem feito, os pontos fracos sequer merecem ser frisados.
  10. Tidu
    May 23, 2022
    8
    This was the first Final Fantasy I played, that was "just ok". I didn't get invested in the characters and the story wasn't as good as I would've hoped. But that doesn't mean I didn't have my fair share of fun with the game.
    I truly enjoyed the hunting jobs which was the best part of the game experience.
    For me, only thing that's missing from this game is an engaging story. Too bad that's    This was the first Final Fantasy I played, that was "just ok". I didn't get invested in the characters and the story wasn't as good as I would've hoped. But that doesn't mean I didn't have my fair share of fun with the game.
    I truly enjoyed the hunting jobs which was the best part of the game experience.
    For me, only thing that's missing from this game is an engaging story. Too bad that's the thing I'm looking for when I turn on my Playstation.    … Expand
  11. DarkwingSchmuck
    Mar 3, 2022
    8
    Final Fantasy XII is in many ways the exact opposite of Final Fantasy X -- it doesn't boast nearly as strong of a narrative or cast, but is heavily focused on exploration and features some of the best side quests in the franchise (including the exceptional Clan Hunts). Final Fantasy XII also ditches the turn based combat in favor of the Gambit system -- a user friendly programming systemFinal Fantasy XII is in many ways the exact opposite of Final Fantasy X -- it doesn't boast nearly as strong of a narrative or cast, but is heavily focused on exploration and features some of the best side quests in the franchise (including the exceptional Clan Hunts). Final Fantasy XII also ditches the turn based combat in favor of the Gambit system -- a user friendly programming system that allows one to fine tune their character A.I. with incredible precision.… Expand
  12. TheGoodGoat
    Feb 27, 2022
    9
    Thisbgame has the best writing ever. The sheer level of effort put on the dialogue and characters is unparalleled. It is a great game but it unfortunately falls into a pitfall many FF games fall into. You can make every character a hard hitting beast who can do white magic and cruise through the game. As such, it cannot be a 10/10 like FFIX imo
  13. Leonx17
    Dec 1, 2021
    10
    My fav ff game by far it's so enjoyable has best bosses and open world in any ff game has like 100+ hours of gameplay value , it's my fav game of all time tbh
  14. CloudStrife05
    Aug 24, 2021
    9
    FFXII went a different route in 2 main areas. The battle system, which for the first time you could control the character at all times. and the fact that the story centered around a "side" character in Ashe. You control Vaan who is by far, in my opinion, the worst of the "Leads" in the FF games. He fell flat and was just very vanilla. Had we been able to control Balthier, or even Basch, itFFXII went a different route in 2 main areas. The battle system, which for the first time you could control the character at all times. and the fact that the story centered around a "side" character in Ashe. You control Vaan who is by far, in my opinion, the worst of the "Leads" in the FF games. He fell flat and was just very vanilla. Had we been able to control Balthier, or even Basch, it would have been much better. Overall though, it was a good FF in my opinion.… Expand
  15. anthonybobby
    Aug 19, 2021
    10
    The ones in the negative section are the biggest 8 year olds I have ever seen! This game is great.
  16. ArthurWinters
    Jun 26, 2021
    8
    It's a good game facing the reality, but in this chapter of Final Fantasy miss one thing: Hironobu Sakaguchi. It detaches completely from the Final Fantasy games' formule. Some characters are very intresting even the plot decrease as you get the end.
  17. Danilin
    Feb 8, 2021
    9
    Gameplay fantástica, bestiário riquíssimo, inúmeras e extensas áreas, enorme gama de equipamentos e magias, gráficos de cair o queixo, trilha sonora impactante e diversas outras mudanças que começaram aqui, mudando de vez o rumo da franquia. Pra época já era um game à frente da sua geração e recentemente (2017) retorna com sua remasterização para nos lembrar o quão importante esse game éGameplay fantástica, bestiário riquíssimo, inúmeras e extensas áreas, enorme gama de equipamentos e magias, gráficos de cair o queixo, trilha sonora impactante e diversas outras mudanças que começaram aqui, mudando de vez o rumo da franquia. Pra época já era um game à frente da sua geração e recentemente (2017) retorna com sua remasterização para nos lembrar o quão importante esse game é para jogadores e indústria.… Expand
  18. Damos-Insomnia
    Jan 23, 2021
    10
    Quite simply the best game on the ps2. currently re playing it now and still loving every minute of it.. Great G's just pure beauty
  19. player0003
    Jan 5, 2021
    10
    Play this game in year 2020 again.
    Still a masterpiece.
    The graphics is actually better than FF-X, except the pre-render movie.
  20. Belam97
    Dec 1, 2020
    10
    My first and favorite final fantasy. Maybe the most beautiful of them and original design. Thanks to this game i fall in love with the franchise and start to play ff6,7,8,9,10 and 15.
  21. edmelian
    Jul 26, 2020
    9
    Una maniobra arriesgada que salio muy bien, excelentes graficos, buena historia, mundo enoooooorme para ser un FF, nuevo modo de pelea...el unico punto flojo (y no por eso no importante) son los personajes, lejos de generarte la empatia o cariño como otros personajes de la saga...aqui son un poco sosos...sobre todo el protagonista.
  22. erza_scarlet87
    Jul 12, 2020
    10
    The best jrpg ever

    With adb battle system make game fun more than other jrpgs with turn base system with battle screen ... Story is serious and very deeper in comparison whit other final fantasies. A political , historical with Evil motives for gaining power and dictatorship. Level and environment and details is on another level for ps2 games that is still working even in 9    The best jrpg ever

    With adb battle system make game fun more than other jrpgs with turn base system with battle screen ...

    Story is serious and very deeper in comparison whit other final fantasies. A political , historical with Evil motives for gaining power and dictatorship.

    Level and environment and details is on another level for ps2 games that is still working even in 9 generation .

    Variety of weapons and locations and demons was important part of game ,and make game more fun ... Variety of this game is better than witcher 3 or Skyrim .

    Characters is Great and believable but best part is the game is character development.

    This is the best game that you choose to enter jrpg world.    … Expand
  23. meop
    Jun 27, 2020
    9
    This is, simply put one of the better modern RPGs, it isn't perfect... it has some minor flaws, but it is engrossing, it is fun, and the story is excellent until near the end where the authors seemed to lose their way to some degree. I can think of some minor potential improvements but they are quibbles, you'll love the game.
  24. Addposer
    Jun 23, 2020
    8
    Personally im not a big fan of automated sidekicks, and i dont like that to get gambits for commands on the allies you got to get em, thats kinda strange. The game is fine, but when you get really hypied about the plot/storry the game ends.
  25. Sitheral
    Jun 14, 2020
    8
    This one is a bit of an oddball in the series. It is very different from the rest, both in terms of its themes, atmoshpere, the way of telling a story and how you play it, really. It kind of feels like an mmo, with no loading screens for encounters, an open world and a lot of content that feels a bit like filler. Story is more of a political background and Vaan is somehow even more blandThis one is a bit of an oddball in the series. It is very different from the rest, both in terms of its themes, atmoshpere, the way of telling a story and how you play it, really. It kind of feels like an mmo, with no loading screens for encounters, an open world and a lot of content that feels a bit like filler. Story is more of a political background and Vaan is somehow even more bland than Tidus. But ultimately, its a very good game, just not necessary good Final Fantasy title.… Expand
  26. 22446688Bb
    Jun 9, 2020
    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.
  27. Tgh6767
    Apr 28, 2020
    10
    This journey start from a man wants to take his brother right And from that you will explore a wonderful and amazing world with a very good characters and also you will discover another story in this game besides the main story In the end Final Fantasy XII will give the players what they want from any game they think about it
  28. Red_Spectre
    Apr 17, 2020
    10
    One of my favorite games of all time. Steal from every monster in the game and there are a lot.
  29. iKen
    Apr 13, 2020
    10
    Played on PlayStation 2.
    Gameplay: AWESOME.
    Story: GREAT.
    Graphic: AWESOME.
    Music/Sound: AWESOME.
    Dialogue: GREAT.
  30. AlexMartelo
    Dec 21, 2019
    10
    El único final fantasy que he logrado completar y el único juego de la saga que me ha gustado. Mi historia con este juego es peculiar, yo había comprado el FF X-2 como para probar que tal, para tener mi primer acercamiento a la saga, honestamente el juego me pareció de lo peor, solo 15 minutos jugandolo y lo saqué de la consola y se lo regale a un primo. Cuando salió FF XII lo miraba enEl único final fantasy que he logrado completar y el único juego de la saga que me ha gustado. Mi historia con este juego es peculiar, yo había comprado el FF X-2 como para probar que tal, para tener mi primer acercamiento a la saga, honestamente el juego me pareció de lo peor, solo 15 minutos jugandolo y lo saqué de la consola y se lo regale a un primo. Cuando salió FF XII lo miraba en las estanterías con mucho prejuicio e incluso a amigos quienes tenían pensado comprarlo les decía que era basura, basado en mi experiencia con el X-2. Un día buscando juegos raros volví a verlo, dije yo, que tal que este sí me guste, que tal que sea diferente al X-2, lo compré y debo admitir, que me enamoró desde el primer segundo, es uno de los juegos al que más horas le he dedicado, más de 200, completado al 100% en todo, armas, cacerias, bestiario etc. Un juego increíble que cuántas veces salga, las mismas veces compraré y algo que me ha gustado es lo excelentemente bien que ha envejecido, tú pones hoy ese juego original a funcionar en una PS2 y quedas impresionado con el apartado artístico. En fin, un juego que sin duda rompió esquemas, creo que los que más aman FF Xll son jugadores que no se identificaron nunca con los anteriores juegos de la saga. Para mi unos de mis juegos favoritos de todos los tiemposdimprescindibles de todos los tiempos.… Expand
  31. SamSara85
    Dec 1, 2019
    10
    Loved this game. My favourite in the series and basically the last great Final Fantasy the series has released. It ended with a bang
  32. Bazaar34
    Nov 19, 2019
    10
    Tremendous game with an incredible story. The gameplay system is as deep as it gets in the series with tons of customization. The remaster on PS4 is even better but this remains a must play
  33. Ramzas
    Nov 19, 2019
    10
    One of the best RPGs I have ever played after I was extremely disappointed with Final Fantasy X. The mature and adult story was enough to convince me that I had something special in front of me. I really recommend this one.
  34. Yuri_Fantasy
    Nov 5, 2019
    10
    I can't say this game have the best plot in FF series, but definitely have the best combat gameplay and the best sceneries. A vast world to explore, too huge talking about PS2 games. outstanding cinematics and outstanding magics effects and animations. Rewarding for those that work hard farming and grinding items and skills and exploring everything the game has to offer. All the 250 hoursI can't say this game have the best plot in FF series, but definitely have the best combat gameplay and the best sceneries. A vast world to explore, too huge talking about PS2 games. outstanding cinematics and outstanding magics effects and animations. Rewarding for those that work hard farming and grinding items and skills and exploring everything the game has to offer. All the 250 hours i spended in this game was worth.… Expand
  35. Kezian
    Jul 30, 2019
    9
    Final Fantasy XII is a great game ! What, only 7.5 ? I should try the newest version.
  36. Lulcy
    Jun 27, 2019
    10
    One of the biggest jump in innovation of the franchise and undeservely hated for daring taking risks. The narrative is underdeveloped in parts but that big jump in gameplay improvements makes up for that.
  37. Silent_Voice
    Feb 25, 2019
    9
    i honestly could never understand people praising FFX and giving FFXII a bad review. I mean seriously, just for the moment, stop thinking of Vaan as of main protagonist. This story is not about him. Surprisingly i realized it very early, and as soon as i did - it was one of the best FF experiences i had. The only problem i had with PS2 version are unchangeable inversed controls. But i wasi honestly could never understand people praising FFX and giving FFXII a bad review. I mean seriously, just for the moment, stop thinking of Vaan as of main protagonist. This story is not about him. Surprisingly i realized it very early, and as soon as i did - it was one of the best FF experiences i had. The only problem i had with PS2 version are unchangeable inversed controls. But i was so determined to see this game through, so i adapted myself to fully inversed controls. imagine the kind of dedication it takes to actually do such a thing.… Expand
  38. Irisen
    Dec 6, 2018
    9
    A fun, engaging game with an innovative combat system and interesting story. The world is huge for the time it came out and the optional areas are amazing. This game contains so much content I haven't been able to 100% it yet, despite buying it back when I was a kid. The story, while not exceptional, is still interesting enough and the character are all pretty good (Yes, even Vaan andA fun, engaging game with an innovative combat system and interesting story. The world is huge for the time it came out and the optional areas are amazing. This game contains so much content I haven't been able to 100% it yet, despite buying it back when I was a kid. The story, while not exceptional, is still interesting enough and the character are all pretty good (Yes, even Vaan and Penelo). The music is amazing and the levels all have a distinctive look aesthetic. It's almost a perfect game for me. I think the only thing holding it back in my opinion is that I prefer a more action-oriented combat system, but that's just personal preferences.… Expand
  39. Leontorres7
    Nov 15, 2018
    10
    A Masterpiece, loved everything about this game, it is definitely a must play!
  40. dashantaozi
    Aug 25, 2018
    9
    Gambits is my favorite JRPG combat system. It elegantly breaks down game AI into 3 simple components: priority, condition, and action. I wish more games used it.
    Sadly, plots and characters in this game are underdeveloped.
  41. AKthaBeast
    May 5, 2018
    9
    A great Final Fantasy game with a battle system that is so close to real time action rpg games like Kingdom Hearts but not quite.
  42. gabes1919
    Mar 30, 2018
    9
    I didn't respect this game enough when it came out. Closer to tactics that FFX and it was a ton of fun, especially the monster hunts. Great memories
  43. TARKUSironBLACK
    Mar 22, 2018
    10
    mais de 300 horas gastei nesse jogo 1 obra de arte o game que mais joguei no meun ps2 sistema de batalha que revolucinou a franquia e trouxe 1 nova perspectiva de se jogar ff acho que o jogo nao tem a nota que merece eu acho esse junto com o ff 9 os melhores jogos da franquia esse jogo nao e so belo ele e profundo ,completo trilha sonora espetacular ainda me impreciona que algo assimmais de 300 horas gastei nesse jogo 1 obra de arte o game que mais joguei no meun ps2 sistema de batalha que revolucinou a franquia e trouxe 1 nova perspectiva de se jogar ff acho que o jogo nao tem a nota que merece eu acho esse junto com o ff 9 os melhores jogos da franquia esse jogo nao e so belo ele e profundo ,completo trilha sonora espetacular ainda me impreciona que algo assim rodava no meu ps2 quando se ha empenho coisa assim sao feita amantes de rpgs tem obrigaçao de jogar esse game.… Expand
  44. DiogoOliveira
    Jan 19, 2018
    10
    Melhor jogo que joguei em toda minha vida, são tantas possibilidade, são tantas coisa para fazer, personagens cativantes, sistema de batalha incrível e inovador, tão inovador que ate hoje choca muita gente, um sistema único e atemporal, historia incrível que deixa qualquer fã de J. R. R. Tolkien de boca aberta, gráficos belos que deixa qualquer um de queixo no chão, não poupo elogios, poisMelhor jogo que joguei em toda minha vida, são tantas possibilidade, são tantas coisa para fazer, personagens cativantes, sistema de batalha incrível e inovador, tão inovador que ate hoje choca muita gente, um sistema único e atemporal, historia incrível que deixa qualquer fã de J. R. R. Tolkien de boca aberta, gráficos belos que deixa qualquer um de queixo no chão, não poupo elogios, pois tenho mais de 100 horas de jogo, não fiz a metade das coisas que da para fazer, estou de boca aberta, melhor game já lançado.… Expand
  45. Matesers
    Aug 14, 2017
    8
    I think one of the reasons people are so critical is because it is a final fantasy game. If it would be a new series then evrybody would say: ''Did you hear of this game? It's really good, you should try it out.''
    And they would be correct. The game is really good. The environments are beautiful, the characters are okay, the story is good... My problem is with the gameplay. At first it    I think one of the reasons people are so critical is because it is a final fantasy game. If it would be a new series then evrybody would say: ''Did you hear of this game? It's really good, you should try it out.''
    And they would be correct. The game is really good. The environments are beautiful, the characters are okay, the story is good... My problem is with the gameplay. At first it seemed boring to me because you control only one character instead of all of them and when an enemy appears your party members attack on their own accord and during the fight you can hardly evade the attacks of the enemies. What is the point of creating real time battles (the opposite of turn based battles in which you stand in a row and await your turn) if you can't evade. You can run away while you wait for your bar to charge but you will recieve damage of a swordslash 4 meters away from you. Another thing is the large amount of grinding before a boss battle because you aren't strong enough yet to beat him. It happens multiple times that you have to grind for 2 to 3 hours and that isn't fun. However, later I started to value the depht of the gambit system. The instructions you can give your party members are really extensive and you can really spend a lot of time thinking about how to set up the gambits of each character. There is a lot to do in this game and it has a beautiful soundtrack.    … Expand
  46. artificeprime
    Jun 11, 2017
    8
    FFXII is great in a lot of ways and delivers many things that I have always wanted in past Final Fantasy games. Unfortunately for me it lacked some of what made many of the other games in the series truly masterful and as a result I think it ends up as one of the more mid-level entries in the series. The game is far above average, but in my opinion its confusing narrative and generic mainFFXII is great in a lot of ways and delivers many things that I have always wanted in past Final Fantasy games. Unfortunately for me it lacked some of what made many of the other games in the series truly masterful and as a result I think it ends up as one of the more mid-level entries in the series. The game is far above average, but in my opinion its confusing narrative and generic main characters hold it back from being a masterpiece.

    The gameplay is as good as past entries but it makes a lot of big changes, some good some bad. One of the gameplay changes that I really appreciate is that there are no more random encounters, which was one of the things I hated in past entries. Being able to see all of your enemies on the field is a great change for a lot of reasons. You can often avoid enemies and get through redundant areas quickly. You can also track down or avoid strong enemies which makes grinding and travel far better. You will often need to avoid strong enemies because sometimes they are way above your level, even early in the game. It is so much more believable and makes attempting to defeat strong enemies early much more rewarding. Gameplay is also much less linear than it was in FFX and that was one of the weakest parts of that game. One downside I found was the MMO style combat to be quite boring at times, especially dealing with weak enemies that don't require the use of special abilities to defeat. There are still some cool looking spells but there are few that are as cinematic as the overdrives in FFX. Summonings this time around are good but didn't feel as satisfying.

    The story while still good, is a step down from many of the other FF games that I have played. FFVI, FFVII, FFIX and FFX all had more engaging stories. The problem with the story is that most of the major events take place in the background. The main characters, particularly Vaan seems almost unnecessary to the plot. A lot of the bigger ideas that are presented have very little relation to the characters you are playing as. The Occuria for example only have a few scenes and their role is never really fleshed out. The player is also not given context for a lot of the dialog and world building that happens between many of the characters. Final Fantasy games almost always have complex stories but usually as the story progresses you learn a little bit more with every scene and by the end almost everything is revealed in a meaningful way. In FFXII most of the scenes are not given much context and that made it difficult to get invested in what was happening. The motivations of the characters seemed vague throughout most of the story. That isn't say that the writing is bad, a lot of the dialog is very believable and sophisticated but they didn't seem to blend together well into a cohesive whole.

    The story does have many good ideas though. The Bahamut air fortress was awesome and the idea of the judges is great. The Occuria had potential to be a good idea they just aren't well explained in the story. I really did feel that this world could serve as the stage for many great stories but the one they chose to tell didn't seem to take advantage of the cool world that they have designed.

    Characters are also a weak point of FFXII. Vaan is probably my least favorite main character in a Final Fantasy game. He just seemed to be generic and he didn't seem to serve a meaningful role in the quest. On the surface he seems a lot like Luke Skywalker but lacked almost all the important qualities that make Luke an interesting character. A lot of the characters seemed to be loosely modeled after Star Wars characters, but most weren't as iconic. I also felt that the characters bonds with each other were a bit underdeveloped. Most of the interactions between the characters didn't give me the indication that they had formed deep relationships. Ashe in particular could have used more conversations since her role is quite complex. I also didn't feel like I got to know the characters in a deep way.

    Visually FFXII is mostly excellent, the monster designs are some of the best in the series and the environments are large and detailed. The Judges are all cool looking and iconic. The airships are also awesome looking and there are some really unique ones. The cutscenes are great although I think they are a slight step down from FFX. My only major complaint with the graphics is that a lot of areas of the game look very dull. Like a lot of MMOs of the time, everything seems to have a matte look to it. Lot of areas of the game look a bit desaturated. Overall though it's a great looking game and one of the better looking of that time period.

    Sound Design is almost always great in Final Fantasy games and this is no exception, however, it isn't one of the best soundtracks or uses of music in the series. The voice acting is very good but I would have liked to have more memorable music.

    I give FFXII an 84%    … Expand
  47. Lucas92
    Apr 7, 2017
    8
    If you come to Final Fantasy XII looking for another traditional turn-based, full of cliches and unengaging gameplay Final Fantasy title, you are going to be disappointed. If, on the other hand., you come looking for a game with an interesting storyline, mature themes, enjoyable characters (with the exception of Vaan and Penelo, I'd argue this is the BEST Final Fantasy cast ever), deep andIf you come to Final Fantasy XII looking for another traditional turn-based, full of cliches and unengaging gameplay Final Fantasy title, you are going to be disappointed. If, on the other hand., you come looking for a game with an interesting storyline, mature themes, enjoyable characters (with the exception of Vaan and Penelo, I'd argue this is the BEST Final Fantasy cast ever), deep and engrossing gameplay, challenging sidequests and enemies, you will be satisfied.

    Final Fantasy XII lets you go anywhere you want, whenever you want (for the most part). The License system lets you customize your characters at your own leisure, similarly to FFX's Sphere Grid. The Hunt quests require you to trigger specific conditions for the spawning of rare enemies, adding a layer of thought to what could have been an otherwise mindless, boring task like that of FFX's Monster Arena ("kill these same enemies over an over again to unlock a rare enemy!"). The cast is well defined compared to previous entries. All of them have very specific goals and motives. The English dub is superb, particularly for Balthier.

    The game is not perfect or anywhere near close to it, however, and neither were the previous Final Fantasy entries. Aside from the optional encounters, FFXII certainly lacks challenge, and the License Board ensures you can pretty much make each character behave like the one next to him/her. Most of the treasure chests hold pointless treasure (compared to the very effective loot of previous games).

    I recommend you check out the International Zodiac Job System version if you can, which fixes most of the problems the original release had, and has an unofficial English translation available for download. The Zodiac Age will be releasing later this year for the PS4, so you may want to avoid getting FFXII in favor of an upgraded, better version of the game (as it will incorporate the changes made by the International release). Make sure to also check out Vagrant Story (PS1), set in the same universe as this game: Ivalice.

    I score this game 8 out of 10: it's a fantastic game, not perfect, and with its share of annoying issues, but very much worth your time.    … Expand
  48. JoseAn13Torres
    Mar 22, 2017
    8
    Para ser sincero, no es el mejor Final Fantasy pero el simple hecho de que para completar el juego al cien por cien se necesiten una cantidad de horas desquiciante, hizo que para mi que este videojuego marcara un antes y un después en mi historia como jugador de PS2.
  49. GamecubeLover
    Aug 4, 2016
    10
    I love this game from start to finish. This game has all I wanted to see. Great rpg, good story, memorable gameplay and good gameplay, and great characters. And much more.
  50. Kirillito
    May 20, 2016
    10
    I don't understand all the hate that this game receives. This is by far my favorite FF game.
    Battle system is a fun balance of action and tactical thinking.
    Graphics are amazing for a PS2 game. Story... Story is the best in the series! Mature and interesting, with great set of characters (Balthier is my favorite character in FF games). This game deserves much more positive attention,    I don't understand all the hate that this game receives. This is by far my favorite FF game.
    Battle system is a fun balance of action and tactical thinking.
    Graphics are amazing for a PS2 game.
    Story... Story is the best in the series! Mature and interesting, with great set of characters (Balthier is my favorite character in FF games).
    This game deserves much more positive attention, especially since most horrible FF13 sold twice as much as this awesome game.    … Expand
  51. Empyrea
    May 10, 2016
    8
    Ok. If you've played FFX you'll know FFXII is worse. Yes, both are very different and FFXII has a completely different combat system. The best of this game is its graphics. The cinematic videos are really stunning and the best parts are at begining and at the end of this game. In my opinion, one of its flaws, apart that is way too long, is that when you are more or less in the middle ofOk. If you've played FFX you'll know FFXII is worse. Yes, both are very different and FFXII has a completely different combat system. The best of this game is its graphics. The cinematic videos are really stunning and the best parts are at begining and at the end of this game. In my opinion, one of its flaws, apart that is way too long, is that when you are more or less in the middle of the game the story becomes very poor, and I missed more conversations and cinematic. I would rated with and 8'5. I mean, as I said, the best is the graphics, the plot is also interesting, the battle system you have to get use to it and the soundtrack it's good but nothing special. What I can assure you is that you'll be entertained.… Expand
  52. chronoT
    Mar 22, 2016
    8
    I will start off by saying that alot of die hard FF fans may not get attached to this game, but IMO it definitely has its' own unique identity that is worth observing. FF 1 - FF 9 will always be a special set for me and I consider these "classic," but like FF10 this game brings something different and interesting. First, FF12 does look pretty nice on the PS2 and I do enjoy the new combatI will start off by saying that alot of die hard FF fans may not get attached to this game, but IMO it definitely has its' own unique identity that is worth observing. FF 1 - FF 9 will always be a special set for me and I consider these "classic," but like FF10 this game brings something different and interesting. First, FF12 does look pretty nice on the PS2 and I do enjoy the new combat system where it is not as turn-based and you can move around while attacking. Also, even though the maps aren't completely non-linear, they do a much better job compared to 10 and 10-2. This game is a challenge for sure, you will get stuck in certain places and have to train to progress. There is nothing wrong with this, its the way the game is meant to be. Anyone remember how hard FF1 was at first? It was actually unbearable at certain points :) FF 12 brings in fresh ideas, but I am not a huge fan of the crystarium leveling and I think this is where I miss the other games the most. There are many people though that really enjoy this system, you may be one of them! I also have to say that I am really not a fan of the time spent on Cocoon, kind of a slow start to a FF game and this is the linear part of the game. If you are a fan of the series though, I believe they did make some improvements but they can even take it further.… Expand
  53. Meraj
    Mar 18, 2016
    10
    Best RPG I have ever played. Wide world-Wide gameplay-Fantastic music-Awesome graphics-Amazing locations and arenas-Beautiful artistic design-Superb sound effects
    Simply the best PS2 game
  54. mutterfujjer
    Dec 21, 2015
    10
    This is my favourite Final Fantasy game, after Final Fantasy 7. It's incredible how it feels like the Final Fantasy Tactics, even the storyline core plays with the same themes (human beings playing with unknown powers gone bad). I love Team Ivalice. I love FFXII, FFT and Vagrant Story. Those are my kind of games. War and Dark Fantasy at it's finest. Some people will never understandThis is my favourite Final Fantasy game, after Final Fantasy 7. It's incredible how it feels like the Final Fantasy Tactics, even the storyline core plays with the same themes (human beings playing with unknown powers gone bad). I love Team Ivalice. I love FFXII, FFT and Vagrant Story. Those are my kind of games. War and Dark Fantasy at it's finest. Some people will never understand because they want FF series to be the same thing over and over. I'm glad this one wasn't.… Expand
  55. Mikeyy1989
    Nov 21, 2015
    10
    I think this game is a very expansive and rewarding experience for any gamer, the amount of work put into every last detail such as the side quests, the immerse story it delivers only to dwell you into the game that much more, everything is brilliantly crafted together from the political to the personal and emotional. Not only is this a very difficult thing to achieve while also fluentlyI think this game is a very expansive and rewarding experience for any gamer, the amount of work put into every last detail such as the side quests, the immerse story it delivers only to dwell you into the game that much more, everything is brilliantly crafted together from the political to the personal and emotional. Not only is this a very difficult thing to achieve while also fluently incorporating this into the world of Ivalice, which I feel as we players tend to forget this is a game that wanted to present a perfect balance but as its influence being politics/war and worldly themes, with that in mind I find that its ties to the characters within plot was nothing less nor short than brilliant, giving excitement for those of the characters and the other NPCs and even presenting some good antagonists whom also play fantastic plot twisting roles in such a tale, to me making it one of the more complex darker and more mature themed story lines prior seen in the franchise thus far. To enjoy a tale such as this you must really enjoy the story for what it is worth, and let it sort of take you away as you play sort of street urchin as you get swept in way over your head. The story is this games strongest point, and given so much at the table, no your right it can't perfect, but then again nothing is. As for the graphics little need be said, amazing choice of colors for the game over all I see no problems the graphics along with all the CGI work makes this game a shame to be a PS2 title quite frankly, and here we go with the music, i will admit its not the classic FF jingles you are used to hearing from Nobue , but given the game taking place in Ivalice , the soundtrack holds up pretty damn good. Lastly i sort of feel that maybe Zodiac Job system should have been implemented right away at the games first release, the original format is just fine, it really expresses the flexibility this game tries to imbue. Overall this in my opinion has gone down as a classic, the Last of Final Fantasy as we once knew it, with 13, and 14 we only hope the 15 will be the next winner, but as for Final Fantasy XII, we got ourselves a winner… Expand
  56. pobretipa
    Sep 24, 2015
    10
    El mejor final fantasy hasta la fecha, muy infravalorado, muy adelantado a su tiempo, una aventura que fácil puede durar más de 130 horas si eliges terminarlo al 100% con todas sus misiones secundarias, los enemigos son un reto, es una obra maestra.
  57. spinnes
    Jul 6, 2015
    10
    The game changes the gameplay of Final Fantasy series totally, is confusing at the beginning but becames very enjoyable at the end, the story is not that interesting but its still ok, the open world will make you play this for hours and hours, it´s a huge game and a must have for your collection
  58. FantasyCritic71
    May 27, 2015
    9
    This was my 1st Final Fantasy Game and my first impressions of it were not good let me tell ya. I used to hate this game I wanted to throw it out the window but for some reason I didn't.

    ~ Story ~ The story starts off with Reks who in my opinion would have made a better protagonist than Vaan but lets move on. After doing Roxas's Story I mean Reks Story you move on to Sora's Story I    This was my 1st Final Fantasy Game and my first impressions of it were not good let me tell ya. I used to hate this game I wanted to throw it out the window but for some reason I didn't.

    ~ Story ~

    The story starts off with Reks who in my opinion would have made a better protagonist than Vaan but lets move on. After doing Roxas's Story I mean Reks Story you move on to Sora's Story I mean Vaan's Story. It starts off like this Vaan kills some rats than he goes on a hunting quest to kill a tomato so he can make tomato soup than he goes to Giza Plains to make a sunstone because the game wants to kill time. After that Vaan decides to go steal from the Castle Treasury because he read too many Sly Cooper Comics everything goes accordingly until he runs into Fran & Balthier and from there Vaan's long adventure begins.

    In all seriousness the story is actually political and war like and I love that. I also love the dialogue in this game even if there isn't enough of it. Overall decent story.

    ~ Characters ~

    Vaan - he wants revenge against the empire that stole his home of Dalmasca and his brother Reks. I consider Vaan a team player even if others don't. Vaan's outfit sucks I have no idea what Tetsuya Nomura was thinking.

    Penelo - has no role in this story other than to watch over Vaan she really has no purpose in this story whatsoever and I don't consider her a team player.

    Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca - She seeks peace yet also looms towards revenge she seeks to fight yet questions the methods for which she should do so she is a very interesting character and I wish she had more dialogue.

    Basch Fon Rosenberg - A Fugitive seeking to atone for crimes he didn't commit. Freedom has blessed him with a chance to redeem himself and to free Dalmasca of Archadian Rule.

    Balthier - The best character in this game and the guy Vaan aspires to become in the future.

    Fran - She needs way more dialogue time. And her ears are just weird.

    ~ Sound ~

    Not the best music ever but I did enjoy Soundtrack moderately. Some of the songs in the game now give me huge nostalgia and I like them more than I did when I 1st started playing this game.

    ~ Graphics ~

    If only you were here you would hear me whistling to the masterpiece of FFXII's Graphics. My only issue is the attack & magic animations look kind of lame sometimes.

    ~ Gameplay ~

    Waiting For An Attack - This was why I hated this game. You have to wait for a bar to load to attack? What kind of stupid **** is this?[In my head]. The characters have no abilities at all you only have Attack Techniks and various Magic Spells. Enemies all have different abilities and magic attacks what do you have? Oh you only have Attack useless Techniks & Magic wow. The game does get better and alot more fun as you move along since the bar loads way faster and you get Haste which speeds it up even more.

    Mist Quickening - This is basically your trump card if your about to die or you just want to beat a boss quickly. But it takes away all your MP and you have to continuously press R2 and then press 1 of either Triangle Square Circle or X Buttons to do it right, you miss and all your MP is gone no take backs or do overs and if you need to heal your party your pretty much screwed unless you brought enough potions.

    License Board - I love the License Board why? Because it looks so cool I feel like I'm playing a game inside a game when I use it. To gain the use of weapons armor magic techniks quickenings or summons you get in the game you need to get the License for it in the License Board through the use of LP[License Points] you'll get License Points from defeating monsters. The License Board can restrict things sometimes but I still think its fun to use and its not hard to get LP.

    Gambits - Gambits are basically auto commands you set up in the main menu such as - Attack Nearby Enemies or When Poisoned - Use Antidote they come in useful for some situations like when your fighting a boss and you don't feel like using an Antidote while your fighting set up a Gambit for Balthier to use an antidote on you so you don't have to. There's alot of Gambits, you'll either find some or buy some.

    Overall - The Gameplay is fun even if waiting for a bar to load to attack sounds stupid and retarded it is fun.

    ~ In The End ~

    In the beginning I considered FFXII to be the worst game I ever played and I wished to throw into the deepest depths of fiery hell and watch it burn in the fire but after 3 years of trying to beat this stupid game the FFXII Strategy Guide my friend gave me and me beating the game again twice enjoying it alot more than the 1st time I have to say this is 1 of my favorite PS2 Games and I love it alot and I hope others will love it as well    … Expand
  59. aderader
    May 3, 2015
    10
    Final Fantasy XII is simply a masterpiece in every single aspect of the game, this work of art should be undoubtedly fully enjoyed by those more mature gamers.
  60. MrRPG
    Jan 5, 2015
    10
    My favorite of all the final fantasy games, truly a work of art, even today most new gen console games can't hold a candle to this in terms of story, character development, combat/Strategy and environment.
    If we get a HD remake I'll buy it in heart beat.
  61. HSuke
    Nov 12, 2014
    10
    I've played nearly every core game in the Final Fantasy, and this one has my favorite battle system. Your characters run around and fight in real time instead of having to wait through a cut scene animation for every battle.

    The story is a bit weak compared to other games in the series. There are amazing characters, but I don't feel like the game spent enough time developing them. That    I've played nearly every core game in the Final Fantasy, and this one has my favorite battle system. Your characters run around and fight in real time instead of having to wait through a cut scene animation for every battle.

    The story is a bit weak compared to other games in the series. There are amazing characters, but I don't feel like the game spent enough time developing them. That is to say, the story was still better than what you'll find in most other games, but it wasn't Final Fantasy quality. However, the battle system totally makes up for it. 10/10 for enjoyment.    … Expand
  62. SwitSwat
    Nov 2, 2014
    9
    For a Final Fantasy game, it's not great. Don't get me wrong, it was a pretty good game, but not FF VI or VII quality. I started to question the series when XI came out. I'm not a big fan of MMORPG's and when I looked at the combat in this game, and saw how similar it looked to XI, I was hesitant to get it. But I got it because of my inner fanboy. The gameplay worked out well in the end,For a Final Fantasy game, it's not great. Don't get me wrong, it was a pretty good game, but not FF VI or VII quality. I started to question the series when XI came out. I'm not a big fan of MMORPG's and when I looked at the combat in this game, and saw how similar it looked to XI, I was hesitant to get it. But I got it because of my inner fanboy. The gameplay worked out well in the end, although it's not the most engaging for me. The story took a lot of ideas from Star Wars making this game pretty unoriginal. Although, the environments, and the lengthy gameplay made up for some of its flaws. One of my biggest complaints though, would have to be the main character. Like many people have said, he's pretty much pointless to the story and you can finish the game without even leveling him up after getting more party members. But again, a lot of its strong points make up for these flaws in the game. If you're looking for a game to start the FF series with, don't start with this. But, if you are already familiar with the series, then give this a try. 9/10… Expand
  63. PSgamer5000
    Oct 19, 2014
    10
    This game is my favorite PS2 game of all time! I know there are many people that don't like this game, but thats probably because they are used to the old style final fantasy games of turn-based and random encounters. Final Fantasy XII gets rid of that and lets you choose which enemies to fight, when to fight them, and how to fight them. The "how to fight them" part is where the gambitsThis game is my favorite PS2 game of all time! I know there are many people that don't like this game, but thats probably because they are used to the old style final fantasy games of turn-based and random encounters. Final Fantasy XII gets rid of that and lets you choose which enemies to fight, when to fight them, and how to fight them. The "how to fight them" part is where the gambits come into play. Gambits are automatic commands that excute under certain conditions and can be set up for each of the characters. For example, instead of repeatedly pressing attack when your ATB gauge fills up, you can set up a gambit to do that for you. This eliminates the repetitive and time consuming process of navigating through the menus to find the action you wish to take. Gambits are prioritized with the most important at the top of the list and the least important at the bottom. As you progress through the game however, the large diversity of gambits combined with the growing number of gambits you can set up can make the game (if done properly) play by itself without needing your input. So I recommend that you only use a few basic gambits to make sure that doesn't happen.

    Here are some pros and cons to the game:

    Pros:
    - excellent battle system (no random encounters; enemies are seen from a distance and battles are done in real time without switching between exploration mode and battle mode)
    - gambits make battles much more convenient
    - open world; many large areas in the game to explore (and freedom to do so)
    - many optional quests gives more gameplay value
    - boss fights are fun
    - freedom to customize characters' weapons, armor, and abilities.
    - graphics are amazing! (for PS2)
    - great diverse soundtrack
    - story is good (if understood)
    - The world of Ivalice and its history is excellently created
    - lots of optional character interaction

    Cons:
    - gambits may make the game play by itself
    - story is boring and sometimes confusing
    - main characters aren't really interesting and don't go through much change througout the story
    - boss fights can be very long at times (but depending on your play-style, it can be a pro or con)

    Basically, this is kind of like a single player MMO because of all the freedoms this game allows you to have. If you are a fan of MMOs and don't mind the single player aspect, this is the game for you!

    A masterpiece of the PS2 era and a definite 10/10!    … Expand
  64. Phoelyss
    Sep 22, 2014
    8
    This really is a vegemite game; you either love it or hate it.

    The gameplay is probably the biggest argue point of the entire game. I found the Gambit system to be truly refreshing, easy to work with, versatile and fun. It allowed for so many combinations, and your Gambit setup truly does reflect your play style. That being said, many people hated it with a passion, and I can see why.    This really is a vegemite game; you either love it or hate it.

    The gameplay is probably the biggest argue point of the entire game. I found the Gambit system to be truly refreshing, easy to work with, versatile and fun. It allowed for so many combinations, and your Gambit setup truly does reflect your play style. That being said, many people hated it with a passion, and I can see why. Yes, it had all these great points, but at times it did feel as if you were taking a back seat and just watching your characters do all the work. I do think that these people screaming 'IT'S THE WORST SYSTEM EVER IT'S SO BORING' are exaggerating and need to sit down and take a breath, however.

    The storyline is far different from the other Final Fantasy's. While I didn't like the massive amounts of text at the start and in big events, and got a bit bored with having to read paragraphs at a time all to end up skimming over it, getting confused later on, and having to Wiki what I missed, the storyline was a fairly strong one, allowing the player to be immersed in the world of Ivalice.

    Characters were a high point of the game. Vaan reminded me of Tidus a lot, and Penelo was cute and all, but where I really fell in love with the characters was with Fran and Balthier. Their relationship was better than any we see between characters in the latest FF games. I must admit, they're my OTP.

    Graphics, not much needs to be said here, they were absolutely great for a PS2 game, and even for today's standards.

    Overall, 8/10. 7/10 for gameplay, 8/10 for story, 9/10 for characters, and 9/10 for graphics. Recommend for anyone with patience and who can recognise a good game.    … Expand
  65. br_1245
    Sep 14, 2014
    9
    Epico e grandioso, com uma grande historia , jogabilidade e suas sideguest o jogo o prende por horas sem vc nem ao menos perceber. Mas um grande Final Fantasy da Square.
  66. Allexio
    Aug 31, 2014
    10
    One of the if not THE best game on PS2.
    +This game features an exceptional open world with easily the best graphics on PS2. One of the best soundtracks ever (approx 5 hours of top quality OST).
    +The combat system is the most innovative and original I have ever seen in an RPG. (the gambit system rules). It may be a bit complex at first, but you soon get used to it. +The game itself is    One of the if not THE best game on PS2.
    +This game features an exceptional open world with easily the best graphics on PS2. One of the best soundtracks ever (approx 5 hours of top quality OST).
    +The combat system is the most innovative and original I have ever seen in an RPG. (the gambit system rules). It may be a bit complex at first, but you soon get used to it.
    +The game itself is full of content (well over 200 hours of gameplay without getting bored).
    +The characters are very likeable (balthier ftw).
    Frankly, if you have a PS2 or an emulator on your PC or just want to check this game out, don't hesitate. It deserves it's critic rating and is easily one of the best games ever made.
    You can see that the developpers made everything in detail for example when you see that weather conditions affect the usefullness of your weapons, or that some enemies will detect you based on smell, some on hearing, some on vision, and some (like the undead for example) when you have less than 40% HP.
    I think this is enough to see at what extent the developpers wanted to make the perfect game and its really not far from that.
    If there was a negative point I could come up with it's that there are some things that you can not know without going on the wiki or having a walkthrough.
    Apart from that, this game is 10++/10. Definitely a must have.    … Expand
  67. Ogr
    Jun 28, 2014
    9
    To make it short: FFXII is a great game and in my opinion better than FFX, critics show that they are equal but many fans seem to be disappointed by FFXII... I think it's because the usual Final Fantasy Fan wants a love story and doesn't like a more free to explore world and a political based story, FFXII is more adult than FFX.

    FFXII has the better combat system, tons of stuff to do    To make it short: FFXII is a great game and in my opinion better than FFX, critics show that they are equal but many fans seem to be disappointed by FFXII... I think it's because the usual Final Fantasy Fan wants a love story and doesn't like a more free to explore world and a political based story, FFXII is more adult than FFX.

    FFXII has the better combat system, tons of stuff to do and explore, a great looking world and a nice (not great) story with no real main character... what I actually like.    … Expand
  68. Supersaiyan9000
    Apr 16, 2014
    10
    People have been saying that every Final Fantasy under the Square Enix title has sucked, but with XII it is not so. With a great story, an incredibly large open world, a well designed combat system, good soundtrack, and an extremely complex but very fun gameplay. Final Fantasy 12 is definitely my favorite of all the Final Fantasy games.
  69. Utrex
    Apr 6, 2014
    10
    Is there something wrong? Why do I see all the negatives? The hate? Have the other Final Fantasies turned you all haters into fanboys/fangirls? Peace friends!

    For one, I love this game. It develops an imaginatory, that's right, storyline and YOU decide the story for your characters. It was time Square let people imagine, not just sit lazy and take in the video game itself. The story is    Is there something wrong? Why do I see all the negatives? The hate? Have the other Final Fantasies turned you all haters into fanboys/fangirls? Peace friends!

    For one, I love this game. It develops an imaginatory, that's right, storyline and YOU decide the story for your characters. It was time Square let people imagine, not just sit lazy and take in the video game itself. The story is full of betrayal, drama, humor (Balthier), and unpredictability... So don't your dare review FF XII without completing it!

    I can assume the haters are rushing the game to simply put it, skipping plotlines and not caring to enjoy the scenery. Why? Well guaranteed you are in favor of another Final Fantasy (VII, like always...) But anyway, the story needs your imagination. That's what Square did. Really smart eh?

    As for the gameplay... Gambits unlock a whole ton of options/accessibility for the players to experiment with and test with. A ton. Thousands of limitless ideas.... As for that, you can also toggle gambits off if you aren't in favor of that general idea.

    The scenery and visuals, are in one word, stunning. Have you ever took the time to look at the architecture of each city? Dungeon? You should.

    The soundtrack takes time to listen to and stick it to your head. Eventually, it will fit in with the theme like a puzzle piece. It is performed orchestrally unlike its predecessors instead of using computerized music which was the case for all the earlier Final Fantasy series.

    I won't spoil the secondaries, but there are a TON of things to do in FF XII... Filling your bestiary/monsterpedia, obtaining all items, completing the "bounties" ( Won't spoil the name), and items to find et cetera.

    The beginning starts out as a Star Wars replica like stated before, but eventually the pod blooms and the story opens up... into the Final Fantasy XII. The beginning isn't even a fun game, but that was Square's smart move. After you continue the story of FF XII the story all ties in together and oh my, the goosebumps you will get later on. After you finish the game you'll hit the climax and will really miss the game...

    Whoever reviewed this game poorly probably is suffering from a long-term headache, is a fanboy/fangirl of another Final Fantasy game, did not get into the "fun boundary", as I stated above, or simply did not complete the game. I am a laxative person and I enjoy games and dislike games, but this game is a like, or love, for me.    … Expand
  70. PeteyB
    Mar 25, 2014
    10
    When I started a game I was shocked with number of critics about this FF. I wanted to try it and... damn, that's a great game! At the moment I'm after hmm, around 20 hours of playing and I must admit that it's really hard to get bored with this FF. For me new battle style, leveling method etc., all this things are just perfect. For me, now, it's definitely the best FF out there. Story andWhen I started a game I was shocked with number of critics about this FF. I wanted to try it and... damn, that's a great game! At the moment I'm after hmm, around 20 hours of playing and I must admit that it's really hard to get bored with this FF. For me new battle style, leveling method etc., all this things are just perfect. For me, now, it's definitely the best FF out there. Story and characters are great too. Main char is empty and boring? Please... he's 100x better and less annoying than Tidus! He could be his father as well, in the mature of the nature meaning. Open world is great too! Generally, this is THE MUST PLAY jRPG for console. Absolutely.… Expand
  71. fredwar
    Mar 10, 2014
    10
    Back in the day this was one of the greatest games in the PS2 era, sadly it was bashed by a lot of hate because of the direction it took, and although the main character wasn't main at all, this game screams FF all over it.
  72. Watersson
    Jan 1, 2014
    9
    Games in the series FF are my favorite. I burn with love for Final Fantasy VIII, but XII is also great! Games differ radically: Final Fantasy XII has new characters, story, combat system, open and different world, and of course the graphics and music. Twelfth part series leading Square Enix uses all the possibilities PS2 and more! Rendered animations are just beautiful, moreover, the sameGames in the series FF are my favorite. I burn with love for Final Fantasy VIII, but XII is also great! Games differ radically: Final Fantasy XII has new characters, story, combat system, open and different world, and of course the graphics and music. Twelfth part series leading Square Enix uses all the possibilities PS2 and more! Rendered animations are just beautiful, moreover, the same goes for textures. The characters are designed with the idea and I curiously followed their fate. The new combat system was difficult for me to get used to but I managed, and finally I really liked.It is very different from that of the eighth part of the FF but I really liked him. I believe that the game 100 percent deserved 10/10 from PlayStation magazine. I hope you enjoy it too… Expand
  73. Jouna92
    Dec 26, 2013
    9
    I really enjoyed this one! Final Fantasy XII has a great political fantasy story. The story stays compelling and interesting and it doesn't fall on it's self. Diverse cast of characters and they are all memorable. Also the character development is great. Licenceboard system is great and new gameplay is very deep. Every RPG fun should check this out.
  74. NickPVT
    Dec 12, 2013
    10
    Totally awesome game. Its quite a change from the turn base combat system. It feels MMO-like but you build the AI via gambits. Takes a little time to get used to the gambit system, but it become very powerful and handy for grinding exp.
  75. CiloH
    Nov 26, 2013
    9
    On the subject of the game play only, FF-XII introduces a new type of battle mechanic unique to the Final Fantasy games. It gives an air of pseudo-real time combat which strays from Final Fantasy's traditional turn-based actions. Its innovative and adds to the level of immersion because it deliberately demands one's attention. The player technically only ever controls one of the threeOn the subject of the game play only, FF-XII introduces a new type of battle mechanic unique to the Final Fantasy games. It gives an air of pseudo-real time combat which strays from Final Fantasy's traditional turn-based actions. Its innovative and adds to the level of immersion because it deliberately demands one's attention. The player technically only ever controls one of the three characters at a time, as the other two are governed by AI and a new system called "Gambits" which are basically a set of instructions and priorities programmed by the player for the character AIs to follow. This allows the player to essentially control their entire team at once while being in an pseudo-real time battle. Understanding the functionality of gambits will consume time, as it requires experimentation and strategy. Players will need carefully crafted gambits to tackle the most difficult of bosses.… Expand
  76. IkqXP
    Nov 13, 2013
    9
    A near masterpiece that will enthral you in it's countless moments of magnificence. Aside from the slow start (which might have trended certain people away from the game's true beauty), the game deserves all the praises it gets, as once you pass those sluggish hours, you'll find yourself spending countless, unregrettable hours in the endless, outstanding world of Final Fantasy XII.
  77. Infielozo
    Oct 29, 2013
    10
    This is probably the best Final Fantasy game so far, in my opinion, this great tale of deception and political war games bring true thrill to those who seek the finest in storytelling. The battle system is different from it's predecessors, but it works very well. You don't need to worry about cheesy clichés that plague your average RPG, this is a grown up Final Fantasy title and it isThis is probably the best Final Fantasy game so far, in my opinion, this great tale of deception and political war games bring true thrill to those who seek the finest in storytelling. The battle system is different from it's predecessors, but it works very well. You don't need to worry about cheesy clichés that plague your average RPG, this is a grown up Final Fantasy title and it is waiting for open minds to play it.… Expand
  78. Traumator
    Sep 20, 2013
    10
    I only played this in 2013 on a ps2 emulator (4x resolution) and it was one the best game experiences I"ve had in a long time! (and I play a sht ton of games) It truly is a beautiful RPG with a very good story, massive world and deep gameplay.
    I didn't mind at all the supposedly negative MMO influences, at the contrary it feels so natural in the context of open world mechanics. Nice new    I only played this in 2013 on a ps2 emulator (4x resolution) and it was one the best game experiences I"ve had in a long time! (and I play a sht ton of games) It truly is a beautiful RPG with a very good story, massive world and deep gameplay.
    I didn't mind at all the supposedly negative MMO influences, at the contrary it feels so natural in the context of open world mechanics. Nice new touch compared to the usual ATB/RTB battle systems and I even loved the gambit system which a lot of people seem to complain about.

    Graphics are unbelievably good for a ps2 game and one of the best examples where an increased internal resolution on the emulator can make a huge difference in overall quality to the point it doesn't seem you are playing a 2006 game at all.

    The music is simply perfect, I may be old style but it's hard to beat well made symphonic soundtracks. (compared to most of the electronic uninspired garbage 99% of games use today)

    It may have some minor gameplay issues but overall I just love everything about this game, I don't really care if it is a "true" FF game or not, it simply is a wonderful experience and I strongly encourage anyone to give it a try on the pcsx2 emulator on pc even if you have played it 9 years ago.    … Expand
  79. MusicxxAddicted
    Sep 10, 2013
    9
    I'm gonna be blunt since this game has been out for a long time, I've played it twice at its release and I've played through it again and I can only say this game is amazing. Not only is the battle system progressive, it even lets you choose how your AI functions (it's still better than FFXIII's). The story is deep and even though the characters aren't that profound (according to some),I'm gonna be blunt since this game has been out for a long time, I've played it twice at its release and I've played through it again and I can only say this game is amazing. Not only is the battle system progressive, it even lets you choose how your AI functions (it's still better than FFXIII's). The story is deep and even though the characters aren't that profound (according to some), you never wonder why the hell they're there instead of just leaving. This game really is an improvement for the Final Fantasy series and I seriously can't help but wonder why there are so many haters. I can see alot of fans are disappointed because there's no cliche romance in this chapter of the series but there's absolutely no need for one. Crying over spilt milk is what all the babies are doing, grown ups LOVE Final Fantasy XII … Expand
  80. AlienSpaceBats
    Jun 25, 2013
    9
    The first six hours were a bit of a trudge; to begin with it didn't "feel" like (previous) Final Fantasy but once I got used to the mechanics FFXII really grew on me, possibly due to the innumerable similarities to Star Wars or the fact that it resembles western RPG "dungeon crawlers" in places (the influence on the Dragon Age games is huge). Characters are a bit flat thus excluding anyThe first six hours were a bit of a trudge; to begin with it didn't "feel" like (previous) Final Fantasy but once I got used to the mechanics FFXII really grew on me, possibly due to the innumerable similarities to Star Wars or the fact that it resembles western RPG "dungeon crawlers" in places (the influence on the Dragon Age games is huge). Characters are a bit flat thus excluding any sufficient emotional engagement to them (or the story), but not so it prevented me from enjoying either. The politicking, scheming and manoeuvring amongst the antagonists was well done. Impressive visual design, a common criticism is the lack of a Nobuo Uematsu score; which is noticeable at first, though Hitoshi Sakimoto's music fits the game perfectly and certainly grew on me enough that I had to buy the soundtrack. Gameplay can get repetitive in places and the new battle system negates any sort of strategy (the free camera is also an annoyance in confined areas) but the game is well worth playing through to the satisfying (and spectacular) finalé.… Expand
  81. Caestus
    Jun 24, 2013
    9
    The gambit system is the best KI system to date. You can tell your characters exactly what and when they should do something. The battle system by itself is also very good having a nice tempo and style to it. The world is bigger than in previous ff´s and beautiful. The OST backs the atmosphere of the game having some really nice tracks in it. Easily best RPG in the PS 2 Era.
  82. DemonKnight94
    May 25, 2013
    10
    Some fans does not like FFXII because it is not like previous FF games but i think it is the best one, It does have much of what a FF game is. FF needs change to it so that it doesen´t become clones of each other like COD has.
  83. scradam
    Mar 24, 2013
    10
    The FF XII storyline is one of the best and most mature FF storylines. The story isn't melodramatic or geared toward preteen girls. The dialog in the game is beautiful. The music is beautiful. The gameplay gambit system is fun enough although perhaps not interactive enough. I've played a lot of PS2 games (especially via PCSX2), but I keep coming back to this game in particular. I'dThe FF XII storyline is one of the best and most mature FF storylines. The story isn't melodramatic or geared toward preteen girls. The dialog in the game is beautiful. The music is beautiful. The gameplay gambit system is fun enough although perhaps not interactive enough. I've played a lot of PS2 games (especially via PCSX2), but I keep coming back to this game in particular. I'd have to say it's by far my favorite PS2 game.… Expand
  84. Superfluid
    Mar 16, 2013
    10
    By far my favorite of the "modern" (PS2/PS3) Final Fantasies. I absolutely love the Gambit system, I cannot say enough about it. The customizability of character AI is beyond anything seen before or since. Although character roles are rather genericb since any character can acquire basically any skill, individual characters are still very tailored towards certain specializations because ofBy far my favorite of the "modern" (PS2/PS3) Final Fantasies. I absolutely love the Gambit system, I cannot say enough about it. The customizability of character AI is beyond anything seen before or since. Although character roles are rather genericb since any character can acquire basically any skill, individual characters are still very tailored towards certain specializations because of base stats and early in the game their different starting positions on the License Board

    I thought the story was much more mature than most Final Fantasies (and JRPGs in general). Nothing overly special but it kept me moving forward and I really enjoyed the character developtment and underlying political intrigue. Like I said it's not mind blowing but it is very well toldThe world is large with lots to do, although some areas do feel rather empty.

    I can see where some wouldn't like the Gambit system. You'll love it or hate. If you like absolute control over everything your party does under absolutely any situation, you will love it. If you want the old school RPG status quo of on-your-toes turn based menu selections, this may not be for you.

    Last but not least, the first 2-3 hours (as with many RPGs) are extremely slow, IMO. Once you get full party control and start acquiring Gambits and Licenses, the game absolutely shines. Do not judge this game until you are a few hours in.    … Expand
  85. Skals
    Jan 8, 2013
    10
    Final Fantasy XII is an amazing game, like all Square Enix games. This game is probably the best Final Fantasy in terms of things to do. You could spend 50 hours on the main story line, and then have content worth another 100 hours still left to do, and whats great about it is that it gives you ultimate freedom. Tired of doing the story line? You can go do mark missions, or find sideFinal Fantasy XII is an amazing game, like all Square Enix games. This game is probably the best Final Fantasy in terms of things to do. You could spend 50 hours on the main story line, and then have content worth another 100 hours still left to do, and whats great about it is that it gives you ultimate freedom. Tired of doing the story line? You can go do mark missions, or find side quests, or just explore and level up. The game has some of the best boss battles of the FF series, and wonderful areas to explore. A lot of people seem to hate the new combat system, but I for one love it and think it was a great change new change to their games up until this point.… Expand
  86. jsdunford
    Dec 30, 2012
    10
    My favorite game of all time. I'm still enamored by it, and find myself replaying it every other year. Great story, graphics, gameplay. Usually the reason people don't like this game is because of previous expectations, or because final fantasy fans are pricks who enjoy arguing about which is best.
  87. EricHarmon
    Nov 22, 2012
    10
    some people say this game is bad......... WHAT!? most of the things they say are opinion, like "I DON'T LIKE IT BECAUSE THE BATTLE SYSTEM IS DIFFERENT" yeah its different and its BETTER. square enix tried to give us a new battle system that actually made sense, before you were forced into a battle after taking a few steps which was ANNOYING. it wasn't too bad, but i'd say this battlesome people say this game is bad......... WHAT!? most of the things they say are opinion, like "I DON'T LIKE IT BECAUSE THE BATTLE SYSTEM IS DIFFERENT" yeah its different and its BETTER. square enix tried to give us a new battle system that actually made sense, before you were forced into a battle after taking a few steps which was ANNOYING. it wasn't too bad, but i'd say this battle system is BETTER. another thing, people complain about the soundtrack saying it was not as good as previous games................ heres something you should try........... TURN UP THE VOLUME!… Expand
  88. g0atk1ng
    Nov 19, 2012
    10
    FFXII creates a sensational world to travel through with it's excellent music always adding to the atmosphere. Very absorbing. The combat system is fresh and gambits allow the player to customize as much or as little as desired for more complex or simple combat. The primary story and character development are subdued for a final fantasy game, but there is a surprising amount of detailFFXII creates a sensational world to travel through with it's excellent music always adding to the atmosphere. Very absorbing. The combat system is fresh and gambits allow the player to customize as much or as little as desired for more complex or simple combat. The primary story and character development are subdued for a final fantasy game, but there is a surprising amount of detail involving npcs and lots of rewarding sidequests (especially hunts), which allow you to explore the vivid and vast world of Ivalice.… Expand
  89. romanjudl
    Sep 17, 2012
    10
    One of the most controversial Final Fantasy game (for its battle system) but (probably) the best Final Fantasy game ever made and one of the best video games for PS2.
  90. kefkasephiroth
    Aug 26, 2012
    10
    This is one of my favorite final fantasies, it has a rich storyline, some memorable characters (but i don´t really like Vaan, Balthier is my favorite character in the game though), the battle system is one of the best in the series, it has a good musical score, and the graphics are amazing.
  91. hydravalera
    Aug 25, 2012
    10
    A game people seem to either love or hate. I loved it, loved the characters, story and more importantly gameplay and the world you explore. I disagree about the music from some comments, as i thought it was excellent and matched the zones perfectly, Feywood is a great example, plus the different weather was a great idea and how it changed areas. Lots of exploring to do and some places areA game people seem to either love or hate. I loved it, loved the characters, story and more importantly gameplay and the world you explore. I disagree about the music from some comments, as i thought it was excellent and matched the zones perfectly, Feywood is a great example, plus the different weather was a great idea and how it changed areas. Lots of exploring to do and some places are shockingly hard if you stumble upon them too soon, which makes for a challenge. The best since FFVII, and different armour and weapon bonuses. Great game.… Expand
  92. Rice303
    Jul 14, 2012
    10
    Another miss-score Final Fantasy XII is awesome and done the best out of all FF titles on PS2 for its epic story and FMV's which help immerse players into the game
  93. wesker2012
    May 27, 2012
    10
    A masterpiece game. One of my favorite final fantasies and favorite games of all time. You feel like everything happening in this world is happening in real time. You really care about your characters and the outcome of their journey!
  94. whitespider999
    Mar 1, 2012
    8
    One of the best directions this series went. Final fantasy XII has what i consider the most enjoyable combat/gameplay/freedom of the entire series by a insurmountable margin. The European shades and character designs clash perfectly with the hint of japanese that peeks out. If my viewpoint had weight, I would suggest they keep this as the next gen look/feel. The world feels grounded andOne of the best directions this series went. Final fantasy XII has what i consider the most enjoyable combat/gameplay/freedom of the entire series by a insurmountable margin. The European shades and character designs clash perfectly with the hint of japanese that peeks out. If my viewpoint had weight, I would suggest they keep this as the next gen look/feel. The world feels grounded and makes the magical have a context - instead of making everything over-the-top and never having the power of that transition between the two. Basically, this game does everything so much better than other final fantasy games except one super important thing - the story itself. It's a little lacking, and the connection to the characters is a little less significant throughout the coarse of the game. World - 10/10 Gameplay - 9/10 - Story - 7/10… Expand
  95. ghorahn
    Feb 20, 2012
    9
    When all is said and done with the Final Fantasy franchise, I won't be surprised if VII and XII still stand out to me as the games that completely consumed me while I was playing them. Granted, it took me a couple tries to establish any momentum with this game (but that's fairly common for me). Once I did, I fell in love with the gambit system. It has become the measuring stick by which IWhen all is said and done with the Final Fantasy franchise, I won't be surprised if VII and XII still stand out to me as the games that completely consumed me while I was playing them. Granted, it took me a couple tries to establish any momentum with this game (but that's fairly common for me). Once I did, I fell in love with the gambit system. It has become the measuring stick by which I judge every combat mechanic in a game that goes beyond needing a single player and single character to accomplish everything. I wish ever MMO I played let me set up a FF12-like gambit system for as many characters as I need to fill out a party or raid. Any game that does....just reminds me how much I loved FF12. I finished all but the last hunt (as I could only stomach one four-hour attempt, only to have it end when a rez didn't happen quickly enough while the guy was one-shotting the group), which is more effort I've put into a non-MMO since FF7. Near perfection, this game's only shortcoming, from my perspective, is the vacuous story that was heavy on pageantry and light on having a point.… Expand
  96. figols
    Feb 10, 2012
    10
    The plot failed to attract me, and the characters were generally flat (except Balthier or Basch) but the game hooked me since the first moment. The fighting system is excellent, and I never got bored of it throughout the game.

    Another positive point was the length of the game. A lot of secrets and new weapons that required long walks along the huge maps and had a proper difficulty. The    The plot failed to attract me, and the characters were generally flat (except Balthier or Basch) but the game hooked me since the first moment. The fighting system is excellent, and I never got bored of it throughout the game.

    Another positive point was the length of the game. A lot of secrets and new weapons that required long walks along the huge maps and had a proper difficulty.

    The gambits were well established, although if you abused them, that could worsen the experience of the game.

    I forgot the OST and other themes. I would stand out the boss fight theme, it was extremely EPIC.    … Expand
  97. Churigogobashu
    Jan 20, 2012
    10
    I love the game so much. It is the the second best final fantasy game next to FF 13. Up until now. I am still playing it. I'd finished this 11 times. Still ain't boring.
  98. LeGeNd7
    Jan 19, 2012
    8
    Overall I think final fantasy XII is a good game.That being said, it has it's down points.The story is adequate but not as interesting as some of it's predecessors and the main character could be a bit more interesting. The battles are challenging, but sometimes I'd wonder if they're fair in certain areas or battles. Items are sometimes almost impossible to obtain. Likewise, side questOverall I think final fantasy XII is a good game.That being said, it has it's down points.The story is adequate but not as interesting as some of it's predecessors and the main character could be a bit more interesting. The battles are challenging, but sometimes I'd wonder if they're fair in certain areas or battles. Items are sometimes almost impossible to obtain. Likewise, side quest some enemies are almost impossible to find. To sum it up, it seems you're just a little to limited in this final fantasy. If you like challenging side quest and battles you should try this. After all, it's not a bad game. You may like it even.… Expand
  99. theshonen8899
    Jan 16, 2012
    9
    Many fans of Final Fantasy will bash this game because of its dramatically different Gambit battle system. While this is definitely unlike any Final Fantasy game you have experienced, the Gambit system really is an extremely well done battle system that even went on to inspire games like Dragon Age Origins. If you take the time to learn it you will appreciate the strategic aspects ofMany fans of Final Fantasy will bash this game because of its dramatically different Gambit battle system. While this is definitely unlike any Final Fantasy game you have experienced, the Gambit system really is an extremely well done battle system that even went on to inspire games like Dragon Age Origins. If you take the time to learn it you will appreciate the strategic aspects of planning your battle commands beforehand but in the event you really do not like the battle system, Gambits can be turned off for a more traditional Final Fantasy style of gameplay. Once Gamebits have been turned off, the battle system becomes Final Fantasy except with a controllable character and seamless battles, both of which are enormous improvements to the game. I fear many people have dismissed this game far too early, and if they had taken the time to appreciate the mechanics of the game they would have been able to experience one of the most intricate stories and deep characters ever created in a Final Fantasy game.… Expand
  100. gamesreflexoes
    Dec 6, 2011
    10
    The best game of my gamer life. Final Fantasy XII has a rich world, amazing party and beautiful graphics. Haters gonna hater but the majority liked this game. Just look at 92/100 and 77/100 on user score.
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best PS2 Game of 2006
1
#1 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2006
2
#2 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 64 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 64
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 64
  3. Negative: 0 out of 64
  1. GamesRadar+
    80
    The story soars, but not so often. The dungeons are long and meandering. The gameplay is effective, but not engrossing. It's a staggeringly well-made game that throws more at you than any other RPG on the PS2... but well-made doesn't necessarily mean "fun."
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  2. eToychest
    97
    This is absolutely my favorite Final Fantasy title, a claim I probably would have laughed at two years ago when rumors about the game’s battle system began to circulate.
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  3. Gaming Age
    91
    One of those rare games that can be appreciated by both hardcore and casual fans alike, Final Fantasy XII may very well be Square's last great adventure, and a fitting sendoff, for the PlayStation 2.
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