Why all the hate on Final fantasy XII?
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I liked travelling throuhg those gigantic areas. It made the world seem like a real world. I liked that fact that you could easily travel on foot to the places that you have been or would like to go. Also for XIII a lot of what Yahtzee said is true. Yes I'm currnetly playing the game so I'm giving an educated opinion. Most battles are (change to Relentless Attack) auto-battle, auto-battle...., oh no someones about to die, (change to solidarity for 5 seconds) all healed now, go back to relentles attack and finsh off the enemy. I found that the only time you really need to actively be engaged in the combat is vs bosses, that just makes the game boring. I found that the gambit system in FFXII could not make you be able to sit back and watch because they were not enough gambit spaces to make your AI have a soplution of revery problem. You get if I remember about 5-6 slots and most of them you'd have to fill using stuff like use poisona when poisoned, use cure when damage below 40%, use haste when slowed etc.. They are many status ailments and most of your gambits are going to be aimed towards curing them.Akihiko said:
I think that 12 is better than 10 and OWNS 13.
The license board worked and was easy to use, the wnviorments where big and varied, the Gambit system worked well, it had alot of side quests and marks and felt fun, the quickenings where cool and where easy to use like overlimits and also you had a bunny girl, Fran is awesome.
On the down side the Espers where a bit useless and I hated Vaan and Penelo, liked everyone else though.
The license board worked and was easy to use, the wnviorments where big and varied, the Gambit system worked well, it had alot of side quests and marks and felt fun, the quickenings where cool and where easy to use like overlimits and also you had a bunny girl, Fran is awesome.
On the down side the Espers where a bit useless and I hated Vaan and Penelo, liked everyone else though.
I like 12 as well, I think its easily the best since 7. 8 Was utter crap, 9 was pretty good, 10 was pretty meh in my opinion, don't really count 11 in with the rest of the games, and 13 is just a little better than 8 - it may be a train wreck, but at least it had some good ideas amidst the poorly paced storytelling, retarded melodrama, constant corridors, and 20 hour tutorial.
In all 12's characters were all good, their actions and characterization seemed to make sense for the most part, the story had some interesting twists, and for all the flack the battle system gets, I enjoyed playing with the gambit system trying to figure out the perfect gambits that would work with the least amount of intervention on my part was a lot more interesting than just putting in the same commands over and over again.
Really Vaan was the worst part of the game, I found him annoying as a character, so him not having much to do with the actual main plot didn't disappoint me too much, I just wish they had the balls to do away with the typical FF-protagonist in 12, instead of making much more interesting main characters (Basch and Ashe) and then shoehorning Vaan in because they were afraid people wouldn't like it if they didn't have a Tidus look alike.
In all 12's characters were all good, their actions and characterization seemed to make sense for the most part, the story had some interesting twists, and for all the flack the battle system gets, I enjoyed playing with the gambit system trying to figure out the perfect gambits that would work with the least amount of intervention on my part was a lot more interesting than just putting in the same commands over and over again.
Really Vaan was the worst part of the game, I found him annoying as a character, so him not having much to do with the actual main plot didn't disappoint me too much, I just wish they had the balls to do away with the typical FF-protagonist in 12, instead of making much more interesting main characters (Basch and Ashe) and then shoehorning Vaan in because they were afraid people wouldn't like it if they didn't have a Tidus look alike.
I love XII I think it is a great game, it is easily my favourite FF game, I played it obsessively when I got it, something I have completely failed to do with FFXIII and I like that fine, it just isn't as fun. FFXII had a very endearing quality 
Not everyone is going to like it, but it does seem like XII's detractors are very verbal about it.....
Not everyone is going to like it, but it does seem like XII's detractors are very verbal about it.....
The game is my least favourite of the series, and I'm an avid FF8 hater too. The auto-battle was slow and boring. The characters were dull, as there wasn't a focus on any character, just randomly introduce a character, spend an hour explaining there backstory then shovel them on their way. The story was boring, and so unlike a FF game. The big bad was neither big nor bad, there was no "I'm going to rule/destroy the world" and the villain wasn't memorable. I'm pretty sure I could go from FF1-X2 and tell you all of their villains, but I can't remember the final boss in 12's name.
I know it was a throw back more towards the Tactics series (story wise) and how they were, but it was just awful.
The only praise I have for it was that the license system was intriguing. But I don't want to play an RPG on auto.
I know it was a throw back more towards the Tactics series (story wise) and how they were, but it was just awful.
The only praise I have for it was that the license system was intriguing. But I don't want to play an RPG on auto.
Because (A) It's different from the usual formula of a final fantasy title (real time combat, an involved story that wasn't he typical 'save the world' type deal, and characters who challenged the archetypes copied to death in every final fantasy title, except for vaan)
(B) It wasn't 'japanese' enough (the only exception again being vaan). The combat was presented in a hybrid of dungeon crawling and turn based combat and it worked marvelously for me. Some people see something new as a bad thing and immediately started bashing it. I'm not saying there aren't people who have their reasons to dislike the game, but many people hate it for fear of the unknown.
(C) Everyone hates Final Fantasy. It's true. I've only met people who love the series blindly, or those who hate it and will never miss an opening to call it 'gay'.This just adds to the number of people who bash XII.
This game broke away from the formula so drastically that it really shouldn't have been called 'Final Fantasy' at all. It's fun and the story is intriguing, but most importantly, IT'S TRYING SOMETHING NEW, and it does it quite well. Final Fantasy X is my favorite of the series, but I'm quick to admit it didn't really add anything to the series, it just nailed the story aspect. The combat was bogged down and too easy and the characters infuriated me with their simplicity. After finishing this game, I wondered 'where the series could go from here? It's the fourth generation of consoles Final Fantasy has been included in and combat is still primarily the same'. They even took a step backwards with X by making combat purely turn based.
I was convinced the series was done for, but lo and behold, XII shattered my expectations by making changes to the fundamental gameplay, and it worked better than any iteration of the turn based combat system. I thought Final Fantasy XIII was going to be the shit after this, but unfortunately, it was just regular shit.
The Final Fantasy series is dead in my opinion, and Final Fantasy XII was the swan song it deserved
(B) It wasn't 'japanese' enough (the only exception again being vaan). The combat was presented in a hybrid of dungeon crawling and turn based combat and it worked marvelously for me. Some people see something new as a bad thing and immediately started bashing it. I'm not saying there aren't people who have their reasons to dislike the game, but many people hate it for fear of the unknown.
(C) Everyone hates Final Fantasy. It's true. I've only met people who love the series blindly, or those who hate it and will never miss an opening to call it 'gay'.This just adds to the number of people who bash XII.
This game broke away from the formula so drastically that it really shouldn't have been called 'Final Fantasy' at all. It's fun and the story is intriguing, but most importantly, IT'S TRYING SOMETHING NEW, and it does it quite well. Final Fantasy X is my favorite of the series, but I'm quick to admit it didn't really add anything to the series, it just nailed the story aspect. The combat was bogged down and too easy and the characters infuriated me with their simplicity. After finishing this game, I wondered 'where the series could go from here? It's the fourth generation of consoles Final Fantasy has been included in and combat is still primarily the same'. They even took a step backwards with X by making combat purely turn based.
I was convinced the series was done for, but lo and behold, XII shattered my expectations by making changes to the fundamental gameplay, and it worked better than any iteration of the turn based combat system. I thought Final Fantasy XIII was going to be the shit after this, but unfortunately, it was just regular shit.
The Final Fantasy series is dead in my opinion, and Final Fantasy XII was the swan song it deserved
Ah. But the same can be said for Final Fantasy XII. You can constantly use relentless assault all the time, just like you can put in the gambits to make the computer do majority of the work for you(There's only a limited number of mobs in a given area, set gambits at the start of it, and you won't need to change it until a boss and chances are even in a new area you'd only need to make a few minor adjustments), however you can switch it up, and use other paradigms also, or in XII's case, use different gambits or not use them at all. Both games, like every RPG out there, has the same problem of normal mobs being repetative. It's a common flaw due to time constraints and lack of technology. Admittedly though, with XIII it did take far to long to open up the combat fully.IamSofaKingRaw said:
Besides, I wasn't unhappy about the combat, didn't complain about that, was never my intention. I did however dislike you had to buy gambits, and the license board. Although admittedly those 2 flaws did make me not like the combat as much as I would have normally.
This is only my personal stance on it, so take it for what its worth.
The story was boring and never caught my interest.
The main character (the character you play as, Vaan) had almost nothing to do with the main plot save for the fact that he was happened to be around when some important stuff happened to someone else.
There was very little in the way of the character development.
The gambit system was broken and nearly useless. Half the time I found myself wondering why my party members weren't doing things the gambit system was supposed to be telling them to do.
The license board was a little too "open". I like a bit of direction when I develop the abilities of my characters (like the Sphere Grid from X). I don't want to have to spend hours and hours researching every single point I spend in the system and whether or not its useful.
The story was boring and never caught my interest.
The main character (the character you play as, Vaan) had almost nothing to do with the main plot save for the fact that he was happened to be around when some important stuff happened to someone else.
There was very little in the way of the character development.
The gambit system was broken and nearly useless. Half the time I found myself wondering why my party members weren't doing things the gambit system was supposed to be telling them to do.
The license board was a little too "open". I like a bit of direction when I develop the abilities of my characters (like the Sphere Grid from X). I don't want to have to spend hours and hours researching every single point I spend in the system and whether or not its useful.
Can't speak with first hand experience, but the user reviews I've heard of XII are so bad that it's the very reason why I never played it. The main criticism is that the characters are boring, and if that's the case there's no point in playing the game.
Call me closed minded but eh, better to be safe than sorry.
Call me closed minded but eh, better to be safe than sorry.
I bought it at midnight release and played it until five in the morning, all the while thinking it was the best thing ever. Went to school, thinking of it all day, instead of my work, and got home and played it until three the next morning.
27 hours later, I was only level 15, and thinking it was going so slow. Put it down for a week, but when I went back to it, I realized I was wrong, and that it was one of the most unique, enjoyable experiences I've ever had in a video game, and I appreciate all of the minute changes they made for this one.
But damn, Vaan can go suck it and die.
27 hours later, I was only level 15, and thinking it was going so slow. Put it down for a week, but when I went back to it, I realized I was wrong, and that it was one of the most unique, enjoyable experiences I've ever had in a video game, and I appreciate all of the minute changes they made for this one.
But damn, Vaan can go suck it and die.
I must be an idiot then, because I had almost nothing but problems. Particularly in bosses with multiple status ailments, where you had to set up a specific gambit for each one, leaving little room for any other commands.s69-5 said:
But, I guess to be fair, my patience ran out with it. I suppose it could've been done perfect if I was willing to devote hours to trial and error while I worked out all of the kinks in my gambits.
As an example: the gambit system, from my experience, was like trying to write complex code in microsoft notepad. Sure you CAN, but it takes quite a bit of tedious trial and error. Either keep to the old model of turn-based, or do like 13 did and just have the automated characters be...you know, automated.
P.S. I don't think I'm thinking of the bioware game I never played.
FFXII deserves every ounce of hate it gets. 1) The combat just doesn't work. It is chaotic and nonsensical. 2) The freeform skill system makes it easy to completely gimp your party by getting "creative" with your skill assignment. By that I mean if you deviate too far from the standard white mage, black mage, tank, etc. archetypes, you get useless characters that lose utility as the game gets harder. 3) There is barely any gil at all. It's been a while since I played but iirc, you don't earn gil after battles. I distinctly remember being strapped for cash the entire game. 4) The game requires excessive grinding even for an ff game. 5) I felt no connection to any of the characters... ANY of them. Cecil Harvey, Kain Highwind and Rosa whitemagechick are great characters. Between them lies friendship, rivalry, romantic tension, betrayal, redemption... you get the idea. There is nothing even remotely like that in final fantasy XII.
Five reasons is enough but I could go on...
Five reasons is enough but I could go on...
Edit: NEVERMIND, misread the opening post.
I haven't played Final Fantasy XII. But I'm told it's because the characters are horrible.
I haven't played Final Fantasy XII. But I'm told it's because the characters are horrible.
Totally agree with this right here. Couldn't have said it any better.crimson5pheonix said:
And 13>12 for me. Although.. I want more of a sandbox
This linear shit just isn't my bag.
I have never played the game and can't say anything good or bad about it. It looked pretty sweet though
I liked XII, it's just under Tactics so far. I don't think it was perfect, but I didn't feel like I was playing a Shonen anime/manga (FFX) so for that I'm grateful. I liked the gambit system and gameplay in general because I hate grind and repetitive battles, so if I can program my characters to fight helpless monsters I'm all for it. I'm not too much of a fan of turn-based combat or random encounters and FFXII gets rid of them both. Granted, making it an Action sort of game would be the next logical step and I wish they had just gone there instead of the ATB, but whatever.
I didn't like the license grid, and I wish that Square would get over their obsession with overcomplicated level up systems that have no reason to exist in the world. Have you ever asked yourself "What is the license grid? What is a license? Why do I need one to buy one to wear a specific hat? And where do they keep them?" I personally think that FFXII is a tabletop RPG and the license grid are the character sheets written by a very cruel DM. Meta aside, I don't like the fact that I don't know were on the License grid to go to buy White Magic without wasting my points. Without a map it's a frustrating waste of time and you wind up with horribly lopsided characters.
I didn't like the license grid, and I wish that Square would get over their obsession with overcomplicated level up systems that have no reason to exist in the world. Have you ever asked yourself "What is the license grid? What is a license? Why do I need one to buy one to wear a specific hat? And where do they keep them?" I personally think that FFXII is a tabletop RPG and the license grid are the character sheets written by a very cruel DM. Meta aside, I don't like the fact that I don't know were on the License grid to go to buy White Magic without wasting my points. Without a map it's a frustrating waste of time and you wind up with horribly lopsided characters.