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Fun Stuff => CLIKC => Topic started by: Tengokujin on 01 Nov 2006, 21:35

Title: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Tengokujin on 01 Nov 2006, 21:35: In response to Jeph's mention of the game on the main page, I had to register to say this one thing:
it has already consumed my life.
And I'm enjoying every minute of it.
::happily sad::
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: AdamIsConceited on 01 Nov 2006, 21:43: I'm holding off on buying this for the following reasons:

-To see if it's worth the buy (I'm certain it is).

-Price drop!

-It will indeed devour my soul... I have a very busy life. The last Final Fantasy absorbed me for quite a while... just like each previous release with those around 90hrs a piece too.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Fabio on 01 Nov 2006, 21:44: I haaaaaaaaaate you all, goddamn you americans and your gettinggamesbeforeusness! -_-
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Rubby on 01 Nov 2006, 22:14: I just reserved a copy. I didn't have any time to get it yesterday (being halloween and all) but I'm soooo stoked on picking it up.
My hope is that my girlfriend wont dump because of this game, but hey, priorities right?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Scandanavian War Machine on 02 Nov 2006, 03:31: i picked it up yesterday afternoon and my room mates are already sick of it. they cant stand rpgs of any sort so i rented the Family Guy video game to pacify them during the sparce breaks from FFXII i've been taking.
anyway, this game is worth the money already and i'm barely into it. money well spent.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Storm Rider on 02 Nov 2006, 05:21: I won't buy it until I'm done playing Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (which will probably be next week sometime), but I'm definitely picking it up.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Cartilage Head on 02 Nov 2006, 06:35: Want.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Ulmassir on 02 Nov 2006, 21:05: I'm hesitant, since it seems to take place in the same world as in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. Which is a terrible, piece of shit mockery compared to the original FFT. They have nothing in common.

The main character from FF12 looks wussier than even Tidus or Squall. Meh.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Ulmassir on 02 Nov 2006, 21:06: That said, though, I'll end up buying it anyway. (Hell, I bought FFX-2...)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: JJMitchell on 03 Nov 2006, 18:56: FFXII is frigging awesome.

The combat is different but not bad in any way.

The story is interesting. FFX just kind of interested me but this story really makes me want to find out what is going on.

The voice acting is great. The lead character, who is very adroginous (however you spell that), isn't whiny or wimpy. There has only been one character that I thought was whiny. It isn't a recurring character though.

All in all I'm loving it.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Fiddler on 03 Nov 2006, 19:11: Yeah, I broke down and bought this last night. I have a lab due tonight and I wanted to finish it before I bought it, but I just couldnt resist cuz I was right by the store getting dinner with some friends. I feel guilty, but its worth it haha.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Sarcasmorator on 03 Nov 2006, 20:25: Yeah, this game is pretty terrific. Second the thoughts on Vaan ? in a possible JRPG first, he's young and plucky without being a total twerp (coughTIDUScough).

And it's HARD. My guys die all the time, and I know what I'm doing with the Gambit system. I just beat a boss that took almost 15 minutes to kill. The automation doesn't make the game any easier or less hands-on, it just frees you up to concentrate on the important stuff without having micromanage every HP loss and status ailment.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Cartilage Head on 04 Nov 2006, 00:37: Fifteen minutes qualifies as a long time to beat a boss? You danged kids.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Scandanavian War Machine on 04 Nov 2006, 05:45: no kidding. i spent something like two hours* fighting the end boss for Legend of Dragoon.

*estimated time. it was a long time ago and i dont remember exactly.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Sarcasmorator on 04 Nov 2006, 10:46: You don't unnerstand. This game moves REALLY fast, and I've got the battle speed turned almost all the way up. Legend of Dragoon had one of the most sluggish battle systems ever because of all the defending you had to do to heal up. In this game, most regular battles are done in less than 30 seconds, and most boss battles so far in less than 5 minutes.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Storm Rider on 04 Nov 2006, 10:53: Man, asking why androgeny is so prevalent in Final Fantasy is like asking why every 14-year-old girl in anime has gigantic knockers. Nobody really knows.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Tengokujin on 04 Nov 2006, 11:21: Game spoilers, ahoy.

If you don't likey, don't highlight. (I'm assuming beige doesn't show up against grey or white very well.)

I find excessive leveling + all the licenses for suppourt skills = kickassery. Usually. The higher level marks are definitely doing a good job kicking my arse, though. Why this snake in the Caverns (Dalmasca Westersand entrance) and this wyrm (West part of Westersand) and some other level 3+ marks (Like the giant, headless tortoise in Giza, Rain Season) just about killed me. I needed to switch in my other three characters, just so that I'd have enough hp buffer to zone and raise them all.

Currently 31, with 2400-ish HP. The license for +500HP rocks. :p

Mist Knacks/Quickenings also increase your MP, so find and get them as quickly as possible. Chaining Knacks allowed me to half kill Belias and fully kill Vossler with one go. To chain: press one of the buttons that show up during the countdown. If they say "Mist Charge", press it again, after they "charge". If there are no buttons, press R2, repeatedly, until a button shows up. Countdown gets shorter, the more you chain.

I give the story an AWESOME on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being great and 1 being good. Advice for relative ease of gameplay: kill everything in your way that you are capable of killing. Even if you don't have to. Not only do they offer LP for those pesky licenses, you can sell the loot for future armoury investments. (Related: set a gambit to steal. :3 )

Nitpick: Androgyny, androgynous.

I'm also pretty sure I missed something in posting, but it's 2AM, rawr.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Storm Rider on 04 Nov 2006, 12:06: I just finished Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, so I am firing up my copy of FF12 as we speak.

I really effin' LOVE that they used a version of the original opening theme for the intro sequence before you choose 'new game' or 'load game'. Since the original Final Fantasy was literally one of my first video games ever, that was a pretty awesome tie-in for me.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Sarcasmorator on 04 Nov 2006, 12:14: I've found a standard Gambit chain that works pretty well:

1. Any ally -- Raise
2. Ally<50% HP -- Cura
3, Any ally -- Esuna
4. Any foe -- Attack
5. Any ally -- Protect
6. Self -- Libra

With additional character-specific Gambits between No. 3 and 4 as needed, and using items on the fly as needed. I'm only around level 24, though, and my Gambit options are pretty limited.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: notselfcreated on 04 Nov 2006, 21:19: I bought it too, played it last night; I'm looking for the rogue tomato as we speak. Absolutely beautiful, gorgeous game--this dev crew is simply amazing (I'm a total FFT and Vagrant Story fanboy--the other mainstream FFs, not so much). One thing that I especially love are the sound effects--which are basically the same as they were in Vagrant Story--the chtink chtink of suits of armor, the realism of the slashing noises... so awesome.

Wow, this game takes me back. I should just take a week's vacation.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Cartilage Head on 04 Nov 2006, 21:46: I rented it last night, FINALLY. The game is gorgeous and the gameplay is not as bad as I thought it would be. It's actually very fun, and the fighting does not bore me. The story is intriguing but it still has yet to really kick off. Also..yes, it reminds me very much of Vagrant Story.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Ozymandias on 05 Nov 2006, 00:04: I went to Wal-Mart (the only place in town to buy video games) yesterday to buy this. They were sold out.

So I bought Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door.

And made an irrelevant post about it today.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Tengokujin on 05 Nov 2006, 08:57: Quote from: Ozymandias on 05 Nov 2006, 00:04
I went to Wal-Mart (the only place in town to buy video games) yesterday to buy this. They were sold out.

So I bought Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door.

And made an irrelevant post about it today.
FTW.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Storm Rider on 05 Nov 2006, 10:16: I'm also pleasantly surprised at how well the battle system works; I'm also impressed by the quality of the English translation and voice acting. I'm about 4 hours in and will probably go to play more as soon as I'm done with posting this.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Rubby on 06 Nov 2006, 05:38: I'm really loving it.
I can?t believe how far some of you are already. I just got out of the mines in the Sky City place (whatever it's called). At first I thought the battle system was going to piss me off but now I'm just loving it. I had to beat the Mimic Queen before I really got the hang of it though because that was the first really hard battle so it kind of forced me to understand it. Awesome game overall.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Dimsey on 08 Nov 2006, 08:32: I haven't really played an FF game since 8, kinda grew tired of it - but I've heard good things about this game and most people I know are saying the combat system change is probably the best thing to happen to the game in a while and considering the combats usually been my main gripe with FF games this is good to hear.

I'll be getting it when I can
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: DavidGrohl on 09 Nov 2006, 10:50: Bah! Final Fantasy IX is my favorite! :(

Although it may be trumped in my eyes when FF-III DS launches next Tuesday.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: mberan42 on 09 Nov 2006, 20:53: I caved and bought FFXII from amazon yesterday. It should arrive on my doorstep on Monday.

There goes all my free time.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: JJMitchell on 09 Nov 2006, 21:10: FFXII has truly been the most enjoyable one for me yet.

It starts off a little slow but not so bad as some people would lead you to believe.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: edcho7000 on 10 Nov 2006, 19:52: yeah, FF 9 was my favorite too, though i am really diggin FF12 so far. i agree the battle system is cool, but i liked the battle system of FF10 too, i liked the way you could bring in party members in and out during battle. and FF9 was my favorite for the story and charactes, and that one probably had the worst battle system , definately the blandest, of the modern FF games.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Narr on 11 Nov 2006, 03:31: I am not getting it for some time.

I have Guitar Hero II, Battlefield 2142 (I can't believe I bought the game because I hate EA with a passion, but it's a really goddamn awesome game), and Dawn of War: Dark Crusade to play in my spare time.

And then I have Disgaea 2 to fall back on when I feel like I need to be a completionist bastard and spend all my free time in a video game.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: toodles on 11 Nov 2006, 04:49: Video games have consumed my soul! :evil:

I mean oh um... I'm addicted to the FF series. I am currently trying to find FFVII because my family's copy got eaten by the house somewhere. My brother has moved on to the X-Box 360, leaving me in the dust going, "What?!? Nobody in Fairbanks sells playstation one stuff anymore?!? But those are some great games!"

I'm loving FFXII so far. It's so perty... and the battle system grew on me. Even though I do love the old system, I do also rremember getting frustrated when I had to pause mid-stride to fight a battle. Now it makes game play more exciting. Does anyone else remember playing FFVIII and spending hours of game play drawing spells so that you could get better abilities?

Geek out!
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Merkava on 14 Nov 2006, 05:49: FFXII owns. I'm 27 hours in and am still having a blast. It just keeps getting better and better.

My only problem is my mage (Penelo). I've been using bows with her, but I found out a bit too late that staves boost magic attack. That should solve my problem with running out of MP, but she's already doing 700+ damage, which is almost twice my fighters.

My main party is Ashe, Basch, and Penelo. I thought that controlling Ashe would be too much to deal with, her being my healer and all, but it's fine. Keeps me on my toes.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: jeph on 14 Nov 2006, 06:21: I'm about 55 hours in at this point, my main character (Vaan) is around level 45 and everyone else is in the mid-30s because I keep swapping them out. I just got to the point in the game where 2-handed swords are available and DAMN do they kick a lot of ass. I've got 'em on both my tanks. Two dudes wailing on a mark with claymores == lots and lots of damage very quickly.

My default party setup is Vaan as the heavy hitter with Balthier running support and stealing everything in sight. Character three is interchangeable depending on the situation- usually it's Penelo (my caster) for healing and crowd damage, but against tough marks I'll swap in Basch (my other big physical fighter) or Ashe (balanced all around). Fran is currently just Balthier's replacement if he goes down in a fight and I don't have time to res him.

I do swap people in and out a lot, because having a balanced overall party makes the boss fights a LOT easier. If all three of your "main" party gets wiped out, it's important that the other three aren't complete wusses when they get called in.

Right now Vaan and Basch are using Claymores, I've got Balthier with guns, Fran with bows/katanas, Ashe with sword/shield, and Penelo with poles. Might switch her over to staves once it's time to upgrade again.

It's a really good game.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Rubby on 14 Nov 2006, 08:36: So aside from the battle system and party optimizations, what do you guys think of the story line so far. I know no one's finished it, but any initial thoughts.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Storm Rider on 14 Nov 2006, 10:25: Quote from: jeph on 14 Nov 2006, 06:21
I'm about 55 hours in at this point

Jesus, man. I thought I was playing a lot and I'm only 30 hours in. But then again I'm still a full-time student with a part-time job. I'd probably be up to 70-something hours if I had the chance.

Anyway, my main party of Vaan, Fran and Ashe are all about level 30 with the others at around 25 because I try to swap them in occasionally. Problem is, I'm stuck at the second Esper fight (the one you beat to get the Sword of the Tyrant or whatever it's called). The damn ice ball things keep killing me before I make a dent in the main boss's HP, and for some reason they seem to be immune to fire magic. Any suggestions?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Sarcasmorator on 14 Nov 2006, 10:47: The ice things are weak to thunder magic. Get a good Quickening chain going and you can take them all out right quick. Mateus is really hard, though level 30 is higher than I was at the time. You should be able to do it eventually. But do NOT try to cast magic directly on Mateus -- she has Reflect.

I've actually been keeping all characters no more than a level or two apart ? I like having everyone on the same page. Oh, and I bought everyong Golden Amulets for double LP earnage.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Tengokujin on 16 Nov 2006, 09:43: Better yet, steal/kill lots of Redmaws for Ice Shield. Half Ice damage FTW. Also, I find that having one character casting lure and keeping the boss away from the other two (who are using ranged) helps out a lot. Lure is annoying, though. It keeps losing to my innate magick resist/evade, so I sometimes need to cast it 7 times for it to stick. ::sad::
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Cartilage Head on 17 Nov 2006, 04:21: I'm about 44 hours in by now. The way I've been playing is by keeping every party member pretty balanced out, so that I don't have to rely on any one member for any certain thing. I also just recently noticed the "Shuffle" option during Quickening attacks. This really comes in handy and I feel very, very dumb for not noticing it before. I also realize that I need to buy some more magic instead of focusing so much on my armor and weapons.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: TimA on 20 Nov 2006, 21:25: I'm trying to hold off on getting this until I finish my current writing project. Yeah. Good luck with that.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Taber on 22 Nov 2006, 06:09: about 50 hours. I'm afraid Vaan, Fran, and Basch are about level 45, and Balthier, Ashe, and Penelo are about level 15. alll have all the +hp licenses so the unused characters can take a hit or two if they need to come in to rez the party, or run away. Most of the time I bring them in on bosses to use their quickenings if Vaan, Fran, and Basch's quickening falls short. I have Vaan in light armor, Fran in magic and Basch in Heavy armor, and their roles correspond, or at least should. I have Vaan tanking right now, because he has more defense and hp than Basch. This game seems to keep you pretty poor, so I've been keeping up with the magic, but haven't bought any weapons or armor for awhile, and I just happened to find better light armor from hunts/stealing/bazaar

anyway, I think the game's pretty fun, the combat system is great. The characters are fun, though the story didn't really grab me. But that could be because My roommate keeps comparing it to Star Wars. And while part of me thinks he's right, he's mutilated that dead horse to a fine red mist
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Dimmukane on 22 Nov 2006, 06:55: I kinda screwed myself over and can't get any further until I kill the Croakadile. Which wouldn't be a big deal, except I was only able to Mist Charge 7 times once, against Belias. I just need to do that at least once, and whip out Belias and the other two quickening capable users and be on my way, only luck hasn't been on my side. And I've got two level twenties and four nineteens. Lately I've all but given up on it for Zelda.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Storm Rider on 22 Nov 2006, 07:21: Quote from: Dimmukane on 22 Nov 2006, 06:55
Lately I've all but given up on it for Zelda.

Yeah, me too. I love this game and all but Zelda kind of takes precedence.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Cartilage Head on 23 Nov 2006, 00:43: About 60-something hours now. I'm conquering as many hunts and sidequests as I can right now, while also leveling up my characters. I'm coming quite close to the end, a fact taht I was unaware of until about a week ago.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Nutsaur on 28 Nov 2006, 19:02: How mint is the idea of 'loot'? I was tired of creating reasons why monsters eat Gil.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: jake-s on 29 Nov 2006, 01:03: :cry: we dont get in england till 2007. But when we do i will be obsessed :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Cartilage Head on 29 Nov 2006, 01:06: God dang I cannot believe that i have spent more than eighty fuckin' hours on this game I can't believe that it's so long but it seems like I haven't spent that much time yet and I'm fuckin' far in the game and the sidequests are like numerous and I am fuckin' TIRED...
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: ScrambledGregs on 29 Nov 2006, 07:01: When I asked my best friend about his opinion on this game, he said, and I quote "I want it more than life." And that's how I feel. But I just bought FFIII for DS, and I'm gunna wait to pick this up until Christmas/post-Christmas.

Still, it sounds ZOMG.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: I Am Not Amused on 01 Dec 2006, 05:20: Round 50 hours, and I'm trying to keep up with all the magic/equipment/gambits/etc. I'm not real big on the technicks. I really actually haven't used a single one yet. I like taking marks, teleporting to where the petitioner/mark is and then walking back for the loot and LP. Vaan (light armor & knives), Fran (light armor & bows), Ashe (one handed swords and heavy armor) are all level 48 and the rest of the party level 15. Four espers, nearly complete upper license boards for Ashe and Vaan (who have Golden Amulets), etc.

Am currently walking from the port city back to Rabanastre instead of teleporting for gil and loot and stuff, then will destroy some marks, get hella pimped out and continue with the storyline, which is really very interesting right now. I like how there is a lot of storyline and getting things done and then, bam, it hits you with some great chracter exposition. Balthier is probably my favorite character at this point in the game.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Cartilage Head on 02 Dec 2006, 20:43: A bit of suggestion: You probably should try out some of those tecknicks. A lot of them are pretty useless, but a few come in very handy, like steal and telekinesis. Not to mention the ones that lower the enemies' stats.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Merkava on 03 Dec 2006, 02:37: Now I'm thinking...

Gameplay-wise, the game is brilliant, but I'm pretty dissapointed with the story and characters. The plot itself is interesting enough, but the execution is lacking for me. I don't have the emotional connection to this that I had to the rest of the series starting from 4. Is anyone else feeling this way?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Cartilage Head on 03 Dec 2006, 06:00: That's one of the huge changes that XII has made to the series.

What the developers were going after was more of a political, mature storyline. While I personally would have liked more focus into the characters, I commend Square Enix for a change of pace in terms of storytelling. But like I said, having a mature storyline dosen't mean you can't delve into the inner character of the... characters a little. Though I'm not saying there aren't a few pretty emotional moments through the story, mostly toward the end of the game.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: ScrambledGregs on 03 Dec 2006, 07:26: Ever since Final Fantasy 6, it's hard for me to really care about characters in RPGs any more. That's not to say I don't think they're well done or interesting characters these days, I just don't care about them as more than digital playthings I get to watch twist in the wind. For example, I think that Star Wars: KOTOR 1 has really well done and well written characters, but I didn't care about them. I found it damned amusing to play the Dark Side and screw with them.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Storm Rider on 03 Dec 2006, 08:02: I actually like most of the characters in XII, even though I'm not nearly as far as most people anymore. Not as much as say, VI (Sabin is probably my favorite RPG character of all time), but more than X for sure.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: I Am Not Amused on 04 Dec 2006, 02:57: I'll agree with the characters being less relatable. However, I think the way in which they do delve into the character's personalities very realistic. They're in the middle of political upheaval, in the middle of this huge quest. They're all people that have, pretty much, just met. They're not going to be having heart to hearts all the time. I do wish they would have expanded Basch vs. Vaan a little bit, but I'm really liking the angle they're taking with Balthier and Ashe.

As far as Technicks, I've been absolutely fine without them. I'll probably delve into them a little more, but my gil mostly goes towards equipment and magic.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: ackblom12 on 04 Dec 2006, 11:42: I've got XII on its way to me from Gamefly now. Here's hoping I like it.

I seriously have despised every FF game since VII, and even VII didn't come close to IV or VI for me. I've hated every character but Auron since then (the major exception being IX, where i loved all the characters, but just couldn't make myself enjoy the story), and I have found the stories either boring, or trying way too hard to be epic and fantastical and tossing in plot twists just because they hadn't used that specific plot twist in that specific game yet.

I've heard enough good things though that I'm fairly confident this one will definitely be enjoyed for many many hours by me. That and it was made by the Vagrant Story team, that alone makes me willing to give it a chance.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Rocinante on 06 Dec 2006, 03:09: I'm about 15 hours in, haven't played it for a while. It seems to me that amassing enough gil to pay for upgrades is one of the worst parts. I'm a fan of the hunts and the battle system, but I've got to agree, the characters just don't seem as deep as previous titles.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Sarcasmorator on 06 Dec 2006, 12:35: A tip for money: buy monographs ASAP. They become available at the bazaar when you've talked to various merchant types and looked at the hunt board a bunch of times. There's more about them at GameFaqs, but they make it more likely that enemies will drop rare loot that's worth more; each monograph corresponds to one or two monster types. Also, steal from everything. All the time. Forever.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: notselfcreated on 06 Dec 2006, 14:28: Beat it, 60-something hours, using cheap strategies to make the game easy (hey, it's how I play). Spoilers.

What is incredibly shocking to me is that the biggest disappointment of the game is... the plot! I don't think I'm spoiling too much to say that... well... not much happens. Villains show up, you beat them, the end. Your characters don't even have any idea they're going to confront Vayne until the very end.

Compare that to Kefka, who spends the whole length of the game burning castles, poisoning rivers, killing his fellow generals, and wearing stiletto heels; or Sephiroth, who haunts and dogs you every damn second; or even Seymour, whose silky smooth voice made you almost break your controller in hatred... Vayne pops up in a few cut scenes, then boom, you gotta beat him, he's so bad, then you beat him.

The greatest casualty of the abruptness of everything is Dr. Cid, though. BEST VOICE ACTING in the game... and such wasted talent, too. The guy is freaking awesome. Wish we could've seen more of him.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Rocinante on 06 Dec 2006, 23:16: Quote from: Sarcasmorator on 06 Dec 2006, 12:35
A tip for money: buy monographs ASAP. They become available at the bazaar when you've talked to various merchant types and looked at the hunt board a bunch of times. There's more about them at GameFaqs, but they make it more likely that enemies will drop rare loot that's worth more; each monograph corresponds to one or two monster types. Also, steal from everything. All the time. Forever.

Thanks for the help! Stealing just seems like such a waste sometimes, but I guess you gotta do some redundant juck before you get what you want.

Ok, so the plot may be a bit stale, but I thought that the graphics, in particular, the airship sequences, were nothing short of spectacular.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: jeph on 06 Dec 2006, 23:47: Quote from: Rubby on 14 Nov 2006, 08:36
So aside from the battle system and party optimizations, what do you guys think of the story line so far. I know no one's finished it, but any initial thoughts.

Beat it a week ago. Story was pretty good as far as FF games go!

God Damn some of the endgame optional stuff is hard. There are places where my high-50s/low-60s main party still gets destroyed just by regular monsters.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Cartilage Head on 08 Dec 2006, 01:50: Quote from: notselfcreated on 06 Dec 2006, 14:28
Beat it, 60-something hours, using cheap strategies to make the game easy (hey, it's how I play). Spoilers.

What is incredibly shocking to me is that the biggest disappointment of the game is... the plot! I don't think I'm spoiling too much to say that... well... not much happens. Villains show up, you beat them, the end. Your characters don't even have any idea they're going to confront Vayne until the very end.

Compare that to Kefka, who spends the whole length of the game burning castles, poisoning rivers, killing his fellow generals, and wearing stiletto heels; or Sephiroth, who haunts and dogs you every damn second; or even Seymour, whose silky smooth voice made you almost break your controller in hatred... Vayne pops up in a few cut scenes, then boom, you gotta beat him, he's so bad, then you beat him.

The greatest casualty of the abruptness of everything is Dr. Cid, though. BEST VOICE ACTING in the game... and such wasted talent, too. The guy is freaking awesome. Wish we could've seen more of him.

I have to agree with the thing about Dr. Cid. That was a very good moment right there. I have to disagree about the Vayne thing though.. I knew I was going to face him last even before I actually FOUND OUT. I still haven't beaten it though. I'm still doing optional stuff.. almost one-hundred hours in.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: notselfcreated on 08 Dec 2006, 02:10: No pity from me! HAHAHAHAHA
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: mts on 11 Dec 2006, 00:48: i just started playing last night. its taken me a bit to get used to the battle system. so it may seem like a stupid question but is there any point in running in when you are about to strike and then moving out until your charge bar goes?

stealing seams worhtwhile to me, the first cactus i stole from gave me a broadsword.. i mean i cant use it yet but i got it

any other beginer tips?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Cartilage Head on 11 Dec 2006, 06:39: Somethimes keeping your chracter moving does do some good.

Don't worry.. the enemies are kind of hard when you start out.

More tips? Make sure you buy licenses only for what is avaliable at a shop ahead of time. There is no point in buying equipment that you won't be able to use for a while.

Make sure you try to spend your money on different things. I went a long time without having certain magicks that would have helped me out a lot.

Do as many hunts as you can. These are a major source of valuable gear and gil, not to mention it gives you a good excuse to level up without being bored to death.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: ScrambledGregs on 11 Dec 2006, 07:21: I'm too lazy to go look it up, but I was browsing through the FFXII guide at Best Buy a few days ago, and Quickenings jumped out to me. They didn't explain it very well, but it sounded to me like this game's version of limit breaks or special attack skills that require you to charge a bar up somehow...?? That sounds pretty rocking to me. I think one of the few decent things to come out of FFVII were the idea of limit breaks or whatever they call it in such and such game.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: notselfcreated on 11 Dec 2006, 12:31: Actually, though limit breaks were far more visible in FFVII, the credit for the basic concept really goes to FFVI. Each character has a unique critical attack that has a 1/16 (or is it 1/8?) chance of executing when you select "Fight" in critical condition. Incidentally, I have never even seen one myself (FFVI's greatest sin was lack of difficulty, hence rarely are chars ever critical).

Now, I immensely enjoyed the storylines from Vagrant Story and FFT, which were similarly political, adult, and convoluted, but in both of those cases it seemed like there was much more story than in FFXII. Although the plot is far from perfunctory, I would go as far as to call it skeletal. Like so many other things in life, FFXII's plot NEEDS MORE FLESH!
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: mts on 11 Dec 2006, 13:34: i have noticed i die a lot more than with previos ff games

when can you change your gambits? i reckon its with 3 players in your party, but figured i would ask
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Rocinante on 11 Dec 2006, 20:52: Quote from: mts on 11 Dec 2006, 13:34
i have noticed i die a lot more than with previos ff games

when can you change your gambits? i reckon its with 3 players in your party, but figured i would ask

After you progress a little ways into the game, there should be a short tutorial on setting up gambits. If memory serves, this happens shortly after Balthier and Fran join the party. If this isn't what you were asking about, sorry!
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Tengokujin on 11 Dec 2006, 21:44: I am a sad, pathetic person.
But I will be a sad, pathetic person who's going to fight Ultima, later today (I hope).
(http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/4020/chain9994ur0.th.jpg) (http://img177.imageshack.us/my.php?image=chain9994ur0.jpg)
(http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/4332/menu80nu0.th.png) (http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=menu80nu0.png)
And Zodiark was a pain in the arse.
(http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/8960/zodiarkobtainedxn3.th.png) (http://img167.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zodiarkobtainedxn3.png)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: mts on 11 Dec 2006, 22:44: nope that did ansawer my question
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Rocinante on 12 Dec 2006, 03:57: Quote from: Tengokujin on 11 Dec 2006, 21:44
I am a sad, pathetic person.
But I will be a sad, pathetic person who's going to fight Ultima, later today (I hope).
(http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/4020/chain9994ur0.th.jpg) (http://img177.imageshack.us/my.php?image=chain9994ur0.jpg)
(http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/4332/menu80nu0.th.png) (http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=menu80nu0.png)
And Zodiark was a pain in the arse.
(http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/8960/zodiarkobtainedxn3.th.png) (http://img167.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zodiarkobtainedxn3.png)

*Jaw drops*

Wow, that looks like a LOT of time in front of the ol' PS2 , congratulations!

...and, I'm sorry for you :^)
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: mts on 12 Dec 2006, 08:23: gees, and i can;t even beat flowering cactoid..
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Cartilage Head on 12 Dec 2006, 08:29: Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn those are some high levels.

And a very long chain DAAAAAAAMMMNN.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: ScrambledGregs on 12 Dec 2006, 09:04: This game seems/looks like FFX smashed together with a MMORPG. At least that's how I imagine it from the stuff I read, and the demo I got with Dragon Quest VIII. Is that even close, or way off base?? I just can't imagine a FF where I drop enough hours into it to equal a Nippon Ichi strategy RPG unless it's vaguely MMORPG-like.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Rocinante on 12 Dec 2006, 11:26: Quote from: ScrambledGregs on 12 Dec 2006, 09:04
This game seems/looks like FFX smashed together with a MMORPG. At least that's how I imagine it from the stuff I read, and the demo I got with Dragon Quest VIII. Is that even close, or way off base?? I just can't imagine a FF where I drop enough hours into it to equal a Nippon Ichi strategy RPG unless it's vaguely MMORPG-like.

The combat system is reminiscent of an MMORPG, and I think that it's done very well. The transition between standard travel and battle is almost seamless.

Oh, and I just bought DQ VIII after getting FFXII. My buddy wanted me to beat FFXII and give it to him to play. I just gave him the demo copy from Dragon Quest, I wonder if he'll hate me? Dragon Quest is a good game in and of itself, too.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: notselfcreated on 12 Dec 2006, 11:48: Slightly OT, but for some reason I have a hell of a time getting into the Nippon Ichi games... and, as I've mentioned, I LOVED FFT. But I guess FFT was simpler than Disgaea 2.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Storm Rider on 12 Dec 2006, 12:01: I really like the Nippon Ichi games but I never finish them ever because they are so fucking long. I came really close to finishing Phantom Brave (I'll probably go back to it and finish the last few levels eventually), but I haven't even come close to finishing either Disgaea game or Makai Kingdom. They're plenty of fun, but man, they take forever.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: ackblom12 on 12 Dec 2006, 12:34: Well, after playing it for a few days, I like a lot of things about FFXII, But I seriously can't make myself give a damn about anything going on at all.

I like the combat system more than i was expecting, though i still much prefer full Turn-Based. Balthier kicks so much fucking ass, and I genuinely like all the characters. They basically fixed almost everything I started hating about the series since VII.. and I really don't care enough to finish the game.

Still a good game, but I think I've just stopped having the capacity to care about any new FF.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: ScrambledGregs on 12 Dec 2006, 21:11: I'm gunna start a new NIS thread so we can talk about those games and not overrun this thread.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Merkava on 13 Dec 2006, 01:59: Quote from: I Am Not Amused on 04 Dec 2006, 02:57
I'll agree with the characters being less relatable. However, I think the way in which they do delve into the character's personalities very realistic. They're in the middle of political upheaval, in the middle of this huge quest. They're all people that have, pretty much, just met. They're not going to be having heart to hearts all the time. I do wish they would have expanded Basch vs. Vaan a little bit, but I'm really liking the angle they're taking with Balthier and Ashe.

I don't know, SE has shown that they are able to pull those heart strings in other ways. But even putting that aside, I don't feel like I have any effect on any of the major events. I'm just part of some resistance faction that runs around on beaches and forests to...what again? Oh yeah, to find a stone or something. I can never really remember. Bad sign. The villains are doing their own thing and we're doing our own thing and it's as if we randomly cross paths.

I don't remember many heart-to-hearts in the other FF games. I know there were a lot in FFX, and that total character focus was a nice, personal direction for that game, but games like IV, VI, and even VII to an extent were able to develop an emotional connection otherwise.

Bah. Sorry to rant. It is a fun game, but slightly disappointing.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Cartilage Head on 13 Dec 2006, 04:41: Precisely! The story is obviously lacking.. in that it seems as if shit just happens and happens and then DANG and it's over. I'm glad that Revenant Wings will be coming out, because if rumour has it, it's going to have a more character-oriented story.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Storm Rider on 13 Dec 2006, 06:09: What the hell is Revenant Wings? Is that a separate game, or sort of like a X-II thing?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Cartilage Head on 13 Dec 2006, 21:08: It's a sequel to XII, and it will released for the Nintendo DS.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Merkava on 29 Dec 2006, 09:28: And you still play as Vaan.

*sigh*
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Marauder_Pilot on 29 Dec 2006, 09:43: My roommate got FFXII yesterday, and he started playing around 8:00 PM that night. He was still playing when I went to bed around midnight. When I got up at 4:00 AM to take a leak, he was *still* playing. He finally went to sleep at 7:00 AM.

And he's back playing now. I take it it's a good game. I'd try it out, if I could get near it!
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Storm Rider on 29 Dec 2006, 11:28: Now that I've finished Twilight Princess, I've started getting back into this game. I'm going to go back and actually do some hunts (which I've ignored pretty much the entire time so far) and get some of the optional Espers. I tried to fight Adrammelech, but he kicked my ass. I've levelled some since then though and gotten everyone to their third Quickening, so I'm about to go back and try again.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: mts on 29 Dec 2006, 23:40: hey any suggestions for gambit setup.

i tried setting one up for steal but it just ended up making my guy steal without attacking anything
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: ScrambledGregs on 30 Dec 2006, 02:39: I broke down and bought this game two days ago, since I was flush with Christmas cash and had finished Final Fantasy III for DS. I do not regret this decision!! FFXII is OMFG good. It's been a long time that a game so completely consumed my mind and time.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Johnny C on 30 Dec 2006, 04:11: I really want to play this game a lot. I'll see about borrowing it from someone once they're done with it. However the battle system sounds an awful lot like the one from FFXI but with gambits.

oh and p.s. i'm replaying FFVI which i dowloaded for the macbook. such a good game.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Storm Rider on 01 Jan 2007, 08:01: I tried to go fight one of the other optional espers (Zalera), and that one kicked my ass too. The FAQs I can find say level 40 would be high enough, but I can't stop dying. This fucker casts instant death every 20 seconds, and I spend so much time using Phoenix Downs I can't deal any goddamn damage. I guess I should progress further in the story and unlock better spells before trying this again.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Sarcasmorator on 01 Jan 2007, 08:36: For Zalera: Haste + Reflect/ga + spam Curaga/ja = win.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Storm Rider on 01 Jan 2007, 08:59: Like I said, I don't have Curaja or Reflectga yet, because I can't buy them. I'm in Archades, should I progress further before even trying to fight these Espers yet?

At least I bought all the Monographs available to me in the time I wasted trying to do this.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Sarcasmorator on 01 Jan 2007, 10:55: Oh, sorry, missed that. You might be able to pull it off with Curaga, but I was past Archades before I even got the Barheim key. I'd probably wait and do it later. Espers aren't really very practical, anyway.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: ScrambledGregs on 01 Jan 2007, 21:43: This is the first game since...Final Fantasy VI where I said to myself "I'm too far in to start over, but once I beat the game I'm going to start a new game and obsessively get everything in this game!!" And I will, too, once I play Valkyrie Profile 2.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Scandanavian War Machine on 03 Jan 2007, 05:48: this is the only FF game besides X where i know that when i beat it, i wont start a new game and get everything in the game. i love this game to death but the thought of playing through it again makes me nauseous.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: mts on 05 Jan 2007, 23:55: ok having some frustratin here.

how/when do you get to cross the river in the estersand , the one where the ferry is being held up?

i can't really find anything on it
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: ScrambledGregs on 06 Jan 2007, 00:25: I'm 99% sure you just have to get farther into the game. Storywise, I mean.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Sarcasmorator on 06 Jan 2007, 07:44: Not so! There's a whole little sidequest you have to do (and one right after will net you the Barheim Passage Key so you can go in the side way). Go to http://db.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/file/final_fantasy_xii_e.txt, and do a text search for [NBV1].
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: ScrambledGregs on 06 Jan 2007, 20:28: Oh. I just assumed, since I spent a good twenty minutes trying to get across that same ferry ride before giving up and thinking I just had to progress the plot.

Anyway, I am loving this game, though I'm pretty sure I'm underleveled. I've been grinding in the Estersand to rack up fucktons of LPs with little effort, so now I'm going to go back to Bhujerba and try to grind in the Mines where, I think, the skeletons keep respawning in that one area that's just a narrow path with two other paths on each side. I'm supposed to be going to the Garif village right now, but the Ozmone plains were handing my ass back to me (as well as the fucking Storm Elementals in the flooded Giza Plains...I know you aren't supposed to be able to kill them yet, but since they attack me everytime I walk by, it's either run or die).
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: mts on 07 Jan 2007, 01:41: i did that but it still won't let me use the ferry. i have already gone and fetched her two other things. i need to go to the north bank to finsih it but it won't let me
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Sarcasmorator on 07 Jan 2007, 07:08: I think there's a kid by the dock you need to talk to, and you may have to exit the village and come back.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: I Am Not Amused on 11 Jan 2007, 10:15: Umm, I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure...

A.) There are three things you have to get and bring back to that lady in that quest to use the ferry

and

B.) You can go straight to the Mosphoran Highwaste from the Nalbina Fortress, which you can get to through the part of the Estersands closer to Rabanastre
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: ScrambledGregs on 13 Jan 2007, 21:28: I beat this game last night. The ending made me want to cry, only I'm too manly and rugged to cry. Also I lost my tearducts in a tragic floor waxing accident. But seriously, THE BEST GAME IN THE SERIES SINCE FFVI. I ended up ACTUALLY GIVING A SHIT about the characters, all of whom I found likeable. The game has basically resuscitated my love for the RPG form, and that's the highest praise I can give anything.

I want to restate again how huge this game is. In terms of world size AND content. I sunk 60 hours into the beautiful bastard to beat the game, and that was without doing ANY sidequests, all of THREE hunts, NO optional espers/dungeons/monsters, NO ultimate weapons, etc etc. I only leveled up and used a three person party, as well, letting my other three people languish at the level 15 range. This game is a completionist's wet dream, and not in the "how the hell am I going to do all of this, and what's the point??" way that Nippon Ichi strategy RPGs are.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Fabio on 13 Jan 2007, 21:39: You make me ACHE for this game GARGH!!!
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Cartilage Head on 13 Jan 2007, 22:32: HA HAAAAA.

I took a huge break from the game, which is usually what I do before I start leveling up a whole lot. I'm about.. 105 hours in? I have never spent so much time on a game.. ever..

..Did I say that already?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: quotemyname on 15 Jan 2007, 19:20: step 1: Final Fantasy video game is released
Step 2: i purchase said video game
Step 3: i play said video game
Step 4: my friends all move on with their lives
Step 5: i get left in the dust
Step 6: i finish final fantasy just in time for the release of the next final fantasy
Step 7: the next installment is released

Wash, Rinse, Repeat
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: TheFuriousWombat on 17 Jan 2007, 05:07: i just had an idea: how about they take the final in final fantasy and actually mean it. these games bother the hell out of me. they're not rpgs people!! why does no one see this?!?
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: mts on 17 Jan 2007, 08:34: any tips on taking down the first demon wall, the best i have done was 3/4 of the way down before i get crushed. i think i need to get more quickenings soi can link them but still
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: ackblom12 on 17 Jan 2007, 12:42: Quote from: TheFuriousWombat on 17 Jan 2007, 05:07
i just had an idea: how about they take the final in final fantasy and actually mean it. these games bother the hell out of me. they're not rpgs people!! why does no one see this?!?

Because it was a term used for them early on, due to a large chunk of the early games borrowing so damn much from D&D and it just stuck.

I still love them though. Except FF8 & up. They can lick my nuts.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: Storm Rider on 17 Jan 2007, 12:46: Actually, 12 is one of my favorites. Nothing on 6, but still much better than the last couple.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: ackblom12 on 17 Jan 2007, 13:32: Oh, it's definitely a hell of an improvement over the last few, but I really couldn't make myself care about much of what was going on while i played. Overall the game was just very"meh" to me. On the upside, I enjoyed most of the characters which is definitely better than the unadultered HATE i have for almost every Final Fantasy character after 7.
Title: Re: Final Fantasy XII
Post by: ScrambledGregs on 17 Jan 2007, 20:52: Quote from: mts on 17 Jan 2007, 08:34
any tips on taking down the first demon wall, the best i have done was 3/4 of the way down before i get crushed. i think i need to get more quickenings soi can link them but still

I never bothered to try to kill that first one. There's no way to stop its advance like the second one, and I was never able to do enough damage in little enough time to defeat it before teh_crushinating. My recommendation is to make a note of it and come back later in the game when you can whip it easily.

In other news, I got a few hours into Valkyrie Profile 2, an admittedly good but entirely different game experience, before losing all interest and starting a new game of FFXII already. I'm quite serious when I say that this is my favorite FF since VI!! I can't get away from this game. It's as close to perfect as I can imagine...