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[Isotropy]

Posted this in another FFXII thread, thought i should post it here too to see if I could get responses quicker

For someone who's played a couple of FF games, but has never played FFXII and is looking into getting this remastered, what should I be expecting before purchasing it? I've read a couple of things here and there, a lot of people here seem to absolutely adore this game, so I kind of wanted to hear opinions/expectations from you guys before purchasing this.

What do you mean, exactly?

In relation to other Final Fantasies, it's got a particularly large and open world. It's got a high fantasy setting reminiscent of Tactics with some added zany airships.

It doesn't have a romance driving the narrative, which many found fault with when it released at the peak of romance-driven JRPG stories. Instead it begins with a main character's husband dying in war, and her grief fuels a lot of her character development - she's one of my favourite characters in the series.

It's got great dialogue, although in the middle of the game the story pacing gets quite slow (it picks back up again later on, and if you're enjoying the gameplay it shouldn't matter as you get a slew of great regions and dungeons to explore).

The way it handles party members is by giving you complete control over their AI - if you like pre-planning and then watching your grand schemes unfurl before you, you'll love it. If that doesn't sound fun, maybe not for you - but it's definitely worth a shot as there's not much else like it. You never know, it could all click.

It's got a particular emphasis on the world and lore - if XIII didn't have enough towns and NPCs and sidequests for you, XII is your game. There's lots to get immersed in.

 

[IDontBeatGames]

What do you mean, exactly?

In relation to other Final Fantasies, it's got a particularly large and open world. It's got a high fantasy setting reminiscent of Tactics with some added zany airships.

It doesn't have a romance driving the narrative, which many found fault with when it released at the peak of romance-driven JRPG stories. Instead it begins with a main character's husband dying in war, and her grief fuels a lot of her character development - she's one of my favourite characters in the series.

It's got great dialogue, although in the middle of the game the story pacing gets quite slow (it picks back up again later on, and if you're enjoying the gameplay it shouldn't matter as you get a slew of great regions and dungeons to explore).

The way it handles party members is by giving you complete control over their AI - if you like pre-planning and then watching your grand schemes unfurl before you, you'll love it. If that doesn't sound fun, maybe not for you - but it's definitely worth a shot as there's not much else like it. You never know, it could all click.

(edit) However the beginning of what you said in terms of the story sounds legitimately interesting. And, I'm assuming it's not heavily romantic, from what you said?

It's got a particular emphasis on the world and lore - if XIII didn't have enough towns and NPCs and sidequests for you, XII is your game. There's lots to get immersed in.

I meant like in terms of story wise/gameplay wise, what should I expect? It seems like there's a lot when I've read about it, I kind of want to know if it's too much for a first comer, you know? But so far from what you've said it sounds interesting. I've read a couple of posts here saying its almost like a "single player MMO"? Never understood what that meant exactly.

 

[Isotropy]

I meant like in terms of story wise/gameplay wise, what should I expect? It seems like there's a lot when I've read about it, I kind of want to know if it's too much for a first comer, you know? But so far from what you've said it sounds interesting. I've read a couple of posts here saying its almost like a "single player MMO"? Never understood what that meant exactly.

It doesn't mean much anymore. At the time it just meant that there were no battle transitions, enemies roaming the world map, big open zones etc.

It's a complex game, yes, but it's not overly difficult (until you hit the super bosses). It'll teach you everything you need to know.

 

[Servbot24]

I meant like in terms of story wise/gameplay wise, what should I expect? It seems like there's a lot when I've read about it, I kind of want to know if it's too much for a first comer, you know? But so far from what you've said it sounds interesting. I've read a couple of posts here saying its almost like a "single player MMO"? Never understood what that meant exactly.

I think this game is great for a newcomer. The battle system retains the strategy of turn based combat while feeling more open and akin to modern games.

People refer to it as an MMO simply because you have the ability to run around in real time and have your party highlight enemies and focus attacks as you would in some MMOs. It's not a very meaningful comment tbh, so I wouldn't get hung up on it.

 

[IDontBeatGames]

It doesn't mean much anymore. At the time it just meant that there were no battle transitions, enemies roaming the world map, big open zones etc.

It's a complex game, yes, but it's not overly difficult (until you hit the super bosses). It'll teach you everything you need to know.

Can you go into detail about the Gambit system? I've read a whole bunch of good things about it but still kind of don't understand it much

I think this game is great for a newcomer. The battle system retains the strategy of turn based combat while feeling more open and akin to modern games.

People refer to it as an MMO simply because you have the ability to run around in real time and have your party highlight enemies and focus attacks as you would in some MMOs. It's not a very meaningful comment tbh, so I wouldn't get hung up on it.

What do people mean about the combat system being automatic later on? And really? It seems like it's a must play from what people have said about this game.

 

[Styles]

Time, the ultimate truth-teller, I guess, hihi.

I need the remastered Esper theme ASAP.

 

[Isotropy]

Can you go into detail about the Gambit system? I've read a whole bunch of good things about it but still kind of don't understand it much

A gambit is an instruction for your party member's AI.

Enemy HP 100% = Steal
Ally status poison = Antidote

Your character will steal items from enemies who have full health, and heal fellow party members who are poisoned.

Basically the system lets you automate things that you would do automatically anyway. This frees your attention to focus on the big picture, as you can still force new commands on the fly as in any Final Fantasy. Especially in big boss battles it gets the minutiae out of the way so you can pay attention to the more interesting parts of battle.

 

[IDontBeatGames]

A gambit is an instruction for your party member's AI.

Enemy HP 100% = Steal
Ally status poison = Antidote

Your character will steal items from enemies who have full health, and heal fellow party members who are poisoned.

Basically the system lets you automate things that you would do automatically anyway. This frees your attention to focus on the big picture, as you can still force new commands on the fly as in any Final Fantasy. Especially in big boss battles it gets the minutiae out of the way so you can pay attention to the more interesting parts of battle.

This kind of attracts me alone, cause sometimes the battles got uninteresting to me in other games that I've played (not specifically FF games) , so seeing that I can make instructions for my party to do things for me is kind of interesting/attractive.


Is there anything else a newcomer to this game should know about?

 

[Isotropy]

This kind of attracts me alone, cause sometimes the battles got uninteresting to me in other games that I've played (not specifically FF games) , so seeing that I can make instructions for my party to do things for me is kind of interesting/attractive.


Is there anything else a newcomer to this game should know about?

Nothing you "need" to know, I wouldn't say.

This version has a job system, if you're familiar with those. You can't undo your job choice but you eventually get to choose a second, which means you can learn all the jobs in the game across your party. So no need to worry about making a "bad" decision.

 

[Servbot24]

What do people mean about the combat system being automatic later on? And really? It seems like it's a must play from what people have said about this game.

It's as automatic as you allow it to be, in the same way you could just press attack over and ober in other games.

 

[IDontBeatGames]

Nothing you "need" to know, I wouldn't say.

This version has a job system, if you're familiar with those. You can't undo your job choice but you eventually get to choose a second, which means you can learn all the jobs in the game across your party. So no need to worry about making a "bad" decision.

It's as automatic as you allow it to be, in the same way you could just press attack over and ober in other games.

You two have been really helpful. I've just been trying to learn more about this game before I actually purchase it. I never actually played this before so I kind of wanted to know what I would be getting into before I play it. I got the FFX remaster and kind of lost interest a decent way through, so I was kind of making sure I knew more about this game before buying it.

 

[Malrend]

You two have been really helpful. I've just been trying to learn more about this game before I actually purchase it. I never actually played this before so I kind of wanted to know what I would be getting into before I play it. I got the FFX remaster and kind of lost interest a decent way through, so I was kind of making sure I knew more about this game before buying it.

One thing you also need to know about the Gambit system, although the game will tell you this, is how they're prioritised.

Taking the example from Isotropy's post above:

Enemy HP 100% = Steal
Ally status poison = Antidote

The further up on the list a gambit is, the higher its priority.
So in this case, your character would focus on stealing from enemies at full health, even if a party member is poisoned. The moment there are no enemies with full health left, the antidote would be prepared.

 

[AndersK]

Yeah, gambits are a great system in terms of managing the boring stuff you can't be bothered to do constantly.

Protect and shell spells last maybe 10 minutes at most, so slap a gambit on a member to cast it when it goes down.

HP < 40 % ---> use cure is also great in hectic battles where you are occupied.
The doubled edged sword is you have to not have that set for everyone, otherwise all members stop to heal.

 

[Kusagari]

I think this game is great for a newcomer. The battle system retains the strategy of turn based combat while feeling more open and akin to modern games.

People refer to it as an MMO simply because you have the ability to run around in real time and have your party highlight enemies and focus attacks as you would in some MMOs. It's not a very meaningful comment tbh, so I wouldn't get hung up on it.

More than anything the battle system is referred to as MMO-like because the battle system is basically FFXI in offline mode.

 

[Yaboosh]

The fact that gambits are loot you have to find was also fun to me. It's exciting to find a particularly useful gambit.


I hate mmo style combat like Xenoblade but the battle system in FFXII is rad.

 

[kromeo]

Did they change the bazaar stuff at all in Zodiac? I've still got the guide book from the original game

 

[nemisis0]

Just got my copy from shopto with the tshirt pretty fun so far especially the speed up, never finished it on ps2 so this time I will.

 

[Vashetti]

How are the CGI cutscenes?

Better quality than FFX/X-2 and KH's?

 

[Keym]

How are the CGI cutscenes?

Better quality than FFX/X-2 and KH's?

The intro is incredible, but after that, you'll barely see any more until the very end.

 

[kromeo]

How are the CGI cutscenes?

Better quality than FFX/X-2 and KH's?

They're pretty similar quality wise to X's, possibly even better. The one at the start is certainly longer than anything that happens in X

 

[Drackhorn]

Pre-ordered. Can't wait.

 

[Mudron]

This may be the wrong place to ask, but:

It looks like the Steelbook version of the game is supposed to give you a code for DLC that allows you to play music from the original version of the game while playing the remastered version.

How is this any different than being able to toggle between the original soundtrack and the new orchestrated version, which is a feature baked into the base game regardless of which version you buy?

 

[RRockman]

This may be the wrong place to ask, but:

It looks like the Steelbook version of the game is supposed to give you a code for DLC that allows you to play music from the original version of the game while playing the remastered version.

How is this any different than being able to toggle between the original soundtrack and the new orchestrated version, which is a feature baked into the base game regardless of which version you buy?

Here you go friend.

Well the way it's been explained by square has been VERY vague but I finally got confirmation from a gameplay video from a YouTuber with an early copy.

So basically, there are 3 versions of FFXII's music (crazy right?)
They are:

1. The music as it sounded playing on an actual PS2 using it's own sound chip.
2. The completely reorchestrated music made for Zodiac Age.
3. The FFXII OST cd quality music which is very similar to 1. but with better instrument samples and clearer quality. (This is ONLY available to LE steelbook preorders)

All three music forms can be switched between ingame but the third is a special DLC that must be redeemed with a code. It's also unclear if the DLC can be purchased normally.

I was super confused about this and I may have preordered the steelbook had I known exactly what they meant.

For comparison:

PS2 quality: https://youtu.be/8TfG8kukjnk
CD quality: https://youtu.be/RgvaZ1F7Ox8
PS4 quality: https://youtu.be/rNmbusFgf3A

 

[mieumieu]

This may be the wrong place to ask, but:

It looks like the Steelbook version of the game is supposed to give you a code for DLC that allows you to play music from the original version of the game while playing the remastered version.

How is this any different than being able to toggle between the original soundtrack and the new orchestrated version, which is a feature baked into the base game regardless of which version you buy?

Well the way it's been explained by square has been VERY vague but I finally got confirmation from a gameplay video from a YouTuber with an early copy.

So basically, there are 3 versions of FFXII's music (crazy right?)
They are:

1. The music as it sounded playing on an actual PS2 using it's own sound chip.
2. The completely reorchestrated music made for Zodiac Age.
3. The FFXII OST cd quality music which is very similar to 1. but with better instrument samples and clearer quality. (This is ONLY available to LE steelbook preorders)

All three music forms can be switched between ingame but the third is a special DLC that must be redeemed with a code. It's also unclear if the DLC can be purchased normally.

I was super confused about this and I may have preordered the steelbook had I known exactly what they meant.

For comparison:

PS2 quality: https://youtu.be/8TfG8kukjnk
CD quality: https://youtu.be/RgvaZ1F7Ox8
PS4 quality: https://youtu.be/rNmbusFgf3A

There you go.

Beaten! Haha

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

Does it support 4k?

 

[Vashetti]

Does it support 4k?

Apparently runs at 1440p if you have a 4K display.

No downsampling for 1080p peasants.

 

[Mudron]

Here you go friend.

Thank you veddy much!

 

[Slaythe]

Apparently runs at 1440p if you have a 4K display.

No downsampling for 1080p peasants.

Fuck sake square.

They're lucky they fixed Vaan's abs, as it remains the better version by default over emulator. ( I know it's dumb but this is a change I am so pleased about )

 

[Almighty]

So I preordered the steelbook edition from Wal-Mart because Amazon was sold out. Wal-Mart said it wouldn't get to me until the 20th, which wasn't a big deal as I was in no rush. To my surprise the game arrived in the mail today. This is the first time I have ever had a game before its release date, so my question is will there be any problems if I tried to play it now?

 

[Jamaro85]

So I preordered the steelbook edition from Wal-Mart because Amazon was sold out. Wal-Mart said it wouldn't get to me until the 20th, which wasn't a big deal as I was in no rush. To my surprise the game arrived in the mail today. This is the first time I have ever had a game before its release date, so my question is will there be any problems if I tried to play it now?

Man what. Can't answer your question though, just expressing my jealousy, haha.

 

[FrenchMovieTheme]

So I preordered the steelbook edition from Wal-Mart because Amazon was sold out. Wal-Mart said it wouldn't get to me until the 20th, which wasn't a big deal as I was in no rush. To my surprise the game arrived in the mail today. This is the first time I have ever had a game before its release date, so my question is will there be any problems if I tried to play it now?

I've bought plenty of games early. You'll be fine

 

[Almighty]

I've bought plenty of games early. You'll be fine

Sweet. Thank you.

 

[sephi22]

Game's been out in Dubai since the 5th, but I have no money. FML

 

[Lights and Waves]

Is this retailing for $40 digital on PSN or are they gonna charge $60? I don't want to pay full price for a remaster...especially knowing that if I just wait a year, I can grab it for $19.99

 

[Caim]

Is this retailing for $40 digital on PSN or are they gonna charge $60? I don't want to pay full price for a remaster...especially knowing that if I just wait a year, I can grab it for $19.99

49.99

 

[Lights and Waves]

49.99

Next year it is, then.

 

[B-Dex]

It's all pre-loaded. Tomorrow night can't come soon enough.

 

[Jolkien]

Just unlocked, time to jump in !

 

[RoninChaos]

GameFAQs job combination guide/thread

Seems immensely helpful if you're stuck.

So based on that, which characters should get which classes?

 

[encephalon]

The cutscene direction in this game is so good. Better cutscenes probably wouldn't have saved FFXV, but ... It's somehow disappointing the series turned out the way it did post FFXII.