- Nothing like expectedHaving been a Final Fantasy fan for e few years I became used to good stories and too-easy game play. I always considered Kingdom Hearts to be better because it had a good story and good gameplay that was a challenge and fit the story better. Three characters lined in a row taking turns damaging an enemy is not a very epic way to battle. Final Fantasy XII was different. Although the time-based situation was still there, it was only after you entered the command that you had to wait for the command to execute. Also, you could move your people around in battle. Well, your party leader at least. Sure, you can't effectivly dodge attacks - If you are out of range, the enemy will move so that you are in range before executing the attack. However, gameplay was fast and addicting. The lack of save points can be problematic, but the only other issue I found was the leveling up method. It took FOREVER. You thankfully get an item that allows double experience, but this is only mild releif for a short time period. Money could also be a problem. Some say that the issue is getting items and selling them, but you have to go to a store to buy something anyways so I did not find a problem. Instead, I found the issue to be that the items you sold were not worth alot at all. To get the spells needed to fight a level 35 boss, you had to fight. By the time you had the money to buy the spells, you were ten levels higher than the boss was. Not to fear, though. Alot of the bosses could still be a challenge as long as you actually fight them. For those who do not want the challenge, new summons are available, unique to the series. They reuse FFVI Espers, but the Espers are all new. No more Ifrit, Shiva, or Bahamut. Instead, these are names of Imperial airships ofund throughout the game. If summons do not work for you, the liscence board allows you to get the games limit breaks, called quickenings, for use. Three for each character, and the liscence board is faster than leveling up. Also, unlike abilities and magic, quickenings do not require you to buy the ability. You can only use as many quickenings as your mp allows, however, you can use mist charges during quickening sequences to rebuild your mp for more quickenings. Although the time alloted to do this is less with every quickening, it is possible to wipe out half of a boss's hp with an attack. Then, just switch in the next three characters and do it again! The story was better than I had heard. In fact, I had been expecting a boring midieval story. However, the war sequences at the begining are enough to hook you for the rest of the game. The main story, however, focuses on avoiding war, however the search for rocks (this games version of crystals) gives the heroes and villains more power (for the story) and calls for unique plot twists such as Will she use it for revenge? I personally do not yet know (I am almost to the end but not quite there yet) but if I did know I would not tell you. You will have to lay the game and see this epic tale for yourself. One last note, though, is that the characters are more realistic. Not just with the amazing graphics, but also with their movements. You do not see Vaan jumping up a skyscraper with a single leap or anyone wielding a sword that is obviously way to big. The characters move like humans (even the non-human ones) and have traditional human limitations. All the same, a great and long game to play.
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