FF12 first impressions

[Pai Pai Master]

Re: FF12 first impressions

I already had an inkling from what I had played of the Japanese version, but after spending my first day with the English version, consider me convinced.

This is the best Final Fantasy game ever. It's a shame Matsuno won't be making any more.

Here's hoping Kitase borrows enough from FFXII's winning formula in Final Fantasy XIII.

[Jei]

Re: FF12 first impressions

Who is Matsuno?

[Intensity]

Re: FF12 first impressions

He's the producer/director/whatever of this FF. He's done past FF's as well, 6 and 8 specifically come to mind iirc.

[Skoal]

Re: FF12 first impressions

Question:
Didn't they adjust the format so it would fit on a widescreen hdtv?

[Icemage]

Re: FF12 first impressions

My non-spoily first impressions after several hours of play:

- The artwork is stunning in its detail and beauty, particularly the cutscenes and environments (no, this is not exaggeration).

- Combat is strangely similar to FFXI with the real-time action, and there are FFXI references and similarities all over the place. There are moments when I almost feel like I'm playing FFXI instead of FFXII, minus the party chatter.

- New character advancement and control system is quirky but cool.

- Voice acting is excellent - with a few exceptions, it's very good; not quite Kingdom Hearts-type greatness, but still excellent.

- Music is awesome (as you would expect).

- This installment seems to require a lot more grinding than past titles. I'm not sure if this is just an early trend or a harbinger of things to come as I've only played a few hours - just got access to Gambits, so this might improve.

- Gil is quite annoying to get at the beginning of the game. It gets better as you get further in, however.


Icemage

[Pai Pai Master]

Re: FF12 first impressions

Yasumi Matsuno was the producer of Final Fantasy Tactics and Vagrant Story, arguably two of Square Enix's best titles. He began work on FFXII as story creator and producer, but left the project in 2004 due to personal problems and mental strain. He retired from Square Enix last year.

I personally think he was one of Square Enix's top employees, and it still shows in FFXII, even with someone else's influence.

[ifandbut]

Re: FF12 first impressions

- Combat is strangely similar to FFXI with the real-time action, and there are FFXI references and similarities all over the place. There are moments when I almost feel like I'm playing FFXI instead of FFXII, minus the party chatter.

I was looking at the moster immages and list in the stragity guide and the Hecteyes, Mandragora, and a few other mobs looked EXACTLY the same as they do in FFXI.

I have not had a proublem with gil (6hrs into the game) because I allways steal from every mob as my first attack.

Click for spoily early game challenge

Oh, for a early game challange, try killing the Flowering Cactus at level 4. Boy was that a bitch :p

[Jei]

Re: FF12 first impressions

Anyone know what fonts they use for this game? Mainly, the numbers and menu.

Gah, image with spoilers!

[eticket109]

Re: FF12 first impressions

Spoily comment about above spoiler image

That picture can't be right... Basch and Ashe are dead... that's what the old guy said at least. >.> (I'm still pretty early in and just got past the waterways with 'Amalia' lol )

[Icemage]

Re: FF12 first impressions

People, PLEASE stop posting spoilers without spoiler tags. The game was just released, and there are a lot of people out there who will have their experience ruined because of inadvertent spoilers.


Icemage

[Intensity]

Re: FF12 first impressions

Question:
Didn't they adjust the format so it would fit on a widescreen hdtv?

Yar, they released the NA version with 1024x768 iirc.

[Jei]

Re: FF12 first impressions

D: err sorry no idea that contains spoiler. I was only looking at the texts.

[eticket109]

Re: FF12 first impressions

Trying to limit spoilers was sort of the point of my post Ice. lol

Though I guess I inadvertantly spolied the tutorial... sorta.

[Gobo]

Re: FF12 first impressions

I do think S-E came out and said they were going to steal a few things from FFXI, since they were already completed (models, much of the coding and what-not) and it would be easy to place into 12. Plus many of the fundamental things we think of in FFXI, would seem different/unique and work well for 12 (like Elementals aggroing magic).

I'm loving it so far, only about 5 hours in (curse you school work and work ethic!).

[Jei]

Re: FF12 first impressions

So back to my question. Any idea what fonts those are >.>?