It is almost painful to write this blog what with my numb ass and cramped wrists from playing this sizzling hot new RPG. But hot damn is it ever worth it. A few years ago I played Final Fantasy XI which was an online version of the popular RPG franchise. It was good but soon got stale as most Online games do with all the asshattery, ninja drama and leet speak that goes on. Not to mention the insane amount of time required to accomplish anything.
What Final Fantasy 12 seems to have done is take all the snappy elements from FFXI online and streamline into a graphically and content superior new package. Oh and its offline so I can just tap in and play for 10 minutes or 2 hours depending on the sitch. I could go on for pages about all the good gravy this game is swimming in but I'll try to sum it up in a few points:
1. Graphics- Warm, rich hues similar to many of the cityscape and desert scenes from Star Wars. For an old console the kind of fluid animations, expansive backgrounds and epic boss battles this game provides is friggin' impressive.
2. Sound- I'm no expert on Final Fantasy games but the music in this game is solid. It compliments the settings without being overwhelming. Mostly relaxing and peaceful and appropriately explosive during intense moments.
3. Combat System- This is the best part of the game. Usually i find combat becomes tedious and just gets in the way of story in most RPG's. In FFXII There are no longer random battles. Instead, just like in many MMORPGs, the battles happen on the same screen as you explore in. To add icing to this already great concept, there is a new system called Gambits. Gambits let you setup a set of actions for each character to follow. This way you dont need to click hundreds of buttons each time you engage in battle. Set it and forget it. Its the bees knees, really.
4. Story- Highly political and centered on a struggle of one country's loss of autonomy and the hero's journey to figure out why the empire who has taken over has become so powerful in such a short amount of time. Not a lot of sap or romance as in many RPG's. Half the characters appear androgenous anyways so maybe sex is not a big priority.
In conclusion, on a scale of 1-10, where 1 is bogus and 10 is radical, I'd have to give this game a 9.
2 comments:
FF is for those who can't play FPS'. Meaning you.
/rant on
Ok "Nuke". You have now crossed the line and entered the "Sacriledge Zone." Now I can handle you critting this game for 11348322 damage if you had even bothered to try it out but you are so entranced by the bliggity blam pow graphical whore foddder that we call Gears of War that you don't even recognize shear beauty and gaming magic when you see it.
I appreciate its twitch reflex challenge and I wouldnt deny that Gears of War is a visual feat of what next gen can do.
But really, FPS=ADD. You and the whole Ritalin generation will keep this industry going strong I'm sure, while the rest of us with a more discerning taste in games continue to drink in the Single Malt variety of pure gaming goodness.
/rant off
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