So I played FINAL FANTASY XII For The First Time...

There is no JRPG that I have slandered more than Final Fantasy XII. After two chances, I was heavily dismissive of the game. Following my first time playthrough of Final Fantasy X, many demanded I give XII a try. So, I obliged... and I'm happy I did. Playing it through, recognizing all I missed or breezed over, I realized this was the true first playthrough where I understood everything from its mechanics to its story. And what an adventure it was...

#PlayStation #FinalFantasy #finalfantasyxii

Intro: 00:00 - 3:50
CIB Experience: 3:51 - 8:45
Story: 8:46 - 31:04
Gameplay: 31:05 - 48:33
Conclusion: 48:34 - 50:14

[retrorebound]

And with our biggest retrospective review yet out, I ask you... WHAT DO WE PLAY NEXT?

[NotIfICUst_]

I love the towns in this game. They feel lived in and imply a history. I enjoy the mix of races living side by side. I would just watch the townspeople going about their day and talk to everyone.

[FrankReynolds]

I also need to point out that one of my favorite things about this game was how alive the world felt. Enemies were unique in geographic locations, the weather changed, and I can't get out of my head the first time I played this and stumbled upon Addremalech in the Zertinan Caverns by accident and got my butt kicked. I thought it was so cool that you could stumble upon these optional bosses just by exploring or following clues in the game world (like how you find Zalera after rescuing a thief that tells you of a treasure deep in the mines if you search far enough). It made the world feel very alive.

[starburst]

This game is my favourite FF and one of my favourite games of all time. The world is just gorgeous - so vast and varied and exciting. The soundtrack accompanies the beautiful art style perfectly. I feel totally transported when I play FFXII. Just an absolute work of art.

[DanielPereira-eynt]

I really like Vaan as a protagonist. I think the protagonist being a common person who gets caught in these grand events is very interesting and I find his personality very endearing. Even though he stops driving the plot after the leviathan section he still has a major influence in Ashe's development

[igorsheludko]

First of all, I love this game. Secondly, I genuinely like how often you release videos, man. And they're top quality, too. Keep it up!

[devilovesdevil]

the towns in 12 literally were so alive it was amazing to see coming from 10/10-2 which also attempted full villages and towns and and 12 just stepped further. Vaan was fine to me, he wasnt annoying to me at all he seemed to be just like a normal kid that got wrapped in to the chaos instead of the always hes a main focus or the cause of things. He is a true normal guy who gets to go on an adventure and make friends and help those who do and feel like he can do more than just work in town.

[ShafaUchiha]

Basch and Gabranth are twin brothers yes, but they’re not the sons of the Emperor. The Empire invaded their home country, Landis, and Basch chose to flee to Dalmasca while Gabranth embraced the Empire and became a Judge Magister. The two other sons the Emperor had apart form Vayne and Larsa are unnamed, but what we do know of them is that they broke Imperial law in one way or another, which forced the Emperor to send Vayne to defeat and kill them for their treachery.

[seraphstray]

It's a game with mature themes that came out around the time I was in high school and was dumb. Playing this game as an adult, I had the same experience as you. I love the game now!
Love the long videos!

[davion]

The Zodiac Age is such a gigantic step forward especially in terms of quality of life I can’t imagine going back to the original version.
By the way FF12 is a fantastic game that I feel doesn’t get the respect it deserves. I don’t love the story per se, but gameplay, art style, music and world building were all phenomenal. Game was also filled to the brim with content, and it truly felt like it was the last time Square Enix were proudily trying to tell they were the king of JRPGs.

[addaku]

I love the hunts in this game, along with all the other secret bosses and espers.
Getting the best weapons through the bazaar though was tedious AF.

[RavenAurion]

Ivalice is by far my favorite FF setting. I'm still holding out for the FFT remaster.

Also Vaan's place in the story is just to be the players eyes. He is the main character to be someone that has no idea what the hell is going on so things can be explained to him and thus the audience.

Also I'd suggested a watch of projareds retrospective of FF12 for a good explanation of why the comparisons to Star Wars are only surface level and when you actually get into things there isn't much overlap at all.

[dudeduderson]

I'll always remember seeing a mob for the first time in the open world thinking 'wow I can just go around them if I want' no more random encounters was awesome

[nuxcreativeworks]

FFXII was my first FF and it's still my fave. The amount of content this game had on the PS2 was mindblowing to see... Ivalice felt so expansive and lived in, which made me fall in love with the world they created.

[ladyphoenixgrey]

This and IX have been my favs since they came out. I still have my Titanium Special Edition copy of XII and the PS2 I played it on so many times along with the memory cards with my saves. I adore this game in every way and it will forever hold a special place in my heart. Balthier is the only leading man I’ll ever have. Basch is life. Fran, Ashe, and Penelope are all wonderful. Even Larsa and the other side characters are all so enjoyable. I know it’s not for anyone, but for me it’s the pinnacle of Final Fantasy in so many ways - most especially in the combat system. The Gambit System is just satisfyingly good. ❤️❤️❤️

[Kimchichan]

I may have misunderstood this part, but Basch and Gabranth are not related to Arcadia's Emperor. They are from Landis, a country which the Empire invaded before the main game and in its wake, Basch went to Dalmasca whereas Gabranth went to Archades (because their mother IS Arcadian) where he rose through the ranks of the Judiciary. Just wanted to clarify, great video otherwise. 😊

[DrGamersEmporium]

one of the most underrated ff games, and an underrated open world game in general. impeccable sense of worldbuilding, was ahead of its time for JRPGs

[slushiaddict]

when XII came out i hated it, but as an adult its probably my favorite. The story, characters, and world are just so rich it still blows my mind that packed it all into a single title for the PS2

[akiinmoonlight]

I also hated on 12 as a kid, i even cried bcs it's was "such a weird FF"
but over time it became one of my fave games of all time, it's such a timeless, magical masterpiece ❤

[gamingdevil]

This always came off as one of the stranger Final Fantasy games to me as Vaan the character you start as kinda takes a back seat. Then the game early on switches to Ashe being the main focus and basically the protagonist. I know it could be argued that it happened to Tidus in FFX but Vaan felt like he could've almost been a silent protagonist.