Unlike other Final Fantasies, XII’s wide gulf of differences comes from being the brainchild of Yasumi Matsuno, a then-long time designer at Square Enix perhaps best known for creating the isometric-viewed tactical spin-off Final Fantasy Tactics, which at a glance takes very heavy influence from Macbeth as much for its unrelenting cynicism of power and corruption as its brutal body count. For 2006, it wasn’t entirely dissimilar from a comic book-y Game of Thrones, mixing Shakespearean drama and gravitas with the occasional lick of swashbuckling Star Warsian adventure.ĭespite the publisher’s best attempts to make it seem otherwise upon its original release, XII doesn’t really even have a main character, instead following an ensemble from across the land of Ivalice, including Balthier, a sky pirate Solo-type who is among the best characters the series has ever produced.
Rather than revolving around a destined savior, the characters are closer to pawns in a much larger game between rival kingdoms. Instead of the typical hero’s journey starring a teenager and his band of allies (though there is one present), XII offers a baroque plot that’s grounded in war, diplomacy and political allegiance. XII is inherently divisive, sophisticated and unlike anything else in the series. As a numbered entry, it never had the loyalty of X. Despite hearsay to the contrary and the huge success of the X/X-2 remaster, the chances of an HD XII always felt slim, until this week, when Square Enix made official what had been a rumor since last Fall. But for now, caution isn’t a bad thing.įinal Fantasy XII is a different case. I think it’ll turn out in the end, and I hope it does. As likeable as XV’s cast has appeared thus far, where the plot goes is still up in the air.
What I’m not one hundred percent sold on is that Square Enix has appropriately distanced itself from the convoluted narrative nightmare that was Final Fantasy XIII’s trilogy, which evidenced a certain kind of overwrought, needlessly labyrinthine and hopelessly dull storytelling unappealing enough to make many question the future of what the series could be. I have little doubt that with the absolute commitment of its director to make something incredible, and the extended development time taken, that the latest flagship Final Fantasy will have strong gameplay. ( FFXV’s Platinum Demo left me a bit more mortified, as is sometimes the case when Final Fantasy strays too far into anime territory.) The game’s visuals are picturesque and the combat is a nice real-time step up from what used to be expected from JRPGs, even if I was left vaguely embarrassed over trucker girl Cid. I played, and mostly enjoyed, Episode Duscae when it came out with the PS4 port of Type-0. I don’t have anything against Final Fantasy XV.
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