Final Fantasy XII

Being the reason I’ve been offline for so long. I was quite pleased to find that internet was still around when I finally got around to checking. And obviously my absence must mean that I’ve not been disappointed in FFXII at all. Quite the opposite.

Let me elaborate:

Story

Could be a little more emphasis placed on the story, not that there’s not plenty. The storyline is a bit typical RPG but the characters are as well thought out and developed as usual. This is good, considering it’s the main reason I play FF

Game play

Exploring is pretty much the same. You can’t talk to every single person you see, only the ones with talk icons (smiley face in a bubble) above their heads, which makes it very hard to walk past someone without seeing what they have to say. Camera control is a new one and also very cool. Handy for looking around corners and checking out the landscape.

Battle System

Very different from any other FF. But in a good way. No wait, in an super cool way! It’s only when you don’t have any random encounters that you realize how annoying they can be. Gambits are the best!

Graphics

First class and beautiful! What? You were expecting something else?

Music

Very, very nice. Not even one truly teeth grating tune yet. Even the Chocobo theme is vaguely listenable. Theme song may be a bit soppy though.

Weapons

Anyone can use anything, provided you have the license. How cool is that? Especially when Katanas and Ninja swords are available. Armour, Off Hand, Head Gear and Accessories are also used

Levelling up

Levelling up happens by itself. You can augment your characters through the license board as well as buy licenses to use magic, techniks (sic) and use weapons and armour. Take a bit of getting used to but, once you have the hang of it, it becomes a bit addictive

Mini Games

I’ve only come across Hunting so far worth mentioning. Also very addictive and down right challenging at times. Much fun to be had.

Bosses

Some of them are just insane. If you’re not properly prepared, don’t have a good strategy and aren’t levelled up enough, you can just forget it. Which is something that’s been missing I think.

Playtime

I’m on 70 hours at the moment and no end in sight. Bearing in mind that I have been running around a lot! But even so…..

Replay value

Oh come on! Duh!

Conclusion

I can understand the worldwide success this FF has been enjoying. It’s certainly the best
R 600.00 I’ve ever spent.

-Aki

Motto: If at first you do succeed, try to hide your astonishment.

Toothpaste

We seem to have trouble buying said item in this house. Soap as well. Shampoo too.

I suppose out of all the things to shop for, it has to be one of the most boring (and annoying. How many different types of shampoo does the world need?). Right after cleaning products.

Anyway, the point is we bought some (well someone did, not sure who) with ahem…Mini Breath Strips™ (or something like it) in it. I’m not sure what those are exactly or how much good they did my breath after being ground against my teeth by my toothbrush but I suppose if you have to buy toothpaste you may as well buy the one with confetti in it.

-Aki