Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age review (PC)

Reviewed on: PC

12 years after its original release, we have received yet another remaster of the biggest RPG series in history. Following Square Enix’s recent wave of re-releasing its classic games on various platforms, always bringing new versions packed with nostalgia and care; the same care they have always shown over all these years toward every fan of the genre.

This time the game of the moment is Final Fantasy XII, in its international version, released in 2007, bringing several new features, such as the brand-new Zodiac Job System (we’ll talk about it in a moment), the Trial mode, controllable guests (I always loved Vossler, too bad that.. err.. well), new items and equipment, among many other novelties. We received the PC version of the game, and it fell to me, with my modest 25 years of RPG gaming and as the newest member of the SavePoint family, to replay this wonderful game!

Let’s start by talking a little about the story, for those who haven’t played yet (and by the way, if you haven’t played yet, here is a great opportunity!).

The game takes place in the world of Ivalice, where two great empires, Rozarria and Archadia, have been at war for centuries over power, while at the center of it all small kingdoms try somehow to survive the continuous series of attacks and impositions suffered from both sides, in their constant search for allies.

Right in the game’s first cutscene, we see the wedding between leaders of two kingdoms caught in the center of the conflicts, Ashelia B’Nargin and Rasler Helos, heirs to the thrones of Dalmasca and Nabradia, intended to strengthen their borders against possible attacks from Archadia. In response to this alliance, Archadia orders a powerful invasion of the capital Nabudis, homeland of Prince Rasler, where they end up capturing the Midlight Shard, a fragment of an ancient energy belonging to the world of Ivalice, called Nethicite, which I make a point of mentioning is a main element of the plot. After several conflicts, in a surprise attack by Archadia on Nalbina, fate ended up taking away its most important defender too, Prince Rasler, struck by an arrow in the chest.

This small fragment of the story takes us to some time later, after Rasler’s death, to a confrontation between the royal army, led by the then commander Basch, accompanied by Vossler and a young warrior named Reks, in an attempt to protect the king of Dalmasca, who was there to sign what was then a surrender treaty to the opposing kingdom.

The game starts by putting us in control of Reks, who after a few tutorials ends up being killed at the hands of Basch, until then the most loyal member of the kingdom of Dalmasca, who had also murdered the king of Dalmasca a few moments before.

**** Pause to breathe ****

This is just a summary of this game’s incredible story, and some of the reasons why our characters find motivation to reach their goals during the game.

After all this plot, worthy of becoming a series, you control Vaan, an orphan from the city of Dalmasca and younger brother of Reks (!!!), who dreams of being a sky pirate (a kind of bounty thief with a supersonic ship), who together with Penelo gatecrashes into the middle of all this plot, during an attempt by Vaan to steal some treasure from the royal castle in order to get money for his people: residents of Lowtown, the poor part of Dalmasca. During his initial adventure, Vaan and Penelo join Balthier and Fran, Sky Pirates, and after some time, with Ashe (Ashelia) and Basch, the real game begins, leading a resistance with the remnants of the allied kingdoms against the threat of Archadia.

Some people say Vaan is the dullest protagonist of all the Final Fantasies, but honestly, I have a soft spot for him, as in the midst of all his purity he manages to find the strength to free everyone from the oppression of Archadia, which had a direct hand in his brother’s death. Of course, his motivation can’t compare to that of the other characters in the party, but just imagine a game with such a serious story, full of disastrous events, without any “comic relief” in the middle of it all, right?

The other characters, although they are normally not the focus of the plot in more common RPGs, end up taking the spotlight at various moments in the game, making us grow fond of each of them and understand their motivations and stories, creating bonds that make them equally important to the plot (often the game seems to have Ashe as the protagonist, not Vaan).

Using the story as a hook, let’s talk about the world of Ivalice. We have maps that are very carefully made and rich in detail, which help hook us even more. There is also an incredible variety of monsters to defeat, each with its own particularities and drops. The battle system helps a lot in keeping the game from getting repetitive, and may especially please those who like to wander the map while leveling up, or improving their items and equipment.

Battle system

Final Fantasy XII was very controversial in this regard, and didn’t please many avid fans of the series. A fully real-time battle system was implemented, something very similar to what we see in MMORPGs, where we have no battle cutscenes, nor the series’ famous little victory tune at the end of each battle (with the exception of some bosses).

It is worth noting that after Square’s gamble on releasing a Final Fantasy without turns, a window opened for the company to take more risks with its next entries, launching a new MMO, titled Final Fantasy XIV, which, by the way, is hugely successful around the world today, and then Final Fantasy XV, which took a chance again on the action battle formula, and came with a real-time battle system, like its older brother, XII.

The game tries to please fans of the classic turn-based style a little, giving the player the freedom to choose between two battle modes: the Wait mode, where the game freezes while you pick your next command, or the Active mode, where the battle runs freely while you move through the menus. Okay, and how do the characters divide up their abilities? The answer is simple: using the game’s various classes, through the Jobs system, called the Zodiac Job System.

Another novelty in the game is the so-called Gambits, which can be customized through the menu and automate the actions of the hero you are controlling, and also of your allies, making your strategies easier for certain moments of the game, such as setting a Gambit to use a Phoenix Down as soon as a party member dies. Gambits can be obtained in stores within the game, offering dozens of different command combinations to customize your party.

The Zodiac Job System

The job system was introduced in the international version of the game, dividing the different license boards available into zodiac signs, each representing a specific class in the game, such as Aries – White Mage, and Leo – Knight. Each board has a series of specific abilities, equipment and augments, making each class unique in the game, making the player think carefully before choosing each of them, and at the same time giving freedom to build your character your own way and to use any class in the game.

Zodiac Age brings something new to the game: the possibility of choosing up to two classes for the same character! Giving even more freedom and customization in building your gameplay. The game even adds some skills exclusive to certain class combinations, when you unlock the use of a certain Esper for a certain character, such as a Knight gaining the Curaga ability if using a certain Esper.

Espers

Espers are the famous Summons, and they are also present in Final Fantasy XII. However, if you are expecting to find Ifrit, Bahamut or Leviathan in the game, I’m sorry to inform you that they only appear briefly as references in the names of the Airships built by Doctor Cid. Still, the game innovates, and brings a total of 13 Espers for us to use in battle, and also to unlock special abilities on the License Boards of whoever equips them.

The use of Espers during battles is interesting, as they don’t appear on the map causing enormous obliteration to enemies and then disappear; here, they fight at your side for a certain time (the character who summons it alongside their Esper), and at the end of this time, you can then deliver your final blow to the enemies.

Character progression during the game is reasonably linear, however, since the game gives you an immense world to explore, it is possible to venture into harder maps and face more dangerous challenges.

Besides all the challenges on offer, innovative battle mechanics, and a deep, engaging story, the game also has several sidequests and hunts, which are unlocked as the game progresses and as you complete them, to entertain fans of good RPGs even more.

Verdict

The game definitely delivers on its promise, bringing a quality remaster for the current generation, changing everything from the resolution to the quality of the soundtrack, which in this version has three different options, besides the original Japanese voices, for those who had never played before.

Of course, not everything is perfect, and we noticed that the facial animations and the textures of the scenery were not touched, but that is within the scope of what a remaster really is… at least we won’t have to keep staring at Vaan’s checkered abs.

With more than 200 hours played in the original game, I can say with certainty that I will do it again, and who knows I’ll spend even more time playing it this time, because Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is definitely one of the most addictive RPGs in the franchise.

Available since July 2017 for PS4, and now in February 2018 for PCs, Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age is a feast for fans of the twelfth installment of the series, and a great opportunity for those who have not yet given the game a chance. Recommended!

• Narrative: 8
• Audiovisual: 9
• Gameplay: 10

Final score: 9