Is this game better than Final Fantasy XII?

[theundeadhero]

You must choose between FFXII and FFIX.

I choose nine! Nine!

[crazybayman]

Its hard to say which I prefer.

IX is an awesome throwback to the old series, great nostalgia, etc. My main two issues with IX are battle scene loading times, and the foolish abilities you have to learn. As well, I found the story kind of silly at times, but overall great. Other than that, excellent game.

XII is good, however to me it doesn't feel quite like an FF in the traditional sense, as I prefer a turn style, with my guys on one side, and the enemies on the other. Plus, I do not like the summons or quickenings, although I didn't really give them a chance. Although I must admit, while playing through for a second time, I realize you get through battles quickly where you don't have to wait for loading times. Perhaps I'll give the quickenings and summons a chance this time around

And I do like the "seriousness" of FFXII. In a way its kinda bad-a$$.

Not trying to bash either, just weighing out the pros and cons. My intent is not to get a response from the "pro-progression in Final Fantasy movement".

At the end of all that, I pick neither .

[Roto13]

Final Fantasy XII is mysteriously awesome the second time. xP

[crazybayman]

Final Fantasy XII is mysteriously awesome the second time. xP

So far it is a bit better the second time around.

Something else....another thread put this in my head. This is superficial, but worth mentioning.

The looks of the characters in each game. The look of the characters in XII is far better than the retarded looking deformed children of IX.

[drotato]

Final Fantasy IX was definitely the best, in my opinion. The monsters were great, and the characters were amazingly drawn out. I loved them. Also, this might just be me, but I thought that the leveling up in that game was a lot easier as well.

[Fynn]

I cannot choose between the two. Both of them are among my top three. I love both of them - XII has a great, deep story (once you get past some of the pacing problems) and an superb battle system. And I do have a certain soft spot for the Ivalice games IX had a fantastic story as well and was better-paced than XII, and I liked the ability-learning system. Also, the cutscenes here were breathtaking.

[G13]

I have an idea! Let's take the weakest characters from XII and pit them against the "weakest" (let's face it, even the weakest aren't that weak) characters from IX.

From IX we have Garnet, Vivi, and Eiko.
From XII we have Penelo, Fran, and Vaan.
(These are just my opinions, don't get pissy)

XII's characters go in guns blazing, little red lines coming out and connecting to their victims, thinking these little cartoons are goin' down, "BUT WAIT!"... what's this? Vivi's unleashes Firaga and Vaan is reduced to Ashe, lol. And what is that in the sky? Oh my gawd it's Garnet's Bahamut! Even the weakest most lame IX character, Eiko, is bustin' out with Fenrir. Penelo runs for her life but gets cut down in a burst of dragon fire, while Fran is being used as a doggy chew-toy.
XII's weakest characters are decimated.

So, Voltron, I choose IX! XII was fun but undeserving of an FF title.

[roen]

^You are indeed an imperfectionist. The correct reason is, in fact, two words: Vivi Steiner.

Umm three people Vivi, Quina, and Steiner

[The Unknown Guru]

Toughest question ever. Wow. Both games were amazing in their own way. I'm going to do my best to get through this without completely reviewing each game. Here goes.

I'm not even going to compare the gameplay. I like both, they're just different. I'll just talk about the stories instead.

Both stories were amazing in their own way. IX was really more about the characters and how their journey changed them. XII was much a much more epic and political game. I really, really like both kinds of stories, with each having their moment. For me, IX's defining moments were on the second disc, journeying across the Outer Continent. All of those small character development scenes (for example, when you rest at the inn at the Black Mage Village) just made the game for me.

SPOILERS THROUGHOUT THIS PARAGRAPH.
XII, however, was all about the different motivations of the major players and how they interacted with each other. Vayne, for instance, was only trying to help humanity break free of the control of the Occurians. His source of power (Venat) and his methods were evil, but his basic motivation was justified. The Resistance simply wanted to break free of Archadian rule. Vaan simply wanted adventure and went along for the ride. I could go on, but I won't. How these different purposes cross paths is what I like about the game. All the political maneuvering and the epic scale of the game really appeals to me (that's why I love Xenosaga so freaking much). The setting was also amazing and deep, and that's a major plus and something I think was missing in IX to some extent.

The choice is really tough for me. I'm going to have to go with IX. Some scenes were just so beautiful and emotional that I was just awestruck. XII was just missing that, IMO. But based on the story, the choice would probably be based on whether you personally prefer heavy character development or heavy plot and setting development.

[Shotgunnova]

On the whole, FFIX might just be the numbered series' most well-rounded entry, so that. FFXII's storytelling perspective, junk villains, and a mostly boring cast really capsized most of the enjoyment I had, despite having a well-realized world setting and decent dungeon layouts. Not a big fan of the whole MMO battle system but it could be worse.

[Brennan]

The hero (Zidane) in FFIX is more involved than the hero in FFXII (Vaan)
So FFIX wins.

[Wolf Kanno]

But Vaan isn't the actual lead character in XII... The staff said XII has no real lead.

[Skyblade]

I would say that this game is indeed better than XII.

Actually, this game is the game I want to be remade the most right now.

[Polnareff]

HELL yes it's better! There's no way that pile of filth XII could ever be compared to IX IMO. Ain't no way. Probably the graphics and that's it. But XII was such a depressing and life-draining game to play.

The battle system, although you could move around (whoop-dee-doo, you can move but even if you're far from an enemy and they attack you you still get hit) was really slow and boring and the characters, music, and nearly everything else are uninspired.

IX has a charm about it that combines the "new" (for its time) style of FF with the old style of characters and being stuck in one class.

[ReloadPsi]

XII didn't feel like an FF game. It bored me to tears.