Quote Originally Posted by Roto13 View Post
The XII story is fascinating to me, even if it does lack the emotional attachment to the characters that games like IX and X have. It's a different kind of story and it's well done.
I have said the story is weak, I take it back.

The overall plot idea is good. I don't want to do spoilers but it is a very interesting plot, with no easy villains and surprising twists as good as my favorite Final Fantasy game (FFX). The "plot arch" about nethicite kicks ass!

But it is very poorly "written": It uses way too many cheesy & cliched plot shortcuts like the cheesy fiction staple of having (SPOILER)evil twins. The characters aren't presented to you in a subtle and ingenuous manner that makes you gradually make your own opinion of them, they are "dumped" into you lap already defined: Balthier is the rogue pirate, Vaan is the surly young adult with a chip on his shoulder, Fran is the classic outcast that has no place to call home...

The main plot arc gets introduced in a forced way and furthered also in a "dump cut scene to explain plot" manner, which I hate on any work of fiction, and in a FF game then it is a crime. We have the autonomy to walk and explore their world, there is no need for the plot to be dumped on us game players, we can obtain it while exploring like X or while performing "missions" like X2.

All in all it is a very uneven game. Music is <<<<<<< Graphics (1,000 times less cool or of good quality), Summons <<<<<<< Quickenings, Storytelling <<<< World & races

It will be remembered as the pioneer of many excellent ideas but not as a "best" IMHO.