PS2's should be 129.99 everywhere but I just recieved a letter today from Gamestop and there selling there's for only $99. Well with XII the game is more dedicated to the battle system than the story. I liked the story in the begginning, in the begginning it really reeled me in, but a little afterwards when you gain all of your characters the storyline drags, mostly due to fields you have to cross and dungeons. If you want to do the Hunt sidequest too as you go along, that will also take up from it, but you should try it because doing the hunts will make the game alot easier as it gets you rewards like gil and weapons. I still haven't beaten the game yet as in over 102 hors of play time, but I think I'm almost through. The game is more difficult than X, IX, VIIi, and VII. It will keep you occupied for a while so buy it if you're looking for a good rpg with a good battlesystem or if you're a FF fan in general.

I wouldn't think that buying a guide would be necessary unless you want to complete all the sidequests, but then you got the internet, but some people prefer reading things in their hands. Eventhough I'm dissapointed with the storyline and I haven't still beat it yet I give it a....



_8.75 overall.