Final Fantasy XII: Finally Released - Your Opinions

[Miriel]

I've just decided, I am not really enjoying the battle system.

[Zeromus_X]

Weren't you enjoying it before Miriel? Isn't it similar to FFXI? What's wrong with it?

[Miriel]

The thing is, I really really miss having characters who had specific strengths. And most of the battles only take a couple swipes to finish off the monster. So I was looking at the license board today and there are a BUNCH of spells that I never use because there's never really any time to use them. Things like Slow and Haste don't come in handy at all when you're just running around fighting because basically it's just thwack thwack and the monsters dies. You don't even have to be looking at the screen, you don't even actually have to do anything if the gambits are on properly.

It's just, I miss thinking things out and going, "ok, I think I'll cast fire now". And stuff like that.

I don't hate the battle system, it certainly makes for more leisurely playing. I can be browsing EoFF and farming/leveling up at the same time. So that's cool. I just don't think it's all that fun or exciting.

As for being similar to FFXI, the only thing that is similar is how the monsters are roaming around and can aggro you. Other than that, FFXI is a faaaaar more complex and strategic battling system. And of course FFXI has the job system which I really like.

[Ichimonji]

So I was looking at the license board today and there are a BUNCH of spells that I never use because there's never really any time to use them. Things like Slow and Haste don't come in handy at all when you're just running around fighting because basically it's just thwack thwack and the monsters dies.

Oh, you'll be using those spells and a ton of others in the future, I assure you. The game gets more strategic nearing the end when you're doing complex hunts and sidequests.

[Miriel]

So for the majority of the game it's just thwack thwack thwack and then at the end... it's not? That's not really good enough for me.

[Zeromus_X]

I'd say more like halfway through the game, when the monsters are actually smarter than 'lol I will die in three hits! kill 47 of us for massive chain!!11' and have rather devastating attacks.

Although the boss battles are very interesting.

[The Summoner of Leviathan]

I just defeated (SPOILER)Shemhazai. It was easy, I literally hacked and slashed the majority of my way through. I had Fran cast Bubble and Decoy on Balthier. Had gambits set up for healing, used the occaisonal Echo Herb/Vox and disabled black magic gambits since she changes her weakness and absrobs all else. I was surprised how easy it was. I mean after all, I did not even have to use a Mist Chain or anything. Though I did cast Dispel at the beginning to get rid of any magic she might have had.

I find that as I go along the bosses are getting easier, though it might have been due to being underleveled early on in the game.

[Lexy]

I thought Larsa was a girl, too. They don't refer to him with a gender specific pronoun until after you already know he is Larsa, so I was suprised. When Vaan like, put his arm on him before they entered the Lhusu mines and said something like, 'I don't know what's in there but we'll protect you' (my memory is bad but something like that), and then Balthier and Basch looked at him as if to say "what a duchebag", I thought Vaan was hitting on him, confirming in my mind that it was a girl. That was a wierd scene.
Anyway, this game is so good. I am reading stuff people wrote here and elsewhere and it sounds like it's really hard for everyone to put this game down. I have never wanted to play any FF for more than like 3 or 4 hours in a sitting, but XII has become my primary activity. Somehow they've made developing your characters endlessly fun. I'm just amazed. And when I'm not playing it (like now when I am at stupid skool) I'm still thinking about it. That's crazy to me.
Soundtrack is awesome. I absolutely love it.
Balthier is insanely hot. He is always my party leader because I love looking at him. Basch very hot, too.
Battle system is awesome. I don't know how I lived with traditional old styled battles for so long.
Voice acting is really good. Basch specifically is excellent, but what's with some of the npc's voices- it's like they try to sneak in a Scottish accent wherever they can.
Does the story actually make sense? I'm assuming it does, but I'm not getting it. I don't mind at all, though.
I LOVE the bestiary. That's probably the single dorkiest sentence I've ever written, but the bestiary is really well written- the detailed information and lore add some delightful character to the game and remind me of Tactics.

[Zeromus_X]

Also, if I haven't solicited it enough, you can get a clue of (SPOILER)Omega Mark XII if you read the description for the Urutan-Yensa.

[Jigsaw]

I like the License board but I'm disappointed that you don't get any moogles to join your party.

[Serpentarius]

I love!!!! traditional old style battles, they are the best.

[zimdoomyday]

I haven't been this disappointed since my ex left me.

Embarrassingly slow battle system, and wtf is up with the graphics? I've seen bad, but this is just terrible.

[Cruise Control]

Well, get some swiftness augments. Thats the only way to keep up after you hit 1/4 through. So, shortly, the battle speed picks up.

Do you even have eyes?

[Orophin]

When Vaan like, put his arm on him before they entered the Lhusu mines and said something like, 'I don't know what's in there but we'll protect you' (my memory is bad but something like that), and then Balthier and Basch looked at him as if to say "what a duchebag", I thought Vaan was hitting on him, confirming in my mind that it was a girl. That was a wierd scene.

Lol, you got it all wrong, just before that scene, Balthier said to not tell their names because the imperials were there. When they met Larsa, Vaan say 'I don't know what's in there but we'll protect you, right Basch?' If an Imperial would have heard this, they would be caught. That's why they reacted like this.

[Lexy]

I haven't been this disappointed since my ex left me.

Embarrassingly slow battle system, and wtf is up with the graphics? I've seen bad, but this is just terrible.

I think you're probably joking, but if you're not, then I think you probably have left the battle speed to the slowest setting (pretty sure the default is the slowest speed). One of the first things I did was immediately change the speed setting to the fastest setting- the battles are very fast paced; during some battles with many enemies I've had to set it down a few notches to keep up.
And I am sure you are joking about the graphics.

Also- I guess I did misunderstand the meaning of the scene outside of Lhusu mines. Thanks for explaining.