Final Fantasy XII changed the series for the better when it was released. It had a compelling story and characters, great voice acting, music, and graphics, and a completely fresh take on the core elements of Final Fantasy game play.

Up until Final Fantasy XII was released, standalone Final Fantasy games were turn-based and all included separate, off-screen encounters. While that battle system certainly has it's appeal, Final Fantasy XI utilized an MMORPG-style real time battle system that was in turn built into Final Fantasy XII. This means that instead of isolated, separate encounters where each member of the battle takes a turn attacking, you control a single member of the party and govern the actions of the other team using "gambits" which dictate which actions party members take based on certain conditions. The outcome is a very fluid, lifelike battle experience that was revolutionary for the Final Fantasy series. It requires you to constantly think on your feet as battles can turn south in an instant. Danger is impending and requires you to make split-second decisions instead of planning out your strategy turns ahead like previous entries.

The story line is a classic struggle of underdog rebel kingdom vs. imperial powers. Ashe and her party fight to preserve the integrity Dalmasca and refuse to give in to the oppressive Archadian army. Throughout the game, you're constantly rooting for the underdog rag-tag group of heroes and celebrating each victory they gain against Vayne and the council of Judge knights. Filled with political backstabbing, greed, and personal vendettas, the story line in no way disappoints. It should be understood that while the story is viewed from the eyes of the young street urchin Vaan, he should not be regarded as the "main character", rather the group of heroes he becomes entwined with each experience their own arcs and developments throughout the story.

The level development system takes a cue from Final Fantasy X where you earn points by defeating enemies and afterward spend them to gain "licenses" to wear new gear and use new weapons, gain more health, or cast new spells and summon Espers. The focus of leveling is not so much on building base stats, but on acquiring the ability to use upgraded gear and further define characters into their selected "job".

The environments are beautiful. Often you'll be caught just admiring the landscape as you step along a mountain path, through a vast desert, a flowered meadow, or climb a steep snowed mountain while trekking on quests.

In addition to the main quest, several side quests promise you'll be spending hours of additional playtime exploring everything the game has to offer. From unique legendary weapons to rare monster hunts and even collecting massively powerful Espers beyond those encountered in the main game, the extra content is engaging.

Final Fantasy XII is highly recommended as an experience any fan of RPG's should have. Now out for the Switch, there are more platforms than ever to experience this incredibly entry.