Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a wonderful game… until the ‘story’ gets bogged down in the ‘plot’ and you’ve automated the combat so well that it doesn’t even need you there.
To put it simply, the game’s pacing is weak and the characters are underdeveloped.
I initially connected with the party just fine, but their stories sorta fizzled out for me. The whole game gets lost in the sauce of kingdoms and senates, rebellions and empires. Maybe it could have used a romantic element, I don’t know. Fortunately there is one standout personality in Balthier, even if he is “in more of a supporting role.” Everyone is in a supporting role. He’s cool.
Every Final Fantasy has its strengths, and this game’s is undoubtedly the setting of Ivalice. The Zodiac Age presents a world full of life and color- it’s expansive yet fleshed-out, and although the story meanders, the thoughtful trappings keep it from going off the deep end or feeling unbelievable.
A word of advice for those who plan on playing this (and I suggest you give it a try): don’t do all the side content if you hope to ever see the credits roll. The side-quests exacerbate the pacing issues, and if you let it, this game can beat you down with so much tedium that you’ll yearn to file taxes.
Jokes aside, I don’t want to sound too harsh on the game, as I did like it. I just wish I loved it as much as others do. The gambit system is actually cool and alleviated most of my problems with mmo combat, despite the fact that after a certain point the game kinda plays itself.
To put it simply, the game’s pacing is weak and the characters are underdeveloped.
I initially connected with the party just fine, but their stories sorta fizzled out for me. The whole game gets lost in the sauce of kingdoms and senates, rebellions and empires. Maybe it could have used a romantic element, I don’t know. Fortunately there is one standout personality in Balthier, even if he is “in more of a supporting role.” Everyone is in a supporting role. He’s cool.
Every Final Fantasy has its strengths, and this game’s is undoubtedly the setting of Ivalice. The Zodiac Age presents a world full of life and color- it’s expansive yet fleshed-out, and although the story meanders, the thoughtful trappings keep it from going off the deep end or feeling unbelievable.
A word of advice for those who plan on playing this (and I suggest you give it a try): don’t do all the side content if you hope to ever see the credits roll. The side-quests exacerbate the pacing issues, and if you let it, this game can beat you down with so much tedium that you’ll yearn to file taxes.
Jokes aside, I don’t want to sound too harsh on the game, as I did like it. I just wish I loved it as much as others do. The gambit system is actually cool and alleviated most of my problems with mmo combat, despite the fact that after a certain point the game kinda plays itself.