Square Enix kept us waiting five long years after Final Fantasy X for the next console-based installment of its flagship series. What we got was Final Fantasy XII, the product of a history of complaints from fans who were tired of the traditional turn-based battle system that largely defined the series. Some fans love XII; others, not so much. But no one can deny that it marks a significant break in traditional Final Fantasy gameplay, a break that, for better or worse, can never be mended.

The so-called main character of XII is the orphan Vaan who hails from Dalmasca, a city whose autonomy was destroyed a few short years ago when the Archadian Empire invaded and killed the royal family. Vaan and his female sidekick, Penelo, quickly become entangled with a smooth-tongued sky pirate named Balthier; his Playboy Bunny-like partner, Fran; the supposedly deceased Princess Ashe; and Basch, the man accused of murdering the Dalmascan king. Though he has no business travelling with such an ostentatious party, Vaan tags along on their journey throughout Ivalice so that Princess Ashe can find a way to liberate her fallen kingdom.

If the plot doesn’t have your eyes rolling, the accents sported by several of the story’s most prominent characters will. The cast includes a white aristocrat with a ridiculous imitation-Indian accent and a prince who looks Middle Eastern but sounds Russian. Vayne, the main villain, talks like a high-pitched British dandy, and with hair that looks straight out of a Pantene Pro-V commercial, he doesn’t exactly inspire fear.

Bizarre voice acting aside, the cast is somewhat lacking. Princess Ashe is positively frigid when you meet her, and she hardly thaws at all throughout the game. Again, Vaan and Penelo have no business being on this journey in the first place, and their lack of personality leaves them to fade into the background. The remaining cast members, Fran, Basch and Balthier, actually have intriguing backstories, but hardly enough is revealed onscreen to satisfy the player’s curiosity.

The streamlined gameplay of XII sets it apart from its predecessors. Instead of the turn-based system, battles are fought in real time using the Active Time Battle (ATB) system, a notable break from traditional JRPGs. But the most striking innovation in its gameplay is the gambit system. Before going into battle, you can program your characters to respond to specific situations with different attacks, magic, or items. You can pick one character to start every battle by casting Haste on the team, another to heal anyone whose health drops below a certain percentage, and a third to keep the enemy’s defenses low with side effects. It is a convenient way to ensure that your characters stay ahead of the curve, but it can be too convenient. When you max out the number of gambits you can set, it feels like the game could practically run itself.

The leveling system in XII goes one step further than its predecessor’s sphere grid to give the player complete freedom in customizing their characters’ attributes. Unlike in X, all XII’s characters have equal access to the license grid from the get-go, allowing you to build your team up however you choose. One advantage of this system is you can abandon weaker weapon classes, like guns, early on, but it leaves you exposed in situations later in the game where long-ranged weapons are required. Too much freedom can lead to poor decisions, so beware: study your characters’ statistics and plan ahead. A well-balanced party is key for later boss fights.

Speaking of bosses, some are harder than others, but the best white-knuckled brawls are the optional baddies that come as part of side quests. If you love spending hours and hours completing optional side missions that pit you against some nasty monstrosities, this is your type of game! Not only is there a long roster of optional summons that provide some of the most challenging battles in the game, but there are two clubs in Ivalice that reward monster-hunting. It’s a great way to level up and earn some fantastic items at the same time. If grinding isn’t your thing, there are plenty of games and puzzles available in this massive world to keep you happy. Square Enix filled XII to the brim with activities to keep you entertained between plot points.

Needless to say, the graphics, both in-game and pre-rendered, are stunning, and the world itself is beyond huge. There is enough content in Final Fantasy XII to keep even the most skilled players busy for dozens of hours. The ATB system breathes new life into the classic JRPG and in spite of some truly hilarious voice acting and threadbare story arch, the sheer amount of diversions will keep you more than satisfied.

- Katherine James

Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Platforms: PS2