Lifted Geek - Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age (Review)

One of the best RPGs from the PS2 era jumps two generations to the PS4. Justin Prince reviews Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age. Is the new coat of paint worth the price of admission?

[FallenAngel1984]

"There was a nice, balanced blend between the tried-and-true elements that make a Final Fantasy title while giving it a overall look and feel that shied away from feeling “too” Final Fantasy."

Since when is "feeling too Final Fantasy" a bad thing?

[justinprince]

Most of Tetsuya Nomura designed Final Fantasy games kept a common aesthetic to the characters and the world's they lived in. What drew me most to FFXII was after every installment since VII (save for IX) having a common look to their games, we got something new. With FFXII designer Akihiko Yoshida, the overall look and feel of the characters and worlds incorporated such stunning aesthetics it drew me in more. I also was a huge fan of Tactics and Vagrant Story where Yoshida also was the lead character designer.

[FallenAngel1984]

FFVII, FFVIII, FFX, FFXI, FFXIII, FFXIV, & FFXV have vastly different settings from one another just like FFIX & FFXII in their own respective individual ways.

FFI-FFV had a far more uniform setting. Every title from FFVI onwards has done something different to set it apart.

[justinprince]

Oh I get that the settings aren't the same but the aesthetics were still very similar from the character designs to some of the art decisions. Of course each game took inspired choices with their design, it still felt like the aesthetics were common.

Lots of leather, big swords, a bit of s jrock aesthetic.

[FallenAngel1984]

Well obviously as a series it has recurring elements, but each title still does something to stand apart from one another, including art directorion.

FFX for example went with an art direction that was influenced by South Pacific and Thailand