I've been hearing mixed opinions about this game since it came out. Since there doesn't seem to be a thread about it here, guess i'll start one.

I just picked it up a few days back and i can see where some of the bad opinions are coming from. Such as:

Combat system: The combat system is set up like a like a semi action rpg (like Star Ocean, or Kingdom Hearts). The thing that i don't understand is why make it that way if you can't dodge the enemies attacks? It seems that unless you stay far away from the mobs then you're gonna take damage either way. They may as well went back to the turn based system.

Graphics: I see the game graphics, and i instantly thought FF9. I mean shouldn't we be past this by now? The CGs are beautiful, however.

I haven't gotten very far into it, so i can't give a decent opinion. Has anyone else played this? What did/do you think?

I agree completely on the dodging thing. Definately dumb not to allow you to do that.

However, I like this game because Vaan is much, much more tolerable than Tidus was (worst FF main character ever)

The battle system is more like an MMO than an action RPG. In most of those you can't dodge enemies, either. I actually prefer the combat over the older games. It adds an element of tactics that wasn't present in the turn-based systems.

I see the game graphics, and i instantly thought FF9. I mean shouldn't we be past this by now?

I'm not even sure what you mean by this. If you're talking about the quality of the graphics, they are much higher than FF9. Personally, I find the visuals to be better than FFX and FFX-2. If you're talking about the atmosphere, I don't see how one can "get past" a particular visual style. Especially since this game is supposed to be set in a world with more fantasy elements than scifi. The complaints most people had about FF9 weren't due to the style of the environments, anyway. People didn't like the cartoony character designs.

I played it briefly. The controls are nearly identical to FF XI, which I tried out but couldn’t get into. Seems pretty out of place in an offline game. I’d rather have the old menu’s back, but then again I prefer the old school RPG’s to all these new fangled ones.

The inability to dodge is really, really annoying. However, on the whole, the battle-system is not all that bad.

On the plus-side - Vaan is not a repeat of Tidus, which I feared he would be. Basch is several levels of awesome. No one is overly stupid. And I wept tears of gratitude over the script - there was politics and plot and intelligence in it! None of that Designated Love Interest crap anywhere in sight. I'm trying to avoid spoilers here, since I don't know how many people have finished it, but let's just say that the sheer sense of scale in the plot is awesome, and it's wonderful to finally see some personal motivations for the characters - not just "Let's save the world for the sake of kittens and sunshine and people everywhere!" but rather "Let's save this part of the world because it's OURS, dammit, and no one's going to blow it up without our saying-so!"

Erm. Yes. I think I'll go now, because I've been known to talk for hours about plot-details, mythology-references and character-development.

Frostflowers, your post fails.

It didn't mention how awesome Balthier is.

Shame on you.

Well, that goes without saying, doesn't it? I thought that was written between the lines in every post about FFXII EVER.

But, to rectify; Balthier is awesomeness squared and then some.

Good, you have redeemed yourself.

Eh, I'm still in love with FFVI and FFIX.

isukun
The battle system is more like an MMO than an action RPG. In most of those you can't dodge enemies, either. I actually prefer the combat over the older games. It adds an element of tactics that wasn't present in the turn-based systems.

i couldnt have said it better myself.

the whole "you cant dodge thing" isnt to much of a problem and if you REALLY want to dodge attacks just hit the thing your fighting with blind and thell miss you half the time :). also if you are still new to the game the party i used is vann penelo and bash thugh now that i look at it i would substatute ash for penelo. thugh penelo having slightly more magic does come in VERRY handy. and i just modid her to use swords ( one of the BIGGEST advantages is no one has a set weppon that they HAVE to use) my main party is about lv 80ish i think (been a while since i played) and the other people are about 50-60ish. i also wanted to have some fun so i moded fran to use 2 handed swords and baltheir to use spears :). any way the storly line is REALLY good and it took me about 70 houres to beat the game just going thrugh it getting most every thing so it keeps you busie for a while. ive almost got every thing the only thing holding me back is the sochin cave palice >_< i just cant figure it out. and that keeps me from doing the last hunt AND another boss. other than that ive got every hunt down. and so far the only ones that have given me trouble where carrot (cause i only really use meele chartiers with spells for flying enimys) and that dinosar one just outside that annoing fucking tower with like 80ish floors. (about 3-4 hits and it ko'd my chars. any way ill not spoil any thing else but if u got any qeustions just qp me!! i fancy myself somthing of an expert on the game thugh i dont know every thing. i will tell you thugh BUBLE BELTS SAVE LIVES!!