Now I am a huge Final Fantasy lover. I have played and beaten them all except for the online only one. I was very dissapointed in X-2 but I had to play and beat it. The new game looks very promissing and most of all it goes back to the way ff is played with summons.
Story:
Final Fantasy 12 is set in the world of Ivalice, for years the two kingdoms of Arcadia and Rosaria have been fighting against each other in a bitter struggle. Located in a strategically important corridor between the two powers is the small kingdom of Dalmaska.
Arcadia's invasion of the kingdom prompts its princess Ashe to join forces with the resistance. Vaan is an optimistic and bright young man yielding from the ancient kingdom of Dalmaska, which has fallen under the control of the Arcardian Empire. Due to the unsatisfactory conditions there, he has cut his ties with relatives there, seeking his very own personal freedom.
As an adventurer, he dreams of being able to command an airship someday. Ashe is the sole daughter of the king of Dalmaska and hence the next inline to the throne. Following the invasion of her country, she becomes the leader of the resistance against the Empire. During a wild pursuit, she loses one companion after the other. Despite her desperate situation, she still hasn't lost the pride of a princess. In this situation she meets Vaan, and before long loses her heart to him. Thus their joint adventure begins
The battle system:
A new battle system has been created for Final Fantasy XII. Influenced by Square Enix's own Final Fantasy XI and Vagrant Story, the battles now real-time and take place on the field. No more battle transitions or victory poses. Gil and experience are gained automatically after an enemy is dispatched and some even drop items for characters to pick-up.
+ ADB (Active Dimension Battle)
+ 3D camera
+ Field encounters
+ Three party battles
+ Free movement in combat
Characters
Vaan
Age: 17
Race: Hume
Vaan is an easy going, positive young man who lives in the former Dalmasca Kingdom, now under the rule of the Archadian Empire. Vaan lost his family in a previous conflict and now dreams of commanding an air ship to escape the conquering Archadia. Vaan joins the resistance in order to free the citizens and the royal family of Dalmasca.
Ashe
Age: 19
Race: Hume
Ashe is the daughter and only child of King Dalmasca, who died during the Archadian invasion. After Dalmasca was conquered, Ashe disappears and forms the resistance against Archadia. She hopes to free the people of Dalmasca from the rule of the Empire.
Balthier
Age: 22
Race: Hume
Balthier is a sky pirate and pilots a small ship around in the skies of Ivalice. With his companion Fran they prefer to be neutral when it comes to the war between the kingdoms of Ivalice.
Fran
Age: N/A
Race: Viera
Fran is part of the Viera race and travels the world with her partner Balthier. She entrusts her faith in combat during her journeys with Vaan and Ashe. While Fran is proficient when it comes to grappling and fencing skills, she is also adept in all forms of weapons.
Penelo
Age: 16
Race: Hume
Penelo is a 16 year old hume who lives near her close friend, Vaan in Rabanastre of Dalamasca. She lost her family in a previous war and works happily at the bazaar. Her philosophy is "As long as you never give up, things will get better down the road." Penelo loves to sing and dance. She learned martial arts from her older brother, who used to be a knight. Her dancing style is similar to martial arts.
Basch
Age: 36
Race: Hume
The 36 year-old Basch is the sixth character in Final Fantasy XII. He was a former general of Dalmasca, but he killed the king when he found out King Dalamasca sold his people to Archadia. Basch also killed Vaan's older brother, Reks, when he had found out the truth. Basch is known as a villian but he travels with Vaan, but his intentions are still clouded in mystery.
Developer Square Enix
Publisher Square Enix
Genre RPG
Release Date October 2006
Trailers can be viewed Here
Heres a some Screen Shot's
Interview
Art director Hideo Minaba, and character designer Akihiko Yoshida discuss Square Enix's upcoming RPG.
The latest issue of Famitsu magazine features an interview with Final Fantasy XII character designer Akihiko Yoshida and art director Hideo Minaba. Yoshida, who worked on Final Fantasy Tactics, and Minaba, a series veteran since 1992's Final Fantasy V, revealed more details about Square Enix's eagerly awaited role-playing game...
Q: When did the development on FFXII begin?
Minaba: Quite some time ago. In the beginning, we started out trying to make a game for PlayOnline, since Matsuno [the director] was involved in that project. It was a really small project, where we were thinking of producing one game in about half a year's time. Yoshida was doing the background artwork and I was doing the character designs for the fun of it. Before we realized it, it was a full-time project.
Yoshida: That's kind of how the game began, but it's not really the official beginning of FFXII's development launch.
Q: We previously heard from Matsuno that Ashe was modeled on a Frenchwoman's bone structure
Yoshida: The base of her bone structure is a French person's. We were given orders from the start to not make her look like an Asian. But we modified her a bit to look more like a Japanese for the sake of the Japanese audience, and also since a character that looks completely French makes some of the CG expressions difficult.
Q: What about Vaan's modeling?
Yoshida: Vaal is a Dalmascan in this world. He's something like an Asian.
Q: The characters wear skimpy outfits--whose idea was this?
Yoshida: That would be me. [Laughs] This country named Dalmasca is supposed to have a hot climate, so we were thinking of showing off more skin.
Q: It seems like there will be intense battles between the flying vessels
Minaba: The Dalmascan army and the Empire will fight on their border, which will be the highlight of the opening scene. On the ground, the soldiers will be fighting against soldiers. And in the sky, the flying vessels will be battling against flying vessels. One of the key points [in FFXII] will be about presenting this large number and volume [of characters].
Q: The flying vessels vary in size and design. Will they serve different jobs, such as one being a destroyer and another being a cruiser?
Minaba: Yes. And there will be a battle ship that's over 300 meters in the second half of the game. That's still one of the middle-sized ships in this world, though.
Q: There seems to be a blue ring on top of the flying vessels. Is this an energy source for the ships?
Minaba: The ring itself isn't the energy source. There's something else in the center of it that acts as the energy source. It's a rare material, but there are even more rare materials as well.
Q: Would that be a crystal?
Minaba: Hmmm, We'll see.
Q: In one of the scenes from the trailer, there is a young man who is receiving a sword. The sword appears to be the same design as the one that Ashe is holding, like especially its handle
Minaba: Hmmm, that's a very keen observation. [Laughs]
[NOTE: In the trailer shown at the recent FFXII press conference, there is a scene where a young warrior with a short gray hair receives a sword from an old man, with a crowd of spectators gathering and watching. In the same scene, Ashe is smiling and parading in a vehicle through the people with a veil covering her face. The scene is most likely from an early part of the game or the opening scene, before Ashe had to leave her country due to the invasion of the Empire. The official CG portrait of Ashe released by Square Enix also shows that Ashe has rings on each of her fingers.]
Q: There is an image where Vaan's status bar is showing off, despite being a field screen
Yoshida: I wonder if we created any battle fields this time? [laughs]
Minaba: We hope to show that expression of "volume" that we just talked about. There's a limit due to the polygon count, so it'll be a chance for the developers to show their skill.
Q: What is the object that Vaan is holding near his mouth in the image illustration CG?
Minaba: That is called a Star Fruit. The city in the background is the Dalmasca Kingdom, where Vaan grew up.
Q: The limited edition poster that came with Final Fantasy Tactics Advance featured a Judge. It looks a bit similar to the FFXII logo designed by Yo****aka Amano
Yoshida: Very keen observation! This poster is actually an image of the "Judge", which governs the power and authority in the world of Ivalice.
Q: Who designed the Bangaa race for FFTA?
Yoshida: I did the original designs for the Bangaas. They were originally created for FFXII, but came out first in FFTA.
Q: From checking out the images, there seems to be other races aside from the Bangaa and Viera
Yoshida: There will be other races that did not appear in FFTA.
Q: Will Chocobos be used for transportation purposes?
Yoshida: They'll probably be around for that kind of purpose.
Q: From checking out the images, there seems to be other races aside from the Bangaa and Viera
Yoshida: There will be other races that did not appear in FFTA.
Q: How far is development going?
Minaba: It's pretty complete
Story:
Final Fantasy 12 is set in the world of Ivalice, for years the two kingdoms of Arcadia and Rosaria have been fighting against each other in a bitter struggle. Located in a strategically important corridor between the two powers is the small kingdom of Dalmaska.
Arcadia's invasion of the kingdom prompts its princess Ashe to join forces with the resistance. Vaan is an optimistic and bright young man yielding from the ancient kingdom of Dalmaska, which has fallen under the control of the Arcardian Empire. Due to the unsatisfactory conditions there, he has cut his ties with relatives there, seeking his very own personal freedom.
As an adventurer, he dreams of being able to command an airship someday. Ashe is the sole daughter of the king of Dalmaska and hence the next inline to the throne. Following the invasion of her country, she becomes the leader of the resistance against the Empire. During a wild pursuit, she loses one companion after the other. Despite her desperate situation, she still hasn't lost the pride of a princess. In this situation she meets Vaan, and before long loses her heart to him. Thus their joint adventure begins
The battle system:
A new battle system has been created for Final Fantasy XII. Influenced by Square Enix's own Final Fantasy XI and Vagrant Story, the battles now real-time and take place on the field. No more battle transitions or victory poses. Gil and experience are gained automatically after an enemy is dispatched and some even drop items for characters to pick-up.
+ ADB (Active Dimension Battle)
+ 3D camera
+ Field encounters
+ Three party battles
+ Free movement in combat
Characters
Vaan
Age: 17
Race: Hume
Vaan is an easy going, positive young man who lives in the former Dalmasca Kingdom, now under the rule of the Archadian Empire. Vaan lost his family in a previous conflict and now dreams of commanding an air ship to escape the conquering Archadia. Vaan joins the resistance in order to free the citizens and the royal family of Dalmasca.
Ashe
Age: 19
Race: Hume
Ashe is the daughter and only child of King Dalmasca, who died during the Archadian invasion. After Dalmasca was conquered, Ashe disappears and forms the resistance against Archadia. She hopes to free the people of Dalmasca from the rule of the Empire.
Balthier
Age: 22
Race: Hume
Balthier is a sky pirate and pilots a small ship around in the skies of Ivalice. With his companion Fran they prefer to be neutral when it comes to the war between the kingdoms of Ivalice.
Fran
Age: N/A
Race: Viera
Fran is part of the Viera race and travels the world with her partner Balthier. She entrusts her faith in combat during her journeys with Vaan and Ashe. While Fran is proficient when it comes to grappling and fencing skills, she is also adept in all forms of weapons.
Penelo
Age: 16
Race: Hume
Penelo is a 16 year old hume who lives near her close friend, Vaan in Rabanastre of Dalamasca. She lost her family in a previous war and works happily at the bazaar. Her philosophy is "As long as you never give up, things will get better down the road." Penelo loves to sing and dance. She learned martial arts from her older brother, who used to be a knight. Her dancing style is similar to martial arts.
Basch
Age: 36
Race: Hume
The 36 year-old Basch is the sixth character in Final Fantasy XII. He was a former general of Dalmasca, but he killed the king when he found out King Dalamasca sold his people to Archadia. Basch also killed Vaan's older brother, Reks, when he had found out the truth. Basch is known as a villian but he travels with Vaan, but his intentions are still clouded in mystery.
Developer Square Enix
Publisher Square Enix
Genre RPG
Release Date October 2006
Trailers can be viewed Here
Heres a some Screen Shot's
Interview
Art director Hideo Minaba, and character designer Akihiko Yoshida discuss Square Enix's upcoming RPG.
The latest issue of Famitsu magazine features an interview with Final Fantasy XII character designer Akihiko Yoshida and art director Hideo Minaba. Yoshida, who worked on Final Fantasy Tactics, and Minaba, a series veteran since 1992's Final Fantasy V, revealed more details about Square Enix's eagerly awaited role-playing game...
Q: When did the development on FFXII begin?
Minaba: Quite some time ago. In the beginning, we started out trying to make a game for PlayOnline, since Matsuno [the director] was involved in that project. It was a really small project, where we were thinking of producing one game in about half a year's time. Yoshida was doing the background artwork and I was doing the character designs for the fun of it. Before we realized it, it was a full-time project.
Yoshida: That's kind of how the game began, but it's not really the official beginning of FFXII's development launch.
Q: We previously heard from Matsuno that Ashe was modeled on a Frenchwoman's bone structure
Yoshida: The base of her bone structure is a French person's. We were given orders from the start to not make her look like an Asian. But we modified her a bit to look more like a Japanese for the sake of the Japanese audience, and also since a character that looks completely French makes some of the CG expressions difficult.
Q: What about Vaan's modeling?
Yoshida: Vaal is a Dalmascan in this world. He's something like an Asian.
Q: The characters wear skimpy outfits--whose idea was this?
Yoshida: That would be me. [Laughs] This country named Dalmasca is supposed to have a hot climate, so we were thinking of showing off more skin.
Q: It seems like there will be intense battles between the flying vessels
Minaba: The Dalmascan army and the Empire will fight on their border, which will be the highlight of the opening scene. On the ground, the soldiers will be fighting against soldiers. And in the sky, the flying vessels will be battling against flying vessels. One of the key points [in FFXII] will be about presenting this large number and volume [of characters].
Q: The flying vessels vary in size and design. Will they serve different jobs, such as one being a destroyer and another being a cruiser?
Minaba: Yes. And there will be a battle ship that's over 300 meters in the second half of the game. That's still one of the middle-sized ships in this world, though.
Q: There seems to be a blue ring on top of the flying vessels. Is this an energy source for the ships?
Minaba: The ring itself isn't the energy source. There's something else in the center of it that acts as the energy source. It's a rare material, but there are even more rare materials as well.
Q: Would that be a crystal?
Minaba: Hmmm, We'll see.
Q: In one of the scenes from the trailer, there is a young man who is receiving a sword. The sword appears to be the same design as the one that Ashe is holding, like especially its handle
Minaba: Hmmm, that's a very keen observation. [Laughs]
[NOTE: In the trailer shown at the recent FFXII press conference, there is a scene where a young warrior with a short gray hair receives a sword from an old man, with a crowd of spectators gathering and watching. In the same scene, Ashe is smiling and parading in a vehicle through the people with a veil covering her face. The scene is most likely from an early part of the game or the opening scene, before Ashe had to leave her country due to the invasion of the Empire. The official CG portrait of Ashe released by Square Enix also shows that Ashe has rings on each of her fingers.]
Q: There is an image where Vaan's status bar is showing off, despite being a field screen
Yoshida: I wonder if we created any battle fields this time? [laughs]
Minaba: We hope to show that expression of "volume" that we just talked about. There's a limit due to the polygon count, so it'll be a chance for the developers to show their skill.
Q: What is the object that Vaan is holding near his mouth in the image illustration CG?
Minaba: That is called a Star Fruit. The city in the background is the Dalmasca Kingdom, where Vaan grew up.
Q: The limited edition poster that came with Final Fantasy Tactics Advance featured a Judge. It looks a bit similar to the FFXII logo designed by Yo****aka Amano
Yoshida: Very keen observation! This poster is actually an image of the "Judge", which governs the power and authority in the world of Ivalice.
Q: Who designed the Bangaa race for FFTA?
Yoshida: I did the original designs for the Bangaas. They were originally created for FFXII, but came out first in FFTA.
Q: From checking out the images, there seems to be other races aside from the Bangaa and Viera
Yoshida: There will be other races that did not appear in FFTA.
Q: Will Chocobos be used for transportation purposes?
Yoshida: They'll probably be around for that kind of purpose.
Q: From checking out the images, there seems to be other races aside from the Bangaa and Viera
Yoshida: There will be other races that did not appear in FFTA.
Q: How far is development going?
Minaba: It's pretty complete
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