Final Fantasy XII!

[Rhocke]

That's right...the first glimpse of Final Fantasy 12 has caught my eyes.

UPDATE 6:19 AM PST: Our Japanese correspondent, Andrew Vestal, has reported in with all the details from the conference. Take a seat, cause there's lots to pore over:

You've seen Final Fantasy XII before, and you haven't. If you played Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and wondered which "Final Fantasy" it was that the kids in that game were such big fans of, it was FFXII: that world was based on the world Matsuno was already working on for the main series' twelfth installment. So if you want to know a little about the world and its inhabitants, FFTA is a good place to start, though the two games are completely independent.

But beyond that, everything here is new to FF. When 1UP asked if FFXII would have the same dark style that his previous games (Vagrant Story, Final Fantasy Tactics) were known for, director Matsuno said that "What is mainstream is in the eye of the beholder, and in the preconceptions the player brings to the game. For example, the movie Gladiator won the Academy Award for Best Picture and was quite popular ... some people see the darkness in the message and setting of the movie, while others just enjoy it for gladiator fights and action. FFXII is the same way. Players who just want to play and enjoy it will enjoy it, whereas players who are familiar with my past games, who are looking for that darkness, will find hints of the tone throughout."

The "darkness" he speaks of is already evident in a lot of the game's setup. The warlike empire of Arcadia has already seized the country of Dalmasca, resulting in displaced princess Ashe and easygoing citizen Vaan to form a nascent rebellion against Arcadia. Their main adversary in this are the Judges of Arcadia -- though these are not the Judges you know from FFTA. Matsuno explains, "In FFTA, the Judges served the purpose of a sort of impartial police court. In FFXII, hey are depicted as a group of knights who use terror and fear for their aims." Some CG cutscenes shown support this, displaying the Judges terrorizing one of their own Bangaa henchmen.

More CG cutscenes showed off other aspects of the game: large battle scene, comparable to Helm's Deep from Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, except with the addition of airships. (The main airship in the game is a whopping 340 meters long, by the way, a little over half the length of the Enterprise from Star Trek.) An unnamed character appeared in the CG; the apparent leader of a vast army, she has short-cropped grey hair and is very thin, wearing white armor and a cape. Other characters introduced besides Ashe and Vaan were an unnamed party member who looks something like Hardin from Vagrant Story, as well as Fran, a Viera archer shown in many of the battle scenes.

Speaking of the battle scenes, though no specific details were offered at the conference, we can make a few guesses: the Active Time Battle system would appear to be returning. Enemies can now apparently guard players' attacks, so a timing-based battle system similar to Vagrant Story's may be in effect. There also seems to be combo-based manuvers possible between party members, judging by icons that light up simultaneously next to character names.

That's all we know about the gameplay so far, but Matsuno did have one more thing to say: Final Fantasy XII is not a movie, he stressed. It's an interactive game, and hence "the wishes and preconceptions of the player will affect what they find out of the story." There won't be any branching-path system in place; rather, the scenario has been designed such that the players have a wide breadth of possibilities within the scenario, giving them the opportunity to choose their focus within the wider scope of the story. If true, this would be a large (and welcome) step away from the very linear scenario design of past Final Fantasies. Whatever the game flow ends up being, Matsuno mentioned that a key themes in the story would be "diversity," as represented by the different races -- of which moogles will again be a part. The moogles seen in the game are actually the 10th design, Matsuno joked, noting that the first attempt at FFXII-style moogles was "scary."

Even if that design had stayed, though, the moogles would be the only ugly thing about Final Fantasy XII's visuals. Akihiko Yoshida (Vagrant Story, Final Fantasy Tactics) is handling the character design and map direction, while Hideo Minaba (Final Fantasy IX) is the overall art director. Yoshida commented that the focus of his design was the real-time characters first and the CG ones second, which is evident in the final product. The team (known as Production Development Division 4) is using a new engine rather than stick with FFX's; it uses half the number of polygons with an increased focus on textures and lighting. Which is not to say they didn't beef up the polygon count where it mattered: to help in the new, improved animation system, Ashe's face has 1479 polygons and Vaan's has 1487.

The third important staffer in terms of visuals is Isamu Kamikokuryou, who handles background art. The overall look of the game is of a real world: very detailed brickwork with visible decay and vegetation growing over it, to create the impression of a place that lives and breathes. Matsuno commented that the theme of the visuals is a Mediterranean style, drawing from the clash of European and Arabian cultures. Unlike FFX or X-2, players will be better able to appreciate the world with the inclusion of a first-person look-around mode.

In keeping with the general "new" approach to the franchise, longtime series composer Nobuo Uematsu will only be involved in creating the key theme song this time. The rest of the music will be composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto, who worked with Matsuno on (say it with us) Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy Tactics. Curiously, the sound team mentioned that ever since Final Fantasy VIII's "Eyes on Me" song, the vocal theme of the game has been emphasized, but with FFXII they want to try something "more than just the song." Just what that might be, though, is a mystery.

Various Square Enix staffers were on hand to give their comments on FFXII, many of them having longtime connections to the series. Yoichi Wada, CEO of Square, talked about being a fan of Final Fantasy even before becoming the company bigwig; he related the trouble he got into once after overwriting his wife's game save. Yoshinori Kitase, producer of FFVII, VIII, X, and X-2, talked about the need for competition within Square Enix and how that benefits the Final Fantasy series.

Surprisingly, even Hironobu Sakaguchi, the series originator, showed up for the first public appearance in a couple of years. Speaking of Matsuno, he told the audience "I love him ... welll, that may sound odd to say, but I love his products, and I love the way he works, and these two things together mean that I love him."

Currently, Final Fantasy XII is due to be release in Japan in summer 2004. The staff cautioned to "please let us finish the game, we don't want to disappoint you," but given that the game is reportedly already 70% finished, Matsuno was pretty confident that there would be "about six more months until release." After all this, we're pretty excited.

The first 'movie' of it is located here: http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~nanko/movies/ff12-2.wmv

Official Pictures and Screenshots can be found around here:
http://www.rpgfan.com/pics/ff12/art.html

*squeals*

[Solid Ronin]

Ugh is it to much to ask for a cool looking main character

[Michael]

It looks like a remake of FFIX.

[Mithrandir]

Nice redering, in spite of it all.

[Rhocke]

Ugh is it to much to ask for a cool looking main character

Yeah, I think the makers of Final Fantasy are starting to hit a brick wall when it comes to designing more unique characters. All the girls remind me of Yuna, lol. Make another cool-haired person...*drools over Cloud*

[Bobtheduck]

Man... Nonlinear? Exactly how nonlinear are they talkin? I hated Legend of Mana, and wasn't all that fond of the map building thing in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, either (though that wasn't quite as bad as LoM)

I have a feeling I'm not going to be happy with this one...

[Solid Ronin]

Ugh is it to much to ask for a cool looking main character

Yeah, I think the makers of Final Fantasy are starting to hit a brick wall when it comes to designing more unique characters. All the girls remind me of Yuna, lol. Make another cool-haired person...*drools over Cloud*

Avatar: *wipes drool off* Yeah I get that alot and maybe ill invade FFXII and replace the main character I mean you gotta admit people love me

[Solid Ronin]

All the girls remind me of Yuna, lol.

looks like you noticed that too

[MasterDias]

I'm hearing a lot of negative sentiment here for some reason...

Personally, I've really enjoyed all of Square's major games that I've played so I know I'll enjoy this one.

I've liked the other games this designer has made. Seeing Viera and Bangaa in full 3d will be interesting.

[Bobtheduck]

Names and battle setups and characters and world aside, the term "non-linear" really scares me...

[Gypsy]

Personally, I've really enjoyed all of Square's major games that I've played so I know I'll enjoy this one.

Upon risk of being called a mindless addict - I agree. If Square makes an rpg (especially an FF game) I will play it, no questions asked (er ... within reason of course). I've never played one that I didn't really care for, and while some don't hold up very well compairted to others in the same series - they're all fun games.

[iamneo19]

Yah! for another great FF story and character development.
Boo! for me not having my PS2 and giving it up for an XBOX.
I like my Star Wars: KOTOR and Star Wars: Jedi Academy, and defiantely my Halo, but I'm just too much of an FF fan. I miss my PS2.

[uc pseudonym]

We'll see about this one, we'll see. I doubt I'll play it, but it is possible some friends of mine would buy it, so I might see it. At the moment I'm not about to comment on the character design, because I want to see what the characters act like.

[Savior_Sora]

For some reason...I don't think i'm gonna like this FF...I dunno waht it is. But i'l give it a shot...I guess i'm getting to the point now where I'm "growing up" so to speak and games arent catching my attention like they used to...oh well. I do agree tho on the way the characters are. Panelo..."Selphie" anyone?

[Debitt]

I'm rather addicted to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance - yes, I AM a fangirl. ^_^ So I confess I'm looking forward to this one, especially as I found FFX-2 to be a bit of a disappointment.

[uc pseudonym]

I've played Tactics only briefly. It was annoying trying to do every single quest before they would disappear, but I thought the game was pretty fun until certain
aspects started getting repetative.

FFX2 seemed decent to me, and I didn't mind the battle system, but completely lacked Auron [spoiler](sure, he has no good reason to exist any longer. But neither does Tidus)[/spoiler]. That was a bit of a problem.

Meanwhile, the elements I've spoken of here are exactly what will determine if I like FFXII (gameplay and characters- not the presence of Auron).

[Zedian]

I think it would be nice to see a Final Fantasy game to really concentrate on a great plot, exploration, characters and a fine battle system...kind of like Final Fantasy 6 (Still my favorite in the series). Sorry if I sound pessimistic, but Square just hasn't done anything to rejuvenate my eyes in the company--in particular it is evident to me they can't scrap up a REALLY good game since the merger with Enix.

The screenshots look nice, and the world is built more around a setting that to me anyways, stands more for Final Fantasy as opposed to Final Fantasy X. But the main character looks too much like Zidane and Tidus..., which is a shame because I found them to be two of the most annoying characters to grace the rpg world.

[uc pseudonym]

I respect your opinion, and I also enjoyed FFXI very much, but I would disagree. I think that in recent years Square-Enix has put together a number of quality games in the series. The plot of FFXII was far above that of FFXI, and I thought the game play of FFX was of excellant quality.

[Htom Sirveaux]

A friend of mine has FFXI and he was telling me about it:

"Well, so far, there's Final Fantasy XI and there's crack..."

And no, he's not a crackhead. He was just joking.

[Jasdero]

FINAL FANTASY XII FINAL FANTASY XII FINAL FANTASY XII FINAL FANTASY XII FINAL FANTASY XII
I'm so HAPPY!!! It looks so awesome! I posted a wallpaper I made of it in the Wallpaper forum area place...thingy... ^_^

[Bobtheduck]

http://games.slashdot.org/games/04/07/18/2123251.shtml?tid=127

I don't ever read that website... I guess I'm an incomplete and inferior geek. Anyhow, I found this and, well, to be honest... It disturbs me... I think the Japanese games (like Final Fantasy, Metal Gear, Silent Hill, etc...) are vastly superior to the american crap like GTA... So, FFXII is going to be more "open ended" and non-linear? They think this is going to "catch on" in Japan and we'll see an end to the "Complex, long" japanese games? If that happens, I'll personally taint the water at Rockstar games with gallons of metamucil and, like, asparagus extract or something...

I don't want to see Japanese games getting more shallow... You know, the "long, complex" and linear games have always done well in Japan, and without Japan, those fans who prefer those long, complex, linear games won't have anywhere to go... Japan has enough of the basic, short games as well... We don't need to "convert" them to the "American" way of making games (or the Brittish or Canadian way, either)

I hope this isn't the end of the "long, complex" games or the beginning of the end for that matter (I heard MGS3 is going towards the more shallow end of the pool too, but I don't know if that's true)

[kaji]

I am pretty excited for FFXII’s release. The Game Stop near me has the game on prerelease for 12/30/04. Though I will undoubtedly wait until the game has its first price drop before I bite, its still doesn’t hurt to dream.

Here is some art I found for the game. Enjoy.

[Raiden no Kishi]

Anyone who thinks it'd ROCK to live in FFXII's Ivalice, raise your hand.

All of you who didn't raise your hands, you're all dirty liars. Or you haven't seen the above images.

Rai

[Tommy]

(SORRY IF I STAND OUT WITHOUT AN AVATAR OR PICS BUT WHENEVER I SUBMIT THE PIC IT SEZ ERROR SUMTHIN).
Raiden No kishi:I`d build a summer home there but I wouldn`t move there permanatley so I`m going to keep my hand down.

FFXII looks like a cross of FF10 and 9.It`s very odd how much the character`s appearences are like a cross well.I have to the say the main character looks like a girl but whoever said Tidus and Zidane are the dumbest characters to be in an RPG should look at some of the screen shots of Dragon Warriors VII on http://www.squareenix.com

Can`t wait till FF7:DoC either so later!

[Stephen]

There running out of names. Vaan? Why don't they go ahead and spell it like Legend of Legaia did...Vahn. The chars look ok. Like UC I will refrain from thrashing anyone till I see how they act...but from the way the game looks its starting to show that Square lost some of there creative team. It looks like they just took past characters and tossed them all in a blender and hit smoothie.....*shrug* We shall see. I will probably end up getting it. Hopefully its got a nice dark storyline like Tactics did....

[Chichiri]

There are a lot of crappy names, but I can look past that. The game looks good, and supposedly the battle system is a lot of fun too.

This probably wont be out here in the US till Fall 05, but I'm looking forward to this title. FFXII might be EXACTLY what the Final Fantasy series needs to revitalize itself. I'm hoping, at least.