Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age - Nintendo Switch

Or as early as we are able to partake in the rich, and engrossing world of Ivalice. It's a wonderful installment in the Ivalice Alliance sub-series of Final Fantasy; of which, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age encompasses a tale that takes place in the earlier days of Ivalice, before the Calamity (referred to in Final Fantasy Tactics).The game features a wide cast of characters, from teenagers, to middle aged warriors, and even people whom are not human, like the elf-like Viera race, that live hundreds of years old.A seemingly unlikely group of characters find themselves working together with a resistance group to overthrow a seemingly unstoppable force known as the Archadian Empire. But darker works are afoot, and the Empire isn't the only deadly force lurking throughout Ivalice. Demons, strange stones, and other entities with different goals may prove to be just as fierce as the empire, or maybe worse. Dark secrets of Ivalice early days may hold the keys to saving the land from war, and possibly something far worse.The game has beatiful visuals, and holds nothing back with providing a rich, and detailed world to explore. Large cities sporting ancient and diverse architecture, mystical forests, vast sand seas, deep dungeons, and brilliantly azure skies mark some of the more iconic locations Ivalice has to offer. There is plenty of lore to be found with talking with people all over the lands of Ivalice.The music is some of the best in all of Final Fantasy, and features leitmotifs for specific characters, groups of people, and dastardly forces. Not unlike how leitmotifs are used in both Jackson's Adaptation of Lord of the Rings, or Even the Star Wars movies. The distinct use of phrases in music, and their associated with specific characters, and groups makes the soundtrack both memorable, and emotional.If you're looking for a high fantasy science fantasy game, perhaps give Zodiac Age a try!

This version will mark the second time I have purchased Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age, and the third time overall after having purchased the PlayStation 2 original in 2006! I can't get enough of this game, from the intriguing story, to the beautiful visuals that look much better than you'd expect a remastered 13-year old game to look. The gambit system is especially compelling, being able to "program" your party to battle in the same way you'd operate manually while automating and streamlining the process.The Zodiac Age version enhancements are a great way to re-experience the game. Being able to select character classes from the license board opens a whole new way to customize your party to suit your desired play style. The fast-forward option can make grinding (what little I've found to be required) that much easier. Auto-save is also a godsend. As a parent and husband, I no longer have the time to "find a save point" before putting the game down like I did when I was 20.I played through most of the ZA release on PlayStation 4, but found I had a hard time as a parent finding time to occupy the TV to play. Being on the Switch likewise opens up an amazing new way to play this game. I usually play in handheld mode, so I can easily pick up the game for a short burst and maybe take on a few hunts, gain a few levels, or advance the story from anywhere. This final fantasy game is maybe even more well-suited to quick bursts of play.I love this game, and think that this Switch version will likely be the last I ever need to purchase.

I can't rightfully compare this version to any other version from any other system because I have never played this game before, even if I'm aware of many of the changes. What I can say though is that this game is wonderful. There is an extreme amount of RPG content and the graphics are beautiful. I've enjoyed playing this on the TV as well as on the Switch Lite, so being mobile is definitely a big perk for a game this expansive.It's not without flaws. The combat leaves a lot to be desired as it can barely be described as interactive. If you have played a Dragon Age game though, it's basically the same.This might be typical of Final Fantasy games, but there is no character customization. Besides weapons, you never see any of the gear you give them.Some of the side quests would be extremely difficult to figure out without guides - I've played for 90 hours in a single play through and can only imagine what that number would be if I didn't use guides for some things. Fortunately there is no shortage of information online for this version of the game.If you accept its quirks, you'll find a really wonderful, rewarding gameplay experience that looks amazing and tells a decent fantasy story. I'm simultaneously disappointed that I have never played this game before and grateful that my first experience with it was this masterpiece version.