Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age Reviews
Final Fantasy XII was outdone by the competition when it came out eleven years ago, and The Zodiac Age changes absolutely nothing in that regard. An overpriced and undercooked re-release of a game better left forgotten.
Die Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age-Editon ist eine gelungene Überarbeitung eines soliden Titels der Reihe, der seinerzeit Voraus war, aber durch die schwache Story und der langweiligen Gegenden auch heute nicht vollends zu überzeugen weiß.
Review in German | Read full review
Final Fantasy XII is a good game that broke a lot of ground upon release, as an RPG, as a work of fantasy, and as a Final Fantasy entry. With that said, The Zodiac Age feels like a bare-minimum up-port, with little besides the textures being improved.
On a scale of best to worst Final Fantasy titles, XII sits somewhere in the middle. It exists in a bland limbo of mediocrity. The best qualities lie in its art direction, music and animation. Being able to play with a high speed mode truly illustrates just how slow and tedious the combat actually is and by circumventing it entirely, a huge portion of the experience is compromised but also the overall product is made more enjoyable.
So much of the game is build up to minor privileges and plot points that other RPGs freely give to the player.
Final Fantasy XII – The Zodiac Age is far from the perfect game, but it is one of the few in the series I bothered to complete. From its lofty melodrama and rewarding combat and character systems to its missed story beats and sloggy late-game, it's an adventure I will not soon forget. More importantly, it's one I do not want to forget, which is more than I can say for almost every entry in the series released since this game first saw light 11 years ago.
If you played Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age back in the day and want to go back for nostalgia, you'll love this. If you're a new player interested in playing for the first time – keep in mind that this is definitely a game that shows its age. Though, if you have sufficient patience, it's a story well worth investing in.
Despite it all, I'd still say Final Fantasy XII is a good game. Its combat is almost entirely automated, but it's designed by you thanks to the programmable Gambit system, while character progression through the job system is deep and open to creativity.
Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age on Switch delivers a comprehensive and thrilling journey, though with some flaws. While the game itself offers hours of RPG fun, it's older age shows. The steep price tag is also something to keep in mind.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a really good game and easily the best way to experience this entry in the franchise. I recommend to anyone that didn't like it back on the PlayStation 2 to give this version a try, as I'm sure it would be a much more enjoyable experience. That said, I still find Final Fantasy XII to be an odd duck in the realms of Final Fantasy, and it will always be overshadowed by those that came before it.
It looks and sounds great, but even this remaster’s improvements and decent combat doesn’t make the story any better.
A loyal and heartfelt remaster, but no matter how much Square Enix polishes Final Fantasy XII, the company is never going to wear down those occasional bumps that affected the overall package the first time. New RPG systems, rebalanced enemies, UI updates and speed options all boil down to a much smoother, nicer (prettier!) version of the game than the original European release. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a wonderfully nostalgic, but undeniably flawed, return to Ivalice.
Not only is Final Fantasy XII one of the finest RPG’s out there, but Final Fantasy: The Zodiac age is also one of the finest remasters of a true classic out there. Well done, Square Enix. You caught me hook, line and sinker with this one.
Final Fantasy XII could have been better with a less convoluted development —anyway, this is the best version of a very interesting game.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Overall, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is mostly a triumph. The few issues that do exist aren't enough to detract from the overall quality of the underlying game, and most of the updates, upgrades and tweaks really work in the game's favor. For too long, Square Enix has let one of their most compelling and ambitious games languish while lesser titles received multiple and unnecessary re-releases.
A long-forgotten joy that deserves to stand side by side with the best of the franchise. There are so many great elements that all combine for such a special experience. The soundtrack from Hitoshi Sakimoto is filled with such a wide variety of tracks, ranging from grand orchestral themes, like the self-titled "Final Fantasy" to the light cheerful tones played throughout towns and some fantastic battle music. All of these sound even better here, reworked with 7.1 surround sound. The models and designs look stunning. The story falters, but still tells a gripping tale. Most importantly, however, the gameplay is ridiculously addictive, with the quality of life enhancements addressing most of the problems with the original. A must-buy for both those who played the PS2 version and those who missed it. Fantastic.
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age shows what remasters should be all about. The improved visuals and audio, along with the tweaks made to the gameplay, make the game much more enjoyable. Any fan of Final Fantasy or JRPGs in general can't go wrong with this title.
If you did enjoy it and have forgotten most of what happened, or have never played the game at all and want to experience the Final Fantasy series transition from old school games to the newer mechanics that have been introduced in FFXIII and FFXV, then picking up Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a great choice.
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a smashing port that brings all the revamps of Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System and adds more to it to improve the game for a better experience.
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a great remake of a classic Final Fantasy. If you missed out playing this the first time it is definitely worth giving a second look. It also features the appearances of the Judges which become a series staple and their armor appears prominently in FFXIV. For all you MMO fans XII is the closest you can get to an old school MMORPG experience from a single player RPG.