Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age Review (PS4)

Introduction

This is the remastered version of Final Fantasy XII: The International Job System for PS4, which is originally from PS2.

Some of the key changes include the inclusion of Zodiac Job System, where it allows you to assign a Job to your character, for example the job Knight or Bushi. Each job has it's own unique License Board, with different variety of licenses such as weapons, armour, magicks, and etc. This version also includes Trial Mode, where you can fight against different monsters in each trial.

This version also includes remastered graphics, less audio compression, three different soundtrack selection, 4X and 2X Speed Mode, as well as Trophy support.

Story

A group of unusual teammates fighting against the Archadian Empire.

The story takes place in the world of Ivalice, where the Archadian Empire occupied the Dalmascan kingdom for several years after the assassination of Dalmasca king. Several forces attempted to stop the empire, with the Resistance led by a mysterious woman named Amelia, as well as the Rozarrian Empire. Not only that, a group of people joined the fight against the empire, which includes two commoners, sky pirates, and a prisoner labelled as a traitor.

The story premise is simple, but with a bit more emphasis on political plot. The story has some interesting themes and events, but the same cannot be said about the characters. Each character has interesting characteristics, but not many of them have good character developments or expositions, especially some of the main playable characters like Vaan and Penelo. Other characters like Basch, Gabranth, Vayne, Larsa, and Ashe have decent character exposition compared to most of other characters.

The lore of the game is fantastically well-done and realised. Each monster has it's own bestiary entry, which provides some interesting insights about them as well as their profiles. The Esper bestiary entries are particularly the most interesting bestiary entries, alluding the war between themselves and the gods.

Gameplay

1) Exploration and Progression Section

Explore different interconnected areas.

The game's world map is comprised of many interconnected areas where you can freely explore. Areas in this game are comprised of cities, towns, dungeons, and open-field areas. Most of the time, you can interact with different NPCs in non-hostile areas for information, Hunts, and for buying items. Dungeons and open-field areas are often populated by hostile monsters or even humanoid enemies that you can fight against.

Progression is simple in this game, where you must travel to certain areas to progress the game's storyline. In certain occasions, you must solve some puzzles before progressing. Other than the main story, you can actually explore other side areas for additional rewards and challenges. 

2) Upgrading and Customisation Section

Spend your well-earned Licence Points to learn new skills and earn stats increment.

The game use the Zodiac Job System, where you can assign a Job to a character. You may assign the same job to different characters, or assign unique job to each character. Each Job has it's own specialisation. For example, the Knight job specialises in tanking hits and hit hards with physical attacks, and White Mage job specialises in healing and using protective spells. As you progress in the game, you can choose to assign a second Job on a character to mix and match their abilities and equipment.

Each Job also has it's own unique Licence Board, where each board has it's own mix of licences such as weapons, armours, accessories, skills, and magicks. Each licence requires a certain amount of LP to be spent, and LP can be obtained by killing enemies. As you acquire new licences, you can expand your board and acquire even more powerful licences such as access to stronger weapons or magicks.

The game also uses simple leveling system, where each character gain levels by earning experience points. Gaining a new level increases your character's base stats, such as strength or HP stats. Experience points can only be acquired by killing enemies. Higher level enemies reward more experience points and licence points.

You may also equip each character with different weapons, body armour, helmet, and accessories depending on what licences that they have acquired using LP. For example, acquiring Mystic Armour 1 licence will allow a character to equip the armour sets stated in that licence.

3) Combat Section

Fight against different variety of enemies with different weapons and skills.

The game uses Active Dimension Battle system, a refined battle system where you encounter and fight enemies real-time on the field or in dungeons. There are great variety of enemies, which may comprised of regular enemies, rare enemies, and Marks. You may also fight bosses at story-related areas or optional areas as well.

Each action has it's own charge time, such as attacking, using items, or using magicks. Some actions do not have any charge time, such as using items. However, item actions may have a short cooldown period to avoid abusing it. You have two options: input your commands for each character manually, or use Gambits to set automatic commands.

Gambits is a neat system that allows you to set automatic commands based on priorities and conditions. This is also a great feature that allows you to multi-tasking in combat efficiently. For example, you can set a Gambit that commands a character to heal an ally that has less than 70% HP with a Potion. You may also set different priorities on each Gambit, where the top Gambit takes priority over the bottom Gambits.

4) Gameplay Section

Excellent gameplay.

This game has excellent gameplay. Steady and good pacing, great combat system, well-implemented Zodiac Job System, dual Jobs system, deep customisation, many areas to explore, tons of side quests and great boss fights are the highlights of this game. I don't think there are many issues with the gameplay, as the game can be played in many different ways, which enhances this game's replay value a lot.

Graphics

Excellent remastered graphics.

This game has excellent remastered graphics, although the same praise should be applied back on the PS2 version as well. Great looking character models, environments, monsters and architecture. No bugs or glitches encountered while playing the game, after installing the latest update.

Sound

Excellent voice acting and great remastered soundtrack.

This game has both English and Japanese voice acting, so you have the choice to choose between the two. The English voice acting is superb, with great voice acting by many of the voice actors in the game. My favourites include Gideon Emery (Balthier), Keith Ferguson (Basch), Michael E. Rodgers (Gabranth), and Elijah Alexander (Vayne). Other English voice actors also did commendable jobs in voicing their characters.

If you managed to get the first print edition, you have the choice to choose between three soundtrack selections, which are Original (same compressed audio from PS2), Arranged (newly reorchestrated soundtrack for PS4), and OST (non-compressed audio from original soundtrack CDs). Most of all, I greatly prefer the reorchestrated soundtrack over the original version, with many well-done themes such as the main Final Fantasy theme, boss battle theme, Esper boss battle theme, and many more.

Replay Value

Extremely high replay value.

This game has really high replay value. You can play the game again in Strong Mode once you have completed the game, complete all side quests, complete all Hunts, defeat all superbosses, collect all Espers, and complete the Trial Mode. This game's replay value is increased a lot compared to the original release, thanks to the Zodiac Job System where players can choose up to two different jobs for each character, creating unique playable characters with different specialities.

Conclusion

An excellent remastered game that is worth playing for every RPG fan.

This is an excellent game, enhanced by the new enhancements such as the Zodiac Job System, dual Jobs feature, new gameplay tweaks, great remastered graphics, and excellent new reorchestrated soundtrack. The only actual cons in this game are the less character-driven plot and little character developments as well as character expositions. Regardless, this game is worth playing, and it is one of the main Final Fantasy games that I would recommend over many other new Final Fantasy games like Final Fantasy XIII trilogy, Final Fantasy XV and Final Fantasy Type-0 HD.

Score

Story: 8/10

Gameplay: 10/10

Graphics: 9/10

Sound: 9/10

Final Score: 9.0/10 or 36/40

Pros and Cons

Pros

- Interesting political story.

- Many likable chaarcters.

- Great lore on the races, Espers, monsters, and architectures in Ivalice.

- Great gameplay.

- Well-implemented Zodiac Job System.

- Many good new gameplay changes such as dual Jobs and speed up mode.

- Lots of gameplay content.

- Interesting side quests such as Marks, Elite Marks, and Espers.

- Deep customisation system.

- Great boss fights.

- Excellent remastered graphics.

- No bugs and glitches after installing latest update.

- Great reorchestrated soundtrack.

- Excellent English voice acting.

- Dual-audio.

- High replay value.

Cons

- Less character-driven story.

- Too few character developments and expositions.

- Many palette-swap monster models.

- Minor English voice acting compression.

**Images are from official Square Enix press site.