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Liputan6.com, Jakarta Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age brings new life to a beloved classic role-playing game. This remastered version enhances the original 2006 PlayStation 2 release with upgraded visuals, a revamped job system, and quality-of-life improvements. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the world of Ivalice, The Zodiac Age offers the definitive way to experience this epic adventure.
Set in the fantasy world of Ivalice, Final Fantasy XII tells a tale of political intrigue, war, and destiny. Players take control of a diverse cast of characters as they fight to restore the kingdom of Dalmasca and prevent further conflict between powerful empires. With its innovative battle system, expansive world, and compelling story, Final Fantasy XII stands out as one of the most unique entries in the long-running RPG series.
What’s New in The Zodiac Age
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The Zodiac Age introduces several major changes and enhancements to the original game:
- Improved graphics with high-resolution textures and character models
- Remastered soundtrack with newly recorded music
- Zodiac Job System that allows players to assign specific classes to characters
- Ability to give characters two job classes instead of one
- Fast-forward mode to speed up exploration and battles
- Autosave feature
- Redesigned user interface and menus
- Additional game modes like Trial Mode and New Game+
These upgrades make the game more accessible to modern audiences while preserving the core experience that made the original so beloved. Veterans and newcomers alike can enjoy a smoother, more refined version of Final Fantasy XII.
Gameplay Overview
Final Fantasy XII features a unique combat system called Active Dimension Battle (ADB). Unlike traditional turn-based RPGs, battles take place seamlessly on the main field without transitioning to a separate battle screen. Players can see enemies roaming the environment and choose to engage or avoid them.
The game’s most innovative feature is the Gambit system. This allows players to program AI behaviors for their party members using a series of if-then conditions. For example, you can set a character to automatically heal allies when their HP falls below 50%. Mastering the Gambit system is key to effectively managing your party in battle.
Other key gameplay elements include:
- License Board: Characters gain License Points to unlock new abilities, equipment options, and stat boosts
- Hunts: Optional monster-slaying quests that provide rewards and lore
- Espers: Powerful summons that can be obtained and used in battle
- Quickenings: Limit break-style special attacks unique to each character
The Zodiac Age expands on these systems with the addition of 12 job classes. Each character can be assigned up to two jobs, allowing for greater customization and strategic party-building.
Story and Setting
Final Fantasy XII takes place in the world of Ivalice, a setting featured in several other games like Final Fantasy Tactics. The story focuses on the kingdom of Dalmasca, which has been conquered by the powerful Archadian Empire. Players follow a group of unlikely heroes as they fight to restore Dalmasca’s independence and prevent further war.
Key characters include:
- Vaan: A young orphan who dreams of becoming a sky pirate
- Ashe: The deposed princess of Dalmasca seeking to reclaim her throne
- Balthier: A charming and mysterious sky pirate
- Fran: Balthier’s partner, a member of the rabbit-like Viera race
- Basch: A disgraced knight framed for the murder of Dalmasca’s king
- Penelo: Vaan’s childhood friend who gets caught up in the adventure
The narrative explores themes of political intrigue, the costs of war, and the nature of power. While the story can be complex at times, it offers a more mature and nuanced take on fantasy storytelling compared to some earlier Final Fantasy games.
Graphics and Sound
The Zodiac Age significantly improves the visual quality of Final Fantasy XII. The game now runs at a higher resolution with enhanced textures, lighting, and character models. This helps the already impressive art direction shine even brighter, bringing the world of Ivalice to life in greater detail.
The remastered soundtrack offers players the choice between the original PlayStation 2 music and a newly recorded orchestral version. The game’s score, composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto, is widely praised for its epic scope and emotional range.
Voice acting is available in both English and Japanese. The English localization is particularly noteworthy for its high quality, featuring excellent performances and a script that uses archaic language to enhance the fantasy setting.
Job System and Character Customization
One of the biggest changes in The Zodiac Age is the revamped job system. In the original release, all characters used the same License Board to learn abilities and boost stats. The new version introduces 12 distinct job classes, each with its own License Board:
- Knight: Skilled with swords and shields
- Monk: Uses martial arts and bare-handed combat
- White Mage: Focuses on healing and support magic
- Black Mage: Specializes in offensive magic
- Archer: Excels with bows and ranged combat
- Machinist: Uses guns and other technological weapons
- Red Battlemage: Combines offensive magic with melee combat
- Time Battlemage: Manipulates time and uses support magic
- Uhlan: Wields spears and other polearms
- Bushi: Samurai-like class that uses katanas
- Shikari: Ninja-inspired class focusing on daggers and evasion
- Foebreaker: Tank-like class that weakens enemies
Players can assign each character up to two of these jobs, allowing for interesting combinations and strategic party setups. This system adds replay value and encourages experimentation with different character builds.
Exploration and Side Content
Final Fantasy XII features a large, interconnected world with many areas to explore. Unlike some JRPGs, the game offers a great deal of freedom in how players progress through the story. Many zones can be accessed earlier than required, allowing for optional exploration and level grinding.
The game is packed with side content to discover:
- Hunt Club: Take on special monster-hunting quests for rewards
- Rare game: Seek out and defeat powerful unique monsters
- Bazaar: Unlock special items by selling specific loot combinations
- Esper battles: Defeat optional bosses to gain powerful summons
- Secret areas: Discover hidden locations with valuable treasures
The Zodiac Age adds even more optional content with the new Trial Mode. This 100-floor challenge puts players’ skills to the test with increasingly difficult battles.
Combat System Deep Dive
The Active Dimension Battle (ADB) system in Final Fantasy XII combines elements of turn-based and real-time combat. Here’s a closer look at how it works:
- Party members and enemies act when their action gauge fills, similar to the Active Time Battle system in earlier Final Fantasy games
- Players can freely move around the battlefield, with positioning affecting certain attacks and abilities
- The game can be paused at any time to issue commands or adjust strategies
- Up to three active party members can participate in battle, with additional characters in reserve
The Gambit system allows for complex AI behaviors:
- Each character can have multiple Gambits active at once
- Gambits are prioritized from top to bottom
- Common Gambit conditions include targeting enemies based on HP percentage, status effects, or proximity
- Players can create intricate strategies, like having characters automatically buff the party before tough fights
Mastering the Gambit system is key to success in challenging battles and optional content. However, players can also choose to issue commands manually for more direct control.
Tips for New Players
If you’re new to Final Fantasy XII or returning after a long time, here are some helpful tips:
- Experiment with different job combinations to find what works best for your playstyle
- Don’t neglect your Gambits – a well-set up party can handle most regular encounters automatically
- Take on Hunts regularly to earn Gil (money) and valuable rewards
- Use the fast-forward feature to speed up grinding and traversal, but be careful in tough battles
- Pay attention to elemental weaknesses and status effects – exploiting these can turn the tide in difficult fights
- Don’t be afraid to explore – many valuable treasures and optional content can be found off the beaten path
- Save regularly, especially before entering new areas or attempting challenging content
Differences from Other Final Fantasy Games
Final Fantasy XII stands out from other entries in the series in several ways:
- More open world structure compared to the linear design of games like Final Fantasy X
- Focus on political intrigue rather than world-ending threats
- Seamless transition between exploration and combat
- Greater emphasis on player-controlled AI through the Gambit system
- Less prominent role for the main protagonist (Vaan) compared to other Final Fantasy heroes
These differences can take some adjustment for series veterans, but they also make Final Fantasy XII a unique and refreshing experience.
Legacy and Impact
Final Fantasy XII was highly acclaimed upon its original release and has only grown in esteem over time. The game’s innovations have influenced later titles both within and outside the Final Fantasy series:
- The seamless combat system paved the way for more action-oriented RPGs
- The Gambit system inspired similar AI programming features in games like Dragon Age: Origins
- The focus on political storytelling influenced later Final Fantasy titles and other JRPGs
- The game’s art direction and world design have been praised as some of the best in the series
The Zodiac Age remaster has introduced a new generation of players to this classic, ensuring its legacy continues to grow.
FAQs
Do I need to have played other Final Fantasy games to enjoy The Zodiac Age?
No, Final Fantasy XII is a standalone story that doesn’t require knowledge of previous games. However, there are some references and callbacks that longtime fans may appreciate.
How long does it take to complete the game?
A typical playthrough focusing on the main story takes about 40-50 hours. Completing all side content can extend this to 100 hours or more.
Can I change character jobs after assigning them?
In the original Zodiac Age release, job choices were permanent. However, a patch was later added allowing players to reset and reassign jobs by talking to a specific NPC.
Is The Zodiac Age available on multiple platforms?
Yes, The Zodiac Age has been released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.
Are there any multiplayer features?
No, Final Fantasy XII is a single-player experience. However, the Gambit system allows you to essentially “program” your party members, giving a sense of controlling a full team.
Conclusion
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age offers a masterfully crafted RPG experience that stands the test of time. With its engaging story, innovative gameplay systems, and wealth of content to explore, it’s a game that can easily provide dozens of hours of entertainment. The enhancements made in this remastered version make it more accessible than ever, allowing both newcomers and longtime fans to experience the world of Ivalice in its best form yet.
Whether you’re drawn to its political intrigue, strategic combat, or simply the allure of embarking on an epic adventure, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age has something to offer for all RPG enthusiasts. Its unique approach to storytelling and gameplay ensures that it remains a standout title not just within the Final Fantasy series, but in the broader landscape of Japanese role-playing games.
Disclaimer: Artikel ini ditulis ulang oleh redaksi dengan menggunakan Artificial Intelligence
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