after Mount Bur-Omisace, it seems like theres no plot development
I mean you have to travel the longest leg of the game, without anything really happening
Mosphoron Highwaste; 1 "town", no dialogue, no bosses
Salikawood; optional boss, 1 very short optional dialogue
The Phon Coast; 1 "town", 2 pieces of dialogue, 1 at the beginning which is saying, "hey were in archades", the other being a very short but important conversation with Ashe and Balthier
Tchita Uplands; no dialogue, no bosses
Sochen Cave Palace; 1 piece of pointless dialogue and 2 bosses

then you finally get to the city of Archades, you would think you're characters would have some time to interact, but no
it's just Balthier telling you where to go and what to do, then doing it
then you get to Draklor and after all that travel THE ONLY thing you learn from going so far is... go to Giruvegan

I mean up to Bur-Omisace i was really getting into the game, but then you go through 3 fields and 2 dungeons and all that happens is that?
I had to really push myself to get through this part of the game and was even more disappointed after i finished Archades
I mean, I reasonably enjoyed this game, but this part was just so boring

The Salikawood is a dungeon? I would have thought it more of a field or a jungle.

I do agree that some of that part was boring, but for me I thought that once you got into Archades things got a lot better both plot and game wise.

I mean, we see Cid being controlled by Venat, and we also get introduced to Reddas.

And if you thought that was bad wait until you get to the Pharos(assuming you didn't beat the game). That part has almost no dialogue save until the very end. But in the end, it's worth it because of the plot that it involves.

I think that they did this big stretch of nothing on purpose. It not only gives you some time to complete side quests/hunts but it also allows the story up till now a chance to sink in.

Yeah. As much as I love the game, that bothered me too. Still, I like the game and the story itself. Though I wish they would've added something else.

It's this part of Final Fantasy XII that puts people off, then leaving it to collect dust for a couple of months before they play again and then get beaten by a group of alraune.

I find it like the parts before this are the teaser and you then have to test your devotion to the game and storyline to reach the juicy events everyone direly awaits when they play this game :)

Yeah, it's definitely slow through the middle there. By the end of Draklor though I found that the plot picked up pace significantly and remained pretty consistent to the end.

Agree with Ominous, I've always said that part could use some more dialogue, but it certainly doesn't herald the end of plot development; after you reach Balfonheim, a significant amount of character and plot development follows.

That's one of the reasons why I stopped playing. I was really getting into it and then I realised that I didn't care for the characters I didn't even know much about them. The development in this game is shit.

I think that they did this big stretch of nothing on purpose. It not only gives you some time to complete side quests/hunts but it also allows the story up till now a chance to sink in.


Couldn't have put it better myself. :)

Yeah I agree with Vayne, wait until you get to Pharos: Sub Terra. I considered this to be the most boring and time consuming arsehole of a part.

I think the revelations and the character development made at Phon Coast are pretty heavy and significant to the overall story; granted, no real action happens, but it's still a pretty large bit of exposition.

Yes, getting to Archades is a little disappointing. You'd think there would be at least some epic battle that culminates in a giant explosion that shakes the city to its foundation. But hey, at least you get to spend all that gil you've been collecting on shitloads of new armor, weapons, and spells. :D

That's one of the reasons why I stopped playing. I was really getting into it and then I realised that I didn't care for the characters I didn't even know much about them. The development in this game is shit.

So ... the development is shit. The game you didn't play all the way through? Snap.

Take it from someone who has played through this game: This game is packed to the hilt with things to do, see, explore, kill etc ... And that is just talking about the story. Ivalice is a massive world filled with things waiting to be found. If you feel the developers should spoon feed you throughout the game then maybe you should go play some of the earlier FFs.

All I can say is - thank GOD there wasn't a sappy love story this time around.

All I can say is - thank GOD there wasn't a sappy love story this time around.

I definetly agree with you on that.

Yeah I agree with Vayne, wait until you get to Pharos: Sub Terra. I considered this to be the most boring and time consuming arsehole of a part.

OMG I couldn't have put it better myself!
You spend like 5 minutes on one floor, only to move on and find that there's another level just like it!

Whether you're going up the Pharos, or down, that part is definately the most time-consuming and off-putting!

OMG I couldn't have put it better myself!
You spend like 5 minutes on one floor, only to move on and find that there's another level just like it!

Whether you're going up the Pharos, or down, that part is definately the most time-consuming and off-putting!


You think it's bad just the one time? Try chaining towers for the Grand Helm, doing hunts, or going back to build all the red bridges and spawn all the one-time-only treasure chests! >.<

Who is the boss at the end of Pharos? On the lift part?

That is where I threw my controller down and NEVER played FFXII again...


OMG I couldn't have put it better myself!
You spend like 5 minutes on one floor, only to move on and find that there's another level just like it!

Whether you're going up the Pharos, or down, that part is definately the most time-consuming and off-putting!

I think everyone feels the same. SQUARE ENIX HEAR OUR PRAYERS.

FF12 was weak as a hole on plot...or at the very least enjoyed string it along waaaaaaaay to long.

ALSO found out boss on lift...his name is HASHMAL.

Downright cunting bastard..

This game is really isn't hard guys. It's pretty much just buff/attack/heal for everything in the main quest.

The topic of discussion isn't whether or not the game is difficult in terms of strategy, but more about how downright boring it can get.

That was in relation to what Ngrplz' difficulties. Otherwise my opinion on the pacing hasn't changed since my last post.

So ... the development is shit. The game you didn't play all the way through? Snap.

Take it from someone who has played through this game: This game is packed to the hilt with things to do, see, explore, kill etc ... And that is just talking about the story. Ivalice is a massive world filled with things waiting to be found. If you feel the developers should spoon feed you throughout the game then maybe you should go play some of the earlier FFs.

All I can say is - thank GOD there wasn't a sappy love story this time around.

I played through the whole game, did 90% of the hunts & all the sidequests i could find.... and i have to agree that the story development IS pretty poor, especially compared to what i'd expect from a final fantasy. by the end i still cared not one jot for any of the characters - in fact when i completed the game i was so shocked because there had been little or no character development or sideplot resolution - i had absolutely no idea this was going to be the last boss. as i'd spent so much time on the sidequests (which looking back were mostly a chore i wouldnt repeat in a hurry, despite the excellent new battle system) i clocked up loads of hours but still thought honestly from the way the plot was going that i was maybe two thirds of the way through, max, and that the story was going to finally pick up and get interesting, any moment now.... and thats what ruined the game for me. all the way through i was expecting something better, and the blind optimism fooled me through the whole game. then when i looked back at it, post end sequence, i realised the whole experience had really been nothing more than some overly large and empty maps filled with copies of the same monsters, but in different colours. and i felt absolutely cheated - not of forty pounds, but of over 50 hours of my life... which is much worse.
I've played through FF7 & 8 maybe twenty times each at least and not one of those replays has felt like such a waste of time. 9 i enjoyed. ditto X & X2, though i had my reservations about all three. all i can see that 12 has got going for it is the battle system.... but that alone can't save it when there's so few different monsters in the game (by this i mean unique monsters, not recycled enemies.. something i had a serious problem with in FFX) and so little incentive storywise to play through it.) - i also really liked the random treasure chest system that no longer forced you to explore every inch of every dungeon unless you wanted to, but that was ruined by this whole zodiac spear thing - as i'm sure many people will agree.
finally, my major problem with FF12 from start to end was the horrible resolution it's displayed in for english gamers, it's so flickery and headache inducing that when i first played the game drunk, it made me want to throw up. i'm guessing this isnt the case for NTSC gamers, which is pretty despicable business sense on square's part, shafting their english fanbase so..... i also noticed FF9 seems to have some resolution issues of its own compared to the videos ive seen of it running on NTSC on youtube speedruns and suchlike.... was this the beginning of square becoming too lazy to recode their games for PAL? or is this just a crackpot theory? (i will admit i know little of this PAL / NTSC thing, so i'm theorising massively)
still... at least it didnt have a sappy love story indeed! (perhaps that was another thing that made the ending such a surprise for me, maybe i was waiting for the inevitable love scene.... still no loss there) and at least it attempted some non-linearity again, unlike the awful 'walk in a straight line for the entire game' map of FFX.

finally, my major problem with FF12 from start to end was the horrible resolution it's displayed in for english gamers, it's so flickery and headache inducing that when i first played the game drunk, it made me want to throw up. i'm guessing this isnt the case for NTSC gamers, which is pretty despicable business sense on square's part, shafting their english fanbase so..... i also noticed FF9 seems to have some resolution issues of its own compared to the videos ive seen of it running on NTSC on youtube speedruns and suchlike.... was this the beginning of square becoming too lazy to recode their games for PAL? or is this just a crackpot theory? (i will admit i know little of this PAL / NTSC thing, so i'm theorising massively)

If your screen resolution and such is causing the game to be "flickery and headache inducing" you should really look for the "flicker filter" option in-game. It helps smooth the picture out. I personally always have it turned on, although for most newer TVs it really doesn't make much of a difference. Also, not playing the game drunk might help a bit with the headache part. :)

That's the reason why FF12 will never make it on my top 5 FFs.

Everything else has good marks, but, the story is so epic, but you never really get to be a part of it.

I mean, I love FF8 because I see "what could have been", but, it doesn't tease the hell out of my like FF12 did...bastard

The OP brings up a good point. Unfortunately I think the reason they do that is because they make the Mosphoran Highwaste and Salikawood available long before you're required to go through there for the story.

And the game itself is easy if you're playing to finish it. Just, all the optional stuff is definitely far from "easy".

If you're gonna play FFXII, play it to get Order of Ambrosia, otherwise it'll seem like a joke.

The story was so bad, so so bad. I can hardly remember any of it because it wasn't the least bit memorable. Even Super Mario 64 has a better story.

The story was so bad, so so bad. I can hardly remember any of it because it wasn't the least bit memorable. Even Super Mario 64 has a better story.
Lol something tells me you only like Super Mario 64 and Halo.

the game is not hard indeed, except i feel i rush too much through the game often having the trouble with overleveled enemies on my path killing me in one hit.
Eventually it became a boredom of leveling up or try to outrun regular enemies and use tons of quickenings chains on bosses which were really unbalanced, considering it can kill bosses in one hit or you use up all your mp with practically no damage depending how well you did.

the optional boss in Salikawood is probably the best example, with his renew ability he can use all the time and only quickening chains do enough damage to prevent him from using it(even with nihalopoao strategy it still used renew spell). And what do i get as reward? New areas which my underleveled characters die in one hit.

I really hated the sidequests, because most of them showed up too early than the current level you were, discouraging me to get them as soon as possible.

True that a correct use of the grid can make me fly in the game, but if i play it the first time around I prefer to start lighthearted like Final Fantasy VII. Playing with strategy the first time is hard without using guides to do since you don't know anything about the grid until you unlock it.

And indeed characters were bland or rehashes of old characters(which is not new, ok).

I loved the openness of the game, but disliked the fact that often you can't fare well there for being underleveled most of the time.

If your screen resolution and such is causing the game to be "flickery and headache inducing" you should really look for the "flicker filter" option in-game. It helps smooth the picture out. I personally always have it turned on, although for most newer TVs it really doesn't make much of a difference. Also, not playing the game drunk might help a bit with the headache part. :)

thanks, i wish me not knowing about that had been the case... but sadly i did have it on! you should have seen what it looked like without it... ugh. anyone else had this problem with the PAL version? its not like my TV at the time was that old / small. i swear it's a conversion thing but i've never really seen anyone else moan about it so i thought i'd bring it up. the most recent square game i played apart from that was kingdom hearts 2, and that looked fine on the same setup i was running FFXii on.

i totally agree with slippy about the unbalanced quickening system. and did i ever get sick of sitting through those animations. i mean, i'm used to having to do that with FF7 & 8 especially, but at least those sequences were a bit more inspired. i can't say how hard i think it is really because i power levelled every time i found asidequest i couldnt do, and i only played through the game once.... some of the hunts are pretty damn fiendish though. whereas others are fiendish for all the wrong reasons - i.e. it's almost impossible to locate some of them without repeatedly entering the same area for ages.... i didnt use a guide or the net at all so finding all of those was a massive pain. i dont know why i put myself through it sometimes, i really don't...

I thought the story in FF12 was a really good concept, I was getting a little sick of these emotional driven games where most of the drama is people crying and moaning over stuff. It was nice to see a political theme being pushed for a change.

The only real beef I have with the story was Vaan and Penelo, they were clearly added once the story had already been concived as they do literally nothing once it kicks off. I know they added them to appeal to the japanese market and maybe that had to be done, but still it would be nice to imagine it without them.

I always thought the plot would have been so much better if you started off as Bashe (no Wrex) fighting through the castle, with us fully seeing gabranth and knowing their backstory as a kick start to the game. The action would then switch to Ashe, her backstory explained from the war with arcadia and more focus on the rebels, hell they could even had her doing that whole sunstone thing at the beginning to get into the castle, she would be seperated and run into balthier and fran, and all is well, the story carries on as we know.

The only real beef I have with the story was Vaan and Penelo, they were clearly added once the story had already been concived as they do literally nothing once it kicks off. I know they added them to appeal to the japanese market and maybe that had to be done, but still it would be nice to imagine it without them.

Vaan is the perspective character, but that doesn't mean he has to be important to the plot. He's an outsider looking in; it mirrors the perspective of the player and makes exposition less awkward. It's similar to Tidus's role; because the perspective character knows nothing about the situation, other characters have reason to explain it. If we were playing as someone more involved, Ashe for example, the wouldn't be such an easy excuse to explain the motives and geography of the world; a well-educated princess who has been navigating political wastes for two years would already know all of that.

In response to the OP, nothing happens during this period because it's a long freaking way from Bur-Omisace to Archades. I guess maybe an alternative would have been for the party to sneak aboard an imperial airship, but there were already two sequences aboard airships and that would get extremely repetitive.

I didn't really mind that plot development was sparse during this period, but I did mind how Basch suddenly dropped out of the story in about the middle and stopped talking during the cutscenes. For somebody who was originally going to be the main character, he actually does very little.

So ... the development is shit. The game you didn't play all the way through? Snap.

Take it from someone who has played through this game: This game is packed to the hilt with things to do, see, explore, kill etc ... And that is just talking about the story. Ivalice is a massive world filled with things waiting to be found. If you feel the developers should spoon feed you throughout the game then maybe you should go play some of the earlier FFs.

All I can say is - thank GOD there wasn't a sappy love story this time around.

I put 64 hours into the game and didn't bother to finish the very end. I just cannot for the life of me find anything to like about FFXII. The character development did seem to actually come to a complete halt nearly halfway into the game and I found myself wondering what the hell they were even doing at times. I mean I know what the story was, I get that. But the characters you were following just seemed to quit evolving before the game even ends. I found myself not really caring what happened to them at times because they seemed like hollow walls to me. They all started out with fascinating stories and dreams but they didn't really go beyond that. For someone who loves FF1-10 you would think I'd like the 12th installment but that just isn't the case. I would even begin to rush through areas just to see what the next cut-scene in the game held and skip as many battles as I could only to be disappointed even further. Regardless though to each his own.

The problem is you have to play well into the second hundred hours to get key pieces of story, and even still the story is anemic.