A very different kind of fantasy, a very different kind of masterpiece
PRESENTATION
Many of us don't even play the FF games for the gameplay or for the rush of adrenaline; many of us play merely for the story. FFXII is no exception in powerful plot. Square-Enix did a lot of brainstorming when it came to the script of this game, making the world as politically realistic as they could, which is handled unbelievably well. But almost too much focus is put into the actual plot and not enough into the characters. Quite a bit of the problem has to do with some of the voice actors chosen. Each of them suffers in a way from lack of emotion, or rather, they're voices continue to use the same tone, which is sometimes inappropriate to the situation being presented. Though it doesn't necessarily bother you, the voice acting and storytelling doesn't sweep you off your feet either. But if you manage to look past the voice acting and at the situations you're immersed in (which I believe was the goal), then you'll find much to love.
OVERALL..........9/10
MUSIC
Again, many of us play Final Fantasy not because it's a game but because it is an experience. The FF series has always been noted as one of the best when it comes to music, but FFXII doesn't quite hit the legendary mark that previous installments have. But how could it? It's pretty difficult to write a piece of music that, if it has to, could still sound fresh and not annoying after nearly 2 hours in the same screen area. And trust me, there are times when it happens. But just because it isn't legendary doesn't mean it isn't good. It's great. It isn't annoying, and actually provides the right tone at times (which helps cancel out the voice actors). So, there's a bit to praise, but not a lot to complain about.
OVERALL............8/10
GRAPHICS
So, all of us know Square-Enix is renowned for having visually impressive games. FFXII is impressive, but not because the graphics are astounding. Actually, if you were to study each individual pixel, FFX's graphics are more impressive than this installment. But it's the vast environment and the articulate detail to which the graphics are applied. Whether it's the characters hair or clothing, majestic temples, savage beasts, colors of ale, or various colors of stone about a city, FFXII remains balanced in all areas as far as graphics go. And the CG is remarkable, but, yet again, not as flooring as previous installations.
OVERALL............9/10
GAMEPLAY
All right then. The biggie. All of us were afraid what Square-Enix would create when they announced they were moving from random battle encounters to real-time, but worry no more. Getting used to the system takes some time, but not as much time as the game tries to give you. Initially, you might seem turned off by the prospect since the game starts you off in the most infantile stages, but when you get to the point when you have 10 or so gambits to worry about and have to worry about their priorities in the battle and what your enemies are going to do, then things become not only very difficult, but quite fun. It takes some time, but once you get the system up-and-running, it's like nothing you've ever played.
However, there is one flaw in the new system and it's probably the biggest flaw in the entire game. Because the game is so open-ended and because the battle system is so vast, the game fails to give you a definitive sense of direction. As you get going, you worry yourself away that you aren't certain of what you're doing or if what you're doing is correct or will bite you in the ass come soon. But as you familiarize yourself with the license board and the real-time combat, you start to forget your worries.
OVERALL.........9.5/10
VALUE/TILT/REPLAYABILITY/LENGTH
This, again, is where FFXII really shines. This game is huge! If you're into games like the Elder Scrolls series, you will seriously dig FFXII. The main storyline is said to take you around 70 hours as long as you don't stray too far from the path, and that's about where I ended up. Dungeons are massive, enemies are plentiful, and the difficulty is pristine. And better yet, if you can manage to get past Vaan and Vayne, there are hardly any metro characters in this entire game. It keeps you hooked even after you're done. Looking at what I still have to do and what I could still do, I could easily tack on another 20-50 hours. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's like nothing you've ever played.
OVERALL.......9.75/10
Ultimately, FFXII is not for those with weak stomachs. Even fans of the series from previous installments will be turned off by FFXII, but if you stick with it, you will come to love this game. Though it may bear the title of Final Fantasy, this RPG is unlike any you've ever seen. It takes some getting used to, but by the time you're done you won't find it hard to call this game a 'masterpiece.'