So much to do, or so little?

[Warbsywoo]

Is it just me or did anyone else think that this game had a lot of non-plot related things that can keep you playing for hours? I mean, Enix did away with the whole card thing, eliminated the Chocobo quests (though you can still get to hidden areas), but in the meantime deployed Hunts as the main source of non-plot entertaiment. xD

There's also those little side-tracks you could get into, most of which I'm sure leads to some surprise or other, such as finding espers and rare weapons.

In short, I think the side-tracks/quests balance out the plot a lot in this game.

Opinions?

 

[Cactuar]

Yes the main thing that makes me comeback to this game is my goal to defeat Yiazmat, but of course to do that i have to make some uber equipment, but before that i would have to defeat all the marks to get more rare items....it took me about 5-7 hours of gameplay just to get the Tournesol, one of the more snazzy weapons.....

If it wasn't for the weapon making system, or even the mark hunting side quest (which is really enjoyable), this game would still be the longest FF in my opinion, you are forced to do a lot of training to defeat some of the more trickier bosses...

I think overall SE tried to make FF XII similar to an online MMORPG, without the online element, the fact that for once you can see your enemies walking around is a part of that, same goes to for the mark hunting.

Of course, if a decent Chocobo side quest was also thrown in, or even a card game of somekind, it would make the game a more complete FF title, it would also provide something different, other than the constant fighting.....

The non stop fighting is also addictive IMO, because of the chain system, making the game even more rewarding to play, more so than maybe other FF titles......i've already clocked about 150 hours.....i completed it at about 120....i dunno... im planning to get 99% of the game complete at about 200 hours (that other 1% being the first Zodiac Spear that i've missed!).

 

[Warbsywoo]

Agreed with all of the above.

Also, I thought that Square-Enix, by putting in all this other stuff like Hunting Marks and all that other jazz, aimed to balance out the whole plot, or rather, mask the lackings of the plot by those constant battles that are pretty darn addictive. xD
Needless to say, it doesn't seem like it's working.

 

[Cactuar]

Hmmm, it depends how you look at the game, i see it as just a fun game, perhaps not a true FF, maybe just a spin off....but really enjoyable nonetheless.....

And i agree that the plot was rather weak and confused at times...as for SE trying to cover it up by putting in lenghty siequests? i don't know, wouldn't they just start over, if they knew that the story was so mediocre.
I don't have that much experience with SE games, only other SE FF that i've played was FFX-2, which in itself was just one big sidequest, with a story onlu bearable to pay attention to, (i think that in FF X-2 you could skip cutscenes......), not to metion sacreligious toward the original FFX story.

I don't know if thats SE's fault or not, even if its the same thing as Squaresoft.

But yes, the story in FFXII was a huge let down for me, although in all fairness it wasn't that bad, however compared to the standards set by previous FF titles...well....
The atmosphere was more dissapointing, but the amount of good gameplay did balance it out for me.

 

[BustaMo]

I loved everything that kept me busy in FXII. Sometimes you just need that break from the story line to just "game". Hunts, capturing rare creatures, etc, all to get your mind a bit relaxed from the problem at hand, build up your skills, and increase your inventory and arsenal of weapons and skills.

 

[Warbsywoo]

I've never heard of this capturing rare creatures part.
What exactly do you need to do to be able to capture one, and when captured, what do you do with it?

EDIT: Does it have something to do with that number right next to the monster name in the Bestiary?

 

[BustaMo]

By capturing I meant just defeating them and gaining their trophies from them as drops. Once you defeat one of them, they become part of your bestiary, you get the trophy, and then you never run into them again on the battle fields.

Sorry. Maybe capturing was the wrong word to use.

 

[Danjuro]

I really enjoyed the Hunts in this game. It's just addicting to find a rare monster and try to hunt it down. The weapon-creating system is also addicting because you really need to put a lot of effort in creating the best weapons.

The plot was average but I still enjoyed it. As for the rare monsters, I still haven't attempted that yet. I know I will have much fun killing those rare monsters.

 

[Warbsywoo]

By capturing I meant just defeating them and gaining their trophies from them as drops. Once you defeat one of them, they become part of your bestiary, you get the trophy, and then you never run into them again on the battle fields.

Sorry. Maybe capturing was the wrong word to use.

That's good info. I had no idea that that could even happen. I'm gonna go try it the next time I go, go a-huntin' for them rare creatures.

 

[Rockman X]

Also, I thought that Square-Enix, by putting in all this other stuff like Hunting Marks and all that other jazz, aimed to balance out the whole plot, or rather, mask the lackings of the plot by those constant battles that are pretty darn addictive. xD

I pointed that out in the "Dislike this game" thread and everyone yelled at me ;

I totally agree with you. There's SOOO much to do in this game, clan hunts to quests hunting down optional bosses and the fishing game and all sorts of random little things, thats what makes the game so insanely long, not the story. I'm at 83 hours now, and i havent even gotten through the Sochen Cave Palace yet (and my highest character is only lvl 41....)

I think the massive amount of side stuff is what makes this game like an MMORPG, not the battle system. Very small, shallow story with poorly developed main characters but tons of stuff to do just reminds me an awful lot of MMORPGs.

 

[F. F. Fan]

Yes, it did… I won’t complain though, especially since I love sidequest. I thoroughly enjoyed the Marks and Clan Hunts. I’d have to say my favorite quest would be obtaining Zodiac Spear…

Anyway, I would have to agree, the amount of Sidequests, Hunts and Marks were well balanced. Unfortunately, I completed the storyline then finished all of the extra non-plot related quests later on.