True of False? Lack of any character development? Lack of any plot twists?

[Daemos]

So, hopefully I'm not breaking any rules...

I just finished beating Tales of the Abyss (I picked this up the same day I got FFXII, but since I really enjoy Tales games more, and the art style, I ended up playing it first) Now I'm VERY tempted to play through it again (all almost 100 hours of it) because from within 15 min the game grabbed me, the characters are all very memorable, the story was pretty good (I thought) and it was just very fun, I kept playing because I wanted to know more about the characters. That and additional things open up during the 2nd game play...but 100 hours could be used better (like homework...and studying for finals...)

Now my fav FF games are 6, 10, 9 and 8. I've played every other FF to date. (cept for XI and XII) I really liked them because not only was the story pretty good (although some were kinda predictable) but what made me go on and keep playing was I wanted to find out more about the characters (all the characters are memorable) and more about what will happen on with the story.

But I've been reading alot of reviews...saying there is almost no character development, and the story is just straight foward, and often times you don't even know the exact cause of the character's motivation, basically you just end up not caring about the characters.

So I'm just wondering if I'd enjoy playing FFXII, which I'll probally play after Zelda: TP on the wii, but I'd rather not play it (for now) and play something else if the characters are really that bad.

As you can tell I really like things that are gripping, I don't really like playing games just to play I guess, I need to be involved, cept for FPS or side scrollers those are just for mindless fun which I can put down at anytime. But my expectations out of an RPG should have a good gripping story and a strong cast of characters. A strong cast of chracters meaning they are memorable, and you know you want to get to know them. I mean in FFX I was sad at the ending, and the only reason I played FFX-2 (although everythign else was HORRIBLE about the game) was because I wanted to see if there really WOULD be a happy ending (ie characters gripping me enough to get me through crappy game play)

I'm already 100% sure I'll love the battle system, as it seems very similar to the Tales series battle system (ie real time fighting) and that is always ftw

It's the story and character development I'm worried about.

Does FFXII have this problem or not? I'm trying to get a wider range of opinons than just nits and picks of reviews I read off the internet.

 

[Stryfe]

You might say that it does, while others say it might not. For me, it does. Once I started playing the game, I have been captivated by the background of each. Each are revealed throughout the story with some damn good cut scenes. Sure, the game is straight forward to some aspect, but there are twist and turns that made me wonder from the start. There is one major thing which is when you begin to play. This scene is set for Vaan, for it was his brother. Etc.

Anyways, there are somethings that you really wouldn't have guessed it. Ashe is a princess that you may never have seen acted that way before. I personally love they revealed that. Others are the same way.

Well, I'd attempt to handle it if I were you. As I stated, it is straight forward, but Enix does really well at character development.

 

[Garnet]

Though the plot may be said to be a tad straight-forward, FFXII none the less really did capture and hold my interest. The character development was very good in my opinion. I found myself looking forward to advancing in the game and finding out more about my main characters.

I haven't played the other game you are talking about, so I can't really draw a comparison there.

However, I would say that the majority of feedback for XII has been positive, so give it a go!

 

[Lassic]

In my opinion the story and character development were not Final Fantasy quality. The story line was somewhat straight forward, there are a few plot twists but nothing as big as the ones in FFX. Also the music for the game in my opinion was disappointing.

It's still a great game but just not what I was expecting after all of the hype that it received.

 

[yessie4200]

Hey i dont think the story changes in anyways if you do thigns differently or not. and this game was hype up cause its been a while seens a FF came out. i never got into FFXI cause it was online and didnt want to spend too much time playing it.

 

[Mello]

Well, I really enjoy playing the game, but I must admit the story really goes downhill after about 1/3 into it. There's very little character development and I can't help but wonder why Vaan is the main character and why Penelo is even in it. At one point Penelo tells Vaan he's changed, yet you don't even know him well enough to notice the change.

Like I said, though, I do find the game a lot of fun to play and like the faster process of the new battle system. The graphics are gorgeous and the character style is really appealing. Balthier and Fran's characters are enough to keep me interested, though I'm still often wondering why I'm going to certain places and what exactly is going on. The story certainly isn't "memorable". I didn't like FFX's story or characters, but I still enjoyed playing it. *shrug* I guess you just have to try it out and see for yourself.

 

[Ω Xenogias Ω]

Let me try and put it the best way I can... i've said this to many people in other forums, but im getting tired of typing the same thing down again, so hopefully this would be the last time.

This is my opinion (and im taking some key points based on the developers of the game after watching the interviews on the DVD that came with collectors edition).

The game shouldn't be what you expected from the trailers. "I wanna be a sky pirate" ahhh wrong thats not the plot. In fact its got no where near anything to do with the plot. I beleive Square Enix tried to tell this story using a diffrent method, instead of direct approach.

Your lead to beleive that the main character is Vaan, when in fact the story has more to do with Ashe, Basch & Balthier and little to do with the rest. This is a story to be told through the eyes of a support character (afterall Balthier is the leading man, as he states numerous times in the game). The characters all have a strong back story, which imo gives them reason enough to be there. Vaan isn't in the story because he wants to be a fricken sky pirate.

Balthier is the one that leads the party and sets on correcting things.

The only character in the party that really has nothing to do with the plot is Penelo, But then again she's not the only Final Fantasy character to be in the party just to be in the party. You can say she wants to stick around to take care of Vaan or look after him.

I wish I could get into spoilers but I dont want to ruin the game for anyone that hasn't played more than 2hrs of it =/