It’s been over ten years since Final Fantasy XII hit our PlayStation 2 consoles, and now fans of the legendary series can enjoy it once more in a high-definition remastered version on PlayStation 4 dubbed Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age.
Anyone who played FFXII back in 2006 will no doubt want to know what changes have come to their beloved title. As the name suggests, The Zodiac Age is a remastered version based on the limited release of Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System – a Japanese version of FFXII that was never released overseas.
Crisper Sounds With More Options
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age will boast some impressive sound enhancements over its initial release. Included in this remastered version is support for 7.1 channel surround sound, allowing you to take full advantage of the DTS Headphone:X 7.1 Surround Sound technology in the Turtle Beach Elite 800 and Elite 800X and completely immerse yourself once more in this glorious universe.
There are other astounding sound improvements coming to the title in the form of English and Japanese voiceovers, and it’s up to you what version you want to hear – simply switch between them in the game configuration! The original BGMs will be included, as well as newly re-recorded tracks, so you’ll be able to pick which version you want to hear at any given time.
More Pixels for Your Visuals
It’s always assumed that a remastered version will come with updated visuals, so rest assured that Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age will come replete with all manner of visuals feasts. Everything is getting a visual overhaul, including the backgrounds and skyboxes, the character models, and even the 2D elements like the fonts! Fonts are so easy to overlook, but without crisp and clear fonts, you won’t be able to gauge your power!
Even the cutscenes will be getting a high resolution upgrade, taking them from 2006 PS2 graphics – which weren’t too shabby to begin with – to incredible 2017 graphics. We can’t wait to see how it looks running on our PS4 hardware.
New User-Friendly Changes
“User-friendly” doesn’t always mean “easy”, and in the case of Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, it actually relates to changes that make the game feel better. If you love faster load times and auto-saves, you’re in for a treat, as FFXII: The Zodiac Age includes both of these features – no more long waits between areas and no more cries of anguish if you forget to save for an hour and lose your progress!
There is also a map overlayed onto the screen, making it easier for you to figure out where you need to go. It’s always frustrating having to dig through a menu just to look at a map to work out whether you need to go left or right.
Fresh Game Modes
In an interview with Polygon, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age producer Hiroaki Kato went into a bit of detail about the new release and the game modes being included. Speaking about the challenges of Final Fantasy 12, Hiroaki Kato talked about how the changes to combat added a new layer of difficulty for the player. Instead of enemies surprising players, they could be seen wandering the fields. To address these challenges, the team made the game balance more in-line with that of a classic Final Fantasy game. However, for those looking for the added challenge, FFXII: The Zodiac Age will include a Trial Mode, a separate mode where you can load up your party and play through 100 battles of increasing ferocity. Definitely not for the faint of heart!
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is available now and fans around the world are racing to get their hands on this version of an old favorite. Will you be adding Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age to your FF collection?
