Since the game has been out for a while now, I feel it's a good time to write a Final Fantasy XII review now that everyone has had time to get a full perspective of the game, and to play it through thoroughly. Most reviews are written around the release date; when the game has been rushed through or barely played. While these are a useful judge of the initial look and feel of the game, you receive very little real information about the replay value of the lasting appeal of a game. In a Final Fantasy XII review, these are two of the most important aspects (along with the gameplay). This review is perfect for anyone who has yet to play the game, or who has dabbled in playing it and never finished.

One of the main questions that we must also ask is "how does the game live up to today's standards?" as Final Fantasy XII was released on the PlayStation 2, and we are now on the PlayStation 3. Graphically, the game is slightly inferior to most PS3 games, but every Final Fantasy XII review will tell you that it hits the very pinnacle of PS2 graphics, while most current PS3 games haven't explored the full potential available to them, so the difference isn't as great as you might think.

In addition to great, smooth textures and a fully living, breathing world, the game employs a great musical score once again. Final Fantasy games are famous for their music, and despite not being composed by the now-legendary Nobou Uematsu, the game's music manages to capture the spirit of the game wonderfully.

The game is set in a neo-medieval world, and the first thing you'll notice is how different the gameplay is. In fact, this game could have quite easily been released under a different name, and nobody would have accused them of copying Square Enix - that's how different this game is to the previous efforts. The main difference is the lack of a world map that ties everything together. The battle system is also drastically different, and random battles are a thing of the past.

Overall, this game has stood the test of time very well so far, and is well worth playing if you haven't done so already.

9/10