Final Fantasy 12may not be the bestFinal Fantasygame, but it does manage to do a few things better than any other entry in the series. Much of what made this game so good is how well it managed to implement optional content. It’s the type of game that encourages players to explore optional areas, seek out secret bosses, and scavenge the world for powerful weapons.
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While certain arguments can be made against it, it’s hard to deny how good this title is in its execution of certain aspects. It’s clear that more thought went into shaping particular parts of the game, and those parts serve to makeFinal Fantasy 12stand out from other entries in the series.
5Obtaining Secret Weapons
Much of what makesFinal Fantasy 12so great is all the optional content hidden throughout the game. As if this wasn’t exciting enough, much of the game’s optional content can be accessed quite early if the player is willing to pursue it. While the game doesn’t explicitly encourage players to stray from its given path, it is possible to obtain someextremely powerful weaponsif they do.
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Players can stumble upon some great weapons during theirFinal Fantasy 12playthrough if they opt to explore each area, but the best weapons in the game usually require a great deal of work to be obtained. For example, the most powerful bow in the game, the invisible Seitengrat, can only be obtained by opening an invisible chestaboard the Skyferry. Sadly, the chance of the chest it resides in spawning is incredibly low, and the chances of the chest containing the bow are even lower. Through RNG manipulation, however, it is possible to force it to spawn. Obtaining the best weapons in anyFinal Fantasygame can often become quite tedious, butFinal Fantasy 12ensures the process remains interesting and fun, no matter how players wish to obtain them.
4Extremely Rare Enemies
Upon entering an area in mostFinal Fantasygames, players can expect to encounter a set group of enemies. Normally, the enemies that appear in a particular area never change, but this isn’t the case inFinal Fantasy 12. Though it’s never explicitly stated, performing unique actions in certain areas will sometimes result in the spawning of aRare Game-type enemy, a monster that only appears under certain circumstances.
There areeighty rare monstersscattered throughoutFinal Fantasy 12, some of which are harder to spawn than others. It would be exceptionally difficult to seek these monsters out without the help of a guide, but it can be quite interesting to run into them naturally during a playthrough. Oftentimes, the player might not realize the foe they are fighting is a rare monster unless they are surprisingly strong, but their description can be found in the Bestiary once they have been defeated if they wish to check.
3Countless Optional Bosses
While the main story ofFinal Fantasy 12is jam-packed with challenging boss fights,the optional bossesprovide players with the greatest challenges the game has to offer. MostFinal Fantasytitles feature an optional boss or two, and while each game tends to design these foes quite well, an argument can be made in favor ofFinal Fantasy 12having the best boss fights in the series.
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Thanks tothe Gambit system, all enemy encounters can be prepared for in advance. While over-relying on Gambits can significantly decrease the difficulty of some of the game’s main story bosses, relying solely on Gambits for the game’s optional bosses doesn’t always guarantee victory. There are multiple secret bosses spread throughout the world of Ivalice, some of which can only be found by completing lengthy side quests. If said side quests weren’t already challenging enough, the battles unlocked by completing them are almost always guaranteed to provide an even greater challenge. It’s usually hard to randomly encounter an optional boss in aFinal Fantasytitle, butFinal Fantasy 12made sure it was difficult not to.
2Well-Hidden Secret Areas
While playing through the main story ofFinal Fantasy 12, the player will likely come across several inaccessible areas. Learning that these areas are locked can often be a bit of a let-down, but by the time they are unlocked, players will come to understand the reason why: The monsters lurking inside are usually incredibly strong.Final Fantasy 12is chock-full of areas that can only be unlocked by completing certain objectives, but most areas prove to be worth the effort required to open them.
The Great Crystal, the Henne Mines, the Lhusu Mines, the Salikawood, and The Pharos of Ridorana can all be explored during the main quest, but each of these locations harborsa few secret areas, some of which are home to secret enemies.Final Fantasy 12allows for some of the best exploration in anyFinal Fantasygame, especially if players wish to uncover all the game’s secrets. While some fans may prefer the exploration provided in other titles, it’s difficult to deny how engaging the secret areas in Ivalice can be.
1Interesting Hunts
Though severalFinal Fantasytitles give players the option to partake in Hunts, the best Hunts to appear in the series can only be found by playingFinal Fantasy 12. Upon accepting a Hunt in this entry, players will need to seek out the individual who posted the ad, interact with said character, and then follow the clues across Ivalice until they find the monster the Hunt is referring to.
What makes the Hunts in this title so great is the detail that goes into fleshing each Hunt out. Each monster is unique and often has a fascinating backstory regarding its origin and purpose. Depending on the monster’s history, each description will usually instill fear in those who read it, as some of the monsters are described as either terrifying or extremely powerful. This isn’t the case for each monster; however, some tend to evoke intrigue above all else. InFinal Fantasy 12,Vaan and his companionscan pursue a total of 45 Hunts, some of which are locked inside restricted areas. Partaking in Hunts also encourages players to explore Ivalice, which in turn can provide a great deal of enjoyment. ThoughFinal Fantasy 12isn’t the most popular game in the series, it’s hard to deny it does Hunts better than all the rest.
Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Ageis available on PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
