#final fantasy xii: the zodiac age

[balfiere]

I am as them, now. Am I not?

[reksigh]

i started ff12

[vgadvisor]

[mazoga-the-dork]

All roads lead to Rome, unless you're playing Final Fantasy XII, in which case all roads lead to the Zertinian Caverns

[arietisart]

At this time of the year I love to draw Balthier, so nothing.

[magicmalcolm]

Things ya boi likes: Physical Media.

[andromeda3116]

hnngh the three randomized-level archaeoaevises in zertinan caverns, my beloathed

[littlemisspinky]

sky pirates!

[amstyxj]

my childhood love (*ﾉωﾉ)

[balfiere]

[prancingnougat]

(Cheery) Games for Combating the Post Final Fantasy XVI Blues

After beating FFXVI, I got super down - not because I disliked the game, quite the opposite. I loved it so much that now the experience was over, I felt that all-too-familiar void, and I suspect that I'm not alone in that.

So I went back to play some of the more recently released games that I bought (from the past 5 years or so), a few of which I never beat. As much as I loved and appreciate 16 for everything it is, I really wanted something lighter in terms of themes. I figure this could be a decent list for people who might want another RPG-like experience. These are very different, however - I'm focusing on games that are available for purchase right now, and games that are a little on the brighter side, thematically. Your mileage will totally vary, but some of these are fun games that appealed to me and they might appeal to you too!

Bravely Default 2

Play me if you like: job systems, rewarding level grinding, sidequests galore

The original Bravely Default 1+2 are Nintendo 3DS classics that absolutely stand the test of time, but can be a little expensive/hard to find. BD2, on the other hand, is available on the Nintendo eShop and for PC. It is great if you're looking to get back to basics in regard to story and RPG mechanics - but that's not to say the gameplay is lacking. Far from it, BD2 has one of the most fun job systems I've ever encountered. The cast of characters is charming, the graphics are lovely, and I've found it relaxing after the intensity of FFXVI. Plus, all the job outfits are outright adorable (especially Beastmaster, my beloved)

Harvestella

Play me if you like: unexpectedly good stories, loads of character depth, farming simulation, light-but-fun action RPGs

If you liked FFXVI for its story, I think you might appreciate Harvestella's strange but wonderful sci-fi fantasy narrative/world. While it's much lighter on the action, and its job system isn't quite as involved as the Bravely Default series, it's still a completely unique experience that blends light farming sim elements with classic RPG fun. It's similarly relaxing as BD2 in the sense that you're encouraged to take it at your own pace and focus on your own favored play style. It completely took me by surprise with it's story, and I tend to be pretty picky about that sort of thing. It's also available on Switch and PC!

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin

Play me if you like: action sidescrollers, more in-depth farming elements, mythological settings

This is definitely one of the most unique games I've ever played, and while it's completely different from FFXVI, it can potentially serve as something of a palate cleanser after going through such a dark story. Sakuna has one of the most complex farming systems, one that is impacted by your exploration. It also helps determine your character's stats. You explore the wilderness as a little goddess who lives away from her celestial home, opting for the life of a common rice farmer. While the focus is on rice farming as opposed to many crops like other farming sims, it's a fun way of centering yourself in between your more wilder adventures. It's on Switch, PS4, and PC!

Rune Factory 4 Special

Play me if you like: much lighter humor, light crafting systems, loooong stories, farming and marriage mechanics

You can probably tell that I have a thing for action games with farming elements. RF4 is my favorite in the Rune Factory series, and though there's a newer title with RF5, I found myself consistently enjoying this one a lot more. It's a humorous story that knows when it hit the right beats with it's sincerity, all while being just the right amount of challenging in regards to the action, with its pacing also controlled by your own gameplay style. It's wildly different from FFXVI, but it's one of my go-to games for cheering myself up after something heavy. And now that it's available on multiple platforms, more people can enjoy it too!

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age

Play me if you like: strong ensemble casts, FFXVI's hunts, flexible job systems, MMO-style combat, challenging sidequests and superbosses

While this is easily the "darkest" game on this list, I still find its story very hopeful while balancing more serious themes. It is the culmination of everything good about Final Fantasy from the PS2 era; a long and interesting story that remains engaging throughout, phenomenal monster hunts that will push you to really engage with the job system, and satisfying sidequests with lots of loot. Plus, it's another Final Fantasy! I could suggest just about any game in the series, but since this one is a redone version that is now available on a ton of platforms, it's easily my biggest recommendation for anyone who wants a longer game in a similar vein as FFXVI.

Those are just a few games out there that might help itch some very specific scratches you've still got after playing 16. While I absolutely LOVE FFXVI's story - heaviness and all - I know I needed a big break before going and replaying it. Hopefully they bring someone as much cheer as they've brought me!

[sleepyserahxoxo]

Final Fantasy XII is the best Star Wars movie ever made.

[xsilversugar]

Final Fantasy 12 Stream and Archive

Getting ready to play some FF12 on my Twitch--please bear with my as my connection has been a tad unreliable lately. If drops happen they typically restore automatically. And/or you can catch past recorded episodes without these hiccups on my YouTube. Thanks~!

[mhelt096]

Does Final Fantasy XVI Earn its M-Rating?

I recently joined the writing team for Boss Rush Network, a website dedicated to all things video games and entertainment. For my first-ever banter piece, I talked about #Final Fantasy XVI's M-rating and whether or not the game earns it.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

[magicmalcolm]

The Master Sword this is not, clearly.

[andromeda3116]

sometimes i feel like my horror stories of getting in over my head due to hunt club rare game might be convincing people not to take on the sidequest until late in the game if at all, but tbh, much though i screech at accidentally running into avenger on my first go through the pharos without magic or coming across disma while i was overconfidently delving too greedily and too deep into the lhusu mines, i actually really enjoy taking it on as soon as it becomes available because like

it adds such a fun element of challenge and chaos to the rest of the game? i mean a lot of them require certain spawn conditions, but others are just like flat 40% chance and so you can just be going about your merry way and suddenly one of these zombies is crawling down your throat and tearing it out through your asshole and you're just like FUCK

and then you have to adapt on-the-fly to a situation you were COMPLETELY unprepared for and either evolve or die (or frantically run from the stage whilst weeping in a phoenix down relay) and that makes it fun!

being able to win or at least survive a near-total wipe against an enemy that was WAY harder than everything else around it and which you were not at all expecting to come across is so satisfying and makes it feel like you're actually good at the game rather than good at breaking the rng or whatever to get the secret overpowered superweapons and shit

anyway i believe that all but first-time players should absolutely pick up the phon coast hunt club sidequest as soon as it becomes available to test themselves and their mastery of the game