Ranking The Final Fantasy Games: #9-7

7. Final Fantasy XII

We’re reaching the halfway mark in the series, and this is where it becomes difficult. Final Fantasy XII, for all intents and purposes, is a good Final Fantasy game. Its Active Dimension Battle system removed random encounters for the first time (in a non-MMO Final Fantasy game) and instead allowed players to engage or avoid enemies in dungeon areas. You also took control over one character’s actions at a time, allowing you to immerse yourself more into their story and gameplay.

Players strengthened their characters both through experience points and through the licence system, similar to the Sphere Grid in FFX. The game takes place in the world of Ivalice, the land that took precedence already in Final Fantasy Tactics. The party, consisting of commoners and royalty with the help of a sky pirate, fights against an unjust empire in a world with a partial steampunk feel, all of which is similar to that in Final Fantasy VI.

It could be argued that Final Fantasy XII borrowed many strong elements from previous FF games to create the end result. In my eyes, it is the last truly good Final Fantasy game in the series, but slightly falters than the best due to its structure of seemingly building a horse by committee. However this game, the same as any that remain in the list; I would recommend to anyone.

Next week I reveal the three games that JUST missed out of the Top 3 Final Fantasy titles in the series.

You can bug me about my rankings on Twitter! @ItsDanielGeorge