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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 make Final Fantasy 12stand out from other entries in the series.
5 Obtaining Secret Weapons
Much of what makes Final Fantasy 12 so 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 some extremely powerful weapons if they do.
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Players can stumble upon some great weapons during their Final Fantasy 12 playthrough 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 chest aboard 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 any Final Fantasy game can often become quite tedious, but Final Fantasy 12 ensures the process remains interesting and fun, no matter how players wish to obtain them.
4 Extremely Rare Enemies
Upon entering an area in most Final Fantasy games, 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 in Final Fantasy 12. Though it’s never explicitly stated, performing unique actions in certain areas will sometimes result in the spawning of a Rare Game-type enemy, a monster that only appears under certain circumstances.
There are eighty rare monsters scattered throughout Final 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.
3 Countless Optional Bosses
While the main story of Final Fantasy 12 is jam-packed with challenging boss fights, the optional bosses provide players with the greatest challenges the game has to offer. Most Final Fantasy titles feature an optional boss or two, and while each game tends to design these foes quite well, an argument can be made in favor of Final Fantasy 12 having the best boss fights in the series.
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Thanks to the 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 a Final Fantasy title, but Final Fantasy 12 made sure it was difficult not to.
2 Well-Hidden Secret Areas
While playing through the main story of Final 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 12 is 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 harbors a few secret areas, some of which are home to secret enemies. Final Fantasy 12 allows for some of the best exploration in any Final Fantasy game, 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.
1 Interesting Hunts
Though several Final Fantasy titles give players the option to partake in Hunts, the best Hunts to appear in the series can only be found by playing Final 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. In Final Fantasy 12, Vaan and his companions can 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. Though Final Fantasy 12 isn’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 Age is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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