Trending

Square Enix 'Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age' Arrives On PS4 In 2017

By

Ten years after the release of Final Fantasy XII, Square Enix is bringing an updated version of the game to the PlayStation 4 along with a new title. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is set to release sometime in 2017.

In addition to the usual audio and visual upgrades, the game features the so-called “Zodiac Job System,” which was originally included in Final Fantasy XII: International Job System, a version of the game that was released in Japan only. The feature focused on the game’s License Board, the system used for characters to gain skills and stat bonuses. Instead of a single License Board from the original game, the Zodiac Job System had twelve different License Boards, with each one corresponding to a different “Job,” or role, in the team. This included specializations in katanas, archery or magic.

Other new features to the PlayStation 4 version of the game include the option to switch between the original and remastered soundtrack, a new trial mode for players to fight enemies and monsters in “100 consecutive battles,” and support for PlayStation trophies, sharing functions, such as a screenshots or gameplay videos, auto-saves and shortened loading times.

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age joins a long list of other classic Final Fantasy titles that made their way to modern platforms such as the PS4 or PC. Three years ago, Square Enix released Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster for the PS4, PS3 and PS Vita. Last month, the same game was brought to the PC via Steam just one month after another Final Fantasy title, Final Fantasy IX, was also released on Steam. At the moment, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is coming to the PS4, but it could also follow the route of other titles in the series with a PC version in the future. Fans can get their first look at the game at E3 next week.

NameFinal Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
TypeRPG
DeveloperSquare Enix
PublisherSquare Enix
Release Date2017
PlatformsPlayStation 4
Where To BuySquare Enix Online Store

Follow Rexly Peñaflorida II @Heirdeux. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

Topics
Gaming
8 Comments Comment from the forums
  • nycalex 06 June 2016 18:14
    release, after release, after re-release........

    square ain't what it used to be.

    should really finish up xenogears properly and release that in HD instead.

    a sequel to final fantasy tactics would do wonders as well.

    Reply
  • DrakeFS 06 June 2016 19:21
    Once it is released on the PC, then wake me up...
    Reply
  • Kimonajane 06 June 2016 19:22
    FF XII was my favorite I just hope they didn't change the combat system and the gambits to customize the AI is there too.
    Reply
  • beshonk 06 June 2016 21:27
    Yeah, Xenogears should really be done properly. Including bringing back that combat system. Seems like they're skipping the 'active turn based' style of Xenogears and going straight to action RPG, and I think that's a mistake. Xenogears had the best combat system out of any JRPG i've ever played, followed closely by Chrono Trigger.
    Reply
  • Vosgy 06 June 2016 22:42
    Yeah, Xenogears should really be done properly. Including bringing back that combat system. Seems like they're skipping the 'active turn based' style of Xenogears and going straight to action RPG, and I think that's a mistake. Xenogears had the best combat system out of any JRPG i've ever played, followed closely by Chrono Trigger.
    You must have never played Grandia 2 then, it's on Steam go check it out, lots of people think it is the best RPG combat system to ever exist myself included.
    Reply
  • CaedenV 07 June 2016 11:16
    I absolutely hated XII. Once you had the right gambit setup you could literally walk through the game just pausing for the occasional battle. It made things so boring.
    Conversely, if you did not do almost every single side mission, then you could not level up enough to get through early parts of the story.
    Plus, the graphics were awful! Everything was rendered in little blocks that rarely lined up together properly, and it was painful to look at. Granted, it was on the PS2, so it is somewhat surprising that it worked at all. Should have been a PS3 title.

    But, if they fix the rendering engine, re-balance the early game play, and make gambits more interesting and involving, then I might give it another shot when it eventually comes out on PC. At least they had a somewhat interesting story and world to explore... just need to fix the 'game' part of the game.
    Reply
  • RedJaron 07 June 2016 18:35
    I'm inclined to agree. I didn't know about the different rendering, I thought the different art style is what made it look that way. And I agree, the early battles were horribly tough. Coming from FFX ( that was a fantastic combat system ) meant a very steep learning curve. I was always struggling with money to buy the licenses and couldn't get things ticking along well.
    Reply
  • Vosgy 08 June 2016 22:48
    18084247 said:
    I'm inclined to agree. I didn't know about the different rendering, I thought the different art style is what made it look that way. And I agree, the early battles were horribly tough. Coming from FFX ( that was a fantastic combat system ) meant a very steep learning curve. I was always struggling with money to buy the licenses and couldn't get things ticking along well.
    I personally found X's system to be boring, it made the game far too easy as it gave too perfect knowledge on turn order.

    Now as for Gambits making the game too easy, you can literally not use them and then you have to issue every order in the game making it more like the older titles. It is really just there for more options, and to make grinding easy :P
    Reply