Final Fantasy XII isn't terrible, but it was a huge disappointment. For the first half, the combat is basically automatic, but the story is cool. For the second half, the combat starts to get more interesting, but the story turns to shit and it introduces fetch quests. That may not seem weird, but in the first half of the game, FFXII makes fun of fetch quests, and avoids them... until the second half starts using some really LAME ones. (I heard the game switched directors halfway through, which is probably the reason for the sudden chance in attitude.)
Without spoilers:
* Each character has a dilemma. When that dilemma is resolved, the character becomes boring.
* One main character's inner conflict is resolved by a Deus Ex Machina character who is basically introduced just to make it easy for that conflict to be resolved. It's kind of like if Luke and Darth Vader were fighting in Return of the Jedi, and then Ramus Zebulas shows up and kills Darth Vader. Logical question: who is this Ramus Zebulas, and why is he interrupting an emotionally charged moment? .....that's kind of how it is in FFXII.
* There are things called Mist Combination attacks that make boss battles -- including late ones -- jokes. You just have to sit through 40 consecutive cinematic sequences to use them.
* You have to learn how to wear a hat.
* You also have to learn how to wear boots.
* ...and how to wear a shield.
* Gameplay-wise, the characters are all the same. By the end, you will be playing with six clones. They do NOT have unique abilities. They do NOT have strengths and talents above and beyond the others.
