Eighty Minutes of FFXII Goodness

We've got 80 minutes of pure bliss ahead for Final Fantasy fans with our exclusive gameplay videos. We've separated the videos into those containing spoilers and those not. We're starting with non-spoilers - proceed beyond there at your peril!

This is the full length verison of the article. This is damn long. It includes full descriptions and translations of what is on screen, plus a more in-depth look at how the game plays.

If you want a shorter version of this article that'll give you quicker, easier access to the gameplay videos with less scrolling, Click here to go to the short-length article.

Alternatively, you can continue on here. Click the underlined name of the video to download the movie. Some browsers may require you to Right Click > Save File As...

----------------------
NO SPOILERS HERE
----------------------

Salikawood

Sabori Mogri:
"Bye bye kupo~! Only four more Mogs left, kupo!"
This is part of a quest to find all 9 worker moogles on their break, and make them finish repairing the gate to the next area, out of Salikawood. Right now, it says I've persuaded 5 of the 9 moogles to go back to work.

Right now, you can see Vaan (the guy that's always in the front), Balthier, and Penelo (the blond girl). Their current health is listed on the right in that order. All of them have a blue hexagon over their head, which means Protect is cast on them. It usually doesn't last this long, but they have a special armor that keeps them with that status. That sound means you're near a save crystal, and you can just barely see it on the side. A string of blue dots show that you're entering a new area, and the transitions are pretty smooth.

Here, I've automatically targeted a sleeping Pumpkinhead monster, as you can see by the blue target line. As soon as its red health bar is visible, it is within attacking range. The bar next to Vaan's name has show up, and its meter is filling up to the "Attack" command, which it says above the meter. When it fills up all the way, you can see ACTION show up in English, and everyone makes fighting sounds. After the second one dies, you can see that it drops a bag of spoils for you to keep. Another Pumpkinhead is trying to cast silence on me, but is failing.

Then, I hit O and open up the battle menu. You can see, briefly, that the available menus are: Attack, Magic/Skills, Mistcart, Gambit (ON), and Item. I pick Attack, which brings me up a list of targets, and automatically takes me to the monster I've already targeted, Pumpkinhead B. Since that's whom I want to target, I exit out of the menu with X twice. Then I hit START to open the main menu. There's Battle Member, Status, Equipment, License, Gambit, World Map, Item List, Clan Report, and Config on the left. On the right, you can see Vaan, Balthier, Fran, Basch, Ashe, and Penelo. On the bottom is gil, steps, and time played. First, I pick Battle Member, then Config.

Config:
Battle
Waiting Mode/Active Mode
Battle Speed (slow to fast meter)
Target Line (on/off)
Cursor position (remember/forget)

System
Controller Vibration, Screen Vibration, Anti-Aliasing, Sound(mono/stereo)

Then I go to Clan Report. There's Mob List (bounties), Hunter's Catalog, Pirate's Hideaway(special records), and Adventure Hints. On the bottom, there's clan rank and clan points.

I go through the Hunter's Catalog, and scroll through the different monsters in different sections. The first I stop on is a Lizard, which is of the Toad type, and there's a bio on the right. Then I pick Grey Golem, of the type Golem. Then I go in the Boss section, and pick Tiamat, obviously a dragon.

Vaan tries to move on to the next section, but you can see that a red arrow still points him to the Pumpkinhead B. I briefly pass by a friendly rabbit, that can cure me. Now, I walk by a friendly Cockatrice. You can see its green health bar. Its dot on the mini-map in the top right is still red, though, indistinguishable from enemy monsters.

Stillshrine of Miriam (121mb)

Vaan, Ashe, and Penelo in the party. They battle a Redmouse inside and then warp to a new area. They pass by two Hill Gigas and go towards a purple Dark Mare.

Once inside, you see the first glimpse of Mattheus, and switch the party to Vaan, Balthier, and Fran. Then I use the License Grid to get everyone Mist Knacks and put the best armor and hats on my party. Mattheus casts reflect on himself, and he has five ice minions that cast blizzard. Vaan casts the Mist Knack, Red Spiral. Balthier doesn't have enough MP for his Mist Knack, but Fran has enough for hers. Fran goes first, and starts attacking Mattheus, and then I hit the Triangle button to add Vaan in.

The ice minions are resistant to Vaan's sword. Vaan and Fran use ethers on themselves. Balthier is asleep. Mattheus casts Slow on Vaan. I change the weapon on Vaan so the ice minions aren't resistant anymore, but it turns out they still are, the jerks. Vaan gets the license to use Thundara. Fran dies. Vaan casts Thundara some more, then falls asleep.

Battling a Eibisu Emperor (8.4mb)

Vaan automatically starts attacking it as you get close. Ashe's gambit makes her cast Curada on Vaan. Eibisu Emperor casts protect on himself. There an Ice Element monster in the background that is friendly, but if you accidentally provoke it, it will freak out and kill you. The item the Eibisu Emperor dropped was an ice stone.

Garamsythe Waterway (38mb)

:) Vaan:
If you enter into here, you might not be able to exit...
-> Enter here
-> Quit

Fireworks, and then Fran (the female Viera in front) and Balthier come riding on a badass airbike.

!! Treasure Point appears over Vaan's head. You have received the Rabanastre map!

!! Save Crystal.
Here, you can save.
-> Yes
-> No
Before clearing the area, you cannot leave it. Saving in a separate file would be a good idea.
Save
-> Slot 1
-> Slot 2
Exiting out of the save menu. Continue? Y/N

Royal Soldier: All of the temporary help have arrived, is that right? We're going to have you clean up after the party. Please wait here until the reception is over. Do not go upstairs until permission is given. Those who disobey will be punished. The wait shouldn't be too much longer.

Soldier: Until we give permission, wait here.
Orange Seeq: ...What are you doing? You want to go upstairs?
Orange Seeq: You tried to go upstairs, eh? Are you hungry? Thinking you'll sneak yourself into the banquet, huh? Don't try and hide it. In fact, I'll help you. Press the SQUARE BUTTON to call the soldier. When I'm talking to him sneak up the stairs. Don't let the guard see you.

Vaan's voice: "Come here and listen a bit"

Orange Seeq: Okay, now! Go!

Vaan: "The crest craves sunlight and reveals the hidden path." So, I have to find the crest and use the sun's power to lead the way. No problem. [Vaan received a crest stone from Dalan, and is trying to use it to break into the Royal Palace's treasure chamber.]

On the right, there is a "Yell" button, which Vaan will try to use to call the soliders over, like before.

The opening sequence of the game (23.3mb)

Bhujerba Airship Terminal
The map is opened with SELECT. You can see the yellow and blue save crystals, the inn, the armory, the weapons shop, the item shop, the magic shop, the gambits shop, and the clan house. The red X marks your destination. The blue area marks a transition to a new area. IN shows that you're currently inside the terminal. People with smiley faces over their head can be spoken to, and the noise indicates that you're passing one.

Bhujerban guard
Here, you can go see proceed on, but you might not be able to continue or come back for a while.
-> Meet Ondore
-> Quit
Okay, you can go through.

Tiamat
Murin, in a trance, wanders off behind Tiamat. The battle begins. Vaan, Basch, Ashe, and Larsa are in the battle. Basch has Silence cast on him, as part of an equipment that makes him stronger. Everyone has Shell on them. Larsa's gambit means constant Hi-Potions.

----------------------
HERE BE SPOILERS -- CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK
----------------------

Secret Passage (76.6mb)

!!Bright Light
Use it and see what happens?
->Proceed
->Quit
Vaan: So I could open the secret door. Now, about that treasure...? Hey, why did the door shut?! I might have to go ahead, then.

!Switch
There's a small switch.
-> Pull it and see what happens.
->Don't do anything.
Behind you, there's a sound outside.
!Passage
There seems to be a passage here.
-> Search for it.
-> Don't do anything.

Vaan's voice: "I did it.. I did it..."

Balthier: It was hard getting in.
Vaan: You are...?
Balthier: This story's hero.
Balthier: Fran, magicite.
Fran: Boy, give it to me.
Vaan: What? This is my object.
Balthier: And if I steal it from you, it's mine.
[Voices yelling outside]
Balthier: He left.
[At the statue]
Fran: The Heartless Goddess, isn't it?
Balthier: Seems to be lucky.

You have received The Heartless Goddess' Magicite
Vaan: Who are those people?
[You see a glimpse of Ashe, holding a sword. Balthier comes out.]
Balthier: Ifrit? That seems a little unnecessary. Their preparations must have been a little too careful. The Empire was waiting for them.
Balthier: Ah, you over there, wait! [Fran blocks him with the bike] Sa, boy!
Balthier: You've lost; give it to me!
[Balthier sees the spotlight shine on him briefly]
Balthier's voice: Crap!
Soldiers: There's also some here!
Balthier: Go, Fran!
[They fall onto the bike]
Balthier: Avoid struggling.
[Bike begins to lose altitude]
Balthier: What's wrong with this? Fran!
Fran: I don't know. It's not responding.
Balthier: What now..
[Crash]
Fran: What has awoken?
Fran: Something happened. The floating power fell...actually, it disappeared.
Balthier: Don't worry about it. Even if we had gotten airborne we would've just gotten ourselves mixed up with that battleship, Ifrit. Well, I guess we're on foot from here. *
Balthier: What, thief, you've never seen a Viera?
Vaan: I'm Vaan.
Vaan's voice: "It's okay, nevermind."
*Balthier: Viera and Hume partners are quite rare actually.
Fran: About as rare as sky pirates who have to run away underground.
Vaan: Sky pirates? You're sky pirates? So you're...
Balthier: I'm Balthier. That okay, thie-- Vaan? If you're going to return home you'll have to listen to me. Me, Fran, and you.. the three of us are going together now. Understood?
Vaan: I'm not giving it over.
Balthier: Stubborn..
Balthier and Fran join your party!

On the terminal to Bhujerba and the Lhusu Mines (35.6mb)

Balthier: Okay, we're going to the Bhujerba and the Lhusu Mines. Let's rescue your friend.
Balthier: It's the Strahl. A nice ship.
Vaan: It's incredible. Truly sky pirates!
Balthier: You could buy your own ship with the price on my head.
Balthier [to the moogle repairmen]: Hey! Can we go?
Vaan: Naa, what about the speed? And weapons? Is it even better than Ifrit?
Balthier: It would be okay for me to teach you.. but you can feel it yourself.
Balthier: Fran, set the course.
Fran: The quickest way is through Dolstonis.
Basch: How is Bhujerba?
Balthier: They're maintaining their freedom. For the most part, at least. It's repayment to Ondore for proclaiming your death sentence and the suicide of the princess and for cooperating with the Empire.
Basch: People will start to distrust him when they realize I'm alive.
Balthier: Politics are unpleasant. Fran, let's take off.
Vaan: Just wait, Penelo.
[Fly around. Soldiers appear.]
Soldier: It's bad. They're not here. Keeping looking!
Balthier [to Basch]: You're supposedly a dead man; don't forget. Be careful; don't tell people your name.
Basch: k.

Marquis Ondore's Estate- first (39.1mb)

They realize that because Ondore [The old man who speaks first] told everyone Basch had died, they had kept him alive. Bascha askes for Amalia's [Ashe] release, and Vaan asks to see Larsa, because he's with Penelo. Ondore tells them that they could be successful if they infiltrate the enemy camp. Basch pulls out a sword on Ondore and acts as though he's going to attack him, and Ondore tells his guards to capture them and hand them over to Judge Ghis.

Royal Palace, Consul's Chambers
Vayne [the young general with the long black hair] is speaking to Judge Gabranth. Gabranth is worried about the Bhujerban groups that are against the empire and thinks that Ondore is secretly supporting them. Vayne informs Gabranth that Ondore has given Basch to Ghis. Gabranth offers to kill him. Vayne tells Gabranth to bring his brother, Larsa, back to Archadia.

Gabranth leaves, Cid enters.
They exchange pleasantries, and Cid mentions that the Senate is trying to catch Vayne, who doubts their ability.

The Dreadnought Leviathan
Amalia smacks Basch when he addresses her, and she asks him why he's alive. Ghis announces that Amalia is Ashe, but since she has no proof of her lineage, she cannot ascend to the throne. Instead, she is trying to assemble a Liberation Army. Ghis wanted to work with her, but since she has no proof that she's really the princess and she doesn't want to cooperate, killing her would be easier. Basch suggests that they find they find the Twilight Shard to prove Ashe's nobility. Ashe is still upset at Basch's former supposed betrayl. Vaan's magicite glows, and Ghis takes in return for not executing them. He separates Ashe from the others. Basch and Balthier snap at each other and assess the situation,, but the soldier keeps yelling at them for talking. They kick the guards' ass, and find out that one is Vossler, who was sent by Ondore to help them. Vossler joins as a guest. You receive the map of the Dreadnought Leviathan.

The Dreadnought Leviathan cell (11mb)

Balthier: Let's go before they get us.
Vossler: We can talk later.
Ashe has joined the party.
The alarm is set off.
Basch: We'll get you out of here, your majesty.
Ashe: I will not let myself be assisted by a traitor.
Vossler: Something has to be done, and I have an idea. We can go to the hangar and take the shuttle.
Vossler [to Basch]: Her majesty can't help it, but she needs to face reality.

Party: (top to bottom) Vaan, Fran, Basch, Vossler.
I enter escape mode with R2, and someone casts Blind on Vaan.
Vaan dies, "Select a new leader." I pick Fran. Fran's gambits make her stop try to cure Vossler (green line), but I make her run instead. A ! appears as she pasts a chest.

Penelo: Vaan!
Vaan: I'm sorry. It's alright now.
Larsa [to Ashe]: Ghis knows what's going on. Please get out quickly. [to Vossler] General Azras, is that right? Come with me; we need to get you on a ship.
Vossler: You know who I am, but you're letting me go?
Larsa: Ashe, you're supposed to be a dead person. You and Rosenburgh are supposed to have died. That's proof enough that something is wrong. I think that we will be able to see the bigger picture, and its lies. Please proceed and reveal what is being hidden from us. I will try to correct it to keep the Empire safe.
Ashe: Understood.
Vaan: Nice to see you, Ramon.
Larsa: About that time.. I apologize. Penelo, this.. take it for your protection. [to Vossler] Let's go.
Vossler has left your party, and Penelo has joined it. You have received Artificial Nethicite.

Judge Ghis: It's unfortunate. Dalmasca's safety would have been assured if we could have cooperated. But, since I have the proof of your heritage, you might as well make an imitation. You're not qualified to be a ruler.

The artificial nethicite absorbs Ghis' power.
Penelo: What's this?
Balthier: Nethicite.
Ghis: Your refusal to surrender is so typical of Dalmasca.
Ashe: You don't understand anything.


Marquis Ondore's Estate - second (25mb)

Ashe explains that the night after the Peace Treaty Ceremony, Vossler heard of her father's death and hid her. Ashe tried to seek Ondore out, but he had already told everyone that she was dead, and she thought he was on the Empire's side. Vayne had told Ondore to do that to keep them separated. Ashe asks for Ondore's help, but he says that without proof, there's nothing she can do. Balthier asks to be paid for saving the princess, with a nice dinner, a bath, and some clean clothing.

Ashe is in the cockpit of the Strahl. Vaan tries to stop her from stealing it, but she is determined to get the Dawn Shard to prove her lineage. Balthier uses a voice changer to imitate Basch and then Ashe, which he says he got for his work. Balthier threatens to turn her in, and she begs him to kidnap her. She promises him the Tyrant's Treasure. Everyone one agrees to pretend to kidnap Ashe.

Archadian Empire, city of Archades
Judge Gabranth arrives in front of Emperor Gramis' desk. Gabranth is telling Gramis about Doctor Cid and Draklor's Research Facility, who are getting financial support from Vayne. Gabranth postulates that it has to do with the Nalbina Dungeons and Judge Zekt's disappearance. Gramis says that he's too old and ill for this, and that he'll die soon. The Senate fears Vayne's power, and wants someone younger and more easy to manipulate in power. They discuss Gabranth's brother, who is an enemy of the Empire, and Gabranth talks about killing the traitor, which Gramis admires. Gramis tells Gabranth to watch Vayne.

Ogir-Yensa Sandsea
Strahl activates its cloaking device.
Penelo: Incredible!
Ashe: Is that also because of your work?
Balthier: The famous are like that. I need it so I'm not seen. We have to walk from here; Yakuto is ahead of us.
Ashe: We can go through the Sandsea to the Valley of the Dead, to the Tomb of Raithwall.

Vaan [to Penelo]: The airship runs on magic crystals that are inoperable in Yakuto, so we have to walk.
Penelo: Airships are the only thing you know.
Vaan: Yeah, but I want to be a Sky Pirate. And it's not the only thing I know!
Balthier: Well, I guess this will be entertaining.

Penelo's voice: "Vaan!"
Penelo: Raithwall's Tomb.. where is it?
Basch: Westward. We go through the Oglr-Yensa and Nam- Yensa first. This desert is larger than Dalmasca, and dangerous as well. If you're tired, please tell me.
Penelo: I'll be okay. I'm stronger than I seem.
Basch: Is that so? You're all really strong.

Tomb of Raithwall (6.23mb)

An ancient transporter.
-> Activate the device.
-> Don't do anything.
You warp inside. Current party: Vaan, Fran, Basch, and Vossler. As you walk in, the Demon's Wall approaches you. On the right is a meter that shows your distance from the door. One the Demon's Wall gets to the other side, it crushes you. The boxes on the left and right side show flaming lamps that you can activate. If you turn on the lamp, the boss will stop temporarily, making him easier to fight. Sometimes, the lamp will turn on and the flame will be blue; then the boss will speed up and you'll have less time to defeat him. Demon's Wall casts Countdown to Death on Vaan. Demon's wall casts Haste on himself and then he casts Blind on Fran and Vossler. Game over'd.

Garif (137mb)

Garif Warrior: What is it, you? Here is the Garif village. A place for Hume children, it is not.
????: He's just a traveller. I saw him cross the Ozome Plain. They are strong and made it past the monsters.
Warrior: Chief, you went to the plains by yourself again?
Chief: [to Vaan] What use do you have for the Garif? [to warriors] Let them go. I take responsibility.
Warrior: If you say so. You may enter. This place.. what does a Hume get from coming here?

The chief introduces himself as Spinel and advises Vaan to talk to the village elder about the Nethicite. Vaan stops to talk to Zayal, who gives him a Jaya Splinter for the village elder.

Give Spinel the Jaya Splinter to proceed. The Elder admits that he may be a descendant of the King, but he doesn't know how to use the Nethicite, and the one Ashe has is used up and powerless. He warns her of the power of the Nethicite, in that it starves for power, and people crave it.

Larsa appears and tells them to go to Bur-Omisace. Ondore is trying to get the Liberation Army to attack, which would be unfortunate, because then Rozzaria would retaliate with the rebels against the Empire. At Bur-Omisace, they can meet the High Priest Anastasis, who can let you officially suceeed the throne, and as queen, you can resurrect the Dalmasca and unite it with the Empire. Ashe is mad at Larsa, but he says that if they don't trust him, they can have him as a hostage.

Nighttime. Ashe thinks she sees her dead husband, Rasler, but it's really Vaan. They both discuss their hallucinations; Ashe, about Lord Rasler, and Vaan about his dead brother, Reks. Vaan tells Ashe that he came here to avoid facing his brother's death, but with her, he can figure out what to do with his future.

Ashe agrees to go to Bur-Omisace with Larsa, who says there is an ally/enemy that he plans to meet there. Vaan and Ashe discuss his innocence.

Basch and Balthier discuss the new magic stones, or nethicite, that the Leviathan used to fly in Yakuto. Basch questions Balthier's motives, and Balthier says that he may or may not steal the nethicite, but he pursues mysterious things because he's a hero.
Larsa joins as a guest.
Spinel gives him a bow gun and an onion shaft, and advises him to take a chocobo.

Bur-Omisace (141mb)

You see an aerial view of the city; Vaan walks to the temple. They meet the high priest Anastasis, who communicates to them telepathically. Alshid Malgaras walks in and introduces himself as part of the Rozzaria family. Larsa and Alshid want to unite and create a new Ivalice. They find out from Alshid that Larsa's father, Gramis, has been assassinated.

Emperor's Office
Members of the Senate is being arrested. Judges are looking at Gramis' body. Vayne tells them that Chairman Gregos poisoned the Emperor and then committed suicide, and Judge Bergan adds that other members of the Senate were involved. Vayne revokes their right to assembly. Judge Drace [the only female] insists that there's another traitor they're overlooking. Judge Zargabaath tries to quiet her, but she draws a sword at Vayne and tries to place him under arrest. Judge Bergan tells her that Vayne is their dictator, and that she just broke the law by her action. Bergan picks her up by the face and throws her across the room. Vayne commands Zagrabaath and Bergan to take the Alexander and get Larsa, but Gabranth offers to assist. To this Vayne points out that Gabranth had been a spy against him for Gramis and notes his quick change in alliance. Vayne has Gabranth kill Drace to prove his loyalty.

Bur-Omisace
Alshid explains the situation is different with Vayne in power. The Imperial army is immense and has many fleets, and they'll use nethicite to win. Ashe wants to be even more powerful than nethicite to fight them. Anastasis tells them to go to the Stillshrine of Miriam and get the Tyrant Sword, which can destroy nethicite.
Larsa leaves the party.

Bur-Omisace (147mb)

Something appears to be on fire, and smoke is coming up from the city. It is now raining. The room of the high priest is destroyed. Judge Bergan is waiting inside. Bergan says that Anastasis wouldn't tell him where the Tyrant Sword was. Balthier notices the spirit above Bergan's head, the mist, because Bergan has synthetic nethicite in his body. Bergan claims that Vayne Solidor is the true Tyrant King, and begins to battle them.

Fran, Basch, and Ashe are in the battle. I have them target the judges first and kill them off. You can see Libra working in the top left corner, and it tells you the exact amount of HP left for the judges. I get 93 gil for killing the first judge. Ashe dies, and Fran casts Raise on her. Bergan casts Blind on Basch, and Ashe casts Blana to cure him. Bergan uses Aero a few times and casts Don't Move on Ashe. That's fine, because she's using a bowgun anyways. Bergan casts water on them. Basch dies, then Bergan.

Balthier asks how the high priest is, but Penelo shakes her head and asks about Larsa. Alshid limps in and asks Ashe to stop trying to fight and let him protect her. She refuses and decides to destroy the Twilight Shard with the Tyrant's Sword. Balthier says he'll take her to the Draklor Research Facility to destroy it. Ashe tells Alshid to be a spy, and he reads a note from Larsa, "Even if countries can't clasp hands, people can still have the same dream."

Outside the temple
They discuss a way to get to Archadia. They can't go by air or sea, so they have to walk. After Salikawood, they'll go into imperial territory.

That's all, folks. Remember, for a shorter version of this article and direct access to the videos, Click here to go to the full-length article.

Alternatively, check out our Full length, Detailed Review.

Enjoyed this Article? Digg It!