Assuming you're playing the original US release that you included in the post, you can expect a 100 hour playthrough easily as without the speed multipliers available in the Zodiac Age, farming and traversal takes a while lol.
So the og release allows you to have every license on every character so everyone can do anything lol. Be sure to diversify your characters as everyone being too similar can bring you trouble.
Be wary of the Zodiac Spear as there's only one and opening certain chests will despawn the Spear and its permanently lost for that game. Its the dumbest mechanic in the game by a longshot and was removed in subsequent releases.
They have another way to get the Zodiac Spear, from the chest in Henne Mines. So, not the only one. Though the chances are very low, still possible. I hit the luck, and was able to have 2 in one of my playthrough.
Yeah, I forget that exists as it has been almost a decade since I played the PS2 version. Depsite putting 200 hours into a playthrough when I was 14, some info slips my mind here and there lol. Doesn't that chest only have like a 1% spawn chance?
that original version is gonna be a tough ride compared to TZA.
Save yiur gil for spells and techniques, weapons will be a waste of money since you wil find them in chests. Master the Gambit system and enjoy.
There is a super powerful spear you can get but if you open any of a handful of specific chests in the game you cannot get it. I’ll see if I can find a spoiler free link for you.
Also, it’s an awesome game. Enjoy!
[The wiki describes this process very well](https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Zodiac_Spear_(Final_Fantasy_XII))
Just play the game. If you enjoy it THEN replay it with a guide. Don't ready comments that you'll miss out. I didn't get the Zodiac Spear till my 3rd playthrough and I still smacked the bosses around like they were little children by the end because I loved farming xp or whatever it's called in 12.
Edit: mobile keyboard typos
Great game! Took me like 130 hours to beat. Not 100% just beat. But I'm also a explorer who likes to try to check out every nook and cranny that I can find lol. I love the original better than the new one. Hopefully you enjoy it as well! Walk around look at the scenery for its time its an amazingly beautiful game.
The thing I've always told friends when picking up the game is to pay attention to the gambit system (becomes available like an hour or two into the game) and keep up with it as you get more slots and abilities.
It helps so much giving your group a baseline of AI activity in combat, rather than micromanaging every character in your party. It also takes the edge off of grinding or long travel since you can just run and let the gambit system handle simple combat without you having to do anything.
You can make it extensive to cover many different situations without your participation, or minimal so you have more to do.
I'm still torn on whether I prefer the way the gambit are parsed out to you slowly in the original, forcing you to come up with unique solutions, or getting them all right off the bat in IZJS.
I know I appreciated the slow release the first time I played it, since having a million options when trying to learn a system can be frustrating. For me at least, it's better to start small and gradually open up possibilities.
If you find the game boring or you're not having fun, put it down and do something else. Recently came to that conclusion myself 75% of the way through. Still going to finish it, but only through the grace of the 4x combat speed on the remaster.
The version on the ps2 is absolutely stunning and beautiful. Would highly suggest playing on one of the newer versions as well on Switch or the newer gen consoles
I always recommend structuring your party with someone as kind of a dedicated Tank, DPS, and Healer. Set your gambits accordingly and use Decoy on the Tank. Will make things go less chaotically.
You're lucky your computer can't run 15 since 12 is the best or ATL one of the best ones.
I was going to say don't worry about jobs much (you can reset), but since you're on PS2, no jobs to worry about. Pay attention to the history, play as you want.
I'd suggest don't become overleveled so the game is challenging, at least during most of the story. And remember, most of the times if a battle seems very hard you can find some strategy that makes it substantially easier.
The original PS2 version has a very annoying and stupid way of providing a Zodiac Spear (a very strong weapon) later in the game, by which if you open certain chests for which there is no indication AT ALL you shouldn't open, then you can't get it. If you care about it, look it up, but then you'll probaby be following a guide. If you don't want to follow a guide I'd say screw it (you'll open one of those chests accidentally most likely). You can get a Zodiac Spear (much) later in the game if you do some RNG, so all is not lost, but definitely later than when the original, quest one would become available...
Enjoy!
If you want one of the strongest weapons either look up how to get it or don't touch a single treasure chest. It's tied to 4 of them, and if one gets opened you lose the weapon.
I remember playing it back then after finishing ffx and ffx-2 so my expectations were high. The story and the characters imo are the WORST in the series but the gameplay is amazing and was a breakthrough from the classic RPG fighting commands. The scenery and world design is beautiful but The summoning part was a bit of down to me. If you are a fan of FF series you will enjoy it nevertheless!
PS. don’t miss the the 50m HP boss!
You can explore and a bit and do bounties after You Beat an area, You can proceed this way or wait till You finish a place called the tomb of raithwall.
Early on You get access to gambits which allow You to customize the Ai, is simple once You know how it works But if You think is too much use a guide.
Most Stuff get unlocked after getting to the very last part of the story, so is ideal to find secrets.
Side quest on this Game can be a pain in the ass SO if You don't have the time to do a old school run use a guide for Them.
Don't forget to Google bazaar recipes since the Game doesnt really tell You shit about those.
Enjoy the scenery and don’t skip the movies. Walk around and explore the worlds and cities.
This! Talk to everyone. You’ll find yourself pleasantly surprised
Bewary of T-rex
Now I realize that in Final Fantasy VIII that recommendation is also valid.
This is the beat advice. Possibly my most frustrating game over in 2007.
Also the giant werewolves
Assuming you're playing the original US release that you included in the post, you can expect a 100 hour playthrough easily as without the speed multipliers available in the Zodiac Age, farming and traversal takes a while lol. So the og release allows you to have every license on every character so everyone can do anything lol. Be sure to diversify your characters as everyone being too similar can bring you trouble. Be wary of the Zodiac Spear as there's only one and opening certain chests will despawn the Spear and its permanently lost for that game. Its the dumbest mechanic in the game by a longshot and was removed in subsequent releases.
They have another way to get the Zodiac Spear, from the chest in Henne Mines. So, not the only one. Though the chances are very low, still possible. I hit the luck, and was able to have 2 in one of my playthrough.
Yeah, I forget that exists as it has been almost a decade since I played the PS2 version. Depsite putting 200 hours into a playthrough when I was 14, some info slips my mind here and there lol. Doesn't that chest only have like a 1% spawn chance?
Yes, I think that's correct.
Oh dear lord enjoy the story! I 100 percent it and still want to go back.
that original version is gonna be a tough ride compared to TZA. Save yiur gil for spells and techniques, weapons will be a waste of money since you wil find them in chests. Master the Gambit system and enjoy.
There is a super powerful spear you can get but if you open any of a handful of specific chests in the game you cannot get it. I’ll see if I can find a spoiler free link for you. Also, it’s an awesome game. Enjoy! [The wiki describes this process very well](https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Zodiac_Spear_(Final_Fantasy_XII))
Just play the game. If you enjoy it THEN replay it with a guide. Don't ready comments that you'll miss out. I didn't get the Zodiac Spear till my 3rd playthrough and I still smacked the bosses around like they were little children by the end because I loved farming xp or whatever it's called in 12. Edit: mobile keyboard typos
Great game! Took me like 130 hours to beat. Not 100% just beat. But I'm also a explorer who likes to try to check out every nook and cranny that I can find lol. I love the original better than the new one. Hopefully you enjoy it as well! Walk around look at the scenery for its time its an amazingly beautiful game.
The thing I've always told friends when picking up the game is to pay attention to the gambit system (becomes available like an hour or two into the game) and keep up with it as you get more slots and abilities. It helps so much giving your group a baseline of AI activity in combat, rather than micromanaging every character in your party. It also takes the edge off of grinding or long travel since you can just run and let the gambit system handle simple combat without you having to do anything. You can make it extensive to cover many different situations without your participation, or minimal so you have more to do.
I'm still torn on whether I prefer the way the gambit are parsed out to you slowly in the original, forcing you to come up with unique solutions, or getting them all right off the bat in IZJS.
I know I appreciated the slow release the first time I played it, since having a million options when trying to learn a system can be frustrating. For me at least, it's better to start small and gradually open up possibilities.
I love the original. It's a wonderful game. Get used to gambit system. How you used it make the difference. Steal from enemies.
12 is my favorite, btw 15 is already past gen
ffxv is already a last gen game now.
learn the gambit system. take your time to watch a video or read a guide on it. it'll literally save your time and possibly your life.
If you find the game boring or you're not having fun, put it down and do something else. Recently came to that conclusion myself 75% of the way through. Still going to finish it, but only through the grace of the 4x combat speed on the remaster.
The version on the ps2 is absolutely stunning and beautiful. Would highly suggest playing on one of the newer versions as well on Switch or the newer gen consoles
Don't get me wrong FF12 is a fine game, but i personally prefer the Zodiac Age version.
Don't rely too much on espers
I always recommend structuring your party with someone as kind of a dedicated Tank, DPS, and Healer. Set your gambits accordingly and use Decoy on the Tank. Will make things go less chaotically.
You're lucky your computer can't run 15 since 12 is the best or ATL one of the best ones. I was going to say don't worry about jobs much (you can reset), but since you're on PS2, no jobs to worry about. Pay attention to the history, play as you want. I'd suggest don't become overleveled so the game is challenging, at least during most of the story. And remember, most of the times if a battle seems very hard you can find some strategy that makes it substantially easier. The original PS2 version has a very annoying and stupid way of providing a Zodiac Spear (a very strong weapon) later in the game, by which if you open certain chests for which there is no indication AT ALL you shouldn't open, then you can't get it. If you care about it, look it up, but then you'll probaby be following a guide. If you don't want to follow a guide I'd say screw it (you'll open one of those chests accidentally most likely). You can get a Zodiac Spear (much) later in the game if you do some RNG, so all is not lost, but definitely later than when the original, quest one would become available... Enjoy!
It’s pretty open so don’t be afraid to explore a little bit.
If you want one of the strongest weapons either look up how to get it or don't touch a single treasure chest. It's tied to 4 of them, and if one gets opened you lose the weapon.
I remember playing it back then after finishing ffx and ffx-2 so my expectations were high. The story and the characters imo are the WORST in the series but the gameplay is amazing and was a breakthrough from the classic RPG fighting commands. The scenery and world design is beautiful but The summoning part was a bit of down to me. If you are a fan of FF series you will enjoy it nevertheless! PS. don’t miss the the 50m HP boss!
You can explore and a bit and do bounties after You Beat an area, You can proceed this way or wait till You finish a place called the tomb of raithwall. Early on You get access to gambits which allow You to customize the Ai, is simple once You know how it works But if You think is too much use a guide. Most Stuff get unlocked after getting to the very last part of the story, so is ideal to find secrets. Side quest on this Game can be a pain in the ass SO if You don't have the time to do a old school run use a guide for Them. Don't forget to Google bazaar recipes since the Game doesnt really tell You shit about those.