The Switch's combination of portability and powerful hardware makes it a great companion at home and on the go for all types of games, but there are certain genres that mesh with it particularly well. There's something that just hits the spot about being able to carry around a sprawling, full-featured JRPG in my bag with me wherever I go. Lucky for us Switch owners, the best-ever version of one of the best RPGs is coming to Switch with FINAL FANTASY XII The Zodiac Age.
If you enjoyed some of the more recent JRPG hits to come to Switch like Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Octopath Traveler, you won't want to miss out on the chance to load up this classic from the PS2 era that was highly underrated. It's one of the best entries in the series, both in terms of gameplay and story - and it's still incredibly enjoyable today, especially with the addition of modern HD graphics that include great-looking textures, remastered characters and cutscenes, and reworked audio.
It's a great jumping-on point, even if you're not that familiar with the mainline FINAL FANTASY games and finally want to see what all the fuss is about. The Zodiac Age takes place entirely within its own self-contained, mostly seamless world that's introduced with a bang and doesn't require any experience with previous entries to get into. There isn't one correct answer to the question: "Which FINAL FANTASY should I play first?" But if you like to take your adventures with you on Switch, FINAL FANTASY XII is a very strong contender.
A big part of why this epic is ideal for on-the-go adventuring is that it was the first major FINAL FANTASY game to do away with random encounters. All the enemies are visible in the world and you can approach them when and how you want to, which is great if you have to go to class or a meeting and don't want to have to worry about getting stuck in a battle you didn't ask for. The Gambit system introduced in this HD remaster of the 12th game in the main series of FINAL FANTASY also lets you program your AI team members to act a certain way, like casting healing magic automatically when another party member's health is dangerously low. It's a really useful feature when you're playing in portable mode and don't want to be fiddling around in menus while you're trying to focus on the action. The Zodiac Age on Switch even gives you three separate sets of Gambit instructions per party member, so you can perfect your tactics at home on the big screen where you have a lot of screen real estate to play around with, and switch between them on the fly when you're out and about.
The Zodiac Age also made some gameplay changes that help it feel like a little bit of a smoother transition if you're coming from more traditional RPGs. The original PS2 release of FINAL FANTASY XII had a sprawling License system that gave very little direction in how to build your party's skills and abilities. The Zodiac Job System in The Zodiac Age focuses that down a bit, letting you select a class archetype for each party member that helps them excel at a particular role. The freedom is still there, because you can give anyone any job - it just makes it a little easier to build them out effectively. And you can even respec jobs and licenses if you decide you don't like your current set-up.
Aside from the epic main quest, The Zodiac Age offers plenty of side activities, so you'll always have something to do when you boot it up on your lunch break. Monster hunts allow you to track down dangerous creatures for powerful rewards, and the new Trial Mode pits you against 100 consecutive battles to see how far you can push your skills. There's also a new Speed Mode for quickly navigating the overworld, so you don't have to spend a lot of time running around to find a quest or one of the various minigames when you've only got a limited amount of time to play.
Whether you're playing on a big screen from the comfort of your couch or a small one on a long train trip, you'll be surprised how strong an impression this living classic can make even after 13 years. The cast is exciting and memorable (in true FINAL FANTASY fashion), and it's a thrill to lead them against overwhelming odds, whether it's for your first time ever or just the first time in years.
FINAL FANTASY XII The Zodiac Age is available now on Nintendo Switch.
