Preview
Platform:
Nintendo DSDeveloper:
Think & Feel, Inc.Publisher:
Square-Enix USAPreviewed by
Justin Fassino on 2007-07-12
Not many
Final Fantasy games get direct sequels, and not many of those sequels are on a different platform than the original. But
Final Fantasy XII is that rare case that can claim both of these distinctions.
I spent some brief time with
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings for the DS at E3 to see just what type of game it was shaping up to be. Obviously the DS could not be used to handle the scope of the PS2 version of the game, so what
Revenant Wings ends up being is a game that plays to the strength of its system while retaining the characters of the original.
The E3 demo showcased familiar faces: Balthier and Fran were guest characters of the party, while the player could control Vaan and Penelo. All four of them were together doing what sky pirates do: infiltrating a treasure horde to claim the valuables. Unfortunately, the loot is guarded by another familiar face: Ifrit.
My time with the game was brief, but I can tell you several things: the writing is quality, and Balthier is still as clever as ever. The character models all sport a super-deformed look, while a stylized portrait titles each dialogue box. There are many interesting facets to the game, but one of those specifically is the inclusion of some great looking 3D cutscenes between levels. They are very similar in style and aesthetics to those found in the recent
Final Fantasy III remake for the DS.
Furthermore, the gameplay is significantly different from the original
FF XII. Instead of a real-time or turn-based RPG,
Revenant Wings is more akin to an RTS; you use the touch screen and only the touch screen to control every action. By dragging a square across the characters, you can command them in batches: touch the enemy to make them attack, or touch the ground to make them move to that location. You can also micromanage if you desire. For example, Penelo can heal if you select her, and then select an ally. It is simplicity and accessibility dressed up in
Final Fantasy.
The game looks gorgeous on the DS. The environments are detailed and crisp. The one area that could have used improvements is the character sprites, however, as they are exceptionally tiny on the small screens. But as a high-budget
Square Enix title that's featuring some rich localization and fun gameplay power,
Revenant Wings will no doubt be a hit when it's released this holiday season.
