Since this game was made specifically for the DS, and since that particular system has a nifty touch screen feature, you’ll be controlling almost everything via stylus. This input method actually proves to be very intuitive. Imagine that you want to send only two of your characters to gather ore for weapon customization, while the rest remain and fight. With any other system, you would undoubtedly have to use the D-pad to navigate to one or more characters, choose some menu option, then move to the desired location manually. With the DS, you just use the stylus to draw a box around the characters you want to control, then tap exactly where you want them to go on the map—they travel there automatically.
No Surprise Here
The graphics in Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings are, without doubt, the cream of the Nintendo DS crop. The in-game graphics take a cue from Final Fantasy Tactics, using sprite character models in conjunction with fully 3D environments, to gorgeous effect. The cinema sequences, however, which are interspersed throughout the game, are absolutely breathtaking on this system. Alternating between individual videos on each screen and single videos spanning both screens, you’ve never seen anything like this on the D
The menu system is every bit as well organized and attractive as could be expected, given the game’s pedigree, and it definitely gives a nod to Final Fantasy XII’s excellent menu system.
The music in this game is utterly mesmerizing. The majority of it is adapted from Hitoshi Sakimoto’s absolutely beautiful score from the previous game, and it has as much emotional impact here as it did the first time around. The really amazing thing about the music in Final Fantasy games is that it always manages to perfectly convey the tone of the game, which goes a long way toward drawing players into the world.
A Fantasy Come True?
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings certainly has its flaws. Many of the missions are way too easy, with only the occasional boss battle providing much of a challenge in the earlier parts of the game. This is likely due to the fact that the game is meant to appeal to a fairly broad audience, including children (which would explain why the character models have been changed to make everyone look so much younger), but it would still be nice to have the option of selecting a greater difficulty level. The camera is also an issue, as mentioned above, which often made me want to throw my DS across the room. It is a manageable issue, but it is certainly the one true Achilles heel of this game.
Aside from those relatively small gripes, this game is a gem. It provides hours upon hours of gameplay in a familiar universe (for some), with a captivating story, memorable characters, sensational music and spectacular visuals. This is definitely a must-own game for RPG and/or Final Fantasy fans.
Overall: 8.5 – Great