I recently purchased FFXII and I must admit I was rather sceptical. Square Enix's last 2 attempts at a console version of their main series (10 and 10-2) were absolutely atrocious. I attempted to play these substandard games I really did, but after an hour or so I just couldn't bring myself to play them any longer. They just didn't feel like final fantasy. I know some of you will be jumping around in your chairs shouting abuse at me and hoping my PC comes alive and swallows me whole for my blasphemy towards Final Fantasy, but they just lacked that special something, that Je nous c'est Quoi! (All you people who actually go and translate that, literally it means I us it is what, it's just a French saying meaning that special something!) I really lost faith in the series and thought that they were past their best. It had lost its heart and soul that made Final Fantasy so good. I deviated away from the series to play other games briefly returning to watch Advent Children but I had really given up on FF. Then FFXII was previewed and to be perfectly honest I just wasn't interested. I didn't care if it did this or did that better, I just wasn't interested. After FFX, what Square Enix said just didn't hold water. However, a week ago I was sat around watching TV wishing payday would hurry up and come so I could afford to go out when I saw an advertisement for FFXII. Wow! The game looked breathtaking! So I decided that I would give Square the benefit of the doubt and give it a chance. And to be perfectly honest I hated it, but only for the first 3 hours or so. I kept playing because I thought this is really bad but it's got potential and my perseverance paid off. The game is amazing and I'm only 15 hours in. Square have managed to nail this game and give it back the heart and soul that makes the series great. Forget about its problems and its flaws, this game is phenomenal. Their best game since FFVII. I usually don't even like real-time battle systems but Square has managed to make it still feel like FF. If you ask me this is nearly redemption for FFX and FFX-2. Now all that's left is for them to do is remake FFVII or make FFVII-2 and I'll completely forgive them. lol