Final Fantasy 12

Final Fantasy XII, the most recent, and perhaps the most controversial entry in the series, had among the longest development time, spanning over five years. The team, led by Final Fantasy Tactics creator Yasumi Matsuto, would create a Final Fantasy unlike any other in the entire series. The game was set up in the world of Ivalice, a world that would become a mainstay in the series for years to come.

The hostile kingdoms of Archadia and Rozarria are at all-out war, and for two years, Ivalice has been in chaos. In Rabanastre, the capital city of peaceful Dalmasca, young adventurer Vaan and childhood friend Penelo wage Robin Hood-esque war on Archadia's oppressive rule. In the process, the two stumble upon the resistance movement led by de-throned princess Ashe, and their goal becomes clear: they must gather all the strength and wits they can to bring down the kingdoms that threaten to destroy all that they hold dear. Together with sky pirate Balthier, his viera partner Fran, and exiled captain Basch, they set off on an epic journey around Ivalice to discover the truths, lies, and weaknesses within the complex political powers that hold dominion over the entire world. The story, while among the most complex and riveting in the series' history, took a step back, with less cutscenes and direct storytelling. Instead, players had to make many inferences as to the thoughts and emotions of the people and worlds. Nonetheless, the characters and story continued the series' tradition of being epic and riveting.

The world of Ivalice was extremely endearing particularly due to the game's graphics. Featuring cities multiple times bigger then their predecessors, and literally thousands of NPCs scattered around the game, the world of Final Fantasy XII truly felt like a real one. Locations were large and dramatic, and environments were varied. The world was all interconnected. For the first time in the Final Fantasy Series, the camera could be fully rotated, allowing players to get a glimpse of over nook and cranny in the world, alloying for a more dynamic perspective. The graphics were arguably the PS2's best, and could hold up against next generation counterparts. The music was no longer played by series composer Nobuo Uematsu (who only composed the theme song), rather by Hitoshi Sakimoto, who gave the music a very epic and "Star Wars" vibe.

Perhaps the biggest change came in the gameplay, Final Fantasy XII completely eliminated random battles. All fights took place in the world itself, and players could move around while fighting. Players still had options however, as there were two methods available to the player, active, which was similar to the ATB system where the fights continued while selecting actives, or wait, similar to FFX where everything froze when making a selection. Players could also adjust the speed of battles, making this one of the most hectic games in the series yet. Difficulty as well was increased all around, forcing players to think strategically. FFXII featured two systems, the License Board and Gambits system. The license board was very similar to the sphere grid from FFX, except this time, a licensee was required for everything, from weapons to armor, to abilities and stat increases. Weapons and amour also provided additional stat increases, as well as level ups. Each player could gain any ability or wield any weapon, allowing players to customize their team to their liking. Summons (completely new ones) could also be assigned to characters, as well as Mist Knacks, the game's answer to limit breaks. The Gambits System allowed the player to tinker with the party's AI, as only one player could be controlled at a time.

Final Fantasy XII would prompt a new compilation in the series, similar to the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII. This compilation would include Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of Lions, a PSP port of the original Final Fantasy Tactics with many extras, including Balthier as a playable character, Final Fantasy 12: Revnant Wings, a DS sequel to Final Fantasy XII starring Vaan and Penelo and a huge cast new and old, and Final Fantasy Tactics A2, a new game in the Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Series for the DS.