A trailer for FFXII is available here.

Well, thoughts, anyone? Predictions?

My thoughts:
Dalmasca looks a *LOT* like the city of Theed on Naboo in Star Wars Ep 1 & 2. A lot of those ships look like they were ripped straight out of Star Wars, though I'm sure closer inspection will reveal differences in the final version.

I'm interested in the full-camera-control feature. Now that we can control the camera completely, the artists REALLY have their work cut out for them, not just drawing those incredible buildings and landscapes, but from EVERY angle!

I'm a little nervous about the new director. This is the guy who directed FFT and FFTA (hence the world being called Ivalice again, as well as the presence of Viera and Bangaas). The only problem I have with the guy is that he's known for two chief things...first, complexity. Complexity in battle systems, complexity in plot, just complexity all the way through, to an unnecessary level. Second, he is known for downplaying -- or altogether removing -- romance in his plots. This happened in both FFT games and he does it consciously. Seeing how as far back as I know, the main series has always been ABOUT love (except FFXI, an obvious exception), this seems to be a very unusual move for Square. Usually when I crave a good love story, I look to Final Fantasy. I hope I still can in the future.

My predictions:
-- We'll see more of the "high adventure" tones that we heard in the ending-credits theme of FFT, in my opinion one of the best videogame songs EVER. It may not be Uematsu, but at least the Big U DOES contribute the game's main theme.
-- Much more extensive interaction between player and objects or player and NPCs. I predict this because for once, Square is actually lagging behind on translating this project! I may be wrong, but as far as I can remember, they're always on time or ahead of schedule in most cases. (FFX or FFX-2's US release was actually pushed AHEAD because it was finished early.) This is an unusually long translation even by schedule, and they've fallen behind schedule...which tells me there's a LOT of dialogue to translate.
-- More hidden items...and they'll be harder to find too. Expect Square to make full use of the rotating-the-camera feature, making you look in almost-invisible nooks and crannies for a switch or treasure chest.
-- A whole new flavor to battles. An interesting mix between the classic ATB system and Secret Of Mana 2's in-the-field battles, you will enter battle mode while in the field and yet still have ATB bars as well as the ability to move around (one character at a time ala FFT), thus making terrain a part of the battle... Trapping your enemy, etc. Square calls this the ADB (Active Dimension Battle) system. Exactly how it works -- and how well is works -- is still a good question.
-- Ashe probably won't take her clothes off. Sorry, guys. *runs into a corner and cries*
-- Overall prediction: Who knows? I'm sure it'll be great if Square trusted the guy with making a game in the main series...so we'll see.

Anyone else have thoughts or predictions to share?

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Click on Charmy to visit CharmaineMusic.com!

I don't think Vaan seems feminine. Course, a lot of people said Tidus was feminine but I didn't see that either. Whatever.

Actually the whole "world" is called Ivalice. The city you saw was Dalmasca (possibly changed to Damaska for the American version).

As far as I can tell, this one looks to have a heavily political story too. Dalmasca has been invaded by the Arcadian Empire 2 years before the start of the game (those are Arcadian ships seen in the trailer) and occupied because it sits directly between Arcadia and some other country... So they invaded it for a tactical advantage over this other country, which they're also about to invade. So it looks like the story centers around the player fighting back the forces of both nations and trying to take back Dalmasca. We'll see what happens.

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Click on Charmy to visit CharmaineMusic.com!