Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Excellent remake of older classic adds many new features.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
What's It About?
FINAL FANTASY XII: THE ZODIAC AGE is a remastered version of the 2006 PlayStation 2 game Final Fantasy XII. The story takes us back to the land of Ivalice, where a small kingdom named Dalmasca was conquered by the evil Archadian Empire. Princess Ashe vows to liberate her fallen country, with the help of Vaan, a young fighter out to avenge his family decimated by the war, among other allies the duo meet along the way. Now in high-definition and with support for 7.1 surround sound, the revamped single-player role-playing game (RPG) also features many gameplay enhancements, including a tweaked turn-based battle mechanic, revamped Zodiac Job system and Licensed Board (offering deeper customization options for leveling up), a new Trial mode (take on enemies in up to 100 consecutive battles), Speed mode (travel faster between areas), mini-games and side challenges (including Hunts), PS4 Trophy support, and share functionality.
Is It Any Good?
This excellent adventure is great for players who may have missed the original but are eager for a great role-playing game. From the engaging battles (between your party and enemies large and small) to the hunting options, from the deep progression system (that has you choosing jobs and skill upgrades for your party of characters) to the great-looking visuals (if you can forgive lip-synching that doesn't always match up), this epic journey looks, sounds, and plays like a fresh game, not just a dressed-up version of a previously released PS2 title.
Supported by a new voice track and cut-scenes, character interaction and plot development add meaning to your frequent battles, though some of the dialogue is trite or confusing (or both). It's the fighting -- including a programmable Gambit system to tell characters what to do in specific situations -- and the character leveling that will keep you glued to the game, not to mention the new modes (like Trial) that add a lot more gameplay to the mix. There are also some lesser known features, like the ability to toggle between the original and newly record orchestral versions of the soundtrack. Despite a few small niggles, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a fantastic Japanese RPG to boot up on your PS4, whether you've got a soft spot for the original or are new to the series.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about female representation in video games. Did this game need to show women dressed suggestively? Women can fight alongside men as equals (and the story involves a powerful princess), but why are they showing so much skin? Is this to appease a mostly male audience? Will younger female players think they need to dress this way? Or is it not a problem -- even among women gamers?
Talk about the morality of the game world, and how it deals with issues such as ethics, trust, and loyalty. How are these issues handled in the game? Are they similar to or different from the same issues in the real world?
Game Details
- Platform : PlayStation 4
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Square Enix
- Release date : July 29, 2017
- Genre : Role-Playing
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate