Final Fantasy XII (Collector's Edition) PlayStation 2

The Final Fantasy series' PS2 opus is set in Ivalice, a fantasythemed land familiar to veterans of Final Fantasy Tactics. Here, magic and technology coexist, as do humans and other intelligent races such a s the leporine viera and the scalyskinned bangaa. Airships, in the form of hightech hovercraft, are also common in this land of Ivalice, and players will pilot these skyspeeders for transportation, warfare, and (perhaps) even a little privateering.

Character development is designed to be as engaging and empowering as in any Final Fantasy game, and is accomplished by making strategic "license" choices in a chessboardlike graphic interface. Through the game's new "Active Dimension Battle" system, combat progresses in a pauseable realtime flow, offering a sense of action while retaining tactical options. Companion characters can be assigned customizable battle behaviors ahead of time, through the game's "gambit" system.

Ashe, the princess of a small kingdom called Dalmasca, is the star of the story, although she is joined by several other driven and distinctly skilled characters. The nearby Archadian Empire is in a period of reckless, vicious expansion, and as heir to the throne of Dalmasca, it falls to Ashe and her companions to save the sovereignty of their tiny nation from imperial usurpers.

Including a full version of the PS2 game, the "Collector's Edition" of Final Fantasy XII comes in a steel case with a DVD video containing developer interviews, trailers, a brief "History of Final Fantasy" feature, and a virtual art gallery. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide