Final Fantasy Revenant Wings consists of ten chapters, each containing around five missions. The story transports players to the city of Ivalice, where they follow the adventures of Vaan and his friends in the skies above. As a real-time strategy (RTS) game, it successfully combines the distinct style and rich storytelling of the Final Fantasy series with fast-paced action, resulting in highly engaging gameplay.
Though not a pure RTS or role-playing game, Final Fantasy XII - Revenant Wings is a unique hybrid of both genres. To enjoy the game, it's crucial to understand its combination of features. Traditional RTS concepts like unit construction and resource management are absent, but gambits from FF12 are available, allowing control over the autonomous AI of the warriors.
The expansive world of Final Fantasy XII is filled with adventures featuring Vaan, Balthier, Penelo, and Fran, as well as familiar enemies. Players can partake in numerous side quests, engage in encounters with pirates and local fauna, craft new weapons, and earn trophies after battles. Crystals called Auricite, earned during missions, can be used to forge treaties with monsters called Espers. Espers form a significant portion of combat forces, and players should form treaties with various types to strengthen their armies. Mission-specific goals range from reaching a certain location to defeating all enemies, requiring players to analyze enemy weaknesses and customize their forces accordingly. Characters and Espers are classified as flying, ranged, or melee units, with relationships between them. At the beginning of combat, chosen characters become Esper leaders. Battles are fast-paced, demanding close attention to detail and constant rank refilling.
Visually, Revenant Wings features expressive cut scenes, vivid and lively locations, and well-executed animation. Battlefields are designed to suit the isometric camera, but some drawbacks include occasional slowdowns in large-scale battles and terrain objects obscuring enemies. Despite these issues, the game offers an impressive 3D world experience with consistent sprite work.
Fans of Final Fantasy XII will appreciate Revenant Wings' soundtrack, as most songs, including the captivating Rabanastre tune, are ported without alteration. However, the gameplay can be slow, and controls can be frustrating, particularly when selecting heroes during crowded battle scenes. The game is focused on single-player experiences and lacks network connectivity support via LAN or Wi-Fi.
In summary, Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings boasts stunning CGI, incredible visuals, captivating music, and innovative RTS-like gameplay. With numerous side quests and an engaging storyline, it's an appealing game for avid gamers.