Final Fantasy 12was both an innovative leap forward and a return to tradition for the franchise. Released in 2006, the game brought back the Active-Time Battle system and job classes, but also technical innovations like a controllable camera, AI-controlled teammates, and the series' first true open world.
It was also a game beset by development troubles. Arriving two years behind schedule, initial game director Yasumi Matsuno resigned partway through development. According to aPolygonpiece celebrating the remastered version released in 2017, Matsuno resigned partially due to a “health crisis” brought on by the stress of FF12’s extended development, but also “frustration” with Square Enix management’s meddling.
Related:Thank Goodness Final Fantasy 16 Isn’t Final Fantasy 15
“Matsuno’s original vision for FF12’s story centered around Basch fon Ronsenberg, a knight falsely accused of regicide, as the lead character,” reported Polygon. “While Basch and his struggle to restore his good name remain a critical element of the final version of the game, the company’s higher-ups reportedly insisted that teenage duo Vaan and Penelo be made the game’s point-of-view characters. Final Fantasy has to connect with young players, and Basch (being an elderly 28 years of age) evidently wouldn’t do.”
Six years later, Matsuno has confirmed that the story of Basch being his initial idea for FF12’s protagonist is simply not true. In a Twitter thread discussing Final Fantasy’s oldest protagonist (whichwill soon be Final Fantasy 16’s Clive), two users argued over whether Basch was supposed to be FF12’s hero. When the Polygon report was quoted, Matusno arrived to set the record straight.
“That rumor is a fake story,“he wrote. “Thank you.”
Final Fantasy 12 has always been divisive among franchise faithful. Some like the light-hearted perspective of a child caught up in the grand schemes of nations, whereas others felt that it was really Ashe or Basch that would have made better main characters.
In the upcoming Final Fantasy 16, players will get the best of both worlds. As revealedin the latest State of Play, Clive will begin the game as a teenager before fateful events lead him to become a hardened soldier. He’s also going to be the oldest main character in Final Fantasy history at age 33.
Another tie-in with Final Fantasy 12 will be the return of the bounty system. Players will be able to travel across Final Fantasy 16’s open world map to hunt down monsters for rewards, a system that was first implemented in 12. Final Fantasy 16 arrives on June 22.
