Final Fantasy XII is the second most underappreciated game in the series. Players in the past didn’t understand the excellent Gambit system, combat was no longer turn based, and the developmental woes resulted in the latter portion of the story rushing to an abrupt conclusion. While the end is a weak point, the rest of the story stands tall as a solid tale of political intrigue and divine powers.

In an age where Square Enix continually rehashes their games and spins them into gaudy, bastardized sequels that undermine the very themes that made the originals popular, it’s easy to forget that Final Fantasy used to be about creating all new experiences. Every game would introduce entirely new stories and character growth/combat systems. Aside from Final Fantasy XI, the first MMORPG in the franchise, FFXII was the most innovative game Square Enix has ever released, and those innovations carried over into the story.

The game offers a cast where the player’s main character isn’t the focal point of the story, Vaan watches from offstage as the main factions play their roles. The story has a focus on politics, one of the best aspects of the Ivalice created by Yasumi Matsuno, and the latest trailer focuses on just that.

You have to love how Square Enix is selling the more controversial aspects of the game as features. It’s smart marketing, and hopefully leads to people looking at Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age in a better light when it releases on July 11, 2017.

How do you feel about the FFXII story? Let us know in the comments section below.