Genre(s): Real-time strategy, Strategy RPG
Mode(s): Single player
Platform(s): Nintendo DS
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings (ファイナルファンタジーXII レヴァナント・ウイング Fainaru Fantajī Tuerubu Revananto Uingu) is a real-time strategy RPG developed by Square Enix and Think & Feel Inc. for the Nintendo DS. It is a sequel to the best-selling 2006 PlayStation 2 role-playing game Final Fantasy XII.
One year after the events of Final Fantasy XII, the protagonist Vaan is now a sky pirate possessing his own airship. He is joined in a new quest by his friend and navigator Penelo, other returning characters from the original title, as well as new characters such as Llyud, a member of the Aegyl race who have wings protruding from their backs. Their treasure-hunting adventures take them to the Purvama (Floating Continent) of Lemurés and the ground below, where the story begins.
Revenant Wings is the first title announced in the Ivalice Alliance series of video games. Square Enix announced that the North American release of the game for November 20, 2007 will be tougher than the Japanese version.
Gameplay
Like with Final Fantasy X-2, an airship, here named Beiluge (ベイルージュ Beirūju?), is available to the player as soon as the game starts. The airship is used as a base where the player can check on their current mission and view other tasks, customize equipment in the synthesis shop, or travel between the four islands of Lemurés. The airship’s interior can also be customized by the player.
Battle system
Revenant Wings is a real-time strategy game, but with elements reminiscent of Final Fantasy Tactics and Tactics Advance. It can be played entirely with the Nintendo DS stylus. Like in Final Fantasy XII, battles initiate once the party comes in contact with the enemy, and the characters can attack automatically. The player is given the option to give commands to the characters by tapping on them with the stylus. Possible commands include changing the character’s target, setting their gambit, or using various abilities. Area spells can be cast by drawing a rectangle around the enemies with the stylus.
Each character is distinguished according to three types: melee, ranged and airborne. Melee characters attack at a close range, and ranged from afar, while airborne are able to fly unbound to terrain. The types oppose each other in the manner where melee wins over ranged, ranged wins over airborne and airborne wins over melee.
Summoning
Summoning magic returns from Final Fantasy XII in Revenant Wings and have a larger role; director Motomu Toriyama stated that Revenant Wings has more summons than any previous Final Fantasy game. Summon abilities are learned via the new License Ring system, which is used to bind summons (called Espers) with the player’s characters. Each slot in the License Ring is placed with an Auracite to create a pact with the Esper. The number of summons available to the player fifty-one, and they are classified in different categories, with each character able to summon a large number depending the partys combined capacity.
Summoning Espers to aid in battle is accomplished by using an “Esper Gate” located in the playfield area. The ability to summon the different creatures depend on the “Gate Capacity” of the player characters. Summons are ranked from 1 to 3, with Rank 1 and 2 able to manifest in large numbers, as opposed to Rank 3 which summons only one entity. Summons are also differentiated by varying elements, which are fire, water, earth, and wind. Recovery and non-elemental are two other types.
Synthesizing
An element of alchemy and synthesizing is used in the game, where the player obtains recipes and materials necessary for the synthesis process. Only the player can obtain the materials, of which high grade material enhances the equipment to which it is synthesized.
Characters
Itō’s design for Vaan.
The characters are designed by Ryoma Itō, who was also the character designer for Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. Itō based some of his designs on those of Final Fantasy XII character designer Akihiko Yoshida. Itō “traded secrets” with him, with the confidence he gained from Final Fantasy XII creator Yasumi Matsuno’s praise on his tampering with Final Fantasy Tactics Advance’s Moogle designs.
Summon designs have also differed, for example the lizard design of Salamander was changed to be boar-like to ensure that the designs would come out well in the game graphics. Each summon had three Ranks, and the designs of each Rank are so that there are relations between one Rank and another.
Story
Revenant Wings begins a year after the events of Final Fantasy XII, with Vaan flying his own airship with Penelo after Balthier and Fran ’stole’ the Strahl, visiting them in Bervenia, accompanying them inside to obtain the Cache of Galbados. But there, they encounter the Esper Ifrit and defeated him before obtaining the treasure, taking leave when the building began to collapse on itself. Upon learning the Cache is actually a airship called the Beirouge, Batlthier gives it to Vaan to replace the one that was destoryed in the chaos. Through the ship, Vaan and Penelo find themselves on the Purvama Lemurés. While looking around the unknown ruins, they meet Llyud of the Aegyl race.
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