The next menu option is Summon, which allows you to call on various creatures to aid you in combat. But unlike previous games you'll have to monitor their hit points. Lastly, there's Gambit, which determines character behavior depending on what items they're equipped with, and then Items, which basically lets you enter more menus and select various trinkets and weapons to equip your party with.

Final Fantasy XII's story isn't the most original of concepts but it certainly works. The game takes place in a land called Ivalice, where the evil Archadian Empire is busy wrecking shop on the weak. Its latest target is the Kingdom of Dalmasca, and after a brutal conflict they manage to slaughter the king. But unfortunately for them, they've left his daughter, Princess Ashe alive, and she declares war on the Archadians. Eventually, Ashe meets up with a rebellious character called Vaan, who dreams of one day becoming a sky pirate, and after a bit of time they team up with Ashe's friend Penelo, the sky pirate Balthier, and his partner, Fran. Together, they set out to annihilate their enemies, and encounter a host of strange beasts along the way.

The story will more than likely pan out and I'm sure the developers are filling in the blanks with interesting stuff. But even if the narrative is total crap, at the very least the game's CG sequences are gorgeous, though at this point that's to be expected from Square Enix. Featuring fluid animation and truly beautiful scenery, the land of Ivalice comes alive with towering fortresses, airships, and characters adorned with all types of intricate costumes. Actually, the cut scenes have a very Star Wars: Episode I appearance to them. They're not as good looking as that movie's trailers, but Square Enix has captured a similar feel.

What's not all that good looking is the game itself. It's passable, but in lieu of the recently released Xbox 360, Final Fantasy XII looks extremely dated. Don't get me wrong, it's still a good looking game and the character designs are outstanding, but having spent a good three weeks with next generation hardware, I'm just about ready to kick the PlayStation 2 to the curb.

My big issue with this game is its release date. Final Fantasy XII doesn't come out in the U.S. until August 1, and since that's almost nine months away, I think it's safe to assume that it might get pushed back. But if I have to wait until next summer to play it after swimming in Xbox 360 games running in 720p, I'm not sure whether I'll be interested. But the Final Fantasy faithful will no doubt line up to purchase it, so I don't think Microsoft's latest monster will be enough to slow sales of what should be a best selling PS2 title.