Game Versions

It is important to note that there are now several versions of Final Fantasy XII that can be played. Some of these game versions have entirely different game mechanics (new job systems) while some change the types of items dropped by various foes and bosses.

The original version of the game is the standard North American release on the PlayStation 2 (PS2). It can still be played on the original hardware, or through emulation, most notably with the PCSX2 emulator, which takes quite a bit of work to set up but offers superior graphics compared to the now outdated PS2.

The game has since been re-released as Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age on modern platforms, and this is the definitive version that most players will be using today. This guide is written with The Zodiac Age in mind, with notes wherever the original PS2 version differs.

There is one other version that was released in Japan called the International Zodiac Job System which offered an updated License Board (tied to specific jobs) and updated enemies and items tables. This job system is highly favored by most long-time fans of the series. The IZJS version itself was never released in North America, but its improvements went on to form the basis of The Zodiac Age.

Square Enix brought those improvements west when The Zodiac Age hit shelves in 2017. The re-release of the game includes the job system featured in the IZJS re-release of the game that was previously only released in Japan. All the items and Magick locations have been updated to reflect the newest version of the game.

New Game Plus and New Game Minus

The Zodiac Age also includes two optional replay modes. New Game+ starts a fresh playthrough with every character at level 90, letting you push straight through the story and focus on Hunts, Espers and side quests without any grinding. New Game− is the opposite extreme: your characters start between levels 1 and 3 and never gain any experience for the entire playthrough, leaving License Points, equipment and smart Gambit setups to carry you through a serious challenge run.

On consoles, New Game+ unlocks once you have completed the game, while New Game− unlocks after completing the Trial Mode. On PC, both modes are available from the title screen right away. Nothing carries over into these new save files, with one exception: the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One versions allow you to bring your equipment into New Game+.