Had the original from release. HD remaster does not disappoint. The new job system is great too. And at ￡12 It is a bargain.

Nothing about the game has changed, it just has been re-released to give it another chance to make some money.

The Zodiac Age is an anomaly in the Final Fantasy lineage, a game made with the kind of singular directorial vision only matched by the Sakaguchi games (and, arguably, Naoki Yoshida's more recent Final Fantasy 14).

What's your sign As a remaster it ticks pretty much all the boxes for every crowd -- Japanese/English audio, original or re-orchestrated music, a speed multiplier (with an x2 or x4 toggle) to make running about the field or combat go faster.

First released back in 2006, Final Fantasy XII represented a departure from the usual rhythms of the franchise. Rather than a squad of heroes facing off against their foes in a disconnected battlefield, combat was tied to the same world you explored.

Fast-forward mechanic is a lifesaver; Job system adds depth; Graphics are a stark improvement

Remaster treatment spread a little thin; Pacing is still uneven; Vaan is still kind of a tool

Enter an era of war within the world of Ivalice. The small kingdom of Dalmasca, conquered by the Archadian Empire, is left in ruin and uncertainty. Princess Ashe, the one and only heir to the throne, devotes herself to the resistance to liberate her country.

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is an HD remake of Final Fantasy XII which first introduced the Zodiac Job System, a 12-job character progression system.

And I am going to keep doing things in The Zodiac Age . It's taken the game I already loved so much and given me more. The Zodiac Age doesn't add things for the sake of adding them.

Overall, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is an impressive remake for the entry. Instead of taking the easy way out with an HD upscale, Square Enix gave the title the extra polish and features it needed to be a great title. If you missed this the first time, don't miss out again.

In all fairness, I should admit up front that Final Fantasy as a franchise fulfilled about 60% of my childhood escapism. The fantastical worlds and epic story-lines enthralled me for up to a hundred hours per game, and it was an opportunity to truly lose myself in a virtual world.