The Spring of 2019 has been a wonderful stroll down memory lane of Square Enix glory, and Final Fantasy XII is the high note it ends on. Featuring every quality-of-life improvement to date, and the ability to play in handheld or on a television at a moment’s notice, it’s an easy decision to call the Switch version the definitive experience. Final Fantasy XII may end up being the best of the franchise on Switch, but with so many titles still available, hopefully it won’t be the last.

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a good remaster that improves all aspects of the original version with new mechanics that feel great. Despite being less clear in portable mode and specific problems with the camera, it is an excellent game that you should not miss.

With the enhancements and ability to play anywhere, The Zodiac Age on the Switch is everything I wanted from a portable release. It was obviously not feasible to have this on Vita but I’m glad Square Enix put this on a portable because the gameplay perfectly suits portable play and it is the full game with even more features than the PC version that was already a step above the PS4 version. I know its unlikely but the only thing I’d want more from this version is the ability to sync my save with Xbox One since I have that version as well.

Final Fantasy XII was a great game on the PS2 and The Zodiac Age is a great remaster of that classic. The new mechanics works perfectly, visually it's still an outstanding work and the game deserves to be replayed or rediscovered by a new generation of JRPGs enthusiasts.

Final Fantasy XII is a solid entry in the main series that has definitely been improved by updates made with the remaster. Elements of the game that were quite a shake-up at the time stand out much less given where the series has gone over the last decade. If you missed it the first time, this is the best version I could recommend thanks to the portability and all of the most up to date additions and improvements. More importantly, the game is fun. After countless hours of turn-based battles, it was a pleasant change. If you missed it the first time, it’s time to fix that mistake and grab Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age.

Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age is great. It was great in 2017 on the PS4. It’s greater now on the Switch. It looks amazing and the frame rate is consistent in the dock and in handheld. The price point is an issue. A port of a game more than a decade old should not cost the same as a full price Triple A new release title. There are indie games on the Nintendo Shop that are amazing for only a fraction of the price. Hell the original PS4 version of the Zodiac Age can be found in most stores of $25 and it is ostensibly the same game. If you can find a copy on sale, it is an essential title to add to your Switch library.

On a scale of best to worst Final Fantasy titles, XII sits somewhere in the middle. It exists in a bland limbo of mediocrity. The best qualities lie in its art direction, music and animation. Being able to play with a high speed mode truly illustrates just how slow and tedious the combat actually is and by circumventing it entirely, a huge portion of the experience is compromised but also the overall product is made more enjoyable.