Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age Preorders on Amazon Added Prima Mini-Guide

Shortly before the game’s launch, Amazon updated its product pages for Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age with a new preorder bonus. Customers who preordered either the standard physical version or the Limited Steelbook Edition for PlayStation 4 received a Prima Digital Mini-Guide.

This offer was added to the existing listings, providing an extra incentive for those who had already reserved a copy or were considering a last-minute preorder. The mini-guide served as a small digital companion to the main game, offering tips for players starting their journey through Ivalice.

Strategy Guides for Ivalice

The included digital mini-guide was a condensed version of the full strategy guide also published by Prima Games. For players seeking a more comprehensive resource, the Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age: Prima Collector’s Edition Guide was available for purchase separately. This complete guide provided detailed walkthroughs, maps, and in-depth strategies covering all aspects of the remaster.

Notably, the full guide offered extensive coverage of the game’s updated mechanics, which were new to most players in the West. This included a breakdown of the revamped Zodiac Job System and tactics for overcoming the 100 consecutive battles of the challenging new Trial Mode.

Remastered Gameplay Systems

The Zodiac Age is a high-definition remaster of the PlayStation 2 original, but its changes went far beyond visuals. The game was based on the International Zodiac Job System version, which was previously released only in Japan. This version fundamentally altered character progression by replacing the original game’s single, all-encompassing License Board with 12 distinct job boards, each inspired by a zodiac sign.

The Zodiac Age further expanded on this by allowing players to assign a second job class to each character later in the game, creating opportunities for powerful and unique ability combinations. Other significant quality-of-life improvements included a speed mode, which allowed gameplay to be accelerated at two or four times the normal rate. This feature was designed to make traversing the vast world and grinding for experience less time-consuming. The remaster also introduced an auto-save function and faster loading times.

Audiovisual Enhancements

Square Enix upgraded the game’s presentation for the PlayStation 4. The remaster featured enhanced high-definition graphics, with more detailed character models and environmental textures. The audio also received a major overhaul. The entire score was re-recorded with a live orchestra, and the game included options to switch between the newly arranged soundtrack, the original synthesized PS2 version, and an original soundtrack CD version. For an immersive audio experience, The Zodiac Age also supported 7.1-channel surround sound.

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age was scheduled to release for the PlayStation 4 in North America on July 11, 2017.