I give 3 stars. Why?
Well, Final Fantasy XII is not a bad game per se. It is a complex and well-designed RPG with many freedoms and an unusual but still good story. The world is diverse and the city very much alive. The game is so basically all around well done.
BUT: it should not be called Final Fantasy, because that is certainly not!
If you look back at times the outstanding parts VII - X (and perhaps even X-2), then you will find that all those games have something in.
One being a story that every time very simple but nevertheless always is absolutely thrilling indeed. A "doomsday story" and alongside a love story. (In FF7 the Meteor, in FF8 the witch in FF9 Kuja in FF10 SIN in FF10-2 Vegnagun.) Such, always the same running basically Story is it that makes a FINAL FANTASY. And that's just not possible with FF12. This is only to political intrigues that - have bored after a short time - at least me. Epic Story nil.
On the other hand belong to a proper Final Fantasy random battles just to all the negative remarks in defiance. Those who thereby feel annoyed, I can not really understand. Random battles are a suitable means, such a terrific battle system (ATB) integrate. When I play a Final Fantasy, then I will "turn-based" battles and come across monsters, when I explore the world. And even that can not offer FF12. The Gambit-fighting system is indeed successful, but it has no place in a Final Fantasy nothing.
And for these reasons I give only three stars for a really very good game. Final Fantasy XII is in my view not a Final Fantasy, and that's why I'm a fan quite disappointed and hope of improvement in the next part. Back to the Roots is the keyword here. For it is not for nothing that the other Final Fantasy (annoying random battles, boring story), despite criticisms of alleged not only sold well, but traded as the best games of all time.
In conclusion, I might be able to say the following:
Who such a good and thrilling Final Fantasy expected as were the other parts will be disappointed here. (Basically, every disappointed the expected EVER a Final Fantasy.)
Those who do not know the other parts that can go wrong with this title not because it is a good game. In my opinion it can but not be called Final Fantasy.