FFXII: The Zodiac Age OST Battle With an Esper

[@We_Are_Borg_478]

This is easily one of the best battle themes in the series, especially when it coincides with the use of your quickenings.

[@NeoArashi]

Aaah, yes, Quickenings... the thimg that allowed me to literally one-shot Belias and deal like 60-70% damage to Mateus, lol.

[@bcat010]

@@NeoArashi its funny how XII can either be really hard if you don't know what you're doing or really easy if you do.

[@admontblanc]

@@bcat010 some of the quickening chains were really tough to master, especially with all the ways it would go from one to another without a set order. Most especially in the days of the original release if you were playing it without a guide and your only chances to memorize them all were the scant times you could trigger them in battle. Sure one could waste hours farming spawns just to fill the quickening meters just so one could then get enough practice to master them all and be able to always get the maximum chain. Surely no one would flinch at the end game save ending at 600+ hours instead of the usual 300+ it took to complete a 100% save...

[@Iollipop87]

The FFXII Esper music really is quite epic

[@Auroralights321]

I've always loved the choir and the drums in this song. It makes it sound so intense.

[@rustym.shackelford5546]

*[ZODIARK READIES DARKJA]*

[@whenyoucantfindaname]

that brings out some ptsd

[@altrfryd5859]

The issue I'm having with Darkja is that it wipes out my team

[@ejmtv3]

@@altrfryd5859 thats the joke lol

[@ne0space]

Simply wear black robes

[@silenceundying]

@@ne0space Nah. Argyle Armlets half all dark damage, increase strength by 1, and can be used by any class regardless of typing. Black Robes are harder to get and limited to a few classes that are sub-optimal.

[@fd9514]

Ff12 was all my childhood on the og ps2. The fear when you visit zodiark with lvl 60 party and then he readies darkja, the stress, the patience, the joy. Really love this game till this day.👏🏽👏🏽👍

[@TheCleverPenguin]

FF12 is still my favourite to this day, especially the music. It's a big joy to play 14 and get to hear this stuff in the new dungeon too!

[@fd9514]

@@TheCleverPenguin Me too especially the esper battle theme song

[@TheCleverPenguin]

@@fd9514 absolutely. The only thing that can make it all better now is for the narrator to come back and summarise the story!

[@fd9514]

@@TheCleverPenguin yes

[@nesoukkefka1741]

The most stressfull part about Zodiark in the OG is since there was no auto-save, and there is no save point in that part of Henne Mines, you had to made it all the way to him, defeat him and then come back in a single go without dying ^^"

[@Malystrixiel]

When you run into Exodus by accident.... or, "Zodiark readies Darkja"

[@GhostWulf70792]

Malystrixiel that was me 10 years ago. Hey I'm gonna finish this float weed puzzle to see what I get. Oh that's a new area. *Exodus defends down like a meteor* *music plays* Well fuck

[@riodemark9999]

Malystrixiel I was lucky to even have one Demon Shield xD

[@riksensitorus2271]

Ultima readies Holyja

[@AudeJazz]

@@riksensitorus2271 I honestly had a lot more difficulty with ultima than zodiark. exodus was a spook - just popped up out of nowhere.

[@riksensitorus2271]

@@AudeJazz well, I had a tough time against Zodiark than Ultima. Hahahhaha, I bet you are better than me :D

[@macabre73]

Both this and the original are incredible songs, with a few minor differences. The pounding staccato drums at a sluggish 80 beats per minute just roll along like a thunderous death march. Love it..

[@marlonsolis2272]

Death march indeed

[@ReksNuadiah]

And I just noticed a short-note cello under it all, giving it an extra menacing vibe.

[@Black2overlord]

Ikr. Like the fact they took a theme that was already so good and enhanced it to be EVEN BETTER!? Smooth

[@pkillerx]

OG Version: Brought in a perspective of awe in the power of this incomprehensible creature and paralyzing fear it bestows upon the powerless and foolish mortals who have awakened thee and are to receive its wrath; aged like fine wine. Dissidia Version: Brings in more "power" and "chaos" with its percussions and slightly-faster BPM; great for fast-paced action combat. Remaster/Remix Version: Replaced the "fear" factor with an odd "beauty" in its power; almost refined and elegant with its orchestral tone. Even though I usually prefer the originals, this ONE theme is the exception where I can appreciate all versions, and I hope it stays that way for any future re-arrangements.

[@Beyllion]

I ran into Adrammelech by accident. 12 yo me was scared af. It was my first esper after Belias.

[@zenorxasar]

FF7 has 2 superbosses and they both gave me nightmares. FF 12, I think has a lot especially esper battles. One of the worst place to be in is the sewer with Cuchalian (don't know how to spell).

[@Beyllion]

@@zenorxasar Cúchulainn I went prepared for this one, took some time to find it. But Adrammelech I was not ready, my grear was trash

[@zenorxasar]

Ah yes adrammalech, I stumbled it by exploring the zertinan cavern... I died horribly thinking my level was high enough and didn't expect lots of zombie spawning in the esper battle... Which sucks

[@necroheartplucker]

@@zenorxasar Same happened to me. I wondered into this cavern far earlier in the game by pure accident and encountered this esper during the earliest stage of the game and got a game over :'( But after leveling up more - lv. 50-ish, and came back to this place, I had beaten the monsters more easily and finished Adrammalech in less than 5 minutes! :D Couldn't believe how weak he was when my characters were buffed later on xD

[@LoliColie]

zetinern cave was rly a great warning for newbies,

[@williamreely3455]

Ah yes the theme of "You've awoken an ancient and unspeakable horror, and It Is Pissed." I loved the idea of the Espers being the origins of the Lucavi, in that they resurface in a distant future Ivalice where the Occuria either no longer exist or have been forgotten.

[@dravenjohn1944]

One of the best FF themes. And I usually play this when I'm in flight. ❤️

[@unproxv]

Also now known as the theme for Castrum Lacus Litore battles.

[@FreedomSylph]

Also fitting that the Castrum esper boss and the video boss is Adrammelech

[@sparthyslaysstuff2405]

Been wondering where this theme was since Rabanastre. Back when Hashmal was taking alliances lunch money.

[@kylecliffe]

Love how Flash of Steel plays during the Dawon/Lyon fight too.

[@seancatacombs]

Spamming Holy on helicopter trash mobs waiting for the other party to clear their boss

[@DeltafangEX]

Ever since my first CLL run, there has been one thing that has struck me every single time: How Brionac's combat idle animation and attacks like False Thunder not only give a good impression of how heavy and powerful it is, but how perfectly in-sync they are with the music - especially the first 30s of the fight where False Thunder starts just as the choir part begins.

[@cellophanezebra4663]

How to kill a summon Balthier with haste and a gun "Prepare to get deleted"

[@matthewearlywine5535]

Lyrics “ Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah BLAH BLAAAAHHH” By the way... Zodiark readies Darkja

[@47LilAnt]

lmao

[@parisrembare]

I laughed to hard at this. The FCKIN TRAUMA

[@gammaray2723]

Hahahhaha fk

[@Doug-Strong]

this is FFXIV related: a fear I had was that after Shadowbringers, the Garlean empire wouldn't seem as imposing. but the use of this theme during Castrum Litore really helped drive the point forward of, like, yeah the Garleans are actually still very threatening and should not be taken lightly.

[@GoIdenbaum]

The IVth Legion has cut off ties with the Garlean government and they still had fearsome magitek to throw around like Brionac, Helldiver, Vigilia, The Patriot and the Gabriels. Makes you wonder just what the garlean main force still has under their sleeves

[@emerald6597]

@@GoIdenbaum not much lol

[@jubez187]

Bozja/Zadnor and the continuation of FFXIV's ivalice was the best part of ShB for me

[@Moonvesper]

and then they got offscreened. RIP

[@AntLion1995]

I love how in the first fight you're literally just hitting a dandling tail.

[@heresacaterpillarifoundinm8679]

He probably took notes from fighting Demon King Ganon

[@Nameless.Hermit]

I stumbled into Zalera the death seraph earlier on my first play through. Holy fuck, this tune kicks.

[@darshio8307]

1:30 that part is so good

[@dprince1987]

Love this battle theme its my favorite

[@marcosseverini5297]

I was searching for Hastega and Shellga in the Crystal, thinking that I'd find them and then leave without too much trouble. I found myself before Ultima.

[@Jhonnywmr]

I really love this theme. Finding Zodiark by accident💀

[@WiliantoMulti]

Did u die ?

[@ladynikkie]

Screw that creature lol

[@matronmalice9867]

Zeromus ripped my guts out and wore them for garters. :)

[@dre549]

This also plays in Castrum Lacus Litore now :)

[@MurakamiTenshi]

Yeah, and it's still underwhelming compared to the original and the Dissidia version

[@DSKCentral]

Top 70%

[@RhodeSchaeffer]

@@MurakamiTenshi ... it's literally the same as the original.

[@PomPomNomi]

@@RhodeSchaeffer not only that but Dissidia just remixed it so it would fit well for the game’s tone. Can’t really say one’s better than the other when they’re two different settings. Know their world and characters before creating a track.

[@Jennifahh]

@@RhodeSchaeffer its different. The original sounds better

[@DaedalusFenisci]

''Famfrit! to meeeee!''

[@thekrustaceox5181]

People talking about 1:00? I have no problems with that part. My problem is with the volume screw up at 1:08

[@Fingers998]

oh wow, you're a keen listener.

[@ElectricLegend14]

Agreed. The bit at 1:00 is so intense, it makes the battle seem more suspenseful.

[@hyperluminousquazar6365]

i think that part they changed fits more than the ps2, it makes it more intense

[@CDPW]

One of the good ones.

[@sleepiestofall]

I accidentally encountered Ultima on my first complete play through. I was extremely unprepared and under leveled for the fight. I have no damn clue how I managed to beat her. But this track definately played a huge role in motivating me.

[@an_ordinary_goose]

I think Ultima is actually one of the easier battles in the Great Crystal - getting to her is the real battle. Besides, the alternative is Omega Mk XII...

[@terryautry6493]

i hated even going to fight her. it's a gigantic maze full of twists and turns and running into enemies that will wreck you in a second lol

[@an_ordinary_goose]

@@terryautry6493 and don't get me started on that *useless* location map

[@Gamerchick221]

I did the same thing but I managed to beat her.

[@mdmk]

One thing I wish they fixed for FF12 TZA is the camera. I keep seeing only the abdomen of my enemies but not their faces. :)

[@TheLastLineLive]

Left Trigger/L2 does adjust the camera so you can better see the tall or flying enemies.

[@Evilness117]

My music to get up for work , The battle is real 😂 Need that coffee

[@SeventhheavenDK]

I liked this version more than the original, still, the one from Dissidia is my favorite so far.

[@Bahamut-goku07]

Juste incroyable cette ost

[@commissarkordoshky219]

Penelo 'Evanescence' Me: "The band...?"

[@fd9514]

When you do only 2 combos against zodiark in the end but he still has a tiny bit of hp left.⚰⚰

[@commissarkordoshky219]

@@fd9514 mate I never even got the difficult dinosaur mark on the island of rhodes you think I ever got close to this guy!? XDXDXD

[@fd9514]

@@commissarkordoshky219 behemoth king?

[@commissarkordoshky219]

@@fd9514 yeah that one. Never even got that thing past a quarter of its health before I got totally wiped and left it at that.

[@fd9514]

@@commissarkordoshky219 i was at the same stage for years. If you're still playing then you have to have 1 heavy hitter with strongest armor and weapon you've got. Then cast decoy,reverse, berserk bravery bubble magic,shell and shield magic on him and have 2 healers and magic casters who can cast those magics on him. Remember to distribute them equally with these magics via gambits or else both of them will very soon run of of mp. Last thing, cast heal manually or else your hitter will die because of the reverse. Good luck

[@jchea1764]

The * shit my pants * music when I used to play XII after school

[@ZeroEscape2074]

this theme hits different when you heard it in game along with all the sound effects

[@Ultimasceptile2323]

If you listen to it at 1.25 it sounds like a march for the espers

[@civilwildman]

Esper: You can’t beat me! Me: Want to bet? Also me: Acquired all 13 espers, completed all hunts AND beat both superbosses before beating the game!

[@delai86]

Beat trial mode?

[@civilwildman]

Didn’t care to do that. Mainly wanted to complete what I said and beat the actual game.

[@mssunnylunarain7]

I know this is going to sound strange, but this is one of those rare cases, where I think the old theme was better. During the chorus, this one lacks the power and urgency the original seemed to gave.

[@eternalgracenote]

This track legit still gives me anxiety

[@xXOphidianXx]

Ah, my boy Adrammelech! I encountered this mf too early, but I somehow managed to defeat him with my Quickenings. I loved when Final Fantasy had so much optional stuff going on with hidden or secret bosses, unlike FFXV or FFXVI, which are mediocre at best.

[@darshio8307]

Lol, ff16 is pretty much the best ff after 10, i know it lacks of content, but the game is everything but mediocre lol, it literally gives you a lot of abilities to battle to fight with your own style and to make an unique set

[@ryobibattery]

When you see the face of God you will die and there will be nothing left

[@DarrylHoff-c8l]

Then either God needs to grow up or the human does! I'm not dying anytime soon 😂

[@brandonpondexter8312]

*a wild Hashmal appears*

[@mikeoakeshart3823]

Gambit scheme Ally: Any - Reverse theme song

[@fd9514]

Reminds me of the good old cure rng method to get infinite zodiac spears🤤👍

[@KresusFIN]

No! You madman! Why would you kill Adrammelech? :P He's literally an infinite source of High Arcana. :D

[@MekkahDee]

Don't know nothing 'bout no High Arcana

[@KresusFIN]

To let you in on the secrets to life itself: Equip your steal dude with Thief Gloves. Run into boss area. Wait for boss to stop summoning pesky dead people to poison you. Run up to boss. Steal. Run out. Repeat until High Arcana amount is satisfactory. They ARE a very rare steal, but if you want to cheese the bazaar, you'll need those. They were used to create the materials that created the materials that created Tournesol in the old game, iirc. =)

[@hellowyrm1295]

After you buy the Canopic Jar, Dustia is an infinite source of High Arcanas as well, and a much less headache-inducing one too. Besides, if you play your cards rights, you will only need 3 of those for Tournesol.

[@KresusFIN]

I will defer to you on that. Most of what I know comes from the original FF12 on PS2. The Zodiac Age no doubt brought in lots of subtle changes than I am unawares of. I keep hearing farming is more bearable, and I'm inclined to agree, from what I've played of it. I'm just not too smart at working the Bazaar system, even after all this time :D

[@WiliantoMulti]

Who needs tournesol when one can infinitely steal wyrmhero blade from trial stage 50 ? Along with ribbon in stage 49.

[@ScarletStarManor]

Damn, zodiac age is 4 years now?

[@Sleepgarden]

Hot take but I prefer the original, particularly with the chorus (at 0:47), the original just as an absolute power to it that this one seems to mute

[@chetmcgovern9985]

One of the coolest boss themes, certainly the best in FF12. Also, Adrammelech is a punk

[@SirFlankBoring]

"WHY... WHY I can't use any spells?!!!"

[@terryautry6493]

when you run into that one in the caves by accident. let me tell you this. i love this music. but i prefer ff8 force your way. by the way, i decided to take on the second esper in the temple. i forget its name. and i was pretty low level i believe. i had finished trial mode and had wyrm hero blades and ribbons. and still got my butt creamed. it's not about levels, it's about armor

[@terryautry6493]

by the way, i never use too many gambits. sometimes i just do manual stuff.

[@bub777]

Wow, this is really beefed up compared to the original.

[@petrus9067]

Only Espers missing from ffxiv: Now are Zeromus, Chaos, Exodus and Zalera. Ultima and Zodiark are there but not the same design tho

[@YamamanGaming]

Well, we do have Zero now :)

[@herosmerlose5784]

Teeeeeechnically, exodus is there. Exodus in XII was a reference to Ex Death from V, and he was the final floor of the first stormblood tier.

[@petrus9067]

​@YamamanGaming and now we actually have zeromus as well xD

[@Yokai_Yuri]

All I remember from this is...Ultima spaming that white holy attack and Zodiark at floor 96 spamming the FUCK OUT of eclipse(?)

[@elinfini]

*Holyja* and *Darkja* actually.

[@nori4051]

Dissidia 012 ver is still the best i think

[@Vayne_Solidor]

I named my 2nd PSN account after Zodiark. Now I can ready Darkja too.

[@Butterfly_8_Effect]

I found this guy by accident the first time i had played this game. Consequently, i got killed in less of twenty seconds 😂

[@landyfischer6275]

I wish they would have kept this battle system for FFXIII.

[@alisonferreira2346]

Última readies holyja

[@didierjeff4249]

Snes metroid like music... Cool af

[@kyriellepunongbayan6909]

seriously.. gambit system us far better than AI... its hybrid turnbased and active battle

[@mdmk]

Gambit is pretty much a set of if-then logic and I think it has awakened the software engineer within a lot of folks through playing this game.

[@LoiValdes]

The only track I really like from this game

[@misterpayah7723]

Tbh I still don't know what a paling is, but I do know it makes me want to rip my hair out.

[@cypher838]

*Hashmal readies quakaja*

[@ofai69]

Not bad overall i guess but the original is still the best. One of the only music that made fighting a boss feel epic. This is better than the dissidia version though, those drums ruined it for me.

[@TenchiHawkwing]

When you think they nailed it but then suddenly 1:00

[@tuyhhf]

They just ALMOST had it, didn't they? ...eh, we all make mistakes. At least everything surrounding it is pretty good.

[@TransTaey]

Woof, I hear what you mean.

[@tonystank3091]

I don't know what you're talking about. That's amazing.

[@MohaBright98]

TenchiHawkwing actually this is why I prefer it over the original imo best part from the entire soundtrack.

[@DeadGuyInTheGround]

TenchiHawkwing idk... I've gone back and forth between versions and that part sounds almost exactly the same on both, so I don't know what the problem is...

[@mrnobody2683]

Ultra Ego then

[@ThePuzzleExpert]

this sounds like music from star wars!

[@kawaiipineapplestewd5094]

The first scene in the last chapter with the fleet approaching the Bahamut gave me huge vibes from the final battle against the second Death Star in Return of the Jedi!

[@antonironstag5085]

FF12 has a lot of old school Star Wars vibes

[@NailikNoteworks]

1:00. ... oh, god, why? D8 That's terrible.

[@buzzworddujour]

Yeah, it's an interesting choice... I guess it sort of works, but differs too much from what I think the original sounded like. I prefer the Dissidia version to this.

[@Blues2Dark]

I was wondering what everyone was talking about, at that point,and then I heard it, It does seem like it doesn't sound right.

[@tjc3644]

What's different?

[@Imozart0341I]

Thomas c too aggressive

[@josemmila2926]

Belias 😂

[@shinkirou7756]

Damn you Zalera, why must your quest be so boring?!

[@Beyllion]

The original is better This one tries too hard

[@darshio8307]

Both are fantastic ngl

[@felipeidromel6071]

original is better bye

[@Yokai_Yuri]

It's not, bye.

[@joeyzapata6786]

The Espers are my only true issue with this game. I would have rather have had straight up summons a la FF VII.