One of the most popular entries of the storied Final Fantasy series, Final Fantasy XII stands the test of time with a heavily political plot, gameplay that encourages exploration and beautiful environments underlined by a stunning score. It was an opportunity for veterans of the franchise to revisit the lands of Ivalice in an exciting new world with a fantastically realized, MMO-inspired combat system. Today, FFXII has received multiple updated re-releases that are currently available on PC, Play Station, Xbox and the Nintendo Switch.
In contrast, its rather unknown sequel, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, has received far less love from Square Enix. This title was released for the Nintendo DS and has yet to see the light of day on any other platform. This is a shame, as an updated release would be a fantastic addition to the franchise.
Revenant Wings kicks off around a year after the end of FFXII and brings back the game's original cast, along with new playable characters such as Kytes and brand new additions such as Llyud. The game's story takes the party across the floating islands of Lemurés using a new airship, with Vaan and his party initially taking on the role of explorers. Of course, they soon find themselves embroiled in a story that began far back in Ivalice's past. The game is notable in that it puts Vaan and Penelo at the front and center as the protagonists in a much more successful fashion than FFXII, a game that didn't really seem to know who its protagonist was.
The game's story is well-written and compelling. It deals heavily with the history of the fan-favorite Viera race and the newly introduced winged Aegyl. The plot dives into tropes common to myths and legends, continuing a running theme that begins with the Occuria of Final Fantasy XII. Fans of the series will appreciate the many nods to older games, including aesthetic similarities with the Final Fantasy Tactics Advance games, which were also set in Ivalice.
The gameplay of Revenant Wings is the biggest departure from the series standards and is possibly what makes it memorable for many players. It is a real-time strategy game in which the player controls the protagonists as powerful units but can gain the ability to summon monsters to support them. These monsters come in three varieties (melee, ranged and flying) and a range of elements. This forms the majority of the strategy in the game; players must make sure they're using their monsters effectively to finish fights. There are also optional quests that players can complete to forge pacts with the Espers that were present in the game's predecessor; using these Espers in battle feels great, especially for players already familiar with them from past games.
Thanks to the game's heavy reliance on its touch controls and the relative obscurity of the title, it hasn't really been seen as a candidate for remastering. Despite this, it's clear that an updated release would be a great addition to the canon. The way that the game explored a totally new genre and extended the lore of Ivalice made it a bit of a cult classic for those that played it. With a fresh coat of paint and a higher-quality soundtrack, it would feel right at home on the Nintendo Switch, with or without its touch controls. Ivalice remains a very popular destination for Final Fantasy games, most recently in a raid series developed for Final Fantasy XIV's Stormblood expansion, and revisiting it in Revenant Wings would be a joy.