When it comes to strategy guides, no company does them better than Piggyback Interactive. Based in the UK, Piggyback rarely sends strategy guides to the states. When you get one, though, you're glad. These are detailed like no other guide you've ever seen. Their Final Fantasy XII guide is just as detailed.
At over 300 pages, this is Piggyback's biggest guide they've ever done. This tome is packed with more information than any other Final Fantasy XII guide you can find.
It takes a long time to jump into the walkthrough in this guide. It begins with the game basics that take up a ton of space. Mostly because it doesn't just get you adapted to the controls, but Final Fantasy XII's combat system. Giving you the run down on everything, including Gambits. Not only do they explain Gambits but they offer some pretty good examples of how to set them up. Using this guide you'll be able to set up a well balanced party. It helps to see just how good the gamebit system can really be. It'll also give you the low down on every character. Showing how much they'll level up and what some of their stats will be between certain levels. Just the same, this is the only guide that goes in depth on all the guests that'll join your party and let's you know what their gambits are.
Afterwards we get into the staddard items list for weapons, armor etc. Again, incredibly detailed but also helping you make sense of what everything means and how it is you'll be able to hit an enemy a series of times. After that, there's the bestiary. Separated by area, it's a helpful tool. Also showing you who your friend is. But beyond that, the game shows every Rare Game monster you can think of.
After all this we finally get to the walkthrough. It's spoiler free and details an optimal route through each section, while having lettered callouts on the map. Therefore, if you see “A” on the map, then look to the “A” section and read what you have to do. The walkthrough also details every extra as it comes up, pointing out that that's the best way to do them. Even if you decide not to do them at that moment, the “Extras” chapter will direct you to any page in the walkthrough that details a quest. It's a highly detailed walkthrough. If there was any complaint, it would be that boss strategies aren't detailed enough, nor does the guide provide you with enough screenshots. Don't think this means for a second this walkthrough won't help. It definitely will. It's far better than the BradyGAMES guide, but there are some things they might mention that you might need a screenshot so that you can figure out just what they're talking about.
With all the information packed into this guide you'd think page flipping would be a problem. It isn't. At the very back, there's an index that pinpoints you to everything the guide has. The guide is also spoiler free for anyone who is curious.
Piggyback has done it again. Crafting a guide that isn't just there to get you through the game, but helping to make sure you conquer it and leave no stone unturned. Piggyback hasn't just created a guidebook. They've created a friend.