《太空戰士XII》（Final Fantasy XII）是Square Enix於2006年推出的角色扮演遊戲，為該系列的第十二部正式作品。首次在PlayStation 2平台發售，以嶄新的系統與世界觀為系列帶來巨大革新，獲得高度評價。之後移植的平台有PS4、PC、Xbox One、Switch。

背景設定於奇幻世界「伊瓦利斯」，在兩大強國阿爾克迪亞帝國（Archadia）與羅扎利亞帝國（Rozarria）之間的戰亂時期。達爾瑪斯卡王國（Dalmasca）因地處兩國交界，成為爭奪的焦點。王國最終被阿爾克迪亞侵略，國王在簽署和平協議時遭暗殺，王國公主艾雪（Ashe）流亡，國土淪陷。主人公梵（Vaan）是在戰爭中失去家人的拉巴納斯塔孤兒，夢想成為自由的天空海盜。機緣巧合下，梵在達爾瑪斯加舊王城中捲入反抗軍的行動，與王族艾雪相遇，進而展開揭露帝國陰謀、尋找王國失落寶物的旅程。

角色群體方面，是多元且充滿個性的團隊。除了梵與艾雪之外，還包括神秘的天空海盜巴修（Balthier）與他的搭檔弗蘭（Fran）—來自森林族群的兔人種族，此外還有被指控謀殺國王的前達爾瑪斯卡王國騎士巴修（Basch），以及瓦恩的青梅竹馬潘妮洛（Penelo）。每位角色都有獨特的過去與動機，隨著劇情推進，他們的關係逐漸加深，展現出豐富的角色成長與互動。

在系統方面，拋棄以往的隨機遭遇戰與回合制系統，改以「即時戰鬥系統」（Active Dimension Battle，ADB）取而代之，在開放地圖中自由移動並即時與敵人戰鬥。此外，導入「戰鬥演算法」（Gambit）系統，可事先設定角色在戰鬥中的自動行動邏輯，例如：「敵人HP低於50%時，自動使用火焰法術」。該系統提供極高的策略性與自由度，使戰鬥更具流暢感，也減輕在戰鬥中反覆操作的負擔。

關卡設計方面，場景十分廣大且多元，有天氣變化外，地圖更是無縫銜接，各區域細節極為豐富。探索沙漠、叢林、遺跡、華麗神殿、迷霧沼澤、天空礦坑等各類場景，每個區域都設計獨特的怪物與寶藏，還有隱藏的強大魔物供玩家挑戰。此外，還設有獵人公會系統，接受委託追捕強敵怪物，這些挑戰不僅能獲得珍稀裝備與道具，還大大延長遊戲時間與耐玩度。有別於傳統太空戰士系列，在打敗怪獸之後會取得戰利品而非貨幣，需要將戰利品轉賣到商店。

在畫面表現上同樣令人驚豔，伊瓦利斯世界的構築充滿濃厚的中世紀與東方奇幻風格，大量的城市建築細節、角色服裝設計以及廣闊的場景讓人宛如置身於華麗的奇幻電影之中。

在市場評價方面，自發售以來便獲得高度讚譽。在日本與全球市場銷售成績亮眼，短時間內銷量突破6百萬套，並榮獲2006年日本遊戲大賞「年度遊戲大獎」等多個重要獎項。評論普遍認為遊戲在戰鬥系統、劇情與世界觀設計方面有著卓越表現，特別是戰鬥系統的革新在當時的RPG市場中極具開創性。然而，部分玩家對於主角梵的存在感提出質疑，認為他在整體劇情中缺乏足夠的主導地位，使得角色塑造稍顯薄弱。

總體而言，憑藉其宏大的世界觀、創新的戰鬥系統與精緻的遊戲畫面，成功在《Final Fantasy》系列中占據一席之地，並影響後續多款RPG遊戲的設計方向。即使多年過去，本作仍被許多玩家視為經典，並在後續推出高清重製版《太空戰士XII 黃道紀元》，讓新一代玩家有機會重溫這部史詩之作。

Final Fantasy XII is a role-playing game developed by Square Enix and released in 2006. It is the twelfth main installment in the series. Initially launched for the PlayStation 2, the game introduced a groundbreaking system and world-building that brought significant innovations to the franchise, earning widespread acclaim. The game was later ported to platforms including PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Switch.

The story is set in the fantasy world of Ivalice, during a period of war between two great empires – the Archadian Empire and the Rozarrian Empire. The Kingdom of Dalmasca, located between these two powers, becomes a focal point of conflict. Dalmasca is eventually invaded by Archadia, and during a peace treaty signing, the king is assassinated. Princess Ashe, the kingdom’s heir, goes into exile, and the land falls into occupation. The protagonist, Vaan, is an orphan from Rabanastre who lost his family in the war and dreams of becoming a sky pirate. By chance, Vaan becomes entangled in the resistance movement within Dalmasca’s old royal city, encountering Princess Ashe and embarking on a journey to uncover the empire’s conspiracies and search for the kingdom’s lost relics.

The game features a diverse and charismatic cast of characters. In addition to Vaan and Ashe, the team includes the enigmatic sky pirate Balthier and his partner Fran – a member of the rabbit-like Viera tribe from the forests. Also joining the group are Basch, a former Dalmascan knight accused of assassinating the king, and Penelo, Vaan’s childhood friend. Each character has a unique background and personal motives. As the story progresses, their relationships deepen, showcasing rich character development and interactions.

In terms of gameplay, Final Fantasy XII abandons the traditional turn-based and random encounter systems in favor of the Active Dimension Battle (ADB) system, allowing players to move freely and engage in real-time combat within open maps. The game also introduces the Gambit system, which lets players pre-program characters’ actions in battle. For example, a Gambit can be set to “automatically cast fire magic when an enemy’s HP falls below 50%.” This system provides a high degree of strategic depth and autonomy, creating smoother battles and reducing the need for constant manual inputs.

The game’s level design features vast and diverse environments with seamless transitions between areas and dynamic weather changes. Players can explore deserts, jungles, ancient ruins, majestic temples, misty swamps, and sky mines. Each area is populated with unique monsters and treasures, as well as hidden powerful creatures that challenge players. A Hunter’s Guild system is also included, allowing players to accept contracts to hunt formidable beasts. These challenges yield rare equipment and items, significantly extending gameplay and replayability. Unlike traditional Final Fantasy games, defeated monsters drop loot instead of money, which must be sold to merchants for currency.

The visual presentation is equally stunning, with the world of Ivalice reflecting a rich blend of medieval and Eastern fantasy aesthetics. Detailed cityscapes, intricately designed character outfits, and expansive landscapes immerse players in a cinematic fantasy experience.

Since its release, Final Fantasy XII has received high praise and performed exceptionally well in both Japanese and global markets, selling over six million copies in a short span. It won several prestigious awards, including the 2006 Japan Game Awards’ Game of the Year. Critics lauded the game’s battle system, storyline, and world-building, noting the innovative combat mechanics as a groundbreaking addition to the RPG genre at the time. However, some players criticized Vaan’s role, feeling that his presence lacked significant influence on the overall narrative, making his character appear somewhat underdeveloped.

Overall, with its expansive world, innovative combat system, and exquisite visuals, Final Fantasy XII secured its place in the Final Fantasy series and influenced the design of subsequent RPGs. Even years after its initial release, the game remains a classic for many fans. The HD remastered version, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, allowed a new generation of players to experience this epic adventure once more.