Final Fantasy XII is consuming the little free time I have
Out of all the games out there, my favorite is probably Final Fantasy Tactics. The gameplay, unique graphics, symphonic soundtrack, incredible depth, and compelling storyline quickly made it a favorite among favorites. Final Fantasy XII shared the design team of Tactics (also Vagrant Story and Ogre Battle/Tactics Ogre), and it really shows, as XII has managed to combine everything I loved about previous Final Fantasy games, and added a unique series of innovations, to create a game that is both a spiritual successor to Final Fantasy Tactics, and the strongest entry in the series in several years.
Graphics
It's a shame that most systems only really show their true capabilities near the end of their life (See also: Resident Evil 4). Final Fantasy XII is arguably the best-looking, most polished PS2 game to date. FMVs are clear and crisp, and look gorgeous even by next-gen standards. In-game cutscenes, in a method initially pioneered in Vagrant Story, are entirely motion-captured. That, and the new advances in facial-motion technology, will occasionally leave you wondering if you're watching a pre-rendered cutscene. Gameplay graphics are similarly polished. In-battle data and information is conveniently placed and easy to understand. Menus and the like are very polished and easy to use.
Sound
I am in love with the music in this game. That's it. The composers from Final Fantasy Tactics return to provide an epic score to an epic story. Several themes are familiar, and one or two are extremely reminiscent of corresponding areas from Tactics, and most of them are uniquely memorable. Voice acting is not perfect, but a big improvement over X, and it manages to get the job done, and maintain the game's atmosphere most of the time.
More to come!