Remaining Fantasy XII was a marvel when it was initially launched on the PS2 in 2006. Nevertheless, it additionally had an infamously difficult improvement cycle for its key builders, together with sport director Yasumi Matsuno.

Although the true extent of how difficult improvement was on the sport is just not publically recognized, one prevailing rumor about Remaining Fantasy XII’s early manufacturing that caught with followers was that protagonist Vaan wasn’t the initially deliberate hero of FFXII.

On Twitter, the sport director took time to reply to a fan’s remark about Bacsh fon Ronsenburg — a disgraced knight and eventual celebration member in FFXII — being the unique protagonist of the sport. This remark got here from a thread about Clive, the hero of Remaining Fantasy XVI, who is ready to turn into the oldest primary character in an FF sport.

Within the plainest phrases, Matsuno denied that Basch was the unique hero of Remaining Fantasy XII within the early manufacturing, writing, “That rumor is a faux story. Thanks.”

That rumor is a faux story.
Thanks.

— 松野泰己 (@YasumiMatsuno) April 18, 2023

A protracted-standing rumor

In line with the long-standing rumor, the unique pitch for Remaining Fantasy XII was a darkish fantasy story extra within the vein of Vagrant Story or Remaining Fantasy Ways on the PS1, which Matsuno additionally directed.

The rumor that made the rounds for practically 20 years urged that Remaining Fantasy XII’s unique imaginative and prescient modified to be extra approachable for all gamers, with Vaan, an lively road rat who bore a hanging resemblance to Tidus, being launched because the core protagonist.

What made this explicit rumor in regards to the sport stick to followers over time was that Vaan was not well-received upon launch. Whereas the extra in depth forged of characters was highly regarded, together with Balthier, Fran, Basch, and Ashe, Vaan’s place within the core story appeared extra set as a perspective character moderately than somebody with a serious position within the bigger plot.

That mentioned, Vaan finally got here into his personal all through the sport, and he even starred in an FFXII spin-off sport on the Nintendo DS known as Remaining Fatansy XII: Revenant Wings. Followers have additionally taken extra of a liking to him over time, because of memes in regards to the quest the place Vaan needed to shout within the streets, “I am Captain Basch fon Ronsenburg of Dalmasca!” or “Do not hearken to Ondore’s lies.”

Do not hearken to Ondore’s lies!
I am Captain Basch fon Ronsenburg of Dalmasca! pic.twitter.com/gYDXso2J8S

— Victor Hunter (@victorehunter) April 9, 2022

In IGN’s unique assessment for FFXII, former editor Jeremy Dunham gave the sport a 9.5, and acknowledged “Remaining Fantasy XII is a unbelievable RPG. It blows all of its PS2 competitors this 12 months proper out of the water and is among the many all time elite role-players ever made for the system.”

Within the years since its launch, writer Sq.-Enix have re-released FFXII as Remaining Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, which up to date the visuals, launched revised fight and character progress mechanics, and added new encounters that have been solely within the Japan solely enhanced version of the sport from the PS2. Remaining Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is presently out on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and the Nintendo Change.

Alessandro Fillari is a information author for IGN. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter and Instagram @afillari.