Just got FFXII for Christmas and...

[Kali-chan]

is it nescessary to play the FF games in order? 'Cause I don't want to go out and buy all the rest of the games, I don't have the money.

[Ikari Warrior]

nope! Each Final Fantasy is an atomic (meaning single, solitary) story unto itself. There are common elements, like moogles, chocobos, and so on, but no FF is a direct sequal to another FF, with the exception of FFX-2 (or 10-2).

I do recommend playing Final Fantasy Tactics or Tacitcs Advance before jumping into FFXII. It's not necessary, but it might help you understand a few things.

[Lunay]

No.... . . . You can enjoy FFXII even if you have not played FF before.

[Michael]

Though having played Matsuno's other Ivalice titles give the world and extremely minor story elements a little more "zing." Not at all required.

[Soluzar]

I do recommend playing Final Fantasy Tactics or Tacitcs Advance before jumping into FFXII. It's not necessary, but it might help you understand a few things.
You're saying that because the world of FFXII is called Ivalice, but the relationship between FFTA Ivalice and FFT Ivalice is far from clear. I don't even want to speculate about FFXII, but I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that FFTA Ivalice isn't directly related to FFT Ivalice. I'd guess that it's a fictionalised version, drawn from the book in the game.

[Michael]

Elements from previous Ivalice titles lend themselves to XII's Ivalice.

How exactly is the relationship between Tactics and Tactics Advance "far from clear?" I found the major themes to be quite clear. Especially when the story comes together and you learn the source.

While playing all of them isn't necessary to understanding each game on itself, it gives you a "sprawling history" of Ivalice. You don't have exact dates, but there's a general flow of time.

The hardest one to place would be Vagrant Story.

[Ikari Warrior]

You're saying that because the world of FFXII is called Ivalice, but the relationship between FFTA Ivalice and FFT Ivalice is far from clear.

I am aware of the discrepencies(sp?) between FFT and FFTA. FFT is the first game that introduces us to Ivalice. The aesthetic for the archer girl in FFXII (I can't remember her name, atm) is directly derived from the female archer class in FFT. FFTA is the first FF that introduces us to Bangaa, No Mou, and Viera species. Knowing which is which may be useful, but not a necessity.

Hence: I recommend FFT and FFTA before playing FFXII, I suppose for a richer experience. But as has been said before, it is not a necessity.

The hardest one to place would be Vagrant Story.

Vagrant Story takes place in Ivalice? It certainly explains the character design and the color palatte.

[Michael]

Yes, Vagrant Story takes place in Valendia, which if I remember correctly is to the north-east of the XII setting.

There's a temple to the Kiltia religion (primary religion of Ivalice). The temple on Mount Bur-Omisace sports the same sigil as Vagrant Story. Also, the calendar of XII is in "Old Valendian."

Oh, and VS opens with a quote from the narrator of Tactics, Alazlam J. Durai.

[Kali-chan]

okay, I'll try to get Final Fantasy Tactics, but I'll start FFXII, anyway! Thanx!

[Bernard_Monsha]

Hence: I recommend FFT and FFTA before playing FFXII, I suppose for a richer experience. But as has been said before, it is not a necessity.

Wouldn't that be backtracking as FFT takes place a few thousand years the age of airships.

[Ikari Warrior]

Yeah, it would be, but knowing that FFT takes place hundreds or thousands of years after XII gives the game that much more of an ominous theme, even after the (dare I say?) morbid opening.

[gameoffreak8]

is it nescessary to play the FF games in order? 'Cause I don't want to go out and buy all the rest of the games, I don't have the money.

Nope. You don't need to play the FF games in order. FFX-2 is the sequel to FFX. FFVII have a movie (Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children) and video game (New Dirge of Cerberus). FFVII: AC and FFVII: DC are the sequel to FFVII.

[Joeshie]

No need to play them in order, but I still recommend that you go out and buy all the others that you can get your hands on since most of them are all high quality.

[Rahxephon91]

You don't need to play any other Matsuo game before FFXII. Yes they may share common themes but they hardly are connected and impact each others story.