Thanks to the immense success of Final Fantasy VII, Squaresoft had firmly planted the series as a well established brand. Encouraged by a solid fan base, Hironobu Sakaguchi – the father of the Final Fantasy saga – decided it was the right time to fulfill a long standing dream of his: create a Tactical JRPG using the Final Fantasy universe. And who better than Yasuni Matsuno, the gifted young director behind Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together and an ultimate fanatic of the FF world, to develop the game. The result of this passionate collaboration has given us one of the most poignant and thoughtful game of the genre. Final Fantasy Tactics enjoys a veritable cult following since first released on the PS1 in 1997 which has kept growing with the excellent The War of the Lions version available on PSP, iOS and Android. No excuse not to play this superb game.
STORY
In the wake of the Fifty Year War, depleted Ivalice severely suffers from the devastating consequences of the conflict. The many commoner families, shunned by the nobility, have grown frustrated with the hunger, injustice and misery brought by the war, igniting revolts in the country.
With the death of King Omdoria, a power struggle ensues between two aristocratic families known as the White and Black Lions, to use the heir to the throne as their own puppet to rule Ivalice.
Ramza Beoulve and his childhood friend Delita Heiral, albeit a commoner, were raised in the noble Beoulve family of the White Lions Alliance. Gutted by the corruption in Ivalice and grief-stricken by the loss of someone dear to him, Delita decides to leave and carry out his own ideal of justice. You play as Ramza who cast aside his nobility and joined a mercenary group. On a mission to protect Ovelia, one of the two heirs to the throne, you see Delita once again but this time on the opposite side.
GAMEPLAY
To quote Yasuni Matsuno, the two most important aspects of a Tatical RPG are combats and character development and Final Fantasy Tactics shines in both.
The turn-based battles can often be unforgiving pushing the player to strategically calculate each move. The number of units restricted to a maximum of five really adds to the tactical side, as each single unit has an important role to play, while remaining energetic and engaging. The skills, weapons and gears can truly change the outcome of a fight inciting the player to look for the best equipment and to optimise characters build.
The job system, inherited from FF III and FF V, is fascinating and as rich as can be. It is no less that 22 jobs (including the Dark Knight and Onion Knight from the War of The Lions version) that are available with each one bringing its own play-style. The insane levels of customisation allow for cross training meaning that a character can permanently learn the skills of a certain class and still use them when changing jobs. This can give rise to a knight with the spells of a black mage or my favourite a dual-wielding samurai. It is really fun to try and come up with the best job combinations and experiment your newly acquired abilities on the battlefield.
Between each battle, we are taken back to the world map where itineraries are fixed with almost no exploration. Cities are reduced to static screens and menus, where the player can learn about the last rumours at the tavern, send troops on a side mission or buy equipment in shops. Although quite restrictive from an exploration point of view, in my opinion, it does not diminish the overall gaming experience and fits well with the genre.
GRAPHICS AND MUSIC
Graphically the game is decent and offers clean and simple visuals. The 3D arenas are modest but fit their purpose and the sprites are well animated. The special effects for the attacks are dynamic and pleasant to the eye. Although secondary, the graphics do a good job at supporting the story.
The soundtrack is powerful and conveys admirably well the themes of the game. Let’s pay tribute to Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata for a masterful contribution to the remarkable narration. The somber and piercing story is brilliantly echoed by the compositions strengthening the emotions stirred by the plot.
J-RPG FACTOR
The mature and intelligent story beautifully pictures the tale of two friends torn apart by the sinister world around them and their own distinct reaction to the dreadful events unfolding in Ivalice further pulling them apart : a tragic bromance.
The cinematics added in the War of the Lions version are skilfully crafted and have a unique style adding to the character of the game.
The character progression system and the job system really give the players the freedom to develop their party as they see fit. There is a myriad of combination that can prove really effective in fights making each new game a different experience.
Recognised as one of the best Tactical J-RPG, Final Fantasy Tactics combines the best of what of video games has to offer. With a rich and immersive story, a fun and interesting gameplay and a masterful realisation, the game earned its place in the pantheon of J-RPGs, a must in the genre!