FINAL FANTASY, in the West in particular, has become synonymous with Japanese RPGs, and for good reason. It’s a fantastically (pun intended) well-reviewed, well-received, and prolific franchise that introduced many gamers to Japan’s take on the (mostly) sword and sorcery genre that takes the basics of classic tabletop gaming and infuses it with video game sensibilities. In the early years, FINAL FANTASY as a brand stuck to a very similar formula: you had an overworld map, turn-based combat, and a hefty story to follow from start to finish. Sure, there were exceptions, such as Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden, an action RPG that would go on to spawn the of Mana series, but for the most part, if you bought a game with the words “Final” and “Fantasy” in the title, you knew what you were going to get.
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS, originally released on the PlayStation in 1997, was a very different sort of title. While still containing many of the hallmarks of the series (a deep story, turn-based combat, and an intricate job system), it entirely removed the random battles and the fully explorable locations in lieu of tactical-style gameplay and a simple overworld map reminiscent of games such as Tactics Ogre. It was a breath of fresh air and is generally regarded as one of the best entries in the entire franchise. This brings us to FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles, a remaster of this classic title. Is it worthy of the legacy, or is it, well, less than Fantastic?
Presentation and Story
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS has always been a very distinct-looking game, and The Ivalice Chronicles is no exception. The character art and 3D graphics are immediately recognizable and ooze charm. This would be a good opportunity to discuss some of the changes in this version of the title, as well as the package as a whole. The game includes two modes, original and enhanced. Both utilize a new translation based on the PSP remake of the game (War of the Lions), but the “enhanced” version is where you will see all the real updates. These include new, smoothed-out sprites, enhanced resolution on backgrounds, UI updates, quality of life changes, and full voice acting. That’s right, the game is now fully voice-acted, and it adds quite a bit to both the flow of the title as well as the overall polish. TACTICS has always been a game that is heavy on dialogue, and having that dialogue expertly delivered made this playthrough provide a more modern experience. Overall, the game looks and sounds better than ever, with characters and music that are as impactful and memorable today as they were over two decades ago.
The story for TACTICS is dense. I’ve come to describe it as the “Game of Thrones” of the FINAL FANTASY franchise, as the story delves deeply into the complexities and morality of war and the politicking of powerful feudal houses. All while a mystical threat is simmering in the background, ready to unleash itself upon the squabbling residents of the fictional country of Ivalaice. Like I said, very “Game of Thrones”. You play as Ramza, a young squire and the bastard son of the great house of Beoulve. He and his friend, a fellow squire by the name of Delita, are caught up in the games of the nobility at the beginning of what is known as “The Lion War.” The story truly is a highlight of this game, so I’ll leave it at that so you can discover it on your own.
Gameplay
As mentioned, FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles is a tactical RPG. Meaning that the gameplay is centered on an isometrically gridded map, and the characters are moved around it to attack enemy units or to complete other goals. It’s a simple concept, and the entirety of the game is presented as a loose overworld map with predefined paths leading to other battles or towns, which are presented as simple images with menus to buy items, recruit troops, or engage in other sidequests or activities as they become available to you.
The gameplay is deep, with a variety of systems that contribute to that. First off is the zodiac system. Every character in the game has a zodiac sign that affects their compatibility with different units and overall stats. Honestly, this is something that I have never taken note of in any of my playthroughs of the game, and will likely only be of interest for those who are really trying to maximize their experience. Still, it goes to show the depth the game has to offer.
The real meat and potatoes of the game stem from the job systems. Some units, including Ramza and other story units, have unique classes that only they can access; however, the vast majority of jobs are available to all units, and abilities from one job can cross-pollinate to other jobs. You level up your job with job points, and can switch back and forth from many jobs as long as you have the prerequisite, so you might need a certain number of levels of thief to become a ninja, for example. That’s where the fun starts. Do you want to be a ninja that wears heavy plate armor and can throw potions to your allies to heal them? Go for it! Would you rather be a black mage that’s really good at using a bow and arrow for some reason? No one is going to stop you! Using this system, and yes – a good amount of grinding, you can come up with some truly monstrous character builds. Which is a good thing, because you’ll need them.
There are characters to unlock, strong gear to find or buy, and several mechanics (such as poaching animals for items or sending units out on missions for gear and experience) to make your team stronger. As I just mentioned, you’ll likely need all of these. That’s because the difficulty spikes in this game are real, and they can be frustrating, especially if you don’t grind levels. Doubly so if you don’t grind levels AND find yourself on the final chapter.
This leads to a few issues I do have with FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles. Much of the story is told diegetically during battle. This is great, the first time you hear it. When you’re dying to the same boss, though, it can feel tedious, as yes, you can skip through dialogue, but you have to do it individually with each scene, and there are times when a unit is constantly talking between turns. The quality of life changes are also a mixed bag. Some are truly great, like balancing tweaks and the ability to “fast forward” through battles. Some, like the AI for auto battle, are so cumbersome that they might as well not have been included.
Verdict
SQUARE ENIX has, over the last two console generations, taken upon itself to bring back many of its older titles, sometimes remaking them from the ground up (with games such as LIVE A LIVE or Trials of Mana) and other times merely remastering them with slight tweaks (with games such as Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition). FINAL FANTASY TACTICS -The Ivalice Chronicles is somewhat in the middle. It’s a remaster of a great title, with a phenomenal story and one of the most engaging job systems in any role-playing game. The remaster could have been a bit more, though. The smoothed out sprites could have been remade, and the “cut” content from the PSP remake could have been retained, for instance. Overall, it is a very faithful update of an all-time great FINAL FANTASY title, and the quality of life improvements make it, in my opinion, the definitive way to play it.
Thanks to PhantomZ2 for editing.
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: FINAL FANTASY TACTICS -The Ivalice Chronicles is a remaster of a great title, with a phenomenal story and one of the most engaging job systems in any role-playing game. The remaster could have been a bit more, though. The smoothed out sprites could have been remade, and the “cut” content from the PSP remake could have been retained, for instance. Overall, it is a very faithful update of an all-time great FINAL FANTASY title, and the quality of life improvements make it, in my opinion, the definitive way to play it. – 8Bit Snazzy
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