Saddle up your Chocobo and join me on a journey through Ivalice. It’s filled with fantasy classics such as knights and princesses, as well as its fair share of political intrigue. It’s been almost thirty years since the original release. Final Fantasy Tactics is back, and it’s ready to prove that it’s still one of the best in the genre.
A blast from the past
In 1997, Square released a tactical RPG called Final Fantasy Tactics. Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is a re-release of the original game, with upgraded gameplay, visuals and audio.
The game is set in the medieval kingdom of Ivalice. It is a realm divided by nobles and commoners fighting for political power and control over the nation. You follow Ramza Beoulve, a young noble and knight in the Order of the Northern Sky. Ramza is a young man with his heart in the right place, and this chronicle will put him and his friends to the test in military battles. They will fight for what is right, striving to restore justice and peace to the land. However, he isn’t alone. His childhood friend, Delita, a commoner turned knight, is also caught up in this conflict, and together they will shape history.
This is a story spanning years of these characters’ lives. Despite being written more than thirty years ago, it still resonates with modern society. It is a timeless tale of political intrigue with a clear message about personal values and equality. Now, for the first time, it is fully voice acted. This includes both the scenes between battles and the banter on the battlefield. It sometimes became a bit silly when a posh British accent was used in a serious conversation about life and death, for example. However, this change was much appreciated and added enormously to the overall experience.
I was gripped from the outset and couldn’t put down my controller for hours on end!
War of the Lions
However gripping the story may be, let’s not forget that Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles is a tactics game first and foremost. So, how does the strategy aspect hold up? Fortunately, Square Enix has you covered in multiple ways. Firstly, they have added a difficulty system to this new release. You can choose from three options:
Squire: This is ideal for beginner players who want to enjoy the story and don’t have much experience with tactical RPGs.
Knight: This is a more challenging way to play, carefully balanced to allow you to experience the thrill of battle.
Tactician: This level offers a greater challenge with more demanding battles.
I mainly played on the Knight difficulty. This wasn’t my first time playing Final Fantasy Tactics (I have played the Game Boy Advance game), and I wanted a bit of a challenge for my first real attempt at this classic. Overall, I found this a great level to play, aside from some difficulty spikes here and there. I specifically struggled with one of the battles at the end of Act 1, which I had to redo seven times before I could beat it. After that, I was able to complete maps on the first or second try again. Overall, it wasn’t a bad experience. It just became more frustrating than I would have liked. Having said that, I didn’t give up on the game and just continued my marathon session once I had beaten this level.
The battles themselves are seamless. It’s easy to see why this game has such a good reputation. At the start of each battle, you select four or five party members to take into combat. You place them on a map and then take turns trying to defeat the enemy. The game controls well, but some quality-of-life improvements make combat even more fluid. For example, you now have a dedicated fast-forward button and a button to show the turn order. You can also scout the battlefield in a tactical overview. These improvements bring the game up to the standard we have come to expect these days.
But even if you are a die-hard fan of the original game, there’s no need to worry. You can experience the game in its original state without any of the new features. There is also a classic version that recreates the 1997 experience with the War of the Lions translation. There’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Work, work, work…
However, no Final Fantasy Tactics game would be complete without the classic Job System. Each character has a regular level and a job level. Most low-level characters start off as squires or chemists, but levelling up a profession enough can unlock other jobs. Using them in battle also lets you earn job points. You can then use these to buy skills for that job. This robust system really adds variety to the gameplay. Would you like long-ranged units? Invest in Black Mages or Arcers. Need a healer? Create a White Mage. Want a unit with greater physical output? Knights are the answer. There are lots of options, and skills can be carried over if a character has certain job skills, so be sure to experiment and create unique characters. You can even promote them to other jobs once they have reached a high enough level. A new skill tree has been added for reference, so you won’t be overwhelmed. But be warned! I grew very attached to my main party, and permadeath is a feature of this game. Make sure you’re well equipped and prepared for every battle, because one careless moment or wrong move could cost you a valuable asset. In the second act of the game, you unlock the ability to run errands in the tavern. You can send some characters off on side quests to earn coins and job points. Be sure to have some backup units at hand in case the worst happens…
Standing the test of time
I am a tactical RPG enthusiast who started out by playing Fire Emblem: Awakening on my 3DS. I had always heard about Final Fantasy Tactics on online forums or in discussions with older friends, so I’m glad my curiosity about this title paid off. This story holds up wonderfully alongside its later-released peers. I was blown away by the two acts I have played so far on my PS5, and I can’t wait to see how the story unfolds and which of my characters survive to the end of this epic medieval tale. I think many other players will want to find out what all the hype was about, and this version is the perfect place to start the series.
Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles will be released on September 30th for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X and S, Nintendo Switch 1 and 2, and PC via Steam. So there’s no lack of options…
Conclusion
Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles is the kind of remake that classic games can only dream of. The original game, which is almost thirty years old, has received some well-deserved quality-of-life upgrades, such as voice acting, difficulty options, and more streamlined combat. Those with nostalgia for the original game may be surprised to see it included alongside the enhanced version. But even if, like me, you are visiting this world for the first time, you will be surprised at how well this genre-defining title has stood the test of time.
