Game Stats
Genre	RPG
Platform	PlayStation
Format	CD-ROM
# of Players	1
Released Jap	06.20.1997
Released US	01.29.1998
Released EU	N/A
Aprox. Length	45-60 hrs.
Reviewer Rankings
Battle System	11.0
Gameplay	9.0
Music	10.0
Originality	9.0
Plot	10.0
Replay Value	8.0
Sound	8.0
Visuals	7.0
Difficulty	Real Hard
Overall
9.0

Final Fantasy Tactics

By: Squaresoft / SCEA

Reviewed By: S3KI

This game (if you can find it... ^_~) is one of the most original and interesting Final Fantasy games ever created. It's first release here in the US was quite slow and so only a small number of copies were made. Over the last year it's become quite popular and everyone wants it. Some of you may have bought a copy of it at eBay for $150... who knows! Luckily for all of you people without an FFT fix are in luck; this July 31st it's being re-released as a "Greatest Hits" title for the PSX. So, in the spirit of it's re-released, here is a review exploiting all of it's great aspects.

The first thing you'll notice about the game is the not-so-high-quality of the graphics. This is the only down point of the game. That and it's difficulty.

Moving on, you get dropped into your first battle right quick, but it's not so hard because you're backed up by 2 heavy hitters: Gafgarion and Agrias. The battle system is unique (although I've been told it's similar to Tactics Ogre and the like; it's at least in the same spirit) and a challenge to master, yet once you have it down it can be quite powerful. The battles are turn based, every move counting. You can move and attack in the same turn, but you have to be in range to make an attack. Of course, this can also provide for some interesting challenges; if there's a wall in between you and the bad guys, you're going to have to find a way around to attack, because you know their AI is working overtime to do that.

Gameplay outside of the battle system is pretty much moot. All other scenes are controlled by the game, and all you can do is move about on the rather limited world map. But who cares, you're too busy killing in the name of! ^_^

The music, the last soundtrack (I believe) to be done in tandem by Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata. Their music is exquisite. It's almost always suitably dark (fitting the plot!) except for in the few happy scenes where our characters try to make the best of a really, really bad situation. You can also find the Unreleased Tracks here on RPGN who were composed by unknown artists; we can only ponder about who wrote them, though they are quite good as well.

Ah, the plot of the game. This is the heart of FFT. Inside all of the battles and moving dialogue scenes is the plot, which is thick and dark. The twists in the plot are almost as many as the twists in the Twisted Crust Pizza from Pizza Hut (no I don't work for them). I'm not going to say much for fear of ruining an overly great story, but I will give you the backdrop.

* Final Fantasy Tactics Introduction *
A long time ago, a war seethed and erupted in a land called Ivalice. This war engulfed the territory of Ivalice and its neighboring country
of Ordalia. It lasted for 50 years and finally ended in the form of discussions that formally called for peace. However, Ivalice's obvious defeat was clear in everyone's eyes, and the state of affairs within the country steadily dilapidated. The defeat exhausted the people's physical strength and their resources.....

The lords of the six imperial ruling families got together, formed a united front, and guided Ivalice back to prosperity. Their delicate balance of power soon collapsed, and this became such a time for legends. It was just one year after the end of the 50 years war. The incident of the abduction of Ivalice's Princess Ovelia occurred. On this opportunity, an armed conflict started between two of the six imperial reigns: Gariland (ruled by Larg) and Zeltennia (ruled by Goltana). The war between the two families, which have the crests of the white lion and the black lion, was called the Lion War. Added to the backdrop of the Lion War, there was a problem of succession to the throne of the suddenly dead King. Larg is the biological older brother of the Queen of Ivalice, and Goltana is the younger cousin of the dead King. According to the historical facts, there was a young hero named Delita who suppressed the Lion War that soon engulfed the entire country of Ivalice. And there was also a young man name Ramza who appeared on the scene here. You cannot see his name in any historical texts. However, behind the magnificent legend of the hero Delita is the young man Ramza who also lived through the dark part of Ivalice's history. Shall we see what had happened?.....

And so it goes. (Sorry if there are some grammatical errors; that was taken from a translation ^_^)

One last note, on the difficulty of the game. Not all of the game is "real hard", in fact the first half is quite manageable. But slowly the difficulty increases until you're fighting battles that may take you days to figure out a strategy for victory.

All in all this game is a masterpiece of storytelling, music, and gameplay. There is no comparison. I urge you all to (if you don't already own it) buy the re-release, and sell away the thing you have called a "life."

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