Final Fantasy Tactics

"The game that blows FF7 out of the water and into the stratosphere."

Just the name Final Fantasy Tactics may make one think that Square has decided to make a cheap ripoff title based upon the combat systems used in games like Shining Force, Fire Emblem, and Ogre Battle many years before the game's release. This is what I thought initially, and because of this, I was reluctant to buy FFT...until I found it at my local GameStop of a nice 15 bucks. At first, the game started off a little bit slow (though it is still faster than any point in the FFTA plot). However, once you delve into the game's plot, the story will shock and dazzle you. And it is not a chore to get to the later stages of the game either, since the gameplay is flawless and allows for lots of variation. Rounded out by a superior soundtrack and good graphics, Final Fantasy Tactics is, without a doubt, my second favorite game of all time (to Chrono Trigger). And I am not a Square fanboy, either (I hate Square games than I like >_<).

Graphics - 9 - ''See, sprites and 3D environments DO mix!''

The graphics in FFT are nothing too special, but they are solid enough to make locating friends and foes on the battlefield a piece of cake. Every game sprite is richly detailed; you can even tell the weapons they are holding apart from one another. In tactical RPGs, the ability to differentiate between friends, foes, and classes is very important (to me, anyway), and FFT does this marvelously. The 3D environments will not amaze you, but they are good enough to put a smile on anyone's face. To put it short, Square's graphics in FFT are above average and clear, allowing for one to find little wrong with them.

Sound - 10 - ''The scores in this track are sure to bring back 'memories'''

Personally, I adore a good soundtrack in my RPGs, since they allow the gamer to feel emotional about a particular situation based upon the mood of the theme. One of FFTA's big flaws was its overly cheery soundtrack even during particularly tense situations. FFT, however, has an excellent musical soundtrack, boasting a myriad of battle themes that work perfectly with each situation. In the battle with Wiegraf at the windmill, the emotional battle theme is able to feel the villain's pain and anguish. When you get ambushed on a hill, the music has an upbeat feel that can imbue a gamer with a sense of readiness. When you feel like you are part of the battle, you know that the musical track has succeeded and is very powerful. The out-of-battle music is just as solid; one particular moment that comes to mind is when Ramza and Delita are talking on a hill, pointing out a sympathizing over Delita's misfortunes. The theme that plays at this moment is the well-composed ''Memories''...and it actually made me feel a little sad! There were only two times I have ever felt sad for a video game character, and the other happened in Chrono Cross. To put it short, the music rocks.

The sound effects are also nothing to sneeze at, as they actually sound like what they are supposed to; bolts of lightning, popping of guns, and slices of swords are all well-depicted in FFT. The game deserves a sound score of 11, but alas, I can only give it a 10 >_<.

Storyline - 10 - ''I could write a thousand-page novel based upon this brilliant plot.''

One of my board friends told me that some games have too much plot...and I agreed with him, since that could lead to some parts of the storyline contradicting with other aspects of it. An example of such a game is Chrono Cross, which also has a great plot...until the game tries to explain it in depth, causing convolution to occur. Then he told me that FFT was one of those games, and I disagreed with him, as the plot in this game not only makes sense, but also is twistier than a churro. The plotline involves a young squire named Ramza, who is the son of a war hero born into a noble family. Through his many exploits, he begins to learn about the responsibilities of the nobility, and that many of these duties are harsh and corrupt. And that is not all; Ramza then learns about a deeper corruption occurring between the factions of Ivalice (the country where the game takes place) that can shake the face of the entire world. As Ramza, you must put a stop to these evil actions while discovering the harshness of the world. This plot is one of the most believable and riveting storylines I have ever seen in a game, and Ramza is a character that many of us can relate to (unlike Cloud). One can also relate with the predicaments of the supporting cast, such as Delita, Wiegraf, Meliadoul, Izlude, and over 100 others. The plot in this game exceeds the expectations created by any other Final Fantasy in the past (even FF6). It truly deserves a 10 out of 10, even though there are some minor translation problems in Final Fantasy Tactics.

Gameplay - 10 - ''The people who created this system are pure geniuses.''

In the area of gameplay, Final Fantasy Tactics has it all; the game has an intriguing battle system coupled with moderate difficulty. The game's engine is like the one found in Shining Force, but the move and attack commands are separate. The damage algorithms are all simplistic, and usually involve multiplying a weapon's power by a character's PA (physical attack) rating. Though none of the characters have an actual physical defense score, armor can raise one's HP in this game, which I think works just as well. The way that a character learns new abilities allows for one to be really creative, since you can pick and choose from a list of available commands. You spend job points obtained in battle to ''purchase'' new abilities for a character, so it is possible to mix and match new abilities right out of the gate. Heck, you can even give your wizard flare before the end of Chapter One...at the cost of not learning the basic spells first, of course. There is also a good variety of classes that have a great assortment of abilities. Do not want to switch your class because you want to keep your abilities? No problem, since FFT allows the gamer to equip the abilities from another job. This ability to mix and match will allow for many character possibilities.

The game is also not a walk in the park (unlike FFTA, which a 5-year-old can beat). Though I would not call it the hardest game around, Final Fantasy tactics has intelligent enemy AI capable of punishing players who do not use good strategies. There are no real impossible battles in this game, but there are no freebies (with the exception of one battle), either. Even the first battle is a test; I usually have one character dead by the end of that mission. There are also side-quests to pursue in order to obtain hidden characters and items, and you can even send some of your party members on a treasure hunt. The gameplay in FFT is flawless, and anyone who likes strategy RPGs will love this game, guaranteed.

Control - 8 - ''There is a tough learning curve, but...''

...once you get the hang of the menu system, manipulating it becomes a piece of cake. At first, the gamer may feel confused about how to assign characters abilities, weapons, and armor, but after a while, it just becomes second nature. The font is easy to read, too, so you will not need to fear choosing the wrong command during battle.

Final score - 10 - ''If you do not already have this game...''

Then, for the Pete's sake, go out and get it! This game should not be missed by both tactical RPG friends and foes alike. Trust me when I say that this game is a masterpiece that makes FF7 look like Quest 64, since once you play Final Fantasy Tactics, you will think that every other next-gen game is inferior.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 02/21/04