Final Fantasy Tactics
| Final Fantasy Tactics | |
|---|---|
| developer | Square / Square Enix |
| Publisher | Square / Square Enix |
| First title | Final Fantasy Tactics (1997) |
| Last title | Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (2007) |
| Platform (s) | Game Boy Advance , iOS , Nintendo DS , PlayStation , PlayStation 3 , PlayStation Portable |
| Genre (s) | Strategy RPG |
The generic term Final Fantasy Tactics refers to offshoots from the Final Fantasy universe that do not follow the classic role -playing game model , but have been designed as a strategy role-playing game . Locations and characters are partly borrowed from other parts, partly redesigned, the game background is usually more fantasy-oriented, even if it points to interfaces with modern worlds. The strongest distinguishing feature is the typical isometric view, which, like many other game elements, was adopted from Tactics Ogre , and the emphasis on the plot (often retold in game graphics) in addition to the tactical fights with role-playing character.
Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy Tactics is a strategy role-playing game (SRPG). It was released by Square in 1997 for the PlayStation in Japan . In the same year it was localized for the American market.
The game itself is very much based on the obvious model Tactics Ogre , especially since a large part of the design team was taken over by Quest .
The game itself is divided into a static representation of the world map, in which the movement, the equipment and the quest progress, as well as the micromanagement of game characters and their training and equipment takes place, as well as the isometric (real) 3D maps in which the fights and the cutscenes take place.
The action takes place in the imaginary world of Ivalice, in which, in addition to the dispute between several noble families over control of the empire by means of blackmail, kidnapping, violence and betrayal, the relics of a long-lost civilization as well as the mysterious zodiac stones have to be taken care of. The main character Ramza largely follows a fairly linear narrative with some optional quests and faces very different arguments in terms of difficulty.
The character development is based on a rather complex occupational system, which provides a certain experience in other occupations for each occupation (this experience is collected in the form of job points ). The professions themselves allow access to a multitude of different skills, ranging from magical to combative to Asian orientations, and limit the range of equipment that can be used.
The fights take place in an isometric 3D map, which has different height levels. Each figure is moved turn-based according to its basic values and carries out its action in a certain time frame (similar to the Active Time Battle System). The position of the figures in relation to one another as well as the different heights have just as much influence on the outcome of these encounters as the zodiac signs, faith and courage of those involved. Many players have problems with the rather steep learning curve of these arguments. The graphics are kept very European in style and also have animated 3D objects.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
This is an almost identical remake of the original Final Fantasy Tactics for the Playstation Portable , which was published in Japanese and English in 2007.
In addition to the changes purely due to the hardware (image display in 16: 9 format instead of 4: 3 as in the original, use of the PSP's networking capability for a multiplayer mode, introduction of cutscenes rendered via cel shading instead of the cutscenes in the game's own graphics engine) The content was also adjusted, as well as a complete new translation. The changes originally made when the Playstation was first released for the American market, which should make the game easier for the American target audience, have been reversed.
The content additions are primarily intended to emphasize the continuity in the Ivalice Alliance series , to which this game now belongs, which was solved by integrating characters from other games in the Final Fantasy series. In addition, the story told was made easier for the player to understand, especially in the later course of the game, through new cutscenes and explanatory encounters.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (OT: Japanese フ ァ イ ナ ル フ ァ ン タ ジ ー タ ク テ ィ ク ス ア ド バ ン ス , Fainaru Fantajī Takutikusu Adobansu ) was published in 2003 by Square Enix for GameBoy Advance in Japan. In the same year localizations for the USA and Europe appeared.
Visually and in terms of the playful basic features, the game sticks closely to its predecessor, whereby you have to pay tribute to the technology (no zoom, no rotation of the playing field). The occupational system has largely been retained, but has a further division into different races. In addition, the individual skills of the professions can no longer be learned freely, but are linked to objects. You have to put on this in order to gradually learn the skill.
This time Ivalice presents itself as the dream world of a little boy, Mewt, who can realize his wishes there. The main character, Marche as well as many of the other characters introduced at the beginning, are unintentionally drawn into this world. Marche's goal is to get back to reality as quickly as possible. However, since this would include the destruction of the dream world, he gets into various conflicts with the other characters who, like Mewt in Ivalice, see a chance to shape their lives according to their wishes.
Completely new to the game are the judges and their laws, which can change the rules of a fight. A violation against it has negative consequences of various kinds, with the laws becoming more and more restrictive as the game progresses. The Japanese version is even more difficult because some laws with strong effects have been removed from the localizations.
The world map, which is now designed by the player himself (as known from Legend of Mana , for example ), and the quest system, which offers over 300 different tasks of various kinds, have also been changed. The level of difficulty of the game has become lower compared to its predecessor. There are also some censored cutscenes.
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
The direct successor to the GBA game was released in Japan for the Nintendo DS by Square Enix in late October 2007 . The English version was published on June 24, 2008, the European on July 18, 2008.
The setting is again the world of Ivalice (this part is also part of the Ivalice Alliance game series), to which the protagonist is transported from his normal world with the help of a magical book. Many of the backgrounds and characters used in the predecessor appear again, and the playful implementation has remained almost identical.
There are no technical changes despite the new platform, the split screen of the DS is mainly used for information and to play particularly expansive animations. The proportions have been implemented better, large figures now take up more than just one field. The world map now also has access points to smaller, self-contained maps, which are known as area maps.
The laws are weaker than they used to be and no longer lead to severe punishments if they are broken. Both the class and the race size have been increased, with the classes still being quite strictly linked to the races. Clan membership has been included as a determining element of the game. In addition to their own group, foreign clans move across the game world (comparable to Wizardry ) in this part , pursuing their own goals.
Web links
- Final Fantasy Tactics series at MobyGames (English)