Final Fantasy Tactics review

Game: Final Fantasy Tactics
Platform: PlayStation
Genre: Turn-Based Strategy (Fantasy)
Developer: Square

Reader review by ratking

February 15, 2004

Final Fantasy Tactics was a highly regarded game, and I knew that some day down the line I would HAVE to purchase it. I finally got around to play it, and at first I was a little confused, but once I understood all of the games mechanics, and the story began to unravel I was entrenched in one of the most magnificent videogame experience in my lifetime.

SQUARESOFT has been noted for creating memorable characters in massive storylines filled with deaths, love, and treachery. There is no difference in Final Fantasy Tactics in this category, as once again SQUARE creats a storyline that at times will make you cry, laugh, and cheer as you see it unfold. There are more twists in this game then in any I have experienced before, and it definitely ranks in the top five of all time videogame storylines. To give you a quick rendition of where it starts, you play as a character Ramza Beolvue who joins a special military force with his friend Delita, and quickly gets caught against a small rebellion. However, through the results of that rebelloin a much grander plotline begins, where you will watch Ramza grow from a simple boy... into a man.

Final Fantasy Tactics is a stategy RPG, which is similiar to the Ogre Tactics series. You will equip your fighters with the newest rage of weapons before your battles, and then when you approach the next battle you'll have a bit of storyline, fight a battle, and then in most situations those battles will follow with another piece of story. In some situations you will have to defeat all of the enemies, and in others just the boss character (typically in that case it is someone you have past history against). Not all of your army are storyline characters, but there are many special characters you can convince to join along the way.

The battle system is fairly simple as long as you follow a few typical strategy steps. First thing you will need to do is move the character who is currently up within the grid. After you move you can either choose to attack an enemy if you adjacent with hit, cast magic (both white, black, time, or summons), or use an item (if you have a chemist skill). What you can do depends on your class, which Final Fantasy Tactics has a large collection of. Most of the classes are useful, and you'll find yourself using most of them at least to just gain their special abilities (which you gain by getting SP during battle by attacking foes). All of this requires thinking of what combatent is best equipped to take on enemies and where to position your warriors. However, in the end it is a simple yet entertaining system, that will no longer puzzle you as it did when you first began.

Final Fantasy Tactics is a long experience with over thirty chapters to gain through and over twenty-four hours of gameplay. The storyline will keep you from ever giving up entirely, and while at times the game is difficult, it is never too difficult that you will lose your sanity. Also, it is a game you will come back to, just for the sake of mastering new classes, and seeing the story one more time.

Final Fantasy Tactics is one the greatest gaming experiences I have ever had. THe intertwined gameplay and storyline create a feeling of actually being involved in this fantasy world and this fantasy storyline. There are none to few weaknesses and easily deserving of the score it recieved. Any RPG fan has probably already played this game, but if you have not, then you are in for a real treat. Games this good come along only once in a great while.

Rating: 9.8/10

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