PS1 owners who loved role-playing games were spoiled for choice, with iconic titles like *Chrono Cross*, *Xenogears*, and *Final Fantasy 7*. Square Enix was especially prolific during this time, consistently releasing memorable games and pushing creative boundaries. This era was all about trying new things, and it was during this exciting period that the original *Final Fantasy Tactics* first came out.
Widely celebrated as a challenging and classic tactical RPG, *Final Fantasy Tactics* is known for its captivating fantasy story, unique job system, and engaging turn-based battles. Its influence is still felt in modern RPGs like *Metaphor: Refantazio* and *Triangle Strategy*, which makes *Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles* particularly noteworthy. It both paved the way for today’s tactics games and remains a distinct experience, feeling surprisingly fresh even after nearly thirty years. However, whether or not you’ll enjoy *Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles* really depends on your individual preferences, making it difficult to give a blanket recommendation.
Even with improvements, *Final Fantasy Tactics* isn’t as broadly appealing as games like *Clair Obscur* or the original *Final Fantasy 7*. However, with *The Ivalice Chronicles*, Square Enix has done a fantastic job of staying true to the original game while still making worthwhile updates. This is more of a remastered version than a complete remake, which is excellent for those who appreciate the classic feel and gaming history. But, it also means the game still feels like a PlayStation 1 title, with both positive and negative aspects. Luckily, *Final Fantasy Tactics* remains a brilliantly designed game.
Final Fantasy: The Ivalice Chronicles Is a Contender for the Title of ‘Perfect Remaster’
Whether people enjoy a remastered game often comes down to whether they feel it *needed* to be remastered in the first place. If you remember playing the original *Final Fantasy Tactics* and aren’t sure a remaster is worthwhile, it might be time to revisit your memories. *Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles* is a significant upgrade over the original in almost every aspect.
The Ivalice Chronicles isn’t just a remaster; it includes both the updated version and the original release (based on the 2007 ‘War of the Lions’ edition). Comparing the two highlights all the improvements made in the newer version. While the basic gameplay remains the same, the remaster adds many helpful quality-of-life features, with the most important being:
- Autosaves during battles
- A “Tactical View” mode that allows you to see the battlefield from a birds-eye view
- The ability to fast-forward during both cutscenes and gameplay
- A completely revamped, cleaner, more informative UI
The improvements in this version are significant and really change the experience. Playing the original *Final Fantasy Tactics* now feels slow and cumbersome because you’re stuck watching everything, unable to speed up dialogue or even the less active parts of battles. It’s particularly annoying to have to replay an entire battle from the beginning after losing. *The Ivalice Chronicles* fixes this by letting you fast-forward at any time with a single button press, making enemy turns go by quickly. While the mid-battle autosaving, which only remembers the last three turns, might feel like a small advantage, it prevents you from rewinding to any point in the fight. This might tempt some players to repeatedly save and reload, especially before risky moves, but it’s a worthwhile trade-off. You’ll no longer be stuck replaying long, frustrating battles due to a simple mistake.
The user interface in *The Ivalice Chronicles* is a significant improvement over the original. The new Tactical View is incredibly helpful, making it much easier to move around and plan your strategy. Menus are less intrusive, allowing for quicker decisions during battles, and a clear display of each character’s turn order adds a new layer of strategy without fundamentally changing how the original game plays.
Overall, *Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles* is a visually improved version of the classic game. It keeps the beloved 2D characters and 3D environments, but with sharper details and higher resolution. This update makes the game look cleaner while staying true to its original style. The addition of full voice acting is also a major plus, enhancing the game’s already impressive story. Existing fans of *Final Fantasy Tactics* will likely enjoy *The Ivalice Chronicles*, but those new to the series might want to approach with caution.
Final Fantasy Tactics Has Aged Well, but Not Perfectly
While *The Ivalice Chronicles* is a lovingly updated remaster, it still retains some of the challenges of the original *Final Fantasy Tactics*. Square Enix clearly prioritized preserving the game’s original feel, which means some aspects might not appeal to all players. Like many JRPGs from the 90s, it requires a lot of repetitive gameplay to progress, something modern players might find frustrating. It also remains quite difficult to learn, and the game doesn’t always explain its rules clearly. Fans of the original *Final Fantasy Tactics* will likely appreciate this, but others should be aware of these challenges before diving in.
Final Fantasy Tactics tells a complex and mature story reminiscent of Shakespeare, which is unusual for most modern games. It tackles serious topics like social class, privilege, and prejudice with surprising depth – something you don’t often find in major game releases. However, the game can be quite lengthy, and players who don’t enjoy lots of dialogue might find themselves using the fast-forward feature frequently.
If you enjoyed the original *Final Fantasy Tactics*, you’ll likely enjoy *The Ivalice Chronicles*. However, those new to the series might want to approach with caution.
The game’s battles and character development are also excellent. Successfully planning and carrying out strategies feels incredibly satisfying, and trying out different character classes, skills, and equipment is a lot of fun. While the gameplay might seem a little dated compared to newer games like *Baldur’s Gate 3* and *Fire Emblem: The Three Houses*, some players might actually appreciate its classic feel.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is a fantastic remaster that successfully updates the classic 1998 game. It improves the graphics, makes the world more engaging, and addresses some frustrating elements, all while staying true to the original experience. While debates will likely arise about how well it holds up compared to modern RPGs, existing fans will be pleased, and newcomers willing to embrace both its strengths and weaknesses will find a lot to enjoy.
I just got my hands on an early copy of
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2025-09-24 17:19