When I was a young child, game consoles were basically a babysitter for me. I didn't really throw fits or do anything that would be considered destructive, and so my parents felt comfortable leaving me alone with books and games, since they didn't feel it'd have some great detrimental effect on me. They didn't understand them in the least, but at least they didn't think games would be some life-sucking device, as long as I sat far enough away from the TV screen.
Thus, my time in California was filled with Zombies Ate My Neighbors, Batman, and Super Mario All Stars. I played these games, but with no real appreciation. They were something I did with my friends, but so were board games and playing Power Rangers. It was just a pastime.
Yet a little while after I came to New Jersey at the age of 10, I was introduced to Final Fantasy Tactics by a friend of mine in Boy Scouts. The only other RPG I can recall owning at that time was Super Mario RPG, and so I didn't really have an idea of what I was getting into with Final Fantasy Tactics. But on his recommendation, I found a Greatest Hits version, and ended up changing my life.
I still look back on Linde's review of Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions and laugh. If you've played Final Fantasy Tactics, you know how true his feelings were. FFT quickly became an addiction for me once I popped the game into the disc.
Up until this point, my gaming life was relatively casual. Books, friends, and Boy Scouts were more important to me, and gaming just sort of filled in the gaps and provided topics of idle conversation. On the PlayStation, Crash Bandicoot, Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub Zero and the like were what sat in my disc tray. I hadn't really delved into a game with a rich story or evolving characters, and Final Fantasy Tactics provided me with that first delve into what an RPG really was.
When I first popped in the disc, I was absolutely floored. I reset the game four times, just to hear the title screen music over and over again. It's a haunting melody that could only prelude the events that would unfold in the game.
As I played through the game, I came to understand strategy a lot better. I couldn't simply charge into the enemies to attack them -- I would quickly get surrounded. I started to use some basic maneuvering tactics to lure enemies into a spot where I could wail on them with multiple characters -- provided the NPCs didn't charge ahead and get themselves killed.
Once I finished the game, I started it all over again. Once more after that. Before I lost all the save files on my PS1 memory card, I had gone through the game 15 times. I had unlocked every secret, gotten every class, and even gave a shot at a party with all white mages (it didn't work out very well). And I can still pick up the game to play it again at just about any time. I even picked up the War of the Lions remake as soon as it came out, just to get a chance to play it with some new cutscenes.
What Final Fantasy Tactics taught me was that there were deep, meaningful stories within games. Instead of reading a book and solely empathizing with the characters, as I played through FFT I felt as though Ramza's pains were mine, and the betrayals that happened were personal. It was so much more satisfying on an emotional level than reading -- a feeling that came back when I beat Metal Gear Solid 4.
There was plenty in Final Fantasy Tactics to digest. Some blame the poor translation for making the story nigh incomprehensible, but it just took me a while to digest character motivations and such like that. I began to analyze why characters did what they did, and tried to see things from their perspective. It's a habit I picked up ever since, and was what pushed me into screenwriting when I went into college.
I'm now an RPGer for life. There's no turning back now -- I will almost always turn to an RPG for an unparalleled experience in storytelling. Whether it be hanging out with my friends to play a game of GURPS, or holing myself up with the PS3 when Disgaea 3 comes out, I will always value potions, inns, and weapons dealers more than you could ever imagine.
Contest:
11:04 PM on 06.23.2008
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But I digress...good write up?
http://www.gametundra.com
I've still yet to sit down and play through a TO title, but I'll give it a shot.
If you can I would recommend playing "Tactics Ogre: Let us cling together". It was the superior title. It came out for playstation pretty much the same month Final Fantasy tactics came out.
If not, Tactics Ogre: Knights of Lodis for GBA always works.
I struggled most of the time with the camera trying to find a comfortable angle to play. I still think its a great game which I would've given dozens of hours to back in the PS1 era judging from how much I loved Square turn-based tactical RPGs.
Now, FFTAdvanced, that is the biggest piece of shit story I ever played. Seriously, if it was meant for kids in mind then I understand, but the A series sucked monkey poop.
Another close game I do recommend, which everyone seems to forget is Vandal Hearts1 and 2... wow... I never seen so much blood in a Tactic game before... and the story... well you make the story... it is linear/non-linear with over 15 different endings in part 2. Very original.
I was thinking of doing one of these this month...after I saw FFVII (Since that game truly made me into the gamer I am today) had been taken by someone else...and now...this. oh well its a great writeup and a excellent game.
real sequel please!
Still great game.
one of the few final fantasy games i remember actively playing.
I want a real sequel with updated visuals and better camera instead of settling for another PSP or DS version. SQUARE-ENIX, we call your name.
There were some things in common with the Front Mission games, but they felt totally different.
From what I remember, the biggest difference was the way your attacks would hit random parts of the wanzers and each part had it's own HP. If you destroyed it's gun arm, then it would no longer be able to shoot at you and be forced to use melee attacks.
Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy VII are my top 2 favorite games of all time. A TRUE sequel to Tactics and a remake of FFVII would be amazing.
You must be young if you picked up a 'greatest hits' version. I have the black label version of both Tactics and FFVII.
I completely understand the appreciation for potions, inns, and weapons dealers.
I'm more of an FFT fan then a TO fan... but that is not to say both aren't good games. I did not like FFTA, because it was made childishly easy whe ncompared to the original FFT.
I was a sophomore in high school when I played this gem. My girlfriend at the time would constantly be yacking on the phone. Little did she know that on the other end I was plodding my way through another battle screen. She talked a lot, and I racked up 99+ hours on the most amazing strategy RPG ever. Never played a game before that was so addicting and so frustrating at the same time. I really wasn't that good at it, but the story and characters, my god. I never experienced a more in depth and complex war story outside of a George R. R. Martin novel.
The first time I rented it, I did so on a whim - I loved Final Fantasy games and was a huge Vandal Hearts fan. I played it for a few days, and gave up because I couldn't change jobs.
I can't remember exactly what my hangup was, but I think it had to do with the fact that you're supposed to hit triangle at some less-than-obvious point to get into the Job Change menu, and that never occurred to me. I played through the first few boards with only squires and chemists, hated it, and returned it.
On a whim, a few years later, I decided to give it another shot. It looked too cool. The second time around, I got lucky, hit the triangle button at the right time, and got to the job change menu. I played it non-stop; easily one of my favorite games of all time, and I nearly never played it because I'm dumb.
The plot just seals it as a magnificent game and one of my favorites of all time. Actually, check that, the PSP version put it over the top for favorite game of all time.
FFT:A just never had that effect on me. The plot was just silly but the gameplay was still there. A good game but not great. I might try the sequel on the DS.
I loved the War of the Lions on PSP. The re-scripting was so good it could have been written by George R. R. Martin for all I know (it wasn't...but still..)
"Whoreson dog!"
I like FFT, but I'm horrible at it. I've had it since it was relatively new and I must have started it over at least 5 times. Every so often I pick it up again and play it until I get stuck on a difficult battle. I get a little bit farther into the game with each play through. I thought I'd actually finish it last time, but a level with summoners decided that I wouldn't.
I like FFT, but I'm horrible at it. I've had it since it was relatively new and I must have started it over at least 5 times. Every so often I pick it up again and play it until I get stuck on a difficult battle. I get a little bit farther into the game with each play through. I thought I'd actually finish it last time, but a level with summoners decided that I wouldn't."
Really? Take some time to train your characters. Let your physical characters take a while to train as monks. Then you'll basically be fine until you get T.G. Cid. Once you get Cid, you win the game. No questions asked.
I'm the same way. My love of Tactical RPG's started with the first Vandal Hearts. The moment I finished that game I wanted more of the same, so I immediately went out and bought FFT. I've tried multiple times to get into it but never made it past a few hours. It's a shame too, since it appears to be almost universally praised. I really should give it another shot.
I've got Disgaea coming to me from Goozex now though, so I'll probabaly be playing that for the forseeable future.
Disgaea was AMAZING.
One thing I liked about both Disgaea and FF Tactics was the sort of 'nobodies' you got to fill out your army besides the main cast. Hell, I got so attached to the guys I made in FFT I benched everybody else. TG Cid only came out when I was trying to get the last Zodiac summon (you really do win the game once you get him).
I loved that game, but man, it would take hours at a time to get in a decent session.
Going for round 3 with FFTA2
For those of you who have trouble with it, you have to explore the combinations of abilities you can stack on each character, and their synergy with the rest of the party.
If you want an all around party, cover your general bases, healer, tank, melee, range, and mage. Specialize them specifically for their jobs. Keep in mind Ramza is the only one you'll know you'll have at all times so you will want to make him a little more well rounded.
One of the easiest ways to win, is build a super speed Ninja on Ramza, I dont remember specifically from what classes you get what skills, but by end game he gets 2 turns per round, and 2 attacks per turn with his dual wield.
Nearly 10 years after playing and beating it several times, i picked it up again just for the lulz. I made Ramza a bard with an all dancer party! Every battle took forever, but the enemy could never kill me. They would either be dazed, or running away while poisoned. LOL
Every turn the bard plays a song, and the dancers dance! woot.