FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles
" Deep tactical RPG with extensive customization and voiced dialogue but missing War of the Lions content "
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles Review
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles is widely regarded as a masterpiece of tactical RPGs, with a deep job system, engaging story, and complex gameplay mechanics that have stood the test of time since its original 1997 release. This remaster offers a faithful recreation of the classic game, enhanced with modern quality-of-life improvements, updated UI, improved graphics, and fully voiced dialogue, making it more accessible to both veterans and newcomers.
Players praise the inclusion of the original version alongside the remaster, allowing fans to choose their preferred experience. The new voice acting and script revisions add immersion and clarity to the story, while gameplay enhancements such as turn order visibility, faster battle speed options, and improved menus streamline the tactical experience. However, some content from the War of the Lions (WotL) version, including additional classes and characters, is missing, which disappoints some longtime fans.
Overall, the remaster is celebrated for preserving the core gameplay and narrative while modernizing presentation and accessibility, though it comes with a few graphical compromises and a high price point that may warrant waiting for a sale.
Highlights
Players especially praise the deep and flexible job system allowing extensive character customization and strategic depth.
The storyline is compelling, featuring themes of ambition, betrayal, and honor, enhanced by the new voice acting and improved script for better understanding.
The graphics and UI improvements provide a clean, crisp interface and visually appealing presentation that respects the original's aesthetic.
Quality-of-life features like battle speed controls, turn order display, and an in-game encyclopedia enrich the gameplay experience.
The inclusion of both the remastered and original versions caters to different player preferences, making it a versatile package.
Criticisms
Common criticisms include the absence of War of the Lions content such as extra classes (Dark Knight, Onion Knight) and characters (Luso, Balthier), which some players feel diminishes the value.
The graphics, while improved, have some drawbacks like blurry sprites, a burlap-like filter effect, and less detailed lighting that detracts from immersion.
Controls, especially on PC, can feel less intuitive compared to older versions, with some players noting finicky mouse input and slower menu navigation.
The voice acting quality is mixed, with some performances feeling bland and a uniform British accent that lacks diversity.
The price is considered steep by many, with recommendations to purchase on sale rather than full price.
Some technical issues like audio mastering changes and Denuvo DRM have also been noted as negatives.
Pros
- • Deep and flexible job system offers extensive customization and strategy.
- • Compelling and well-written storyline enhanced by voice acting.
- • Quality-of-life improvements streamline gameplay and UI navigation.
- • Fully voiced dialogue adds immersion and character depth.
- • Inclusion of both remaster and original versions for player choice.
- • Clear and informative in-game encyclopedia and lore timeline.
- • Battle speed controls improve grinding and pacing.
Cons
- • Missing War of the Lions content reduces available classes and characters.
- • Blurry sprites and filter effects detract from visual clarity.
- • Controls can be unintuitive and mouse input finicky on PC.
- • Voice acting quality inconsistent and lacks accent diversity.
- • Steep price point; not recommended at full price by many.
- • Excessive tutorials can become intrusive for veterans.
- • No multiplayer mode, seen as a missed opportunity.
Rating Criteria
Featuring fully voiced dialogue, beautifully enhanced graphics, and countless gameplay improvements, the genre-defining tactical RPG makes its long-awaited return.