Square Enix has officially announced a a number of mobile games that range from the playable to the hastily shuttered. The main series consistently reinvents itself, yet the most unusual and experimental games often come from the spinoff branches of the Final Fantasy franchise.
Unfortunately, most FF spinoffs are one-offs: they get a single game, most of which get mixed reviews before disappearing into the ether. It's only the rare spinoff that actually spawns a sequel, and is still beloved by the broader Final Fantasy fandom today. To date, I can only think of a single FF spinoff to garner such a lasting positive reception, and it's FF Tactics, which just got its long-rumored remake announced today.
The FF Tactics Remaster Looks Excellent
Just What The Series Needed
Final Fantasy Tactics is the rare Final Fantasy spinoff to meet with near-universal critical acclaim and an outpouring of love from the mainstream player base, so it's no surprise it's been tapped for a remake. First released in 1997 for the original PlayStation, Tactics puts a strategic spin on classic Final Fantasy gameplay. Instead of controlling a small party in Active Time turn-based battles, you control a much larger squadron on bigger battlefields. You can move around the area actively, positioning your units strategically for powerful attacks and impenetrable defenses.
FF Tactics also has an excellent story that rivals the best mainline Final Fantasy games. Following the knight Ramza, who finds himself caught in the middle of the War of the Lions, the story of FF Tactics goes through many twists and turns that I won't spoil here, in case you haven't played it yourself. Just know that it involves a well-executed, mature political drama that's worth delving into.
10 Improvements We Want To See In Final Fantasy 7 Part 3
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was one of the best games from last year, but there are still some improvements that would be nice to see in its sequel.
Tactics previously got a remaster on the PSP, Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions. But until the new remaster comes out, you can only play it on the PSP - a 20-year-old console - or on a smartphone, as it's available via the iOS App and Google Play Stores. So yes, FF Tactics needs a remaster, and this one looks like it'll do the original justice.
I'd be happy enough with a much simpler console port that just makes the game available on modern consoles, but I have to it, the visual and UI changes look great here. I'm particularly interested in the Classic and Enhanced graphical modes - the inclusion of both suggests that the developers of the remaster are in touch with that players loved about the original Final Fantasy Tactics, which is a good sign. But FF Tactics deserves more.
FF Tactics Remake Is Nice, But A New Game Would Be Better
Tactics Needs To Make A Comeback
I'm glad Final Fantasy Tactics is finally getting the remaster it deserves. No one wants to play such an expansive, genre-defining game on a tiny smartphone screen. But I'd rather see a new FF Tactics than just a remake. I'm sure it's not at the top of Square's list of priorities, but it could be a worthy endeavor. Tactics never got a proper sequel - it did have two spiritual successors, the Final Fantasy Tactics Advance subseries, but these are markedly different in tone and setting.
No, FF Tactics deserves something closer to a direct sequel, one that uses its political intrigue and brilliant setting to tell a completely new story. The original game is strictly limited by the technical capabilities of the PS1 - maps are relatively small, and you can't have too many characters on the field at once. Imagine what FF Tactics could do with modern technology: massive battles between giant armies, set on giant battlefields that allow for immense tactical depth.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Does One Massive Thing Better Than Every Final Fantasy
After playing every Final Fantasy and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, it's clear that Expedition 33 does one massive thing better than every FF game.
Besides, I know I'm not alone in wanting Final Fantasy to return to turn-based combat: games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have proven that turn-based RPGs can still garner massive audiences and critical acclaim. Still, I doubt Square will dive headfirst into turn-based combat with a new mainline FF game. Instead, why not experiment with some turn-based spinoffs? And where better to start than Final Fantasy Tactics?
I'm not going to pretend an FF Tactics sequel is the kind of game that's guaranteed to do numbers in this day and age. But it does have a devoted fan base, and a reputation for quality that could easily guide it to success by word of mouth. If nothing else, Final Fantasy Tactics, as the series' best spinoff, deserves a second chance because of how good it can be when it's given the chance to shine.
Final Fantasy Tactics
- Released
- June 20, 1997
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Publisher(s)
- Square, Sony Computer Entertainment
- Engine
- Luminous
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
Your comment has not been saved