tactics

I think I have posted it somewhere here before but this time, I got really excited about this game. I last played this game like, uhm, years ago but up until now, this is the game that invigorates my spirit and revitalizes my soul. I just love the deep storyline and all the final fantasy elements fitted in.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions (ファイナルファンタジータクティクス 獅子戦争 Fainaru Fantajī Takutikusu Shishi Sensō?) is a tactical role-playing game developed by TOSE and published by Square Enix for the Sony PlayStation Portable handheld game console. The game is an updated version of Final Fantasy Tactics for the PlayStation video game console.

The War of the Lions is the second announced game in the “Ivalice Alliance” campaign, a promotion of video games set in the Ivalice fictional world. The first is Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, a sequel to Final Fantasy XII, for the Nintendo DS, and the third is Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift.

Following the trend of Final Fantasy video games on PlayStation systems, The War of the Lions features full motion video during certain scenes. These videos are rendered using cel-shading, a technique giving the illusion of hand drawn animation.[3] Because of the PlayStation Portable’s screen size, the game features a 16:9 aspect ratio, as opposed to the previous 4:3.[4] Voice-overs will not be present in the Japanese version. The developers took serious consideration in adding the anime-like sequences with visual arts illustrated by Akihiko Yoshida, and the game is complete with new episodes and cutscenes that were not in the original title, such as the encounter with Balthier. Developers wanted the game to suit both new players and players that have experienced the original title.[5]

The game adds two new character classes; the Onion Knight, taken from Final Fantasy III, and the Dark Knight, which was previously only available to one character, Gafgarion.[3] In addition, The War of the Lions contains new characters, including Balthier from Final Fantasy XII.[6] Balthier is said to feature an “important role”, branded as a heretic in search of the “Cache of Glabados”. He joins Ramza (the protagonist) while he searches for his sister, Alma.[7] Another new character, a monster hunter named Luso from Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift also joins Ramza.[8]

Another development added to the game is a wireless multiplayer mode, both for co-op and versus play. In a versus play, opposing teams may place traps into the battlefield, and these traps will be hidden from the opponent’s views. To ease identification and avoid players from attacking their own party members, teams are assigned colors of either red or blue. The battle ends after a set number of rounds, of which the team with the most remaining HP declared the winner. The winner may then receive an item randomly generated from treasure chests, and with this chances are that the winner may receive rare items not received during normal gameplay mode.

Other additions include new items and equipment (mostly for the new classes) and an increased character party limit, as well as new scenes that flesh out the backstory of existing characters and explaining more events beyond what the player sees through Ramza’s eyes. For example, certain points in the story has the player assuming the role of Delita as he continues on his separated path from Ramza.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions was revealed publicly on December 13, 2006 in the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine as a PlayStation Portable port of Final Fantasy Tactics. The magazine stated additions of cel-shaded full motion videos, and extra job classes among other new features.[9]

The title was originally made for the PlayStation console in 1997. Takamasa Shiba, the current game’s producer, said that Square Enix decided to “re-envision the game a decade later”. Because of the extensive gameplay and deep storyline, the PlayStation version would compel players to spend hours in front of the television. Shiba cited this as one of the main reasons why Square chose to develop it for the PlayStation Portable because of its portability. The subtitle of the War of the Lions is chosen as it illustrates “the backdrop for the story of the two main characters Ramza and Delita”, as well as illustrating the multiplayer gameplay of the game.[10]

The North American localization of The War of the Lions has full audio voice acting for the video sequences in the game. The slowdown and sound downgrade, though acknowledged by the localizers, did not originally seem to be a priority for them to fix, being stated as “out of their hands.” A recent preview of the North American localized version, however, reveals that the slowdown has been reduced, stating that “now the technical issues are about on par with the minor slowdown exhibited in the PS1 release and are no longer distracting.”

As of 18 December 2007, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions has a score of 88/100 at the aggregate review site Metacritic, based on 39 reviews[19]. In comparison, the original Final Fantasy Tactics scored 83 from 12 reviews[20].

The Japanese release of The War of the Lions has been criticized for slowdowns during battles and decreased audio quality.[21] The North American version was honored as Game of the Month in the November 2007 issue of PlayStation Magazine, which described it as a “quite simply, a gaming masterpiece” and “without question, a standalone reason to buy a PSP,” citing the story, translation, and new cinematics with an “excellent new voice track” that “add depth and emotional connectivity to the story.”[citation needed]

Electronic Gaming Monthly has given it a 8.5, 8.5 and a 8 citing “Addictive Game play, great new translation” but criticizing it for “learning curve and dated visuals” in its November 2007 issue.

I <3 wiki.

I hope every PSP owner will have a copy of this game. hehe.