Final Fantasy Tactics was one of the best tactical role-playing games of the late 90s, and it has now been given the HD treatment, making it essential gaming.
Before Final Fantasy Tactics, there was Ogre Battle and then Tactics Ogre. These two games, in many ways, helped to create the fantasy-themed tactical role-playing functionality that would define the genre.
Both of those games were directed and designed by Yasumi Matsuno. Now, while I am wary of attributing too much credit to any one individual, having worked on many games myself, in this instance it’s clear that Matsuno was a key figure in the creation of these games.
This is noteworthy because when Final Fantasy Tactics came along on the PlayStation in 1997, it was a functional departure from previous games in the series, and Matsuno clearly helped to helm the “tactical” part that made the game stand out.
In that, the game had the player control multiple units across a grid-based terrain that was viewed from an isometric angle, with the latter being able to be rotated.
The lower camera viewpoint and multiple obstacles across each map meant the player needed to shift the camera around to place their units effectively. This was likely done to emphasize the move to 3D on the PlayStation.
Naturally, with its Ogre Battle lineage, Final Fantasy Tactics has rightly been regarded as one of the finest video games ever made, so a modern remaster would have a lot to live up to.
That’s why this collection is so well done, and I do mean collection here. Not only do you get the updated HD version of The Ivalice Chronicles, but you also get the classic PlayStation game as well.
The HD version has obviously had a graphical facelift (shown below), as well as new dialogue recorded for it, as the original game just had unspoken text to convey the story. Even the opening movie has been updated.
The interesting thing here is that with a variety of quality of life changes, The Ivalice Chronicles does feel modernised and somewhat easier than the original.
The great thing is that you can literally compare it with the original version, and that is indeed as exacting as I remember it.
I think including the original game here was a wise choice, because it lets newer players come into the game from the more functionally friendly HD version, and then, if they want, have the real game school them properly.
For purists like me, I still prefer the PlayStation version of the game, with every decision being crucial to victory. However, I do understand that not everyone wants to spend hours on one map trying to find the perfect tactical route to victory, something that the Reset Move option in The Ivalice Chronicles helps to speed up.
The Ivalice Chronicles also adds more shades to the story, especially as the voice acting is generally excellent and subsequently very British. Considering that the story was one of the strongest aspects of the original game, having it fleshed out like this is very nice.
You also have newer and easier difficulty modes in The Ivalice Chronicles, and again, these are a nice gesture to newer players.
My only minor complaint with The Ivalice Chronicles is that it probably needed a bit more work on the HD visuals. The artwork is great, but it is clearly an upscaled PlayStation game, especially for the environments.
The 2D characters look fine, but more visual finesse and detail on the maps wouldn’t have gone amiss and would have helped differentiate the versions.
Again, the fact that the original game is playable more than makes up for this, as that’s the true masterpiece here, but the HD update could have been something truly special if more time and money had been spent on it.
Overall, Final Fantasy Tactics is still the brilliant tactical role-playing game I thoroughly enjoyed playing at the end of the ‘90s. This new and updated HD remaster in the form of The Ivalice Chronicles is a welcome addition, especially for newer players, but it’s the original game that makes this collection so very special.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
Platform: Switch 2 (Reviewed), Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Developer: Creative Business Unit III
Publisher: Square Enix
Released: 30th September 2025
Price: $49.99
Score: 9/10
Disclosure: Square Enix sent me a copy of this game for the purposes of this review.
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