I’m just sitting here, trying to wrap my head around this—Final Fantasy Tactics is making a comeback. Yep, that classic RPG that some die-hard fans can’t stop talking about is being revamped. And guess what? It’s not just any team, but some of the old crew’s getting back together for it. Gives you the warm fuzzies, doesn’t it?
Kazutoyo Maehiro, he was like, “This game is why I’m doing what I do.” He couldn’t just leave it, you know? He’s the big boss now, steering this ship they’re calling “The Ivalice Chronicles.” Kind of neat when something from back then sticks with you enough to shape your career, right?
Anyway, moving on… okay no, let’s just pause. The original game’s team is like back in the saddle with Yasumi Matsuno and the gang. Talk about a blast from the past. This means fresh voices, dialogues—stuff that’s gonna drag you straight into all that Ivalice chaos, with some bonus tweaks.
Maehiro played it again, a few years back—I guess some things just don’t age. Like, yeah, it had its quirks, but man, did it hold up. But hey, you couldn’t even play it on new consoles. That’s kinda tragic, don’t you think? So they figured, why not bring it to the kids of today?
Now, here’s the kicker. They don’t even have the old code. Can you believe that? I guess back then, source code management was a wishful dream. They’re piecing this thing together without any of that. It’s wild. They kinda knew they couldn’t just plop it on an emulator if they wanted to do it justice. So, rebuild it is!
Factor in stuff like auto-saves and dialogue they couldn’t fit in back then. Oh, and more talk from those quiet characters during battles. Random, but it’s cool, yeah? I’m thinking they’re fleshing out forgotten story angles, like why war-veteran Elmdore did what he did.
The UI is getting dolled up, too. “Optimal solution,” they call it. Whatever that means—all I know is, controls better be tight. No use having a killer game if the buttons make you wanna toss your controller, right?
And, they’re adding a voice to Tactics. Dialogue flows like a real convo, they say. Talk about breathing life into pixels. It had Maehiro feeling all sorts of things—I mean, who wouldn’t? Seeing and hearing your old work takes on a new life.
Ever heard of State of the Realm? Yeah, me neither, but it’s like a story recap that pops up between battles. Keeps you in the loop. You can go nuts with side news from taverns if that’s your thing.
Errands are back, too. Maehiro got his first crack at them way back, poor guy was a rookie then. They’re not just rumors now—they’re like mini-games, offering a breather from all that strategy hullabaloo.
And, I’m not gonna act like I know all the tricks, but if you’re stepping into this world for the first time, they reckon start with Archer and Knight in your lineup—pick off enemies from high ground. The rest of the tips? Honestly, sounds like voodoo magic—two melee this, two ranged that. Who figures this out?
What Maehiro is most proud of? That this game’s still got its fans, even after nearly three decades. Jeez, where’s the time gone? People still love it, so the team got back together to repackage it for a new crowd.
Heck, even if tactical RPGs aren’t your jam, the new version lets you tweak difficulty—might be worth diving in. Everything’s gearing up for a September 30th release on PS5 and PS4. Not far off now. Guess we’ll see just how magical this revamped Ivalice really is.
