The Return of the Legend: From a Classic Masterpiece to a Modern Remake

Since its release on PlayStation in 1997, the game has held a special place in gaming history. Final Fantasy Tactics was not just a spin-off of Final Fantasy, it was a turning point that redefined the concept of Tactics RPGs. It was developed by legendary names such as Yasumi Matsuno, Hironobu Sakaguchi, and Hiroyuki Ito, which resulted in a mix of deep strategic gameplay and a complex political story that players were not used to at the time.

The game stayed alive in players’ minds until today, and was classified by its fans as a “classic masterpiece,” always remembered as one of the most important games of its generation. Those who played it back then return for its flexible Job System and the many choices that give freedom to build characters, while those who never tried it before hear about it as one of the greatest stories blending politics with fantasy in a very impactful way.

Today, with its return in the remastered version The Ivalice Chronicles on new-generation consoles, it is not just about nostalgia. It is an attempt to revisit a classic and present it again in a way that suits the audience of 2025.

So, did the remaster really bring back the experience in the best way? Did it manage to preserve the spirit of the original and add improvements that make it different and suitable for today’s time? Or is it just a cleaner version of a legendary game that didn’t need changes in the first place?

The Story

The story in Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles still holds the same power it had back in 1997. It begins with Ramza Beoulve, the youngest member of a great noble family in the Kingdom of Ivalice. From the start, he feels like more than just a warrior—he is a young man torn between his noble status and his strong sense of justice, which makes him see the poor and the common soldiers as human beings like himself, not just tools of war. Alongside him is Delita, a poor boy raised among the Beoulves and treated as one of their own, making their bond one of the strongest and most complicated relationships in the story.

The events take place after a long conflict called the Fifty Years’ War, which left the kingdom exhausted, the people poor, and anger filling the streets. In the middle of this chaos, the regent of the throne dies and a power struggle between nobles begins over who should rule. Here we see how the noble families themselves, who are supposed to be role models, are caught in conspiracies and betrayals, and how class divisions push society into conflicts not only between armies but also between social classes.

Over time, Ramza finds himself not just a cadet at the academy but a key player in a web of betrayal and conspiracies. He goes through painful losses, sees friends turn into enemies, and realizes those he trusted most exploit him. Delita also changes, beginning to see power as the only way to change his place in the world. This drives him deeper into the game of politics and power until he eventually becomes the figure history remembers as a hero—even if the truth is much more complicated than that.

The story also goes beyond politics and power struggles, introducing supernatural forces and magical stones known as Auracite. These stones grant immense power but also open the way for demons and ancient legends to take part in the conflict. The war then shifts from being a struggle over the throne to a battle for the future of the entire kingdom, with Ramza always fighting not for personal glory but for the justice he truly believes in.

What makes the story unique is that it is told as a historical narrative by a scholar many years later. This makes every event feel like a rediscovery of truths that were buried or twisted by power. This approach transforms the game from a simple tale of heroes and villains into a reflection on how history itself can be written to serve the powerful, while the real heroes remain forgotten.

Gameplay

Gameplay here is the heart of the experience, delivering one of the deepest and most enjoyable tactical combat systems that still stand strong today. Battles are fought on small diorama-like maps, each built on 3D tiles with elevations, water, and obstacles. Every element affects your strategy: standing on high ground allows archers to hit distant enemies easily, while moving through water slows down units and makes heavy soldiers more vulnerable.

Combat is turn-based, with each character’s speed determining their turn order. At the end of each move, you must choose the direction the character faces, as enemies can strike harder from the back or sides. This system ensures every move has weight, and even a small mistake can cost you the battle.

What truly makes the experience unique is the Job System. There are around twenty different jobs, from basics like Squire, Knight, Archer, and Mage, to advanced ones like Dragoon, who can leap from high places to strike, or Arithmetician, who uses calculations to cast devastating spells instantly—even at the risk of harming allies. Any job teaches abilities that can be mixed with others, creating nearly unlimited customization possibilities.

You can build a Monk who fights with fists but moves like a Ninja and jumps across heights, or a Mage who casts both White and Black magic while moving faster than anyone on the map. The freedom is almost limitless, and each battle becomes a chance to try new builds or different team mixes that make your squad stronger and more versatile.

The system is also designed so you grow with every action. You don’t need to finish a battle to earn progress—every strike, spell, or even failed attempt gives you Experience Points and Job Points (JP). This creates a constant sense of growth, even during long fights that can be used as training to build new skills.

At the same time, the game is unforgiving. Enemies are smart and exploit every chance, turning a normal battle into a disaster if you let a caster unleash a strong spell or ignore a unit in a strategic position. That’s why the auto-save system and the ability to retry or rearrange your squad before battle are key additions in this version—they reduce frustration without removing the challenge.

Graphics

The first thing you notice in this remaster is that the graphics maintain the spirit of the original game while also being updated for modern systems. Maps are still shown in the signature isometric style from the 90s, but now with much clearer detail in both characters and environments.

The maps look smoother and richer in color, with warm lighting and shadows that make them feel like carefully crafted dioramas. This is especially striking in scenes with sunsets or dark battles lit by candles, where it feels like you are standing inside a painting rather than just a battlefield.

Characters remain in their chibi-style form from the original, but with more detail in faces and animations. Added effects like tilt-shift create visual depth, making battles look like miniature cinematic scenes. New spell and explosion effects also enhance the feeling of power and drama in every move.

Square Enix also included two different display options. You can play with the new high-definition style or switch to the classic version that emulates the old pixel art. While you cannot swap between them mid-game like in some other remasters such as Halo: Master Chief Collection, the choice makes the experience appealing both to modern players and nostalgic fans alike.

The only downside is that the portraits or face images were enlarged from the original art and are not always on par with the rest of the visuals. Sometimes they feel rough or lacking detail compared to the charm of the original pixel art. Still, the overall look of the game is cleaner and sharper, making strategy easier as every detail is now clearer.

Final Verdict

9/10

In the end, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles brings back one of the greatest Tactical RPGs in a form suitable for the new generation without losing its original soul. The story is still just as powerful, portraying complex conflicts about power and class. The gameplay opens massive freedom of choices and strategies, making every battle unique. The updated graphics and new QoL features make the experience more comfortable, whether for newcomers or veterans seeking nostalgia. Despite a few minor issues with balance and missing additions, this version is the best way to play this classic today and realize how much value it still holds after all these years.