When Final Fantasy Tactics released on the original PlayStation in 1997 (1998 in the US), it was a revelation. Final Fantasy had once again reinvented itself and delivered an all-time great role-playing game, albeit this time with a tactical twist. Now over 25 years later, the PS1 classic returns with an enhanced remaster called Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles.

Fans of the original game will be glad to know that this is an incredibly faithful upgrade. In fact, there are two versions to choose from when you boot up the game: enhanced and classic versions. The classic version is exactly what you’d expect as it features the graphics and gameplay of the original game replicated perfectly, while also using the improved War of the Lions (the PSP remake) translation. Meanwhile, the enhanced version is what I’d recommend to everyone, nostalgia trip or not, as it is a great blend of being true to the original while modernizing it in meaningful ways.

The most immediate changes you’ll notice with the enhanced version of Final Fantasy Tactics is the enhanced presentation. The graphics have been improved, with some great tweaks to the user interface as well, and the game’s story is now fully voice acted. Other smart additions include a new easy difficulty, auto save during battles, the ability to speed up the game, and a new tactical view feature that allows you to see more of the battlefield at a glance. All of these changes are relatively slight, but they add up to make for a much better experience that is quite noticeable when you boot up the classic version.

Both the story (which has some additional dialogue scenes) and gameplay of Final Fantasy Tactics have stood the test of time wonderfully. Battles are incredibly thrilling, really testing players outside of the new Squire difficulty level, and the story is one of Final Fantasy’s finest. There’s also some great fan service as you can still recruit Cloud from Final Fantasy VII into your party. With rewarding boss fights and plenty of depth, this is the best version of one of the greatest RPGs ever made

If there’s any gripe against the game, it’s that some of the additions from War of the Lions are missing. From the multiplayer mode to the extra job classes and playable characters, it’s always a bummer when some content gets locked behind an old port. It’s understandable that the original dev team wanted to stay true to their vision and hone that in, rather than the PSP update, but it’s still a very slight bummer when it could’ve still been implemented.

Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles (PS5) Review: Final Verdict

A lovingly crafted remaster of an all-time great classic, Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles is the update that the seminal tactical RPG game deserves. The new controls and difficulty options make it the most accessible version of the game, while the gameplay and presentation tweaks are undeniable upgrades. While completists will still miss some of the War of the Lions content, this classic has stood the test of time and is a must-buy for RPG fans.

Disclosure: The publisher provided a digital copy for our Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles PS5 review. Reviewed on version 1.020.000.

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