tactics Ogre is one of those games that I’d kinda resigned myself to never playing, almost purely on the basis that I’d heard it was a hard SRPG, and the only SRPGs I’ve ever gotten through are the newer fire emblem games, with the more lenient death mechanics. I did want it though. I’m a huge fan of Yasumi Matsuno’s work, and this (along with FF Tactics) are usually considered his best works, his most complete works. So, when a new remaster of tactics ogre came out, I picked it up and decided to give it an earnest try. This year was already a banner year for me getting into genres I never thought I’d be into (souls and fighting games), and I was quietly hoping there would even be an easy mode added (there was not, but nonetheless!!).
50ish hours and about a month later and yeah, it’s fantastic, and this is also a fantastic remaster. Tactics ogre kinda rides the line between RPG and SRPG perfectly, and Reborn only solidifies that balancing act. Gone are random battles and grinding, replaced with a level cap that rises as the story progresses and training at any of the cities that are friendly to you. There’s more focus on smaller skirmishes with more importance on individual units than fire emblem, but this is still a tactics game first, and an RPG second.
But that’s not really what I love about the game. Sure, the battle system has near infinite depth, but this is a matsuno game! Not only that, it’s a really large scale matsuno game, taking a massive conflict and putting you in the shoes of its leader. It’s huge! And yet often very intimate, really zeroing in on the most effective characters and letting them shine. All of this is couched in matsuno’s usual almost shakespearean writing style, and gorgeously soundtracked by Hitoshi Sakimoto.
The remaster has been a bit divisive though. The visuals were redone, there’s this weird skill card system, and there’s voice acting now. Well, the voice acting is superb, really bringing the characters to life. The visuals I ended up liking, as they really do get the look of the original down, but with added sharpness and clarity. Seriously, when it’s blown up big on a tv it looks great, nowhere near as blurry as the trailer made it seem. The skill card system is really my only gripe with the remaster, and really only because it doesn’t really feel necessary? It’s just kinda simple, in a game that takes great pains to be full of depth. Also they’re very “video gamey”, kinda breaking the medieval war diorama look of the game. Honestly that’s a minor complaint in the grand scheme tho, I promise.
Bottom line is this is a great way to play a classic. If you don’t like the looks and the cards, play the PSP version, but otherwise, bask in the glory of full voice acting for one of the best JRPG stories.
50ish hours and about a month later and yeah, it’s fantastic, and this is also a fantastic remaster. Tactics ogre kinda rides the line between RPG and SRPG perfectly, and Reborn only solidifies that balancing act. Gone are random battles and grinding, replaced with a level cap that rises as the story progresses and training at any of the cities that are friendly to you. There’s more focus on smaller skirmishes with more importance on individual units than fire emblem, but this is still a tactics game first, and an RPG second.
But that’s not really what I love about the game. Sure, the battle system has near infinite depth, but this is a matsuno game! Not only that, it’s a really large scale matsuno game, taking a massive conflict and putting you in the shoes of its leader. It’s huge! And yet often very intimate, really zeroing in on the most effective characters and letting them shine. All of this is couched in matsuno’s usual almost shakespearean writing style, and gorgeously soundtracked by Hitoshi Sakimoto.
The remaster has been a bit divisive though. The visuals were redone, there’s this weird skill card system, and there’s voice acting now. Well, the voice acting is superb, really bringing the characters to life. The visuals I ended up liking, as they really do get the look of the original down, but with added sharpness and clarity. Seriously, when it’s blown up big on a tv it looks great, nowhere near as blurry as the trailer made it seem. The skill card system is really my only gripe with the remaster, and really only because it doesn’t really feel necessary? It’s just kinda simple, in a game that takes great pains to be full of depth. Also they’re very “video gamey”, kinda breaking the medieval war diorama look of the game. Honestly that’s a minor complaint in the grand scheme tho, I promise.
Bottom line is this is a great way to play a classic. If you don’t like the looks and the cards, play the PSP version, but otherwise, bask in the glory of full voice acting for one of the best JRPG stories.