Final Fantasy Tactics PSP

hanafuda · May 11, 2007

Amazon finally got my copy to me.

Anyway, initial points of note:

-No English option from what I can see.

-The hand drawn (?) animation sequences are awesome. They should make a movie in that style.

-Text is kind of grainy and in a more hand written style. After coming straight off the Final Fantasy 1 remake, with its crystal clear text, it is a bit of a contrast. I can appreciate how the stlye adds a certain amount of atmosphere, but it would be nice if some of it was clearer. Especially the white text in the first opening sequence.

Will post some more after I have spent some more time with it. Can see this game eating up hours of my free time...

Mad Mage · May 11, 2007

I'd be quite interested to hear more detail on the changes/additions made to this version. I sure hope this comes out here.

DangerousK · May 12, 2007

Is this a completely new game, or a remake of either the GBA or PS1 version?

Mad Mage · May 12, 2007

A port of the PS1 version. A sequel to the (terrible) GBA one is coming out for DS.

hanafuda · May 12, 2007

Have put about 3 hours into it now, and like it a lot.

Worth pointing out that I never played the PS1 original - just the GBA FFTA game (which I played a lot despite it being way too easy).

I'm used to the in game text now (black handwritten style on brown background) and it is OK. The white text that you get at the start of new sections just doesn't look good though.

You can only save in between battles. Worth noting if you are the type of gamer that swaps software frequently.

@ subbie. I can see why this doesn't contain an English translation now, as there is way more text in this than in, say, the recent FF1 remake.

Not much else I can say about it at this point beyond the fact that I am enjoying it. Preps to SE for releasing (keeping true to the original so I hear) a handheld game aimed at a more mature audience (tone, language, story, and difficulty level).

DangerousK · May 12, 2007

hanafudaX said:
Have put about 3 hours into it now, and like it a lot.

Worth pointing out that I never played the PS1 original - just the GBA FFTA game (which I played a lot despite it being way too easy).

I'm used to the in game text now (black handwritten style on brown background) and it is OK. The white text that you get at the start of new sections just doesn't look good though.

You can only save in between battles. Worth noting if you are the type of gamer that swaps software frequently.

@ subbie. I can see why this doesn't contain an English translation now, as there is way more text in this than in, say, the recent FF1 remake.

Not much else I can say about it at this point beyond the fact that I am enjoying it. Preps to SE for releasing (keeping true to the original so I hear) a handheld game aimed at a more mature audience (tone, language, story, and difficulty level).

Do you know if they did make any sorts of upgrades to the graphics from the PS1 version?

Nesagwa · May 12, 2007

hanafudaX said:
-The hand drawn (?) animation sequences are awesome. They should make a movie in that style.

Just very stylized 3D CG rendering.

RBjakeSpecial · May 14, 2007

Just picked this up.

It's such a nice feeling to play this over again. The new cut scenes are beautiful. This game is one of the best ever made. Good bye free time.

hanafuda · May 20, 2007

I have put about 11-12 hours into this now, and have some more opinion.

This was going to be a big rant, but I'm tired and can't be bothered, so here is the edited version.

1) The controls are very inconsiderate. So much so that it really spoils the tempo of the game. Last night it was really, really annoying me. I could really rant about this point, but I will spare it.

2) You can't skip the story scenes. Why not?

3) The CPU is a cheat.

4) There really isn't a great deal of tactical play required here at all. Just be sure to run into enough random battles to level up before the main 'story' battles, then just wade in and kick ass.

5) The new animations are still gorgeous, but they aren't swaying my opinion on this game.

I though this game was going to be a firm favourite for me, but now it looks pretty certain I'll be trading this in pretty soon.

mmelzer2004 · May 20, 2007

FFTactics is probably one of my favorite games, sorry to hear you don't think its very good. Its depth and challenge really comes in after you beat the game normally then go back to try SCC's or Straight Character Challenges by making every one of your team members the same class with no abilities from other classes. While some would be insanely easy (Monk or Priest), some would be rather difficult (Calculator or Bard/Dancer). That definitely adds some replay, not to mention the Deep Dungeon at the end of Chapter 4. Try not to overly power-level your characters and you should find a decent challenge before you.

PS: If you go through the game at semi-normal levels try not to use Auto Potion, makes the game rather easy if your brave is high.

There are tons of strategy threads on GameFAQs for the PS1 version of the game, but of course it doesn't include anything on Onion Knights or Dark Knights.

Keep going with the game... if you haven't played it before, there are some rather tough fights at the end of Chapter 3 and a majority of Chapter 4 as long as you haven't over leveled too much.

EDIT: Oh yea, what makes you say the computer cheats? Just wondering...

hanafuda · May 20, 2007

mmelzer2004 said:
FFTactics is probably one of my favorite games, sorry to hear you don't think its very good. Its depth and challenge really comes in after you beat the game normally then go back to try SCC's or Straight Character Challenges by making every one of your team members the same class with no abilities from other classes. While some would be insanely easy (Monk or Priest), some would be rather difficult (Calculator or Bard/Dancer). That definitely adds some replay, not to mention the Deep Dungeon at the end of Chapter 4. Try not to overly power-level your characters and you should find a decent challenge before you.

PS: If you go through the game at semi-normal levels try not to use Auto Potion, makes the game rather easy if your brave is high.

There are tons of strategy threads on GameFAQs for the PS1 version of the game, but of course it doesn't include anything on Onion Knights or Dark Knights.

Keep going with the game... if you haven't played it before, there are some rather tough fights at the end of Chapter 3 and a majority of Chapter 4 as long as you haven't over leveled too much.

EDIT: Oh yea, what makes you say the computer cheats? Just wondering...

Thanks, I will stick at it, but I'm not certain for how much longer.

It's not that I don't think the game itself is good, it is much more that the controls/presentation are/is poor. I don't know if it was like that on the PS1 version, but if so, I can't understand why they wouldn't tweak things for this release. The core gameplay I do like, on the whole.

CPU definitely cheats for the following reason: Say you have a character that has taken a bit of damage, but you figure they have enough left to survive another skirmish so you leave them and see how it goes. Say they have 41 HP left. Along comes the CPU and scores a 41 point hit to perfection, and you character is KOd.

That happens so often when the CPU attacks you, but when it is the other way round? Hardly ever. If it is going to be close, you can guarantee the CPU will limp away from the encounter with a few HP remaining just for a sly comeback chance.

As McReady would say, 'Cheatin' bitch'.

RBjakeSpecial · May 21, 2007

hanafudaX said:
Thanks, I will stick at it, but I'm not certain for how much longer.

It's not that I don't think the game itself is good, it is much more that the controls/presentation are/is poor. I don't know if it was like that on the PS1 version, but if so, I can't understand why they wouldn't tweak things for this release. The core gameplay I do like, on the whole.

CPU definitely cheats for the following reason: Say you have a character that has taken a bit of damage, but you figure they have enough left to survive another skirmish so you leave them and see how it goes. Say they have 41 HP left. Along comes the CPU and scores a 41 point hit to perfection, and you character is KOd.

That happens so often when the CPU attacks you, but when it is the other way round? Hardly ever. If it is going to be close, you can guarantee the CPU will limp away from the encounter with a few HP remaining just for a sly comeback chance.

As McReady would say, 'Cheatin' bitch'.

I just hit the ten hour mark in this game and I'm enjoying it every bit as much as I did when I played it when it first came out.

I've never thought of the computer as cheating. FFT is overall a pretty easy game.. sure there are frustrating battles but all you need is some advanced abilities in your job and you'll take all the bad guys out pretty fast.

Before you sell the game get into the job system. Once you start leveling the jobs up and exploring the different options the game gets really addicting. You also might want to trade the game in for the playsation greatest hits version. The presentation is the same, but it's a bit sharper and speedier, overall a little better of an experience.

FFT is in my opinion one of the best games ever made... I remember not liking it at first and then when I hit the 20-30 hour mark it was just solid play until the end. Once you get to a certian point the game gets hella easy...

thundr51 · May 21, 2007

RBjakeSpecial said:
FFT is in my opinion one of the best games ever made... I remember not liking it at first and then when I hit the 20-30 hour mark it was just solid play until the end. Once you get to a certian point the game gets hella easy...

I agree with this. When I first bought the PSX version I tried it and hated it and took it back. Luckily the guy at the counter talked me out of and and I gave it another try. Once I figured out the job system I never looked back...

Now with both the english and Jap versions + the Soundtrack and the strategy I'm a definite fan of this game. I tried the GBA version but I HATED the judge system. Guess I need to pick up this game...I can't remember the last time I bought a PSP game...

hanafuda · May 21, 2007

Thanks guys.

I'm not quite done with it yet..

I am getting there with the job system too, but I get the impression that some of the jobs really don't come into play until much later in the game. Knight, for example.

Last night I made one of my guys a black magician so having some fun with that.

Also, I played around with the options quite a bit and managed to make the controls quite a bit better. Those dialogue boxes telling you what to do next (please select a destination square, etc) were driving me nuts. Fortunately you are able to get rid of them.

RBjakeSpecial · May 22, 2007

hanafudaX said:
Last night I made one of my guys a black magician so having some fun with that.

YES! Make sure you have a white mage and a black mage at the start. I'm rocking a party with 2 knights, my main guy is a monk, a black mage and white mage (11 hours in) and I've managed to get to level 14.

Another fun thing to do is get Power Break ability for the knight, then go into a random battle, power break the enemies until they can't kill you, have your guys attack each other and heal each other and gain a shit load of exp. and job points. So much fun.

hanafuda · May 22, 2007

RBjakeSpecial said:
YES! Make sure you have a white mage and a black mage at the start. I'm rocking a party with 2 knights, my main guy is a monk, a black mage and white mage (11 hours in) and I've managed to get to level 14.

Another fun thing to do is get Power Break ability for the knight, then go into a random battle, power break the enemies until they can't kill you, have your guys attack each other and heal each other and gain a shit load of exp. and job points. So much fun.

Yeah, the black mage is fun. Seems difficult to obtain JP for him though.

I guess I shoud get a white mage too, but my crew is too small at present, and the new recruits are all too low in experience to make it worth my time.

I'm currently at level 10, and just got an ass kicking in the fight against Argas. Time to find some more random fights...

RBjakeSpecial · May 23, 2007

hanafudaX said:
Yeah, the black mage is fun. Seems difficult to obtain JP for him though.

I guess I shoud get a white mage too, but my crew is too small at present, and the new recruits are all too low in experience to make it worth my time.

I'm currently at level 10, and just got an ass kicking in the fight against Argas. Time to find some more random fights...

Your party should only be 4 to 5 members. A monk and knight should be all you need for the assaulting muscle, having one of the members be a white mage will greatly increase your party's potential. Go for it.

To get the mages a lot of jp, have your fighters occasionally attack or punch each other. If you have no more magic points make your mages punch away at the knight or monk and he'll gain jp. The game has kind of an Elder Scrolls level up system, the more you do something the more experience you'll get. Just find some way for your characters to act every single random battle.

I think I'm on the same fight. I really don't enjoy the story in Tactics (or most games), I tend to just focus on the leveling.

Nesagwa · May 23, 2007

I think this thread prooves that Hanafuda has terrible tastes, even in Playstation games.

hanafuda · May 23, 2007

RBjakeSpecial said:
Your party should only be 4 to 5 members. A monk and knight should be all you need for the assaulting muscle, having one of the members be a white mage will greatly increase your party's potential. Go for it.

To get the mages a lot of jp, have your fighters occasionally attack or punch each other. If you have no more magic points make your mages punch away at the knight or monk and he'll gain jp. The game has kind of an Elder Scrolls level up system, the more you do something the more experience you'll get. Just find some way for your characters to act every single random battle.

I think I'm on the same fight. I really don't enjoy the story in Tactics (or most games), I tend to just focus on the leveling.

I decided to go for a new recruit anyway, so I'll make her a white mage as soon as she gets to the level where it is possible.

Yeah, I'm remebering the tricks like attacking your own crew from FFTA.

I'm pretty much with you on the story for this. It is better than FFTA, but at the same time it is pretty hard to care about all the nature/nurture back plot. Especially when they break out into chit-chat in the middle of a battle.

Still, finding this much more playable now I have disabled all of the unnecessary padding on the control system.

hanafuda · May 27, 2007

This week's Famitsu has an article that cross reviews all of the jobs in this game. It is light hearted, and pretty amusing in places.

Also, if you start a new game and rename the main character to BGMききたい, it unlocks the music player.

Final Fantasy Tactics PSP

Dr. Brown's Time Machine Mechanic

Edo Express Delivery Guy

MotoGP and Formula 1 Freak

Edo Express Delivery Guy

Dr. Brown's Time Machine Mechanic

MotoGP and Formula 1 Freak

Beard of Zeus,

Land of the Rising Bling:,

Dr. Brown's Time Machine Mechanic

Tarma's Gun Polisher

Dr. Brown's Time Machine Mechanic

Land of the Rising Bling:,

Bead Banger

Dr. Brown's Time Machine Mechanic

Land of the Rising Bling:,

Dr. Brown's Time Machine Mechanic

Land of the Rising Bling:,

Beard of Zeus,

Dr. Brown's Time Machine Mechanic

Dr. Brown's Time Machine Mechanic