Summary
Final Fantasy Tacticswas one of the first big spinoffs to theFinal Fantasyseries. It was certainly the first tactical RPG that gave players an assortment of characters to level up with Jobs on grid-based maps. It was also one of the darker games in the series, as it touched on religion and the concept of corruption within warring kingdoms.
Fans ofFinal Fantasy Tacticsprobably sought outFinal Fantasy Tactics AdvanceandFinal Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift,which are the only two sequels in theTacticsseries. There are othergames in the series like the threeFinal Fantasy Tacticsentriesthat aren’t directly tactical RPGs though. Let’s go through some of the better examples.
Final Fantasy 3is the first game in the series that allowed players to change Jobs as they liked.Final Fantasy 5improved the Job formulawith its four main heroes. Every time players rescue a new Crystal, new Jobs are unlocked, from magically gifted mages to melee-focused warriors.
Crafting the right combos and swapping skills around led to some interesting tactics in this classic turn-based RPG. The story is rather tame and a bit happy-go-lucky thanks to the crew starring in it. Still,Final Fantasy Tacticsfans will enjoy it for the Job system alone. For those who still have a Game Boy Advance lying around, the GBA version ofFinal Fantasy 5istheone to check out.
Final Fantasy 7was a game-changer in many ways for the series. It was the first entry on a non-Nintendo piece of hardware (the PS1), the first to feature CG cutscenes, and the first to be this mature, tackling themes of death, love, humanity, rebirth, and so on, withCloud being a key figurein all of this. It was still only rated T for Teen, but the point remains clear.
It made RPG fans out of a new generation of gamers and one of the big reasons why its legacy has persisted all these years. It’s led to tworemakes so far,Final Fantasy 7 RemakeandFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, with the third and final entry in the Remake trilogy out sometime soon. While both of those games are great and equally dark, there’s no escaping the allure of the originalFinal Fantasy 7,blemishes and all.
Final Fantasy 12fits right in withFinal Fantasy Tactics,as it takes place in thesame universe: Ivalice.Final Fantasy 12is set in a more prosperous era, which is alluded to in lost texts inFinal Fantasy Tactics. In this way,FF12could be seen as a prequel, even though there’s not much connection beyond the world of Ivalice.
The gameplay is also quite different in thatFinal Fantasy 12resembles an MMO with real-time combat which can be paused mid-battle to assign commands.Final Fantasy 12: Revenant Wings, the DS sequel, is actually closer in scope toFinal Fantasy Tacticsas it is an RTS. Both games are worth perusing for those wishing to get more acquainted with the Ivalice universe.
Final Fantasy 16is the latest main entry in the series, and it decidedly tried to go after theGame of Thronesdemographic, complete with terrible families and hands constantly throttling for the throne. The villains inFinal Fantasy Tacticswere all trying to possess Zodiac Stones, which hold powerful supernatural beings in them. Well, inFinal Fantasy 16, every nation holds a Summon, or Eikon, as their sort of guardian.
More so than most mainline entries, evenFinal Fantasy 12within Ivalice,Final Fantasy 16has a lot in common thematically withFinal Fantasy Tacticsbeyond just supernatural beings. The gameplay is the biggest differentiating factor though, as there is no Job system and the main character, Clive, fights in real-time with action-based combat. Beyond that, though, it’s a home run recommendation.
Final Fantasy Type-0began as a tie-in toFinal Fantasy 13before becoming its own thing. It was first released on the PSP exclusively in Japan, and then an HD remaster was developed for other territories on consoles like the PS4. This spinoff stars an elite group of cadets led by Ace, set ina military school.
While Ace was the lead, players could pick and choose characters to control in battle from their large class, each of whom wields a different weapon, from twin revolvers to a scythe. The combat was action-based and missions were fairly straight-forward. There were bigger battles that resembled RTS engagements to tie things further back toFinal Fantasy Tactics,but they were few and far between.
Let’s close things out with another action-based title,Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin,which returns to a Job system. It functions as both a prequel to the original game and a reimagining of it. It’s a bit complicated without going into the deeper details of the plot, but the outline is that our hero, Jack, forges a bond with the Warriors of Light to stop Chaos from destroying the world. That’s about it beyond Jack saying “Chaos” every two syllables.
It’s goofy, over the top, bloody, and fun either alone or with friends. That’s right, this spinoff has three-player co-op, which makes diving into the dungeons and leveling up the various Jobs all the more engaging. While it may not have been universally praised, it holds a special place in the hearts of Soulslike enthusiasts.
