Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles Reviews

After 28 years, Final Fantasy Tactics returns with its second remaster, now branded as The Ivalice Chronicles. This enhanced edition marks a significant milestone as the first time this beloved tactical RPG has been available on PC. But what makes this re-release worth revisiting or experiencing for the first time? Our review of FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles explores the game’s two available modes, its reworked narrative, the depth of its job system, and the quality-of-li...

A Technical remake that preserves everything that worked for the original release while still managing to improve and enhance the already stellar experience of the 1997 original, The Ivalice Chronicles is a must play for basically everyone.

The quintessential tactical role-playing game is revived for a new generation and while it still has its flaws, the bedrock of both the gameplay and the narrative remain as solid as ever.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is the ultimate way to experience the cult classic. While it lacks the War of the Lions content, it remains an excellent tactical RPG and one of the best Final Fantasy games ever made.

Including both the original and a new enhanced version of the classic tactical RPG, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is fantastic for fans and newcomers alike. The enhanced version is the real draw here, though, mostly because of its revised story and full voice acting, which really adds to the experience.

Nearly three decades later, Final Fantasy Tactics still stands tall as the pinnacle of tactical RPG design. The Ivalice Chronicles refines its strengths with modern updates, even if a few minor flaws hold it back from perfection.

Talking about Final Fantasy Tactics in terms of its place in history is easy. The foundational spin-off blended the Final Fantasy aesthetic with a tactical combat system. With Ogre Battle creator Yatsumi Matsuno at the helm and the likes of Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, FFVI director Hiroyuki Ito, and dozens more well-known names at Square Enix collaborating, Final Fantasy Tactics easily became a cornerstone for all future tactical RPGs to lean on.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is a prime example of how to do a remaster right. With a deft hand, it enhances the 1998 original to make it prettier, more immersive, and less annoying, without changing its most essential aspects. How such aspects measure up against contemporary turn-based RPGs will almost certainly be a subject of heated discussion in the coming weeks and months, but fans of the original game should enjoy them. And first-time players will probably find a lot to love as well, provided they keep an open mind and take the good with the bad.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is a deftly rebuilt iteration of a foundational title—making the must-play strategy-RPG easier to enjoy than ever before.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles improves upon the original in nearly every way.  It truly is the ultimate version of Final Fantasy Tactics, and an amazing adventure from start to finish.

Despite having been released almost thirty years ago, Final Fantasy Tactics is still remembered as one of the best tactical role-playing games ever released and one of the finest entries in the Square Enix series, thanks to its incredible story, deep gameplay, and the most refined iteration of the series’ Job system, which grants it excellent replayability. I played through the original and the War of the Lions PSP release dozens of times, testing countless strategies, experimenting with wild Job combinations, and finding unusual ways to play—all while continuing to enjoy Ramza's journey through a war-torn land and Delita's efforts to reshape their world, as if experiencing it for the first time.

1997 was a good year for video games, and especially for those titled Final Fantasy. Between Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy Tactics, it spawned two of the most beloved FF titles of all time, despite them being polar opposites. Both were on the PlayStation and both had a character named Cloud, but where one was an archetypical JRPG (by our standards, thanks in large part to this game), the other was an isometric tactical RPG, a genre which rubs shoulders with your XCOMs and Fire Emblems.

Final Fantasy Tactics still holds up, but is it worth the price of entry with so many options available already? Let’s dig into Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles.

Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles proves that the original game is still a strong video game. Adding voice acting makes it almost a whole different experience.

The developers of Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles went above and beyond in not only recreating the feel of the original game but also upgrading nearly every aspect of it. It’s hard to improve upon a masterpiece, but Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles accomplishes just that, and I hope that it doesn’t get ignored come awards season, in such a stacked year full of great releases.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles brings the granddaddy of tactics to a whole new audience, and it's still bloody brilliant.

The Ivalice Chronicles provides the best way to play an all-time classic, even if it lacks some of the archival glow-up it deserves.

Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles offers the definitive incarnation of an iconic title. Built upon a skeleton of robust, deeply engaging strategic combat, the sinews of Final Fantasy Tactics’ main storyline continue to flex with impressive strength and resolve. Brought to life with stellar voice acting and an array of welcome quality-of-life improvements, Creative Business Unit III has achieved something highly impressive. Though the title’s commitment to old-school pacing and gameplay loops may leave some out in the cold, those looking for the definitive Final Fantasy Tactics experience will find it here.

Yes, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles cuts content from the War of the Lions version, and it's a shame. However, put this one issue aside, if you can, and you've got a fantastic — and fantastically thoughtful — revamp otherwise. Meaningful QoL changes meld with delicate gameplay nips and tucks, CPU enemy tune-ups, and a smoother-flowing experience overall to deliver a game that's pretty much impossible to knock. Fans will be fully absorbed into the story all over again, enjoying the new flow of the narrative and experiencing the whole thing so wonderfully well-acted. Newcomers, who're less likely to be bothered by the missing content, well, they can just get busy lapping up one of the all-time great tactical RPGs looking and playing better than ever.

Square Enix has finally brought the Zodiac Brave Story to modern audiences. Bolstered by outstanding voice acting, this enhanced version is a great way to experience this timeless classic.

Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles is an incredible package that brings back a classic to new audiences in stellar fashion.

Once nearly ending just as it was getting started, the Final Fantasy franchise is still going strong today with numerous mainline entries and spin-offs over the years. While it was not the first spin-off, one of the most well-regarded in the series has always been Final Fantasy Tactics on the original PlayStation, which was released back in 1997.

Over 25 years later, the PS1 classic returns with an enhanced remaster called Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles.

In every way that counts, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is the definitive way to play one of the defining games of the PS1 generation, and one of the very best games in the Final Fantasy series. Every change has been made in a way that complements the original, and pays respect to the work that came before. More than ever, this is the story that it needs to be. Incredible, through and through. You cannot miss this.

One of the best SRPGs ever has a swanky new upgrade so here's FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles in all its strategic glory.

Re-releasing a classic game isn’t as easy as you might think. People talk about preservation, but that’s largely solved. You can just download a ROM. Hell, Final Fantasy Tactics, subject of longtime fan demand, was a ROM you could pay for if you had a PlayStation device, for years. But that doesn’t count; it’s the “remaster” that folks want to show up for. But is that really preservation? When you add bells and whistles, move stuff around, make changes… is it still the same game? Case in point, Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles is here, giving one of Square Enix’s most renowned stories the red carpet treatment for the first time, since handhelds and mobile don’t count either sometimes.

Revisiting a classic rarely feels this incredible

I really tried to note every change in both versions of Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles. There are so many quality of life improvements, while honoring the original version as much as possible. I’m so proud of Square Enix for including the classic version along with the enhanced version. It’s amazing that the sound novel sections, which have never been in any North American version of Final Fantasy Tactics, are finally officially translated. Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is a loving remaster of the most beloved strategy JRPG of all time. If you have any love for the genre, it’s a must-play.

Auracite for Sore Eyes

Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles is a heartfelt and commendable effort that brings forth one of Square Enix's most beloved games to modern platforms. Special attention to recreating the original experience has paid off, with fantastic quality-of-life features added alongside a refreshing UI. While I wish an orchestrated soundtrack were included in this release, this is easily the best way to experience Final Fantasy Tactics.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles may not contain every piece of content across the various re-releases, but with the new voice acting and updated UI, it's by far the best way to play this classic on modern hardware.

Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles reaffirms the timeless strength of the classic. It serves as a fantastic gateway for newcomers, but may leave returning fans wanting more.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is a faithful, yet expanded remaster of a genre-defining classic that gets it right where it matters most. Upgraded visuals, a fast-forward option, and auto-saving go a long way in making Tactics accessible for returning fans and newcomers alike. The voice acting is, at times, a little underwhelming, the camera can still be a touch awkward, and some difficulty spikes can be crushing. But still, an epic story, great score, and pleasingly deep combat make this a must-play for tactical RPG fanatics.

A tough-as-nails tactical RPG that will have you emotionally invested like few others in the genre, this well-voiced and sharpened remaster puts Final Fantasy’s grandest mediaeval political tale in its deserved spotlight.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is almost the definitive way to play what is easily the most influential tactics game ever made. Square's stone-cold PS1 classic, Final Fantasy Tactics, has been reborn in all its isometric glory, featuring fully voiced dialogue and a gorgeous graphical Enhanced upgrade, as well as the option to play this timeless tale of political machinations in its wonderfully pixelated 1997 Classic form.

The politically-charged 1997 PlayStation original is one of the finest tactics games of all time. This remaster offers a brilliant new reading of what was already a classic text.

Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles is remarkable in all aspects. From its inherently timely story to its standout characters and reworked script, this is a special game. There's a reason Ivalice is highly regarded as one of the best worlds Square Enix has brought to life, and it begins with a fight to restore balance to a world ripe with class warfare and oppression. Human history shows that we often fail to learn from our mistakes, and that messages from the past ring true in a time when we're witnessing the very struggles Ramza fights for unfold once again. Make no mistake, Final Fantasy Tactics might be the best game Square Enix has ever put out.