Final Fantasy Tactics returns to its roots on the PSP. (Full review inside)
My Score system does not work like GS, this is how i mark it:
1 - So bad you want to remove your eyes, ears and other facial features from your body using some sort of kitchen utensil
2 - Abysmal
3 - terrible
4 - Bad
5 - Below average
6 - Average
7 - Good
8 - Really good
9 - Great
10 - Total Perfection (varies, if a package such as Orange Box, 10 may go for value of money for example) This grade has never, and most likely never been awarded to a game iv reviewed.
Now to business:
GRAPHICS:
FFT:TWOTL is a decent looking game. Graphically it look dated using really old, chunky sprites with some pretty bland textures on the environment. This is to be expected from a port of a PS1 game. However, although the graphics themselves are dated, the animation is truly phenomenal. Ill be honest with you, this is my first FFT game iv ever played, and i was surprised to see how well these chunky sprites that are some 10 years old can animate. Its really noticeable in the fighting in game cutscenes. Speaking of cutscenes, square enix have added prerendered cut scenes that are beautiful. It uses a sort of hand drawn style that honestly looks fantastic. On a downside however, there are slow downs during the casting of spells, and a good 2-5 second load to perform a special attack. These arent game breaking, but with the old graphics and the PSP's power, i was more than a little disapointed to see such things occur. 7/10
SOUND
As i said in the GRAPHICS section, FFT:TWOTL seems to be a direct port, so as expected the sound effects are pretty poor, but again, is not all that bad, it could have been much worse. luckily however, with the addition of the new cut scenes comes voice acting, which is pretty fantastic. All the characters speak in a subtle generic English accent and use old English to communicate, which really adds to the setting, which unlike other FF games, is set in a completely fantasy world, not a fantasy tech mix. Another good note goes to the sound track. Its very good. I always watch the quick scene at the begining of the game when you turn on your PSP just to hear the music. Its top class brilliance. 8/10
CONTROLS
Unfortunately the controls in FFT:TWOTL are its biggest set back. Like most games of this sort, camera angels are always a problem, however it can be especially frustrating in this. You have a 2 zoom function, raise camera angle and 4 rotations. This SHOULD be enough, however it just isn't. It can be pretty difficult to locate enemies because of the limited angles of viewing which is a shame. 7/10
GAMEPLAY
As you may or may not know i have recently posted a Disgaea Afternoon of Darkness review, so you may have guessed that i love these types of games. The great thing about FFT:TWOTL though is the fact it is so realistic. Unlike many games of this genre where you can shoot through your own team to hit the enemy for example, in this you cant. One of the best defenses against the archers in this game(who are very powerful) is to use an enemy as a Human Shield by positioning your troops in such a way that there archers don't have a clean shot therefore can no longer inflict damage. FFT:TWOTL is also exceedingly difficult. The enemy will flank, lure, sacrifice and work together just to get to you. And since your ofter outnumbered, you have to split up your party to effectively eliminate threats, unfortunately this plays into the enemies hand, and will then gang up on the weakest group and slaughter them before finishing off the rest of the army. However, even with all this difficulty, it never becomes boring. This because of the fantastic story. It takes a while to really get going, but even when its just started you just want to know what will happen to Remza and his band of merry men.
Another thing that makes you want to carry on questing is the customization. Every character starts off as a Squire, a basic class with no real strengths or weaknesses. You can change some to Chemists early on as well. Once you gain a few Job Levels you gain the ability to become another class, such as a Knight or a Black Mage. This is basic, but then you realize that you can then use any skills you learned as say for the sake of example a Black Mage, when you change class into a Knight. There are limitations of course, but it lets you customize your party the way YOU want it. So if you have some weak defence White Mages but have a pretty fine arsenal of heals, switch to a Knight for added defence and HP and equip White Magic skills, then your a armoured healer. A great system and makes this hard to beat game, all the easier.
9/10
OVERALL
Its like many modern TSRPG's but has stood the test of time and this port is worth the purchase.
I give Final Fantasy Tactics: War of Lions a solid: 8/10