LECT is a gigantic game which brings back everything from the original plus some.
Gameplay:
Like many srpgs there is a lot to this game. But majority of srpgs pale in comparison to how much this game has. The game play is simple to pick up and very basic at heart. As players advance into the game the strategy and character depth step up with the gamer. It will actually keep this up until about half way through the game. Ironically LECT's greatest strength is also it's greatest weakness.It's enormous. Everything in this game is so enormous that you'll find yourself spending more time fine tuning your party than actually engaged in combat. Furthermore the fact that some battles suggest ten to twelve party members puts emphasis on a style of play that involves leveling up everyone in your party equally. Thankfully class levels go up as a group, so if you hire a new soldier they will be the same level as the rest of your soldiers. Sadly this greatly softens the impact on the individual.
The AI is pretty sharp at times, but mostly basic. The computer plays against you much like an annoying little brother. It's more focused on setting you back than actually winning the battle. For example the computer will kill a guest member over any other more accessible, vulnerable, target just so you have to redo the battle to recruit said guest. They also have little tricks like falling back if you have one or more dead party members. This forces you to either chase them down or use up those pricey blessing stones. Later on in the game the developers compensated for the AI by starting your party at a lower level or giving you some other disadvantage.
AI complaints aside, you'll find your biggest opponent in this game is yourself. Forgetting to ressurect undead units or not having the means to do so will make the most simple of battles ridiculously complex. You'll also need to budget properly to make sure your team stays healthy and debuff free. Overall if you pay attention and keep your head in the game you should do fine.
In the end the game play is very good and very satisfying. I might sound a bit harsh, but for every complaint I had, I had dozens of compliments. If you like a solid srpg and enjoy a decent challenge get this game. On that note game play gets a 7/10.
Multiplayer
There might as well not be multiplayer. The process consists of loading up another players party and fighting against them as they are controlled by the computer. With my prior comments on the AI, I imagine where I'd go with this. I'm not giving a rating on multiplayer because clearly there isn't any. It's more of a challenge mode.
Visual/Sound:
The visuals are nothing glorious but they do the job. The sprites are a sure step up from the snes version but aside from a couple of special effects nothing else has changed. The sound track is excellent! Seems to be a thing with srpgs. I could go on for hours about the music, but you get the point. V/S gets a 8/10.
Content:
Like I said before there is a butt load of content in this little package. What's really nice about this is that majority of it is optional. Expect only the hard core of the hard core to recruit every character and get every item they can from the Palace of the Dead. ( Formerly Hell's Gate.) The story line is pleasant, albeit at times simple, and a good enough jaunt for any casual player. Next you have side stories that unlock as you progress through the game. After that you get hidden dungeons like the Phorampa WildWood. And of course there are personal side quests like crafting and beast collecting. Even after you finish the game, you are given the option to travel throughout the multi linear storyline and see how different choices could have changed the storyline. The level of content in this game is comparable to what you might expect from a RockStar sandbox game.
Content get's a 10/10. Of course it's not perfect, but this will keep you busy for 100 hours plus.
In the end Tactics Ogre LECT is a solid remake for a ground breaking srpg. Overall it's a good experience with many enjoyable and frustrating moments. Surprisingly that's what makes this game.
***UPDATE**** A lot of people seem to compare this game to FFT. Which is understandable, they are a lot alike. So I figured I would add on a bit to flip between the two in a direct comparison.
Party System:
Final Fantasy Tactics is in a way a lighter version of LECT. You don't drag in this huge party , cap is normally five, and your army consists of less characters. This falls down to a serious preference. In FFT you need to focus on the individual, you have many options to customize each one with the goal of creating a character that can combat with a unique strategy. In OT your party levels up together, which is a god send considering that some battles suggest up to twelve combatants. Leveling up together saves you time but ends up with a lot of characters being the same. In a way both games level out, you're really focused on five or so classes to make an efficient team. The preference comes in with your method: FFT is more like using a small team of professionals, OT is like using a large team of twins.(Emphasis on teamwork and strategy.)
Job System:
Personally I'd throw this one to FFT. But I'm trying to focus on the differences, not which is better. In a nutshell, FFT has something like 23 jobs ( give or take a few) each one having it's own unique style and abilities. A character can also equip abilities from another job to have at their disposal. Furthermore counter attack, general skill, and movement skill purchased within a job is interchangeable with all classes. OT has numerous jobs but majority are limited by the species of the combatant. About 90% of abilities you can get from a certain job are recycled from another class. You can easily play through OT and do the dungeons with a team consisting of: A soldier, an Archer, a Wizard, a Priest. This combo plus back up members which will duplicate it or triple it so you have three of the same fighters on your team. Playing with the other classes in OT is nice and does provide for some unique defensive/offensive options. But overall there is very little in job variety and usefulness. Your best just keeping it simple.
Story:
To put it bluntly both games have a good solid story. And both excel in their own fields. FFT is linear and therefore very involving in it's story line. Going through Alazlam's library can take you hours and every battle ,besides side quests, have real meaning to them. OT LECT gives you much more freedom for the path you want to take. Although some scenes seem forced so that battles can be recycled irregardless of what path your on. However in the end the joy you get from this freedom combined with the multiple story lines and endings makes up for it and then some. Again FFT is more about the individual experience while OT is focused on an overall experience.
Equipment:
FFT is pretty standard with equipment, you go throughout the game acquiring stronger and better equipment, and near the end of the game strive for the rare pieces of treasure. OT equipment takes a back seat, with customization ruling supreme. You can craft hundreds of items in OT, or dig up a bunch as well. Bad guys in the Palace of the Dead drop the ultra rare and sometimes obtaining them is ultra frustrating. The item that turned out to be my favorite and made most others a moot point, was the tarot cards found from fallen foes. These cards permanently raise a stat on your character. There gets a point when whatever item you equip will raise your abilities enough for concern. Getting that all powerful Ogre Sword is of little worth when your characters can do one hit kills all the time anyway. If anything the vast selection of items in OT is more icing on the cake than a necessity for a strong character. Overall OT has more options and more fun found in the items where as FFT is about being practical.
Overall:
FFT has a wordy story and gets pretty deep in character involvement. Surprisingly it left me wanting more. OT satisfied my hunger for battle and turned me gluttonous with it's endless supply of battle and adventure. The best way to look at the two games in my opinion is this. FFT is about small skirmishes with powerful characters traveling through an adventure with twists, turns, and political intrigue. Early in the game the focus is teamwork and simple tactics. Later on tactics can go out the window and make room for powerhouse two man cells. OT may seem a bit slow overall, but that's because a team is only as strong as it's weakest member. A huge emphasis is put on the player for having insight and knowledge of the battlefield. Despite the way it's spelled, there is no 'I' in OT.
And for those out there proclaiming FFT to be a rip off of OT, take a good hard look at Langrisser 2. Not to mention that development of FFT was over seen by Yasumi Matsunothe, the same person who was behind OT.
Now when are they going to release some DLC for both games? Extra missions or enhanced AI for both would be great.