steam library challenge: Final Fantasy Tactics tWotL
time played: 32 hours
rating: 9/10
quick review: a REALLY good introduction to strategy rpgs!
finished 12/29/23
I started playing FFT in about September and finished the game almost at the very end of December.
I've played Fire Emblem before so I have some idea of strategy rpgs, but this was the first time playing one that I actively had trouble in battles and would have to rearrange units, try different characters, and different strategies. Really loved this game! Ramza is a wonderful protagonist.
I do have a few gripes about the game that would come up from time to time:
The scope of the game is big, and there are a lot of characters. A lot are not remarkable, but were important to the story, and often you would be introduced to someone and then not see them again for 3 chapters, and were expected to remember their role and name
In that vein, [and this is less FFT and more the medieval wartime genre of storytelling], the story was difficult to follow pre-auricite introduction. You'd meet a character like Lord Vrinkle Duke of House Galbronza, and Ramza would give a bit of exposition on how this guy helped his father back in the day in the days of the War of Yonderling Plains, and then Lord Vrinkle betrays you a chapter later because he's actually been working for His Excellency Duke Lorelei who is your enemy, but you don't remember who that is because he was only mentioned once last chapter. Things were a bit easier to understand chapters 3 and onward.
My #1 criticism with the game itself is that the limited camera movement during a battle sometimes made it actually impossible to see where units were. The terrain often covered up possible spots and some maps, no matter which way you rotate the camera, make it impossible to see all squares on the map.
My #2 criticism is similar, sometimes I would move a unit thinking I could reach an enemy but would be just a square or two off. Being able to take back movement would have been a lifesaver.
Anyway, despite my points of contention, I highly enjoyed the game and would consider it a title I would replay. I also am very interested in checking out other Tactics games, and trying out the other FFT games in the series.
