The game was provided by Square Enix for review. Thank you!
As a self-proclaimed Final Fantasy aficionado, I’ve certainly got some glaring, albeit rare, omissions in my otherwise spotless record. There are titles that I have a particular affinity towards, with Final Fantasy IX being but one, and those I would rather pretend not exist altogether, such as the frankly terrible Final Fantasy V. But, as mentioned, there’s the odd, admittedly critically-acclaimed title that has evaded me for one reason or another.
1997’s Final Fantasy Tactics is one such example, and it’s not from a lack of interest, but more a lack of forethought on my part. There’s always been something keeping me at bay, so to have the chance to play a modernised, and thankfully restrained, enhancement brings me more joy than I care to admit. And Ben Starr’s in it too, sweetening the deal further.
No, I’m not obsessed with him. Why would you think that?
Blatant fanboyism aside, I’m no stranger to the much-requested and long-rumoured re-release of such a lauded title. I’m certainly familiar with the fabled difficulty, specifically that it can straight up force an entire restart where units are not levelled up enough for some encounters. But, as equally crucial, I am also aware of the story's near-legendary status, including the many twists and turns such a monumental tale inevitably encompasses, and the challenging yet rewarding gameplay loop that tactical games admirably afford when enacted well.
It’s a feat that still, 28-odd years later, stands the test of time and, I’m pleased to say, lives up to the lofty expectations that had been placed upon it. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time in Ivalice, not my first time, naturally, considering my time in Final Fantasy XII, Vagrant Story, et al, and I can only implore those both new and returning to venture forth to experience the reimagination in all its rugged glory.
This is, after all, a re-release, and with such a branding comes certain expectations. Refinement to the gameplay? Check. Voice acting? Gotcha. Modernised graphics? Well… sort of. It’s fair to say that the original’s art style, carefully crafted under the influence of Akihiko Yoshida’s distinctive vision, is truly iconic. Thus, such a character would be needlessly risked were it updated to such a degree that a “modern” remake would usually entail.
Instead, the art style has been subtly updated, made clearer for more capable machines and screens, while still holding the almost toy-like proportions of the characters and dioramas in the utmost regard. What’s more, the environments, in particular, have a nostalgic charm, maintaining the sharp angles and such that games of many a yesteryear utilised throughout, only furthering any and all delight when each new visually distinct locale was introduced. Having only seen copious environments from the originals posted on social media and video content over the last two decades, it was a genuine treat to see them anew now.
The tactical role-playing genre has seen many an improvement in the near-3 decades since Final Fantasy Tactics was first released on the original PlayStation, and I’m grateful to see the vast swathes of upgrades proudly on show here. Most significantly is the UI, featuring clear and astute information at a moment’s glance, such as the potential damage dealt, the percentage-based accuracy of your attack, distance, and much, much more. Gone are the purported days of just… wondering. Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance was probably my first foray into the tactical role-playing genre, and to have such a level of information readily available back in 2005, it’s one I absolutely took for granted, considering this was once not the norm.
Also not the norm, and as detailed in a recent interview, was a level of standardization with controllers. With controller schemes having been established for many years at this point, it plays intuitively when compared to the original; a welcome, if not likely to be unappreciated by most, addition nonetheless.
Most crucially, then, would be the various difficulty options added to Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles. With three levels of difficulty, Squire, Knight, and Tactician, there’s a fair bit of flexibility in approach and how you want to consume such a dauntingly beautiful and involved story. Squire is the easiest option and is suitable for those who are new to the oft-intimidating genre. Knight offers the most balanced of experiences, and has been “fine-tuned from the original game’s difficulty, [with]it end[ing] up being a little easier than the PS1 version.”. Considering the aforementioned difficulty spikes and potential inaccessibility the originals once infamously afforded, this is sure to be appreciated.
Lastly, the Tactician is for the supposed sadists who do enjoy the difficulty the original provides, and is something I have absolutely not touched myself, considering the challenge even Knight has given me. That’s most likely due to my skills and forethought in tactical games; however, take my failures with a pinch of salt. It is worth noting, having listed the many additions to The Ivalice Chronicles, that the original 1997 adventure is included, so if you wish to experience the classic in all its pure glory, the option is available.
As expected, Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles is perfect to play on the Steam Deck. It’s not something I doubted, since the game originally released for the PlayStation 1, but it’s still nice to confirm. There are two versions included in the game: the new remaster that has updated visuals and voice-overs, and the classic, which sits closer to the original release with some quality-of-life improvements, and both run without a hitch on the Deck.
With there being two different versions of the games included, with some big visual differences between them, there are some changes in performance to note. The remastered version of the game drains at an average 8.5W, while the classic version sticks around 6.5W average. So, playing on the classic version can get an extra hour of battery life, but doesn't have the updated UI, visuals, and voice acting.
The game is also rated Playable for small in-game text, which I believe relates to the classic version of Final Fantasy Tactics. I didn't find much small text in the remastered or classic versions of the game, but I did feel the font of the classic version could make it hard to read some of the UI. From my experience so far, I believe that's the cause of the downgraded badge and not because it is actually too small to read. If you play the remastered version, I doubt you will have problems.
There isn't much more to say about Tactics on the Steam Deck, though; it just works and works well. It feels like a perfect fit, and I couldn't be happier being able to take this on the go and play it wherever I am. This is a portable game I highly recommend investing in.
Other than inverting the camera, changing audio sliders, and changing the voice and text language, we can't do much more in the settings.
The game doesn't support 16:10 resolutions, but it does have cloud saves and controller support. There are no HDR settings, but it does seem to have HDR support. Changing the Display Mode to Borderless turns on HDR, while turning it to Fullscreen turns HDR off. A little weird, but I am glad we have an option.
Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles is a rare re-release that understands exactly why the original is revered, and carefully builds upon that legacy without suffocating the original's clear vision. The additions, be it a smoother UI, flexible difficulty modes, or the welcome sheen of voice acting, serve to make the game more approachable while still respecting the uncompromising heart that made it truly iconic. A rugged, respectful restoration ensures one of Square Enix’s most celebrated tactical RPGs can stand proudly in the modern era, and I can only hope that a revival of such a cult classic is a sign of what the future may hold for us. Whether you’re a newcomer like me or a battle-hardened Ivalician veteran, this is the definitive way to experience a classic that has managed to stand the test of time.
It's also essentially flawless on the Steam Deck, feeling perfect to play on the go, whether you choose the remastered or classic version of the game. This is a fantastic purchase, and one we can wholly recommend.
Our content review is based on the PS5 version of this game. Steam Deck Performance and optimization was tested on the PC version of this game.
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FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles is an example of a well-made remaster that brings back a game that stands the test of time, and it's perfect on Steam Deck.
