Final Fantasy Tactics

Overview

Final Fantasy Tactics is a strategy role-playing game that was released by Square Enix (formerly Squaresoft) for the PlayStation in January of 1998. While the game is part of the Final Fantasy franchise, its gameplay pays more homage to the tactical RPG Tactics Ogre than any of its brethren. However, the game retains a number of Final Fantasy related features such as chocobos, magic and a job system, incorporating these into the turn-based strategy premise. The game was re-released with an enhanced feature set for the PlayStation Portable in 2007 under the title Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions.

Gameplay

Final Fantasy Tactics' gameplay revolves primarily around the strength of its battle system. Most of the time in game is spent fighting either scripted story-driven battles or random encounters. The rest is devoted to character development, negotiating the world map and following the game's labyrinthine plot.

Battle System

Final Fantasy Tactics' battle system takes the familiar traits of the core series' battle mechanics and mixes them with a traditional turn-based-strategy style of gameplay. Battles are fought in 3D isometric environments, with both the player's troop of soldiers and the band of enemies represented by 2D sprites commonly referred to as "units".

World Map

Between battles, like most Final Fantasy games, Final Fantasy Tactics provides the player with a world map to traverse. FF Tactics' 2D world map functions more as a menu, as the player does not have active control over the on-screen character. Instead, the character can be moved to any available location on the world map using an icon. There are two primary types of locations on FF Tactics' world map, the first of which is towns. When the player visits a town, he or she has the option to:

• Visit the local Tavern, catch up on recent Gossip and possibly undertake an Errand.
• Stop at the Outfitter to buy and sell weapons, armor and other items.
• Pass by the Warriors' Guild to recruit new soldiers.
• Exclusive to certain locations, visit the Poachers' Den to buy poached items at reduced prices.

Job System

Like most Final Fantasy games, there is a unique system in place that determines how your magic, abilites, and stats work. The basis of combat revolves around the Job System, a class-based concept that has you changing jobs, and using said actions of that class on the battlefield, which will yield you Job Points (JP). As you gain JP you will level up your specific class of character, as well as gain the right to unlock new abilities, by expending these points. Familiar character classes from past Final Fantasy games appear in this game as jobs, including Wizards, Priests, Thieves, Lancers, and Summoners. Most new characters start out as either a Squire or a Chemist, and work their way up the proverbial ladder, to unlock new Jobs -- and likewise -- new bone-crushing skills.

Jobs

Squire

Squire is the base job from which all physical classes grow. While their abilities allow them to perform a wide variety of tasks, they are not particularly adept at any of them. However, they have access to a number of useful passive skills, including JP Boost and Move +1, that make it worthwhile for any character regardless of how they plan to eventually specialize.

• Prerequisites: None
• Weapons: Axes, Flails, Knives, Swords
• Armor: Hats, Clothes
• Move/Jump Rate: 4/3
• Evasion Rate: 5%
• Active Stats: Phys - C; Mag - D; HP - C; MP - D; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - D; Mag - D; HP - C; MP - F; Spd - F

Fundaments (job skill)

Reaction

Support

Movement

Chemist

Unlike most Final Fantasy games, Chemists are the only job in Final Fantasy Tactics with the skill to use items. As the base class for all spell-casters, their physical abilities are somewhat lacking. However, their offensive capabilities increase drastically when equipped with guns.

• Prerequisites: None
• Weapons: Guns, Knives
• Armor: Hats, Clothes
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/3
• Evasion Rate: 5%
• Active Stats: Phys - D; Mag - D; HP - D; MP - D; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - F; Mag - F; HP - D; MP - D; Spd - F
• Innate Ability: Throw Item

Item (job skill)

Reaction

Support

Movement

Knight

Capable of equipping the heavy armor and shields, Knights are extremely durable front-line warriors that fare well on the front-lines. Rather than deal damage, they focus on disabling their opponents by selectively destroying crucial equipment and reducing an opponent's key attributes.

• Prerequisites: Squire Level 2
• Weapons: Knight's Swords, Swords
• Armor: Shields, Helmets, Armor, Robes
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/3
• Evasion Rate: 10%
• Active Stats: Phys - B; Mag - D; HP - C; MP - C; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - B; Mag - F; HP - B; MP - D; Spd - F

Arts of War (job skill)

Reaction

Support

Archer

Archers are long-ranged physical attackers that excel when they hold the high-ground. Through their aim skill they are able to increase their damage exponentially. However, the long charging time required can make them hard to use effectively against faster targets.

• Prerequisites: Squire Level 2
• Weapons: Bows, Crossbows
• Armor: Hats, Clothes
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/3
• Evade Rate: 10%
• Active Stats: Phys - B; Mag - D; HP - C; Mag - C; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - B; Mag - F; HP - C; MP - D; Spd - F

Aim (job skill)

Reaction

Support

Movement

Monk

Monks are melee fighters that eschew the armor and heavy weapons of their martial allies. With access to a wide variety of skills including the ability to strike foes from extremely long range and restore MP to multiple allies, they are effective in almost any situation.

• Prerequisites: Knight Level 3
• Weapons: N/A
• Armor: Clothing
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/4
• Evasion Rate: 20%
• Active Stats: Phys - B; Mag - D; HP - B; MP - C; Spd - B
• Growth Rate: Phys - C; Mag - F; HP - B; MP - C; Spd - F
• Innate Ability: Brawler

Martial Arts (job skill)

Reaction

Support

Movement

White Mage

All but one of the spells in the White Mage's arsenal are dedicated to bolstering allies. While the charge time their spells require can cause them to be trickier to use than a Chemist's potions, the strength of their healing and their ability to target multiple characters simultaneously make White Mage's the best class to bring your party back from the brink of destruction.

• Prerequisites: Chemist Level 2
• Weapons: Staves
• Armor: Hats, Clothes, Robes
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/3
• Evade Rate: 5%
• Active Stats: Phys - C; Mag - C; HP - D; MP - A; Speed - B
• Growth Rate: Phys - C, Mag - F; HP - B; MP - B; Spd - F

White Magicks (job skill)

Reaction

Support

Black Mage

Black Mages are the heavy hitters amongst the spell-casting jobs. While their abilities may lack subtlety, their access to a wide variety of elemental damage types make them particularly dangerous in the hands of a mindful commander.

• Prerequisites: Chemist Level 2
• Weapons: Rods
• Armor: Hats, Clothes, Robes
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/3
• Evasion Rate: 5%
• Active Stats: Phys - D; Mag - B; HP - D; MP - A; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - D; Mag - F; HP - D; MP - A; Spd - F

Black Magicks (job skill)

Reaction

Support

Time Mage

Despite a lack of reliable offensive abilities, the buffs and ailments Time Mages are capable of causing can drastically shift the tide of battle. They are most effective when teamed up with powerful damage-dealers.

• Prerequisites: Black Mage Level 3
• Weapons: Staves
• Armor: Hats, Clothes, Robes
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/3
• Evade Rate: 5%
• Active Stats: Phys - D; Mag - C; HP - D; MP - A; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - D; Mag - F; HP - D; MP - B; Spd - F

Time Magicks (job skill)

Reaction

Support

Movement

Summoner

By calling upon a wide variety of mythical beings, Summoners are capable of causing numerous effects over large areas of the battlefield. Unlike most magic, summons are capable of discerning between friend and foe ensuring that allies are never damaged and enemies are never healed. Unfortunately, this causes their spells to be slower, more costly, and generally less powerful than the more compact spells of their fellow casters.

• Prerequisites: Time Mage Level 3
• Weapons: Rods, Staves
• Armor: Hats, Clothes, Robes
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/3
• Evade Rate: 5%
• Active Stats: Phys - D; Mag - C; HP - D; MP - A; Spd - D
• Growth Rate: Phys - F; Mag - F; HP - D; MP - A; Spd - F

Summon (job skill)

*Zodiark can only be learned by being hit by it and surviving

Reaction

Support

Thief

While they are agile and dexterous, Thieves are possibly the least effective of all the jobs in combat. However, with enough perseverance they are capable stripping an opponent bare. This means it is always a good idea to keep at least one party member with the Steal skill active at all times as certain rare items can only be acquired through stealing.

• Prerequisites: Archer Level 3
• Weapons: Knives
• Armor: Hats, Clothes
• Move/Jump Rate: 4/4
• Evade Rate: 25%
• Active Stats: Phys - C; Mag - D; HP - D; MP - D; Spd - B
• Growth Rate: Phys - C; Mag - F; HP - C; MP - D; Spd - C

Steal (job skill)

Reaction

Support

Movement

Orator

Orators are best used in non-critical encounters for their ability to cause a permanent change in the Bravery and Faith attributes of their allies. The overall ineffectiveness of their other skills, however, causes them to be largely useless in combat despite their ability to equip guns.

• Prerequisites: Mystic Level 3
• Weapons: Guns, Knives
• Armor: Hats, Clothes, Robes
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/3
• Evade Rate: 5%
• Active Stats: Phys - D; Mag - D; HP - D; MP - D; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - D; Mag - F; HP - C; MP - F; Spd - F
• Innate Ability: Beast Tongue

Speechcraft (job skill)

* For every 4 points of Bravery/Faith gained/lost, 1 is permanent

Reaction

Support

Mystic

The ultimate debuffers, Mystics have access to the widest variety of ailment-inflicting spells in the game. They can also be surprisingly effective at dispatching enemies at close range when equipped with Poles.

• Prerequisites: White Mage Level 3
• Weapons: Books, Poles, Rods, Staves
• Armor: Hats, Clothes, Robes
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/3
• Evade Rate: 5%
• Active Stats: Phys - D; Mag - C; HP - D; MP - B; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - D; Mag - F; HP - D; MP - B; Spd - F

Mystic Arts (job skill)

* For every 4 points of Bravery lost, 1 is permanent

Reaction

Support

Movement

Geomancer

Geomancers are melee fighters capable of inflicting damage and a variety of status ailments at long range. Because their skills change depending on where they are standing, a strong sense of position is required to utilize them to maximum effectiveness.

• Prerequisites: Monk Level 4
• Weapons: Axes, Swords
• Armor: Hats, Clothes, Robes
• Move/Jump Rate: 4/3
• Evade Rate: 10%
• Active Stats: Phys - C; Mag - C-; HP - C; MP - C; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - B; Mag - F; HP - B; MP - B; Spd - F

Geomancy (job skill)

Reaction

Support

Movement

Dragoon

A staple of the Final Fantasy franchise, Dragoons are heavy-armored polearm specialists. Their key Jump ability allows them to strike at great distance and inflict incredible damage. With proper timing, they are even able to avoid powerful attacks from their enemies.

• Prerequisites: Thief Level 4
• Weapons: Polearms
• Armor: Shields, Helms, Armor, Robes
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/4
• Evade Rate: 10%
• Active Stats: Phys - B; Mag - F; HP - C; MP - D; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - B; Mag - F; HP - B; MP - D; Spd - F

Jump (job skill)

Reaction

Support

Movement

Samurai

Samurai are durable melee warriors with an extraordinary ability. Through their Iaido skill, they are capable of cause powerful effects in a large radius around themselves that intelligently targets only allies or enemies when appropriate. Katanas are the fuel for Iaido abilities, however, and with a chance to shatter on each use, Iaido can become extremely expensive.

• Prerequisites: Knight Level 4; Monk Level 5; Dragoon Level 2
• Weapons: Katanas
• Armor: Helmets, Armor, Robes
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/3
• Evade Rate: 20%
• Active Stats: Phys - B; Mag - C; HP - D; MP - C; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - B; Mag - F; HP - D; MP - C; Spd - F

Iaido (job skill)

Reaction

Support

Movement

Ninja

With their extremely high speed and the ability to wield a weapon in each hand, Ninjas are one of the most offensively dangerous jobs in the game. This prowess, however, is tempered somewhat by the fact that they are incredibly fragile and have a largely ineffective job skill.

• Prerequisites: Archer Level 4, Thief level 5, Geomancer Level 2
• Weapons: Knives, Flails, Ninja Blades
• Armor: Hats, Clothes
• Move/Jump Rate: 4/4
• Evade Rate: 30%
• Active Stats: Phys - B; Mag - D; HP - D; MP - D; Spd - A
• Growth Rate: Phys - B; Mag - F; HP - D; MP - C; Spd - A
• Innate Ability: Dual Wield

Throw (job skill)

Reaction

Support

Movement

Arithmetician

While Arithmeticians may be ponderously slow, this is only to compensate for their ability to cast any known spell from the White, Black, Time and Mystic schools of magic. Through carefully calculating their targets based on a number of factors, their spells can reach across the screen instantly with no MP cost or delay.

• Prerequisites: White Mage Level 5; Black Mage Level 5; Time Mage Level 4; Mystic Level 4
• Weapons: Books, Poles
• Armor: Hats, Clothes, Robes
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/3
• Evade Rate: 5%
• Active Stats: Phys - D; Mag - D; HP - D; MP - C; Spd - F
• Growth Rate: Phys - F; Mag - F; HP - D; MP - B; Spd - F

Arithmeticks (job skill)

Reaction

Support

Movement

Bard

A job unique to male characters, Bards have a wide variety of songs that benefit allies located anywhere on the map. With the right combination of songs and a little luck, they can dramatically enhance the efficacy of their team. Their only shortcomings lie in the fact that their abilities are slow to build and often times will miss their target.

• Prerequisites: Summoner Level 5; Orator Level 5
• Weapons: Instruments
• Armor: Hats, Clothes
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/3
• Evade Rate: 5%
• Active Stats: Phys - F; Mag - C; HP - F; MP - C; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - F; Mag - F; HP - F; MP - F; Spd - F

Bardsong (job skill)

Reaction

* For every 4 points of Faith gained, 1 is permanent

Movement

Dancer

The dances this female-only job can perform are capable of targeting every enemy on the map regardless of range. While they are not always successful, with a little luck entire armies can be danced into submission.

• Prerequisites: Geomancer Level 5; Dragoon Level 5
• Weapons: Cloths, Knives
• Armor: Hats, Clothes
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/3
• Evade Rate: 5%
• Active Stats: Phys - C; Mag - C; HP - F; MP - D; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - C; Mag - F; HP - F; MP - F; Spd - F

Dance (job skill)

Reaction

*For every 4 points of Bravery gained, 1 is permanent

Movement

Mime

One of the strangest jobs to utilize, Mimes are only able to move and use an Attack command on their own turn. However, any time an ally performs an action, the Mime will duplicate it based on their current facing. While this can be incredibly difficult to use effectively, careful planning can practically double a party's effective turns.

• Prerequisites: Squire Level 8; Chemist Level 8; Summoner Level 5; Orator Level 5; Geomancer Level 5; Dragoon Level 5
• Weapons: None
• Armor: None
• Move/Jump Rate: 4/4
• Evade Rate: 5%
• Active Stats: Phys - B; Mag - C; HP - B; MP - D; Spd - A
• Growth Rate: Phys - A; Mag - B; HP - A; MP - F; Spd - F

Dark Knight*

Modeled after the Fell Knight Gaffgarion, Dark Knights are deadly melee fighters capable of draining their foes. When facing a cluster of enemies, they can sacrifice their health to deal heavy damage over a wide area.

• Prerequisites: Knight Mastered; Black Mage Mastered; Geomancer Mastered; Dragoon Level 8; Samurai Level 8; Ninja Level 8; Kill 20 enemies
• Weapons: Axes, Fell Swords, Flails, Knight's Swords, Swords
• Armor: Shields, Helms, Armor, Clothes, Robes
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/3
• Evade Rate: 0%
• Active Stats: Phys - B; Mag - D; HP - D; MP - C; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - B; Mag - F; HP - D; MP - F; Spd - F

Darkness (job skill; sword required)

Support

Movement

Onion Knight*

Restricted from learning or equipping any job abilities, Onion Knights are melee fighters restricted to using the simple Attack command. While they are able to utilize any weapon or piece of armor, their low initial attributes and inability to earn experience results in what is largely considered a worthless job. Because they do not gain job points, Onion Knights cannot increase their job level through regular means. However, for every 2 job classes a characters masters, their Onion Knight job level increases by one. It is only when 14 jobs have been mastered and the Onion Knight job level has been increased to 8 that the Onion Knight begins to approach any level of effectiveness, with above average stats in every category.

• Prerequisites: Squire Level 6, Chemist Level 6
• Weapons: All
• Armor: All

Job Level < 8

• Move/Jump Rate: 3/3
• Evade Rate: 5%
• Active Stats: Phys - D; Mag - F; HP - F; MP - D; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - F; Mag - F; HP - D; MP - C; Spd - F

Job Level 8

• Move/Jump Rate: 4/4
• Evade Rate: 30%
• Active Stats: Phys - B; Mag - C; HP - B; MP - A; Spd - A
• Growth Rate: Phys - A; Mag - B; HP - A; MP - A; Spd - A

* Job added in Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions

Primary Player Characters

In addition to generic soldiers and monsters that can be recruited by the player, over the course of the campaign a number of unique characters critical to the main storyline will join the party. These characters have a unique job skill with abilities available only to themselves. In the cases of the human characters, these unique jobs replace the Squire job on the job wheel.

Ramza Beoulve

The son of a noble lord and a common woman, Ramza and his sister Alma lived a privileged childhood as members of house Beoulve. Having inherited his father's penchant for heroism and passion for justice, he finds himself at odds with his half-brothers after discovering the despicable ways in which they fight to gain power for themselves. Embarking on a quest to discover himself and the truth of the world, he takes his mother's surname Lugria.

Squire

Ramza has a modified Squire job with attributes that gradually improve as the story progresses. Amongst his unique abilities is the spell Ultima which he can only learn by being hit with it and surviving.

• Weapons: Flails, Knives, Swords, Knight Swords (Ch.4)
• Armor: Hats, Clothes, Robes, Shields (Ch.2), Helms (Ch.2), Armor (Ch.2)
• Move/Jump Rate: 4/3
• Evade Rate: 10%
• Active Stats: Phys - C; Mag - C; HP - C; MP - B; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - C; Mag - D; HP - C; MP - B; Spd - D

Mettle (job skill)

*For every 4 points of Bravery gained, 1 is permanent

*Ultima can only be learned by being hit by it and surviving

Mustadio Bunansa

A talented engineer, Mustadio inadvertently draws the attention of the Baert Trading Company after excavating the Tartarus Zodiac Stone from beneath the machine-city of Goug. Kidnapped alongside his father, he divulges the secret hiding location for what only he knows is a decoy stone. After being rescued by his newfound friend Ramza, the two set off on a journey to discover the truth behind the stone and the motives of those who were willing to kill to obtain it.

Machinist

An expert marksman, Mustadio has the ability to surgically target key points of his enemy's body to limit their ability to act. While he can utilize these talents with any weapon, he is at his best when equipped with a gun, sniping enemies from afar.

• Weapons: Guns, Knives
• Armor: Hats, Clothes
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/4
• Evade Rate: 18%
• Active Stats: Phys - C; Mag - C; HP - C; MP - D; Spd - B
• Growth Rate: Phys - C; Mag - F; HP - C; MP - C; Spd - F

Aimed Shot (job skill)

Agrias Oaks

Member of the Lesalian Royal Guard and personal bodyguard to Princess Ovelia, Agrias crosses paths with Ramza numerous times during his early travels. After her betrayal by Cardinal Delacroix, she manages to escape but finds herself on the run from his thugs. A timely encounter with Ramza and his crew allows her to dispatch her pursuers, and the group sets off to rescue the princess from her execution.

Holy Knight

One of the most powerful characters, Agrias's Holy Knight abilities allow her to deal heavy damage over a wide area at range as long as she has a sword equipped. If she doesn't manage to fell her opponents in a single stroke, she also has a chance to inflict a variety of status ailments with her attacks.

• Weapons: Knight's Swords, Swords
• Armor: Shields, Helms, Armor, Robes
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/3
• Evade Rate: 25%
• Active Stats: Phys - C; Mag - C; HP - B; MP - C; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - C; Mag - F; HP - B; MP - B; Spd - F

Holy Sword (job skill; sword required)

Rapha Galthena

Children destined to inherit a mystic power, Rapha and her fraternal twin Marach were kidnapped shortly after their birth by the Grand Duke Barrington. Raised to become an assassin, it was many years before Rapha learned the truth of their past and Barrington's destruction of their village. Unable to convince her brother of the truth, she defects to protect her latest target Ramza in hopes that he will help her put an end to Barrington's evil once and for all.

Skyseer

Rapha's Skyseer abilities are unique magic attacks that, unlike regular magic, deal the same damage regardless of her Faith and the Faith of her target. Also unlike regular magic are the multiple random factors that determine how effective her spells are. While most area-of-effect spells strike every tile within their radius once, however her spells strike a random number of tiles a random number of times. She can inflict heavy damage just as easily as she can completely miss her target.

• Weapons: Poles, Staves
• Armor: Hats, Clothes, Robes
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/3
• Evade Rate: 10%
• Active Stats: Phys - C; Mag - C; HP - C; MP - C; Spd - B
• Growth Rate: Phys - C; Mag - F; HP - C; MP - B; Spd - F

Sky Mantra (job skill)

Marach Galthena

Serving for years as a member of the Khamja assassination team, Marach refused to believe the accusations of evil his twin Rapha levied against their apparent benefactor the Grand Duke Barrington. It is not until Ramza's forces attack Riovanes castle that Marach realizes the truth, overhearing Barrington gloat about raping his sister. After being mortally wounded protecting Rapha, he is mysteriously revived by the Scorpio Zodiac Stone and finds himself honor bound alongside his sister to aid Ramza in his travels.

Netherseer

The opposite of standard magic, Marach's spells grow more powerful the lower the Faith is and his target and himself. While this gives him the potential to do incredible damage, it also makes him difficult to use effectively. This is only exacerbated by the fact that his spells strike randomly within their radius, making every attack with him a gamble.

• Weapons: Poles, Rods
• Armor: Hats, Clothes, Robes
• Move/Jump Rate: 4/3
• Evade Rate: 8%
• Active Stats: Phys - C; Mag - C; HP - C; MP - B; Spd - B
• Growth Rate: Phys - C; Mag - F; HP - B; MP - B; Spd - F

Nether Mantra (job skill)

Cidolfus Orlandeau (T.G. Cid)

An expert swordsman and brilliant strategist, Orlandeau earned the moniker "Thunder God Cid" for his actions as general during the Fifty Years' War. However, because of his growing distaste for the actions of Duke Goltana, he soon finds himself branded as a traitor and imprisoned. Aided by Ramza's childhood friend Delita as part of a greater plot, his death is faked allowing him to escape prison and follow Ramza on his journey.

Sword Saint

A master in the truest sense, Orlandeau has access to the skills of all the other major swordsmen in Ivalice. Capable of tapping into the abilities of Holy, Divine, and Fell Knights, there's is almost no foe he is incapable of overcoming.

• Weapons: Katanas, Knight's Swords, Ninja Blades, Swords
• Armor: Shields, Hats, Helms, Armor, Clothes, Robes
• Move/Jump Rate: 4/3
• Evade Rate: 12%
• Active Stats: Phys - B; Mag - C; HP - B; MP - A; Spd - B
• Growth Rate: Phys - B; Mag - C; HP - B; MP - B; Spd - D

Swordplay (job skill; sword required)

Meliadoul Tengille

Unaware of her father Folmarv's violent possession by a Lucavi, Meliadoul blames Ramza, labeled as a heretic by the Glabados Church, for the death of her younger brother Isilud. However, when Marquis Elmdore reveals his true form, she realizes her mistake and quickly leaps to Ramza's aid. Together they manage to defeat the Lucavi demon Zalera and continue on a quest to end the supernatural threat.

Divine Knight

Meliadoul's Divine Knight abilities allow her surgically destroy her the equipment of her enemies, making her most effective against humans. While she is still capable of dealing damage to characters without equipment, the Safeguard ability renders her attacks useless.

• Weapons: Crossbows, Knight's Swords, Polearms, Swords
• Armor: Shields, Helms, Armor, Clothes, Robes
• Move/Jump Rate: 4/3
• Evade Rate: 10%
• Active Stats: Phys - B; Mag - C; HP - C; MP - C; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - A; Mag - F; HP - B; MP - D; Spd - F

Unyielding Blade (job skill; sword required)

Secondary Player Characters

At certain key points within the campaign, players will have the opportunity to discover unique characters with their own ancillary storylines. While recruiting these characters is not necessary to advance the plot, the special abilities that they bring the the party make them worth seeking out.

Beowulf Cadmus

The former commander of the Lionel Gryphon Knights, Beowulf was stripped of his rank and declared a heretic by Celebrant Bremondt Freitberg who coveted his fiancee, Reis. A curse from the Celebrant meant for Beowulf transformed Reis into a dragon, and as she fled he quickly followed. Tracking her to the mining town of Gollund, Beowulf encounters Ramza and his party on their hunt for the rumored holy dragon. As they are beset by monsters, they are forced to join forces to avoid being overwhelmed.

Templar

Beowulf's Templar abilities function very similar to those of a Mystic, inflicting a variety of powerful status ailments on his target. However, by channeling the magic through his sword, he is able to cast his spells instantly and with greater accuracy.

• Weapons: Knight's Swords, Knives, Swords
• Armor: Shields, Helms, Armor, Clothes, Robes
• Move/Jump Rate: 4/3
• Evade Rate: 14%
• Active Stats: Phys - B; Mag - C; HP - C; MP - A; Spd - C
• Growth Rate: Phys - C; Mag - C; HP - B; MP - B; Spd - F

Spellblade (job skill; sword required)

*For every 4 points of Bravery lost, 1 is permanent

Reis Duelar

Fiance to Beowulf Cadmus, Reis was inadvertently transformed into a dragon by a curse cast by a jealous Celebrant Bremondt. As a side effect she lost her memory and, confused and disoriented, she began to wander Ivalice. Her travels eventually led her to the Gollund Coal Mine where she took up residence. With rumors spreading of the mine's holy dragon infestation, Ramza and Beowulf arrive just in time to rescue Reis from the Archaeodaemon Syneugh.

Beowulf is determined to free Reis from her curse and together with Ramza, manages to acquire the Cancer Zodiac Stone. Through the stone's magic she is restored to her original human form and, indebted to Ramza for his aid, she and Beowulf agree to stay with the group to lend their aid whenever possible.

Holy Dragon

As a Holy Dragon, Reis has incredibly high health, mobility, and attack power. Also, unlike other dragons, she has access to breath attacks belonging to all three primary elemental schools.

• Move/Jump Rate: 5/3
• Evade Rate: 5%
• Active Stats: Phys - A; Mag - A; HP - B; MP - D; Spd - B

Breath (monster skill)

Dragonkin

Reis retains her incredible draconic strength and powers even after returning to human form. Her inability to utilize standard equipment is offset by her incredibly high stat growth. This allows her to quickly outshine the other characters when she switches to different jobs.

• Weapons: Bags
• Armor: Hair Adornments, Minerva Bustier
• Accessories: Armlets, Lip Rouge, Perfume, Rings
• Move/Jump Rate: 3/3
• Evade Rate: 7%
• Active Stats: Phys - B; Mag - C; HP - B; MP - B; Spd - A
• Growth Rate: Phys - A; Mag - A; HP - A; MP - B; Spd - D
• Innate Abilities: Beastmaster, Dual Wield, Tame

Dragon (job skill)

*For every 4 points of Bravery gained, 1 is permanent

Zodiac System

Unique to Final Fantasy Tactics is its implementation of Zodiac signs as a gameplay mechanic. Every character in the game has a Zodiac sign attributed to them, and this affects their ability to interact with other units on the battlefield. A character's Zodiac sign is often critical in determining the amount of damage an attack will cause, the likelihood of success of certain abilities (such as Steal or Time Magicks), and their susceptibility to attacks from other units. Taking Zodiac signs into account is often a crucial aspect of battle in Final Fantasy Tactics, to ensure that maximum damage is dealt to a threat without endangering any weak units unnecessarily.

Story

The game is a refreshing break from other RPGs of this era, as the storyline takes a fairly mature turn, although the original version of the game was said to be fairly confusing due to translation issues. Final Fantasy Tactics takes place in the fictional kingdom of Ivalice, which is no stranger to war. The game follows Ramza Beoulve, a young man that is part of a royal bloodline. He shortly finds himself stuck in a family feud after his father's death, and the throne of the kingdom is at stake.

At the center of this plot is not only Ramza, but his childhood friend Delita Hyral. While Ramza was born illegitimately, he was brought up by his noble father. In contrast, Delita and his sister Teta were both lowborn. Despite their differences, Ramza and Delita view each other as equals and remain close due to their outlook on friendship. Things become more complicated, however, as Delita is cast out by the Beoulves, and in response takes his own path, which separates the two friends.

Setting

The story takes place in the fictional kingdom of Ivalice, located in a peninsula surrounded by sea on the north, west and south, with a headland south of the landmass. Its geography features ranging landscapes, from plains to mountain ranges to deserts and forests. Ivalice is heavily populated by human beings; though, intelligent monsters are sporadically spread throughout. Even though magic is predominant in the land, ruins and artifacts indicate that past populaces had relied on machinery such as airships and robots.

Ivalice is a kingdom of seven territories, united under a monarch. Ivalice's neighbors are the kingdom of Ordalia in the east and Romanda, a military nation to the north. While the three nations share common royal bloodlines, major wars have taken place between them. An influential religious institution known as the Murond Glabados Church heads the dominant faith, centering around a religious figure known as Saint Ajora.

The story takes place after Ivalice ended its war with the two nations in what is known as the Fifty Years War, and is facing economic problems and political strife. Adding to its problems is the recent death of the king, whose heir is only an infant. A regent is needed to rule in place of the prince, and the kingdom is split between Prince Goltana, represented by the Black Lion, and Prince Larg, symbolized by the White Lion. The conflict leads to what is known in the game as the Lion War. Behind this backdrop is a revelation by the game's fictional historian Alazlam J. Durai, who seeks to reveal the story of an unknown character whose role in the Lion War was major but was covered up by the kingdom's church.The setting is based around this character, named by default as Ramza, and revolves around his early life and the future conflicts he faced while the events that changed the kingdom unfold.

Characters

Central to the plot of the game are two main characters, Ramza Beoulve and Delita Hyral. The two characters were childhood friends even though both were born of differing social classes. (Ramza as a noble / Delita as a commoner) Both disregarded this fact and grew up together believing in justice and honor as taught by Ramza's father Balbanes. As the story progressed, the two characters faced many conflicts that changed their viewpoints on life. Delita sought to manipulate the upper class to achieve his dreams; while, Ramza believed in justice and honor regardless of name and class.

The game's plot is portrayed through the eyes of Ramza Beoulve (main player character). His exploits in the war introduced him to a number of characters with their own roles and agenda concerning the war and the fictional world Ivalice. The most prominent factions at the beginning of the story are those of Prince Goltana and Prince Larg. Both are nobles that sought to obtain control of the throne by being the guardian to the monarch's young heir and were thus engaged in a war. The story progresses to include characters from the Murond Glabados Church, which have been controlling Ivalice silently and engineering the war in question.

Players are able to recruit generic player characters from towns and customize them using the job system of the Final Fantasy series. Several battles feature friendly A.I. controlled special "Guest" characters which may be recruited depending on the progression of the story. The special characters normally have a unique class initially assigned, but they can still can be customized into the generic classes. Aside from main playable characters, the developers have also incorporated cameo roles from other Squaresoft games. The characters were designed by Akihiko Yoshida, who was also in charge of the illustration and character designs of games such as Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Final Fantasy XII, and Vagrant Story.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack to Final Fantasy Tactics was composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata. It was released in Japan on June 21, 1997.

FINAL FANTASY TACTICS Original Soundtrack

Total length: 151:06

Disc 1:

1. Brand Logo, Title Back 1:09
2. Backborn Story 1:34
3. P.R. Movie 0:47
4. Unit Introductions 3:50
5. Player Creation 1:45
6. Prologue Movie 2:52
7. Chapel 1:00
8. Enemy Attack 0:59
9. Trisection 2:37
10. Cadets 1:57
11. Attack Team 0:48
12. Unavoidable Battle 1:45
13. Mission Complete 0:24
14. Hero's Theme 1:12
15. A Chapel 2:33
16. Meeting with Algus 2:03
17. World Map 0:53
18. Shop 0:52
19. Soldier Office 1:03
20. Pelt, Bone, and Meat Trader 0:56
21. Formation Screen 0:57
22. Brave Story 1:18
23. Pub 1:01
24. Data Screen 0:57
25. Desert Land 2:51
26. Alma's Theme 1:12
27. Suspicious Atmosphere 1:53
28. Decisive Battle 2:22
29. Cry of Pain 0:55
30. Remnants 3:05
31. Anxiety before the Battle 2:02
32. Tension 1 2:41
33. Game Over 0:21
34. Tutorial 2:10
35. Random Waltz 1:52
36. Ovelia's Theme 2:41
37. Apoplexy 4:10
38. Zalbag, the Holy Knight 2:03
39. Run Past Through the Plain 1:58
40. Strategy 2:42
41. Delita's Theme 1:42
42. Back Fire 3:01

Disc 2

1. Memories 1:45
2. Dycedarg's Theme 1:27
3. Antipyretic 3:40
4. Saint Ajora's Theme 2:51
5. Bloody Excrement 2:46
6. And I Ran Away 0:28
7. Espionage 2:25
8. Advent 3:20
9. Ovelia's Anxiety 3:41
10. Under the Stars 3:14
11. Battle on the Bridge 3:30
12. The Cardinal's Anger 2:41
13. In Pursuit 2:33
14. Shock, Despair 2:19
15. Saint Ajora's Theme Deluxe 1:10
16. Cry of Pain 2:40
17. Requiem 3:13
18. Terror 1 2:08
19. The Pervert 3:53
20. Antidote 3:09
21. Thunder God Cid's Theme 1:52
22. Treasure 2:47
23. Night Attack 2:49
24. Terror 2 2:02
25. Ultema, the Nice Body 2:17
26. Ultema, the Perfect Body 3:26
27. Final Battle Fanfare 0:17
28. Epilogue Movie 1:36
29. Staff Credits 5:38

Reception

IGN awarded the game the Editor's Choice Award on 1998, praising the in-game graphics as "amazing" and the battle environments with its extra details as being "extremely well designed". Gamespot has named Final Fantasy Tactics as one of its Greatest Games of All Time—the first Final Fantasy game to be so honored. However, its legacy remains fairly obscure compared to Final Fantasy VII, also released for the PlayStation that year. The game still entered many "best games of all time" lists, receiving 84th place in the "Top 100 Favorite Games of All Time" poll by Japanese magazine Famitsu during March 2006, 19th in a 2005 list by GameFAQs users, 45th in Game Informer's list, 43rd in Electronic Gaming Monthly's, and 38th in IGN's.

The War of the Lions

In 2007, a port of Final Fantasy Tactics was released for Sony's PlayStation Portable system. The port, entitled Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, includes a number of version-specific features added during the porting process. These include:

• A completely new translation featuring several discontinued English words, intended to add to the game's Medieval feel.
• New cinematic cut-scenes, complete with voice acting.
• New cameo characters including Final Fantasy XII's Balthier and Luso from Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift.
• New side quests, including a dungeon known as Midlight's Deep.
• Two additional jobs; Dark Knight and Onion Knight.
• Added multiplayer components, allowing players to team up in new "Rendezvous" co-op missions or take on each other in "Melee" mode.
• Many JP costs of skills were tweaked - making them more expensive to unlock
• 16:9 Display