R P G A M E R . C O M   -   E D I T O R I A L S

Tactical Failure

!

!

Stew Shearer
STAFF EDITORIALIST

It's a real shame the way that Final Fantasy Tactics has influenced the SPRG sub genre. It isn't that Tactics is a poor game. As a matter of fact, it is easily one of the best I've played in recent years. That being said, the way that so many games have emulated it has helped very much to stagnate the genre.

I can't count the number of games I have seen that, save perhaps for visual and story details, could be carbon copies of Tactics. It's as if the act of making a mediocre SRPG, requires you to rip off this classic game. The shame of it is that there are far better series in the genre to be borrowing from. Fire Emblem for instance is a series that despite an almost dogged unwillingness to change has survived solidly on a battle system that is simple, but still genuinely fun and challenging.

Tactics had some strategic elements, but for the most part, the only real difference between it's battles and those of a more standard RPG was the ability to move across a map. The goals of each battle were generally the same as in any other role playing game; wipe out the enemies, don't let such and such character die, defeat some boss. Very little actual strategy was often involved. Tactics was an RPG with a few elements generally reserved for strategy games. The best SPRGs are strategy games that are endowed with the elements of RPGs.

All of this being said, the SPRG is experiencing the sort of evolution as of late that it has needed for years. Games like Yggdra Union are wisely being given a second shot. Rondo of Swords, though not to my tastes, was a solid effort at experimentation, and of course the recently released, and brilliant Valkyria Chronicles has been exciting gamers in ways that few SRPGs have in years.

As for Final Fantasy Tactics? That series itself peaked with the original game, and as more "sequels" are released, they are demonstrating an unwillingness to change that has become a definite detriment. Tactics is easily one of my favorite recent gaming experience, but it was also brought down at times by a battle system that is markedly sluggish and driven by excessive menus. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 2 recently received average scores across the board largely for this reason. When one really thinks about it, should SPRGs as a whole be trying to copy a series that can barely muster average anymore?