A collaborative project brought forth by the creators of Final Fantasy and Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy Tactics is easily the best strategy RPG to emerge on the scene thus far. In a most joyous fashion, it will leech dozens of hours of your time as you become engrossed in meticulous planning, in-depth strategizing, and the dense in-game folklore. Following a stirring, rendered cinematic opening sequence featuring knights racing across the countryside atop Chocobos, Square launches you into the action with a tutorial experience. FFT's battle system takes place in an isometric, 3-D environment that varies greatly from stage to stage. Maps are composed of tiles by which you place your fighters - usually four or five depending on the mission - and position each carefully to battle enemy units.

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Your party, led by the heroic and woefully naive Ramza, can be customized to your liking with the standard Final Fantasy array of classes and equipment. There are about twenty jobs available ranging from knights to ninjas, each with their own dedicated abilities and techniques. The action moves in sequence according to time parameters, composing an intricate rhythm to each encounter. Master this element, and you will be in great shape. Rainy weather patterns, terrain types, and varied elevations will influence the board and increase the difficulty, but conquering enemies will award material rewards as well as experience points to upgrade your units with mightier abilities. The key is outwitting your foes by learning their weaknesses and taking advantage of the battlefield, and with a phenomenal storyline and soundtrack to back up the gameplay, players will be drawn to playing on.

Printed in Issue #45, March-April 1998