A Forgotten Masterpiece

It's games like Tactics Ogre that make me sad that Square dominates the RPG market. Tactics Ogre is a perfect example of what a hard-core gamer wants to play. It's a long, challenging game with a strong storyline, interesting characters, innovative battles, a complex system, and above all else, freedom. While most games promise freedom with a plot that allows you to choose seperate paths, Tactics Ogre actually delivers--during the game are several choices, and these choices have no clear 'right' or 'wrong' to them. Make your choice, and the game drastically changes. There's several different ways to go through the game, all dependant on how you choose.

The storyline makes me wish the game was perfect, but the sad fact is that it isn't. First on the chopping block are the graphics. They look 16-bit. That would be, of course, because they are. Tactics Ogre began life as a Super Nintendo (or rather, Super Famicom, its Japanese counterpart) cart, and wasn't localized in the U.S. until Atlus picked it up for the Playstation. For whatever reason, the graphics haven't been improved. However, for 16-bit, they are very good graphics, and frankly, graphics don't make an RPG. The only really painful drawback to a poor graphics engine is that the battlefield cannot be rotated, so it's difficult to see certain parts of the map.

Next up, the music. Throw in the Final Fantasy Tactics soundtrack while you play this one--while the music isn't exactly bad, it's not especially good. You might as well play something that won't annoy you.

Then there's the gameplay--right off the bat, I have to say the game is a blast to play. The battles are on large-scale tactical maps, and many factors, including level, skill, height, weather, and element play a part in combat. Attacks are divided into Direct (Swords, Axes, Hammers, Staves, Spears, and Shields!) and Indirect (Rocks, Shuriken, Crossbows, Arrows, and more Rocks) and magic attacks, and all have various strengths and weaknessess. Certain weapons require different strategy (Axes are more effective with Berserkers, Spears can hit from 2 squares away, etc), and almost any factor, such as damage or range can differ randomly from the listed amounts. All of this makes for an exciting, strategical combat experience. But there's one glaring problem with this system--the only reliable way to increase levels (which you have to do) is to engage in training mode, where your characters are split into 2 squads and pitted against each other in non-lethal combat. This process is slow, boring, and tedious, but it least it has a silver lining in that it allows for a two-player battle.

As any RPG does, Tactics Ogre carries a fantastic storyline, with realistic characters, emotions, and plot. It reflects the ugliness, the hatred, and the backstabbing of a real war, and is a great play in the meantime. It's multiple story branches provide plenty of interesting replay value, and it is laden with secret levels and dungeons which extend the life of the game even further.

This game, like it's descendant, Final Fantasy Tactics, is a real gem for a hard-core gamer. It's difficult to find in stores, but if you believe in a truly monumental gaming experience, Tactics Ogre is worth the time spent tracking it down, as it is milestone in role-playing games, and once a player picks up the game's mechanics, they won't be easy to put down.