Final Fantasy Tactics
War of the Lions
Square's tactical RPG combined isometric grid combat with a dense political narrative, becoming one of the PlayStation's most beloved strategy games.
Final Fantasy Tactics merged the Final Fantasy job system with tactical grid-based combat. Director Yasumi Matsuno crafted a story of political intrigue, class warfare, and religious corruption that felt more Game of Thrones than typical JRPG fare. The deep customisation and challenging battles created a dedicated following that persists decades later.
Fast facts
- Developer: Square.
- Director: Yasumi Matsuno.
- Composer: Hitoshi Sakimoto, Masaharu Iwata.
- Genre: tactical RPG.
- Job system: 20+ classes with transferable abilities.
- Re-release: War of the Lions (PSP, 2007) with enhanced translation.
The job system
Character customisation depth:
- Base classes: Squire, Chemist, Knight, etc.
- Advanced classes: unlock through job levels.
- Ability inheritance: carry skills between jobs.
- Optimisation: deep theorycrafting possibilities.
Mature storytelling
Matsuno’s narrative approach:
- Political intrigue: church corruption, noble scheming.
- Class conflict: commoners versus aristocracy.
- Moral complexity: no clear heroes.
- Historical parallels: War of the Roses influence.