Final Fantasy Tactics (series)
Encyclopedia
The Final Fantasy Tactics series is a series of tactical role-playing game
s developed by Square Co.
, now Square Enix
. It consists of four titles, Final Fantasy Tactics
, its remake Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
, and the sequel to Advance, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
. The games are set in the Ivalice
setting of the Final Fantasy series.
The first title, Final Fantasy Tactics was released for the Sony PlayStation in 1997 (Japan) and in 1998 (United States), and then remade and enhanced as Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, released in 2007 (worldwide) for the Sony PlayStation Portable. The second title, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance was released on the Nintendo Gameboy Advance in 2003 (worldwide), and had a sequel Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift released on the Nintendo DS
in 2007 (Japan) and in 2008 (United States, Europe).
, the setting of the series, was first shown in Final Fantasy Tactics as a fictional kingdom. Its geography features ranging landscapes, from plains to mountains ranges to deserts and forests. It is heavily populated by human beings, although intelligent monsters can be found living in less populated areas. Magic is predominant in the land, although ruins and artifacts indicated that past populace had relied on machinery, such as airships and robots. The setting was created as a medieval-like world where magic and machine exist together; with usual elements of Final Fantasy; such as Chocobos, Crystals and magic spells, blended into its setting.
In Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
, the protagonist lives in a land called St. Ivalice. Following the characters' discovery of the book called the Gran Grimoire, St. Ivalice was transformed into a "mirror" of the "real" kingdom of Ivalice. The races seen in the world of Tactics Advance—Bangaa, Moogle, Viera and Nu Mou—reappear in the game Final Fantasy XII, the setting of which has come to represent the "real" Ivalice. The sequel to the game, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
, also takes place in both St. Ivalice and the Ivalice of Final Fantasy XII.
Besides the Final Fantasy Tactics series, Ivalice has appeared as the setting to Vagrant Story
and Final Fantasy XII
.
, assisted by Masaharu Iwata
, Nobuo Uematsu
, Kaori Ohkoshi, and Ayako Saso. The Final Fantasy Tactics Original Soundtrack, a compilation of almost all of the music in the original game
, was released by DigiCube
in 1997, and re-released by Square Enix
in 2006. As of 2008, no separate soundtrack has been released for Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
. The soundtrack was well received by critics, who found it to be astounding and one of the best video game music soundtracks in existence at the time of its release.
The Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Original Soundtrack, a compilation of almost all of the music in the Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
, was released by DigiCube in 2003. This soundtrack was well received by critics, who praised the album's composition. A new age
arrangement album entitled White: Melodies of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, a selection of musical tracks from the game arranged by Yo Yamazaki, Akira Sasaki
, and Satoshi Henmi, was released by SME Visual Works in 2003. However, critics did not react as well to this album, finding it to be a mediocre with poor arrangements.
The music for Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
was also composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto, this time with the assistance of composers from his company Basiscape. The music was released as Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift Original Soundtrack by Square Enix in 2007. It was enjoyed by reviewers, who found it to be pleasant and rewarding.
Tactical role-playing game
A tactical role-playing game is a type of video game which incorporates elements of traditional role-playing video games and strategy games. In Japan these games are known as , a designation which might seem peculiar to native English speakers...
s developed by Square Co.
Square Co.
was a Japanese video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. It merged with Enix in 2003 and became part of Square Enix...
, now Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
. It consists of four titles, Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy Tactics
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Sony PlayStation video game console. It is the first game of the Final Fantasy Tactics series and was released in Japan in June 1997 and in the United States in January 1998...
, its remake Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix for the Sony PlayStation Portable and iOS. The game is an updated version of Final Fantasy Tactics for the PlayStation video game console....
, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. A spin-off of the popular Final Fantasy series, the game shares several traits with 1997's Final Fantasy Tactics, although it is not a direct sequel. The player assembles a clan of characters, and...
, and the sequel to Advance, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix for the Nintendo DS handheld game console.Grimoire of the Rift is the sequel to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance as well as an iteration in the Ivalice Alliance.- Gameplay :...
. The games are set in the Ivalice
Ivalice
is a fictional location in the Final Fantasy XII, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Vagrant Story universe. The world was conceived by Yasumi Matsuno when he joined Square Co. in 1995, and has since been expanded upon by several games, with more yet due with the Ivalice Alliance series...
setting of the Final Fantasy series.
The first title, Final Fantasy Tactics was released for the Sony PlayStation in 1997 (Japan) and in 1998 (United States), and then remade and enhanced as Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, released in 2007 (worldwide) for the Sony PlayStation Portable. The second title, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance was released on the Nintendo Gameboy Advance in 2003 (worldwide), and had a sequel Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift released on the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
in 2007 (Japan) and in 2008 (United States, Europe).
Setting
IvaliceIvalice
is a fictional location in the Final Fantasy XII, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Vagrant Story universe. The world was conceived by Yasumi Matsuno when he joined Square Co. in 1995, and has since been expanded upon by several games, with more yet due with the Ivalice Alliance series...
, the setting of the series, was first shown in Final Fantasy Tactics as a fictional kingdom. Its geography features ranging landscapes, from plains to mountains ranges to deserts and forests. It is heavily populated by human beings, although intelligent monsters can be found living in less populated areas. Magic is predominant in the land, although ruins and artifacts indicated that past populace had relied on machinery, such as airships and robots. The setting was created as a medieval-like world where magic and machine exist together; with usual elements of Final Fantasy; such as Chocobos, Crystals and magic spells, blended into its setting.
In Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. A spin-off of the popular Final Fantasy series, the game shares several traits with 1997's Final Fantasy Tactics, although it is not a direct sequel. The player assembles a clan of characters, and...
, the protagonist lives in a land called St. Ivalice. Following the characters' discovery of the book called the Gran Grimoire, St. Ivalice was transformed into a "mirror" of the "real" kingdom of Ivalice. The races seen in the world of Tactics Advance—Bangaa, Moogle, Viera and Nu Mou—reappear in the game Final Fantasy XII, the setting of which has come to represent the "real" Ivalice. The sequel to the game, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix for the Nintendo DS handheld game console.Grimoire of the Rift is the sequel to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance as well as an iteration in the Ivalice Alliance.- Gameplay :...
, also takes place in both St. Ivalice and the Ivalice of Final Fantasy XII.
Besides the Final Fantasy Tactics series, Ivalice has appeared as the setting to Vagrant Story
Vagrant Story
is a Japanese-developed console role-playing game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation video game console. The game was released in 2000, and has been re-released through the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable consoles eleven years later...
and Final Fantasy XII
Final Fantasy XII
is a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2. Released in 2006, it is the twelfth title in the Final Fantasy series and the last in the series to be released exclusively on the PlayStation platform...
.
Music
The music of the Final Fantasy Tactics series, was primarily composed by Hitoshi SakimotoHitoshi Sakimoto
is a Japanese video game composer and arranger. He is best known for scoring the games Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII, though he has composed soundtracks for over 70 games and arranged music for more than 40 others. He began playing music and video games in elementary school, and began...
, assisted by Masaharu Iwata
Masaharu Iwata
is a Japanese video game composer. After graduating from high school, where his musical projects included composing on a synthesizer and playing in a cover band, he joined Bothtec as a composer. He composed the soundtrack to several games there, beginning with 1987's Bakusou Buggy Ipatsu Yarou, and...
, Nobuo Uematsu
Nobuo Uematsu
is a Japanese video game composer, best known for scoring the majority of titles in the Final Fantasy series. He is considered as one of the most famous and respected composers in the video game community...
, Kaori Ohkoshi, and Ayako Saso. The Final Fantasy Tactics Original Soundtrack, a compilation of almost all of the music in the original game
Final Fantasy Tactics
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Sony PlayStation video game console. It is the first game of the Final Fantasy Tactics series and was released in Japan in June 1997 and in the United States in January 1998...
, was released by DigiCube
DigiCube
DigiCube Co., Ltd. was a Japanese company established as a subsidiary of software developer Square on February 6, 1996 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The primary purpose of DigiCube was to market and distribute Square products, most notably video games and related merchandise, including toys,...
in 1997, and re-released by Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
in 2006. As of 2008, no separate soundtrack has been released for Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix for the Sony PlayStation Portable and iOS. The game is an updated version of Final Fantasy Tactics for the PlayStation video game console....
. The soundtrack was well received by critics, who found it to be astounding and one of the best video game music soundtracks in existence at the time of its release.
The Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Original Soundtrack, a compilation of almost all of the music in the Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. A spin-off of the popular Final Fantasy series, the game shares several traits with 1997's Final Fantasy Tactics, although it is not a direct sequel. The player assembles a clan of characters, and...
, was released by DigiCube in 2003. This soundtrack was well received by critics, who praised the album's composition. A new age
New Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
arrangement album entitled White: Melodies of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, a selection of musical tracks from the game arranged by Yo Yamazaki, Akira Sasaki
Akira Sasaki
is a Japanese alpine skier.At the 2002 Winter Olympics, Sasaki ranked 34th in the giant slalom. He did not finish in the slalom event.His best result in the Alpine Skiing World Cup is from 2003 slalom in Wengen, where he finished in a surprising second place with starting number 65...
, and Satoshi Henmi, was released by SME Visual Works in 2003. However, critics did not react as well to this album, finding it to be a mediocre with poor arrangements.
The music for Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix for the Nintendo DS handheld game console.Grimoire of the Rift is the sequel to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance as well as an iteration in the Ivalice Alliance.- Gameplay :...
was also composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto, this time with the assistance of composers from his company Basiscape. The music was released as Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift Original Soundtrack by Square Enix in 2007. It was enjoyed by reviewers, who found it to be pleasant and rewarding.