Tactics Ogre
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese tactical role-playing game
created by Quest
. The game was originally released in 1995
on the Super Famicom
in Japan and then re-released on the Sega Saturn
in 1996
and the PlayStation in 1997
. The first game in the series, Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen
, also appeared on these consoles, but featured dramatically different gameplay.
The subtitle of Tactics Ogre, Let Us Cling Together, is a reference to the Queen
song "Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)
" from their album A Day at the Races
. This is one of many references to Queen songs in the series, including Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen
, which references "Ogre Battle
" and "The March of the Black Queen".
A remake of the game by the original development team was released on February 15th, 2011 for the PSP.
The Game Boy Advance game, Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis
is set before the events of Chapter 5 - Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen
and Chapter 6 - Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
. The Wonderswan game, Ogre Battle: Legend of the Zenobia Prince
is a sidequel to March of the Black Queen. Chapter 7 - Let Us Cling Together is set after all of the above games. In the PlayStation/Super Famicom version the player must lead the "Liberation Army" to bring freedom to the oppressed nation of Valeria.
The game was innovative in its non-linear branching plotline. Crucial decisions made in the game determine the path of the story, the members of your army and the ending sequence. There are multiple endings
with radically different outcomes. The game expanded the non-linear alignment
system of its predecessor, with three types of alignments for each unit: Lawful, Neutral, and Chaos, neither of which are portrayed as necessarily good or bad. The game gives players the freedom to choose their own destiny, with difficult moral decisions, such as whether to follow a Lawful path by upholding the oath of loyalty (even if it means slaughtering civilian non-player character
s on the leader's command), or follow the chaotic path by following a personal sense of justice (even if it means rebelling), or instead follow a more neutral path. Such factors affect the game's ending, which is also affected by decisions such as whether to obtain the most powerful class, which can only be acquired by making a tragic sacrifice. In the PSP version, "The World" system allows players to revisit key plot points and make different choices to see how the story unfolds differently, similar to Radiant Historia
(released during the same month).
While the concept of branching storylines affected by Law/Neutral/Chaos alignments had already been explored before in the Megami Tensei
series developed by Atlus, Tactics Ogre presented choices more grounded in reality, revolving around war crime
s and political alliances, rather than supernatural elements. The dark, complex, political narrative of Tactics Ogre revolving around the reality of war was inspired by writer Yasumi Matsuno's outside perspective on events that unfolded during the Yugoslav Wars
in the early 1990s, including the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia
.
King Roderick, aided by the forbidden powers of the "Hell Gate," is able to dominate the people of Valeria until Dorgalua of Bacrum successfully leads his army to defeat Roderick. Dorgalua then claimed the throne as his own, and was able to end the struggle between the ethnic groups. Under King Dorgalua, the rights of the people were preserved, and all internal struggles in Valeria came to a temporary halt.
All is right until the entire royal family is lost due to a string of accidents. Because the late King Dorgalua had no living heirs, the ethnic groups once again struggled for leadership: Bishop Brantyn of the royal court, Cardinal Balbatos of the Gargastan people, and Duke Ronwey of the Walstanians all fought for control, but in the end, Balbatos and Brantyn stalemated. In order to preserve their power, the two men took separate measures: Cardinal Balbatos sought an "ethnic cleansing" policy and slaughtered thousands of innocent Walstanians and Gargastans, while Brantyn received aid from the Roslolians, the greatest order in all of Lodis.
The separation of the three races thus sets the stage for the beginning of the game. The player is greeted by a collage of scenes depicting the Roslolian Order's mysterious actions in Griate, hometown of Denim Pavel, Catiua Pavel, and Vice Bozeck, the main characters.
style of tactical RPGs later popularized by Final Fantasy Tactics
(developed by former members of Quest, including writer-director Yasumi Matsuno), complete with battles taking place on isometric grids. Like other tactical RPGs, the player builds up a team of several characters with changeable classes and fights on an isometric playing field. The order of movement is determined by the speed of individual characters, in contrast to games in which each side moves its entire team at once. Each character is move individually on the grid and the order of combat is calculated for each character individually.
The gameplay is intermixed with expositional cutscenes revealing the plot, shown in the same isometric view as the battles. Movement and team management between battles are done through a map interface. Most human characters begin as either amazons or soldiers. By leveling up correctly, they can later progress to the other male or female classes, although most advanced classes are limited to certain alignments
: lawful, neutral, or chaotic. Another feature is the "Warren Report", a type of database
on the land, people, encounters and races of Valeria.
, following Ogre Battle, which featured a considerably different game style.
After Matsuno quit Quest and was headhunted by Square
(now Square Enix
), his next title, Final Fantasy Tactics
shares similar gameplay and story aspects with Tactics Ogre. Ogre Battle 64 and Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis
were created by Quest without Matsuno's presence to continue the Ogre series, although he did leave the script for Ogre Battle 64 at Quest. Gameplay-wise, Knight of Lodis succeeds the battle aspect of Let Us Cling Together. Although several key developers joined Matsuno at that time, Square later bought Quest outright, along with the rights to Ogre Battle. Despite officially resigning from Square-Enix before the completion of Final Fantasy XII
, Matsuno returned for the re-development of Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together for the PSP.
In March 2006, the Japanese Famitsu
magazine readers voted on their 100 all-time favorite games, and Tactics Ogre was named number seven.
Due to the limited release of this game and the reluctance of its owners to sell it, the game tends to be hard to find. Used copies of the PlayStation version routinely sell for more than $80 -- a testament to its enduring fan base and rarity.
GameSpot
deemed it "a blast from the past for just about everyone." Comparing it to Final Fantasy Tactics
, GameSpot says "Aesthetics aside, however, Tactics Ogre is purer and more playable than its hi-tech descendant and definitely worth a look from strategy/RPG enthusiasts." RPGamer
echoed that sentiment, stating "the core of this game's epic story and groundbreaking gameplay are timeless, emblematic reminders that the game is and forever will be a masterpiece. The original is always the best."
The PSP remake has received positive reviews, with an average aggregate rating of 90% at GameRankings, 88 out of 100 at Metacritic
, and 9.0 out of 10 at GameStats, with reviewers praising the gameplay, storyline, and changes to the leveling system as well as the World and Chariot systems.
The PlayStation version of the game received some criticism for being remixed SNES
music and thereby not taking full advantage of the systems audio capabilities. Most reviews were favourable however, with one review stating "The soundtrack is excellent as usual. This series is known for its powerful musical scores, and Let Us Cling Together is no deviant. The soundtrack is particularly good at accenting the evil intentions of villains and the courageous nature of the protagonists."
Reviews
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...
created by Quest
Quest Corporation
was a Japanese video game company founded in 1988. They were originally known as Bothtec, which had developed The Scheme, a Metroidvania-style open world action role-playing game featuring music by Yuzo Koshiro, that same year....
. The game was originally released in 1995
1995 in video gaming
-Events:*May 11 – Introduction of trade magazine GameWeek *May 11-16 — The 1st annual Electronic Entertainment Expo is held in Los Angeles, California...
on the Super Famicom
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
in Japan and then re-released on the Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
in 1996
1996 in video gaming
-Notable releases:*January 29 — Duke Nukem 3D, successor to the simple side-scrolling originals, and a genre-redefining title for first person shooters....
and the PlayStation in 1997
1997 in video gaming
-Events:*October 4 — Gunpei Yokoi dies after a double car accident.*November – Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association launched.*3rd annual E3...
. The first game in the series, Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen
Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen
is a 1993 real-time strategy role-playing video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, directed by Yasumi Matsuno with artwork by Akihiko Yoshida...
, also appeared on these consoles, but featured dramatically different gameplay.
The subtitle of Tactics Ogre, Let Us Cling Together, is a reference to the Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
song "Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)
Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)
is a song from the 1976 Queen album A Day at the Races and is written by guitarist Brian May. It is the closing track on the album.The song is notable for having two choruses sung entirely in Japanese, and it was released as a single exclusively in Japan, reaching #49 on the charts...
" from their album A Day at the Races
A Day at the Races (album)
A Day at the Races is the fifth album by British rock group Queen, released in December 1976. A Day at the Races was the band's first completely self-produced album, and the first not to feature producer Roy Thomas Baker. Recorded at Sarm East, The Manor and Wessex Studios in England, A Day at the...
. This is one of many references to Queen songs in the series, including Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen
Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen
is a 1993 real-time strategy role-playing video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, directed by Yasumi Matsuno with artwork by Akihiko Yoshida...
, which references "Ogre Battle
Ogre Battle (song)
"Ogre Battle" is a song by British rock band Queen. Composed by lead vocalist Freddie Mercury, it is the sixth track on their second studio album Queen II, recorded on August 1973 at Trident Studios, London....
" and "The March of the Black Queen".
A remake of the game by the original development team was released on February 15th, 2011 for the PSP.
Setting and plot
Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis
is a tactical strategy game developed by Quest. It was originally released by Nintendo in Japan in 2001 on the Game Boy Advance, then later released by Atlus in North America in 2002....
is set before the events of Chapter 5 - Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen
Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen
is a 1993 real-time strategy role-playing video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, directed by Yasumi Matsuno with artwork by Akihiko Yoshida...
and Chapter 6 - Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
, sequel to Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen, is a real-time strategy role-playing video game developed by Quest and published by Atlus for the Nintendo 64 in 2000. Though basically similar to the original Ogre Battle, it has borne some notoriety for significant game play tweaks that...
. The Wonderswan game, Ogre Battle: Legend of the Zenobia Prince
Ogre Battle: Legend of the Zenobia Prince
is a strategy video game developed by Quest for the Neo Geo Pocket Color, and is currently the only Ogre Battle title to not be released in English due to the system being discontinued in areas outside of Japan....
is a sidequel to March of the Black Queen. Chapter 7 - Let Us Cling Together is set after all of the above games. In the PlayStation/Super Famicom version the player must lead the "Liberation Army" to bring freedom to the oppressed nation of Valeria.
The game was innovative in its non-linear branching plotline. Crucial decisions made in the game determine the path of the story, the members of your army and the ending sequence. There are multiple endings
Multiple endings
Multiple endings refer to a case in entertainment where the story could end in different ways, described as an alternate ending.-Literature:...
with radically different outcomes. The game expanded the non-linear alignment
Alignment (role-playing games)
In some role-playing games, alignment is a categorisation of the moral and ethical perspective of the player characters, non-player characters, monsters, and societies in the game....
system of its predecessor, with three types of alignments for each unit: Lawful, Neutral, and Chaos, neither of which are portrayed as necessarily good or bad. The game gives players the freedom to choose their own destiny, with difficult moral decisions, such as whether to follow a Lawful path by upholding the oath of loyalty (even if it means slaughtering civilian non-player character
Non-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
s on the leader's command), or follow the chaotic path by following a personal sense of justice (even if it means rebelling), or instead follow a more neutral path. Such factors affect the game's ending, which is also affected by decisions such as whether to obtain the most powerful class, which can only be acquired by making a tragic sacrifice. In the PSP version, "The World" system allows players to revisit key plot points and make different choices to see how the story unfolds differently, similar to Radiant Historia
Radiant Historia
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Atlus for the Nintendo DS. The game's development team mostly consists of Atlus staff who previously worked on Megami Tensei games like Persona 3, Strange Journey, Nocturne and the Etrian Odyssey series. The development team also includes...
(released during the same month).
While the concept of branching storylines affected by Law/Neutral/Chaos alignments had already been explored before in the Megami Tensei
Megami Tensei
, commonly abbreviated as , is a Japanese console role-playing game metaseries which was originally based on the novel series Digital Devil Story by Aya Nishitani and has gone to become one of the major franchises of the genre in its native country...
series developed by Atlus, Tactics Ogre presented choices more grounded in reality, revolving around war crime
War crime
War crimes are serious violations of the laws applicable in armed conflict giving rise to individual criminal responsibility...
s and political alliances, rather than supernatural elements. The dark, complex, political narrative of Tactics Ogre revolving around the reality of war was inspired by writer Yasumi Matsuno's outside perspective on events that unfolded during the Yugoslav Wars
Yugoslav wars
The Yugoslav Wars were a series of wars, fought throughout the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. The wars were complex: characterized by bitter ethnic conflicts among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, mostly between Serbs on the one side and Croats and Bosniaks on the other; but also...
in the early 1990s, including the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia
Bosnian Genocide
The term Bosnian Genocide refers to either the genocide committed by Bosnian Serb forces in Srebrenica in 1995 or the ethnic cleansing campaign that took place throughout areas controlled by the Bosnian Serb Army during the 1992–1995 Bosnian War....
.
Story
For eighty years, Valeria has been in constant strife, and its three leading ethnic groups all claim leadership. The three factions are:- Gargastan: While these people make up 70% of Valeria's total population, they suffer constant inner struggle between moderate and radical theorists on how government should best be handled. This weakens what would be a dominant majority.
- Walstanian: An oppressed minority of Southern Valeria, making up only 10% of the population. Their suffering is the catalyst to the plot in Tactics Ogre.
- Bacrumese: These are generally the more "elite" of Valerian society, making up a solid 20% of its people.
King Roderick, aided by the forbidden powers of the "Hell Gate," is able to dominate the people of Valeria until Dorgalua of Bacrum successfully leads his army to defeat Roderick. Dorgalua then claimed the throne as his own, and was able to end the struggle between the ethnic groups. Under King Dorgalua, the rights of the people were preserved, and all internal struggles in Valeria came to a temporary halt.
All is right until the entire royal family is lost due to a string of accidents. Because the late King Dorgalua had no living heirs, the ethnic groups once again struggled for leadership: Bishop Brantyn of the royal court, Cardinal Balbatos of the Gargastan people, and Duke Ronwey of the Walstanians all fought for control, but in the end, Balbatos and Brantyn stalemated. In order to preserve their power, the two men took separate measures: Cardinal Balbatos sought an "ethnic cleansing" policy and slaughtered thousands of innocent Walstanians and Gargastans, while Brantyn received aid from the Roslolians, the greatest order in all of Lodis.
The separation of the three races thus sets the stage for the beginning of the game. The player is greeted by a collage of scenes depicting the Roslolian Order's mysterious actions in Griate, hometown of Denim Pavel, Catiua Pavel, and Vice Bozeck, the main characters.
Main characters
- Denim Povel: The primary protagonist in Tactics Ogre. He was born in the city of Griate, a small Walstanian port town. He is the son of Father Plancy, and after Plancy was taken away by the Dark Knights and Griate was massacred, Denim, his sister Kachua, and his friend Vice plan a vendetta against the Dark Knights. His real name is actually Denim Mown and is Bacrumese. Also, if Denim is made king, he will be killed by an enraged terrorist in the bad ending, while the good ending shows Denim, who promises to Plancy in the grave, says that he will protect him as long as he remembers about his memories.
- Kachua Povel: Denim's sister and daughter of Father Plancy. She follows Denim in his quest for revenge. When Plancy vanishes, Kachua provides a motherly role for her younger brother. Despite this, she is strong willed and highly opinionated. It is discovered that she is the last living child of the late King Dolgare, making her the heir to the throne. Depending on Denim's responses, she either joins Denim or stabs herself and dies during all Chapter 4 versions.
- Vice Bozeg: An arrogant young man who accompanies him in the quest. His parents were both murdered by the Dark Knights, and his hatred towards the Roslolian order is unequaled. His character vastly differs depending on the choices Denim makes in the game from being the person to see the truth or a sadistic enemy seeking revenge. He joins Denim in Chapter 3 Lawful, but if the player takes the other versions, he is either executed (Chaotic), or killed (Neutral), in battle after fighting Denim several times. He is a playable character in the Lawful version and an enemy boss in Neutral and Chaotic.
- Warren Moons: An unplayable class known as Lord Mancer. Formerly acting under Zenobia's King Tristan, Warren was exiled for reasons unknown at the start of the story. The "Warren Report" is his account of all events that transpire throughout the game. Sometimes, it unlocks secrets. Their true mission is to find the holy sword Brunhild which was stolen from the king. In the PSP version of the game of CODA, Warren is rescued by Denam, who opens the Chaos Gate into releasing him. However, Warren states that the late king is back from hell. This Chaos Gate opens the door to let the late King Rodrick appearing before Denam and a scolded Warren. After Denam defeats Rodrick, Warren thanks Denam for rescuing him with his help. He joins Denam at the end of CODA episode 2: The Search For Warren.
- Lans (Lancelot) Hamilton: An unplayable class known as Paladin. A holy knight from the Kingdom of Zenobia. His identity is not well known and he is said to have been exiled from his own country. He brings his companions - Warren, Canopus, Sir Guildus and Sir Mildain - with him to Valeria, who are exiled as well, and he eventually meets Denim. Lans and his company act as tutors at the beginning of the game. Lancelot, Warren and Canopus were characters in Ogre Battle. In the PSP version of the game of CODA, Denam comes inside at the church for the first time and asks Klaire about Lanselot, who is still alive and gone. Klaire says he doesn't in which Denam searches for him. The scene is shown with Lanselot and Klaire, who is unarmed and not hurt. Meanwhile, Denam and his party manage to save Lanselot before Barbas kills him, but Lanselot tells Denam that he will deal with Barbas himself. After the battle, Denam comes in the church once again and tells Klaire that he is safe. Klaire is friendly of this. When Lanselot uses his sword technique, Denam arrives and reunites him once more. After telling the story, Lanselot toss the music box to Denam and instructed him to join him at Xenobia. He joins Denam at the end of CODA episode 3: A True Knight.
- Lans Tartare: Leader of the Roslolian Order who has come to Valeria in Bacrum's aid. Lost his right eye in a duel with Lans Hamilton. His origins are detailed in Tactics Ogre: The Knight of LodisTactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodisis a tactical strategy game developed by Quest. It was originally released by Nintendo in Japan in 2001 on the Game Boy Advance, then later released by Atlus in North America in 2002....
. - Duke Judah Ronway: Leader of the oppressed Walstanians of Valeria. Shortly after the beginning of the game, Denim makes a name for himself by liberating Ronway from prison. Depending on the choices Denim makes, he and his army can follow a variety of fates.
- Cardinal Rayunder Barbatos: Political figurehead of the radical Gargastans in charge of Southern Valeria's government. He is an extremely brutal man, willing to slaughter the minorities under his rule (Walstanians) in order to keep them in check.
- Bishop Branta Mown: Supreme ruler of Bacrum-Valeria. Has done more than any other faction in Valeria to cater to Lodis' demands.
The Zenobians
- Canopus Wolff: Former Zenobian Beast Army Chief, was sent to Valeria with Lans Hamilton to retrieve the holy sword Brunhild. Joins with Denim early in the game and is considered the most useful character in the game.
- Mildain Walhorn: One of the two White Knights that was sent to Valeria with Lans Hamilton to retrieve the holy sword Brunhild. Joins with Denim at Chapter 3, regardless of whichever route the player takes.
- Guildus W Burn: One of the two White Knights that was sent to Valeria with Lans Hamilton to retrieve the holy sword Brunhild. Joins with Denim only at Chapter 3 Chaotic and Lawful Route. He becomes a Death Knight by Nybbas after he was killed by Martym during the Rime Massacre.
- Deneb Rhobe: The beautiful Zenobian sorceress who came to Valeria to research pumpkins. She owns a shop that is accessible only at Chapter 4 during specific dates. She can be recruited to the army if the player manages to purchase a lot of items from her shop.
The Foriner Family
- Moruba Foriner: The high priest of Filaha order and chief advisor of King Dolgare during his reign. He lost his faith after his wife died and soon abandoned his post as High Priest. He joins with Denim during Chapter 4 as a non-playable character to assist him with uniting Valeria and as being the chief adviser for Denim.
- Celye Foriner: The eldest daughter of High Priest Moruba. She is the leader of the Valeria Liberation Front who saves Plancy from the Dark Knights, however her army was wiped out by Oz and Ozma. She joins with Denim during Chapter 3 Chaotic and Neutral route as a Valkyrie. Saving her in the Neutral route is considered the most difficult challenge in the game.
- Shelley Foriner: The 2nd daughter of High Priest Moruba. She is the right hand man of Branta. She holds a grudge against her father for believing that he abandoned her mother while she was ill. Joins with Denim during Chapter 4 as a Siren if the player can actually find her under some circumstances.
- Cistina Foriner: The 3rd daughter of High Priest Moruba. She is the second in command of the Valeria Liberation front together with Selye. She does not agree with her sister's plan of eliminating Bacrum or Gargastan leaders, as this will more instigate the war. She joins with Denim during Chapter 2 Chaotic route as an Amazon.
- Olivia Foriner: The youngest daughter of High Priest Moruba. She assumes command and leadership of the Filaha Order after her father abandoned the post. She is the one who took care of Plancy before he died. She reveals that she was childhood friends with Denim. She joins Chapter 4 as a Priest. In the Chaos Ending she appears to follow after Denim who is leaving for Zenobia.
Support Characters
- Aloser Danya: The special character for the Archer class. Regarded as the best shooter in all Valeria. She will join the army permanently if the player chooses the Chaotic Route but will leave the army if the player chooses the Neutral Route. She is a formidable foe during Chapter 2 Lawful Route.
- Zapan Illydus: The special character for the Berzerker class. A very durable and powerful character, he is a bounty hunter who sides with Denim at Lawful Route but a powerful foe at Chaotic Route.
- Forcas Lida Rhende: The special character for the Knight class. A member of the Valeria Liberation Front and former first class knight from Bacrum Knight Academy, he joins with Denim during Chapter 2 Chaotic Route after saving Sisteena and Byan from the pirates.
- Byan Ohnes: The special character for the Wizard class, he is also a member of the Valeria Liberation Front together with Sisteena and Forcas and former Bacrum Magician, he joins with Denim during Chapter 2 Chaotic Route.
- Ganb Backstein: The special character for the Beast Tamer class. A soldier from Gargastan, he doesn't get along with people due to his vulgar and uncouth ways, however he cares deeply for the gryphons he takes care of and is very fond with. He joins with Denim in a battle during Chapter 4 if the player chooses not kill him.
- Donald Presance: The special character for the Exorcist class. He runs an orphanage in Walsta where it got burned down during the war by the Gargastans, he joins with Denim during Chapter 1. (The name is either a play of or an homageHomageHomage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
to British actor, Donald PleasenceDonald PleasenceSir Donald Henry Pleasence, OBE, was a British actor who gained more than 200 screen credits during a career which spanned over four decades...
, best known for his role as Dr. Sam Loomis from the Halloween series.) - Jenounes Apatizer: The special character for the Dragoon class. He used to be a member of the Gargastan Dragoon Unit until they were betrayed and wiped out by the Gargastan army. Joins with Denim during Chapter 3 Lawful route.
- Oxyones Lavin: The special character for the Dragon Tamer class. She holds a grudge against Jenounes for destroying her village. She joins with Denim during Chapter 4 only if Jenounes is included in the Brigantes Castle battle to converse with Guacharo, the one who actually gave the order to destroy the village.
- Debordes Obderhode: The special character for the Terror Knight class. He is the son of Gargastan Necromancer, Nybbas. He used to be with the anti-Barbatos movement and because of this, he was executed. He was resurrected by his father using necromancy but fails to recall his soul. He joins with Denim during Chapter 3 Neutral route if the player is able to save him or his sister, Orias.
- Orias Obderhode: The special character for the Priest class. She is the daughter of Gargastan Necromance, Nybbas. She is the one who takes care of Debordes and vows revenge on his father for disrespecting the deceased ones and life itself. Joins with Denim during Chapter 3 Neutral route if the player is able to save her and Debordes.
- Radlum: The special character for the Warlock class. No one knows his background, except that he comes from an ancient kingdom. He joins with Denim during Chapter 4.
- Haborym Van Rams: The special character for the Swordmaster class. Haborym's past is initially unknown, except for a grudge against the dark knights for rendering him blind. Later in the game, he tells Denim that he is actually Balzepho's brother and vows revenge on him for betraying his family. Joins with Denim in Chapter 3 if the player can manage to save or rescue him from the enemy.
The Roslolians
- Balzepho Van Rams: The second in command of the Roslolian Dark Knights. He leads the Dark Knights while Lans Tartare is away for diplomatic missions. He is actually the older brother of Haborym.
- Barbas Dud Goose: One of the seven commanders of the Roslolians. The most blood-loving and cold-blooded commander of the Roslolian Dark Knights. He is the one who invaded and massacred most of the town people of Rime. He and Martym serves as the main antagonist of the game.
- Martym Nowmas: One of the seven commanders of the Roslolians. Unlike Barbas, he tends to sit back and relax while his men do the dirty work and takes credit for it. He and Barbas serves as the main antagonists of the game.
- Andoras Gafrun: One of the seven commanders of the Roslolians. He is the young prince of the Nirdum Royal Family which were wiped out by Lodis. He became a Dark Knight in order to save his country.
- Volac Winzalf: One of the seven commanders of the Roslolians. All information with regards to his history is unknown. He is the most trusted Dark Knight by Lans aside from Balzepho.
- Oz Mow Gracious: One of the seven commanders of the Roslolians. He and his sister wiped out the Valeria Liberation Front under orders from Lans.
Other Characters
- Leonard Leci Limon: The right hand man of Duke Ronway. He leads the Walsta Liberation Army to defeat the Gargastans together with Denim. He is an enemy character in Chaotic and Lawful Route. He is an ally in Neutral Route however becomes a Death Knight by Nybbas, forcing Denim to kill him in order to release his soul.
- Zaebos Rozenbach: The right hand man of Cardinal Barbatos. He is the one who instigates and implements the 'ethnic-cleansing' movement of the Cardinal to eliminate all Walstanians and the Anti-Barbatos movement. He is an enemy character in the game and becomes a Death Knight by Nybbas.
Gameplay
The first game to bear the name "Tactics" in its title, a term gamers would come to associate with the genre, the gameplay of Tactics Ogre is similar to the turn-based strategyTurn-based strategy
A turn-based strategy game is a strategy game where players take turns when playing...
style of tactical RPGs later popularized by 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...
(developed by former members of Quest, including writer-director Yasumi Matsuno), complete with battles taking place on isometric grids. Like other tactical RPGs, the player builds up a team of several characters with changeable classes and fights on an isometric playing field. The order of movement is determined by the speed of individual characters, in contrast to games in which each side moves its entire team at once. Each character is move individually on the grid and the order of combat is calculated for each character individually.
The gameplay is intermixed with expositional cutscenes revealing the plot, shown in the same isometric view as the battles. Movement and team management between battles are done through a map interface. Most human characters begin as either amazons or soldiers. By leveling up correctly, they can later progress to the other male or female classes, although most advanced classes are limited to certain alignments
Alignment (role-playing games)
In some role-playing games, alignment is a categorisation of the moral and ethical perspective of the player characters, non-player characters, monsters, and societies in the game....
: lawful, neutral, or chaotic. Another feature is the "Warren Report", a type of database
Database
A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
on the land, people, encounters and races of Valeria.
Development
This was the second game directed by Yasumi MatsunoYasumi Matsuno
is a video game designer. He is one of a few designers to have two games receive a perfect score by Famitsu magazine. Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy XII were critically acclaimed by the magazine with a 40/40 score.-Early projects:...
, following Ogre Battle, which featured a considerably different game style.
After Matsuno quit Quest and was headhunted by Square
Square (company)
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...
), his next title, 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...
shares similar gameplay and story aspects with Tactics Ogre. Ogre Battle 64 and Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis
Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis
is a tactical strategy game developed by Quest. It was originally released by Nintendo in Japan in 2001 on the Game Boy Advance, then later released by Atlus in North America in 2002....
were created by Quest without Matsuno's presence to continue the Ogre series, although he did leave the script for Ogre Battle 64 at Quest. Gameplay-wise, Knight of Lodis succeeds the battle aspect of Let Us Cling Together. Although several key developers joined Matsuno at that time, Square later bought Quest outright, along with the rights to Ogre Battle. Despite officially resigning from Square-Enix before the completion of 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...
, Matsuno returned for the re-development of Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together for the PSP.
Reception
Fans were grateful that Quest ported the game to the PlayStation. RPGFan noted "Overall, Tactics Ogre is a great Strategy/RPG and with its depth and replayability this is one game fans of the Ogre Battle Saga should not miss. Atlus deserves credit for bringing another great Ogre Battle game over to the PlayStation and making many people happy!"In March 2006, the Japanese Famitsu
Famitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
magazine readers voted on their 100 all-time favorite games, and Tactics Ogre was named number seven.
Due to the limited release of this game and the reluctance of its owners to sell it, the game tends to be hard to find. Used copies of the PlayStation version routinely sell for more than $80 -- a testament to its enduring fan base and rarity.
GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
deemed it "a blast from the past for just about everyone." Comparing it to 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...
, GameSpot says "Aesthetics aside, however, Tactics Ogre is purer and more playable than its hi-tech descendant and definitely worth a look from strategy/RPG enthusiasts." RPGamer
RPGamer
RPGamer is a media and news website dedicated to covering computer and video game RPGs. Its coverage includes North American game news, European game news, Asian game news, gaming industry news, game reviews, game previews, hands-on game impressions, gaming conventions, game merchandise, release...
echoed that sentiment, stating "the core of this game's epic story and groundbreaking gameplay are timeless, emblematic reminders that the game is and forever will be a masterpiece. The original is always the best."
The PSP remake has received positive reviews, with an average aggregate rating of 90% at GameRankings, 88 out of 100 at Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, and 9.0 out of 10 at GameStats, with reviewers praising the gameplay, storyline, and changes to the leveling system as well as the World and Chariot systems.
Soundtrack
The music of the game was popular among fans of the series. RPGFan stated in its review of the soundrack that "As I have never played any of the games in this series, nor particularly been a fan of strategy games, the true power of this soundtrack is perhaps lost on me. But what I can say is that what it does, it does well, and it doesn't need any live instruments to do it, either. This one is recommended if you're a fan of the series or a fan orchestral music game music from those days of old."The PlayStation version of the game received some criticism for being remixed SNES
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
music and thereby not taking full advantage of the systems audio capabilities. Most reviews were favourable however, with one review stating "The soundtrack is excellent as usual. This series is known for its powerful musical scores, and Let Us Cling Together is no deviant. The soundtrack is particularly good at accenting the evil intentions of villains and the courageous nature of the protagonists."
| Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together track listing | ||
|---|---|---|
Disc One (68'36")
|
Disc Two (59'46") Orchestral disk
|
Disc Three (43'55") Orchestral disk
|
External links
- Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together Tactics Ogre fansite
Reviews