Buy Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
Brillance... sheer brillance
I think the first thing that should be mentioned (for the benefit of the uninformed), is that Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions[psp] is a remake on the Playstation Portable of the original Final Fantasy Tactics by Square Enix, made for the original Playstation. Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions is a grid-based, turn-based, strategy role-playing game.
I feel that I should also mention that I loved the original Final Fantasy Tactics. War of the Lions took every minor mistake in the original, and perfected it. This is also the first game that I have reviewed, that has received a "perfect 10".
Background:
The main character Ramza (you can name him whatever you please) enlists in the military as part of his family heritage. Political and Religious turmoil cascade the land of Ivalice into despair and war. After a whirlwind of espionage and murder, Ramza is caught up in a quest to stop the temple knights, in their quest to control the world and it's inhabitants. This is the basic story, minus the nail-biting, amazing plot twists and turns. You'll meet friends, and make many enemies. In my opinion, this is easily the most in-depth role playing game out of every role playing game on the market.
Music and sound effects: 10/10
There is only one thing that bothered me in this area from the original game, and alas, it was not fixed in Final Fantasy Tactics: War of Lions. The yell humans have when they die. It's pretty annoying, but it's not big enough to affect the score given. The music from the original Final Fantasy Tactics, conducted by Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata was amazing. The wonderful part about Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions, is that Square Enix decided to take the original score and use it for the Playstation Portable version. The music is essentially the same (with a few new tracks) and that's perfect. A nice, new feature is there is now voice acting in the cut-scene's (more to come), something that wasn't released with the Japanese version. As far as the music goes, why fix what's not broken? Very nice Square Enix.
Graphics: 10/10
For a grid-based, turned-based role-playing game, the graphics are top of the line. They also, like the music, needed very little to improve. Edges are smoother and not as choppy from the original. The reason I gave this category a 10 is, Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions features something the original Final Fantasy Tactics did not offer. Cut-Scenes. No, I don't mean the grid-based cut-scenes. I mean full frontal, 3-D cinematics. The characters are wonderfully done, and every detail, from the Chocobo feathers, to the individual leaves on the trees, is done splendidly.
Gameplay 10/10
I would give this category 1,000,000 out of ten if it were possible. The grid-based combat is still amazing, and there is so much more. In Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions, you start each battle choosing from 5 of your available units (you can have up to 24 units). These units vary in class and species. For example, you can have Chocobos, Humans, or even tame creatures in battles (if you have the right class). Each unit has a class (except the non humanoids). All of the classes from the original are in the game (with the exception of Lancer. It's been changed to Dragoon), and even a few new ones to play as. In each battle, you have certain criteria, or an objective, that must be done in order to complete the battle. How you go about doing that objective is the fun part. Also included in Final Fantasy Tactics: War of Lions, are new weapons and items, and a new script (the script from the original Final Fantasy Tactics was by no means "chivalrous"). Some characters have also been renamed. Simon (the priest from the beginning battle) is now just "priest". Delita's sister is now Tietra, Gafgarion is now Gaffgarion, and Algus has been renamed Algath. These just name a few. The game play was perfected in every category.
Replay Value: 10/10
Wow. That's all I can say is wow. There is SO much to do in this game. Try getting all of your party members to level 99. Take on the deep dungeon. I've spent hours on one level of the dungeon before. If you don't have 180 hours of spare time, don't even think about maxing out every character with their best weapon. Did I mention the new, secret characters? Did you get EVERY relic, and EVERY hidden town and or village in treasure hunting? Have you linked with a friend yet, and fought him? What are you waiting for? I don't see how it's possible to even consider giving Replay Value anything lower than a 10.
Pros
Replay value is just disgusting (in a good way)
New cut scenes
New weapons, armor and items
New Characters
Amazing Soundtrack
Voice Acting (US version)
Improved script and character names
Cons
Characters still have a ridiculous yell when they die
If you have a Playstation Portable, why are you still reading this review? Go buy this wonderful work of art NOW.
Overall 10/10
Reviewer's Score: 10/10
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