Final Fantasy Tactics is finally back, but gamers now get why it took so long to come back. Development team was challenged like never before, basically remaking one of the most famous strategy RPGs of all time.
The Vanishing Act of Original Game Data
Director Kazutoyo Maehiro just revealed that the master data and original source code of Final Fantasy Tactics has been totally lost. This was not due to laziness or bad management, but rather how it was done back in the Playstation era. It’s just that the development studio used to spend a lot of money on data storage and did not think it was a long-term solution.
Things get complicated with how localization worked and was done around the late 1990s. In order to save space, each time a game was localized for a different region, the old one would be overwritten. Because of this common practice, more than one iteration of the game existed, but it did not exist in full.
Rebuilding a Classic Through Detective Work
With original plans denied, the development group became digital archaeologists. Final Fantasy Tactics gather all of the versions and start reverse engineering game mechanics, game systems and game code and game structure. Through the analysis of the different components, it was clear how everything functioned.
However, technical analysis could only take them so far. Maehiro explained that the team often had to rely on extensively playing the original game and recreating elements based purely on how they felt while playing it. This approach was so instinctive that developers had to recreate it right down to the timing, balance and feel of the original.
Modern Enhancements Meet Classic Preservation
The upcoming remaster will significantly improve the tactical masterpiece of the game to the present. Players can expect a new interface that will take full advantage of modern displays and input methods. While the teaser does not showcase any gameplay, it does have a different character design, which has piqued the interest of fans.
Original writer and director Yasumi Matsuno has written new dialogue to enhance the experience without getting in the way of it. The quality-of-life enhancements include an autosave feature, options for adjusting battle speeds, and accessibility features aimed at attracting new players and pleasing old ones.
Honoring the Original Vision
The devs put a classic mode option in place for those veterans who believe in the authenticity of the experience. So players can play the game with the graphics style of its original version and much of the modern gear is removed bringing the experience closer to something that PS owners enjoyed decades ago.
The person, who goes by the name of “Maehiro,” recognized that remaster projects often attract controversy from purists who just believe that classic games shouldn’t be tweaked too much. Essentially, the dual-mode approach represents a compromise between the parties. Newcomers gain access to a new and improved user experience. At the same time, veterans are not forced to adopt a more modern experience, allowing them to choose their preferred level of enhancement.
Release Details and Availability
The Ivalice Chronicles, was Final Fantasy Tactics game, will launch September 30 on Steam. A console version is also planned. We have yet to learn about the price of the remaster. However, similar remasters from Square Enix generally retail for $40-$60 USD.
This release is more than just a port or a visual upgrade. The game has been so extensively reworked that it is essentially a new game. However, it retains the depth of the original game while introducing modern conveniences. If you like strategy RPG games, chances are that you’ve played Final Fantasy Tactics. Nevertheless, if you haven’t played the original game or want to revisit Ivalice’s weird world of politics, you are in luck. This Final Fantasy Tactics remaster promises to give you a mix of the nostalgia and the new.
Developers are working to recreate lost source code because of the importance of video games as cultural objects. This is happening even when the code has been lost and cannot be salvaged anymore.