Final Fantasy Tactics Review

Well, I haven't completed the game, but I feel well enough entrenched 
in it to make my opinions known.  So, without further ado, here goes:

Graphics: 6/10
	Don't get me wrong, the graphics are good:  Not on the same 
level as Final Fantasy VII, but it probably works out for the best 
considering the way the battle system works (the less clutter, the 
better).  But something about the way the battle grids are set up 
bothers me:  There seems to be far too much clutter every time one 
tries to attack, and often bits of the scenery can get in the way when 
one is trying to attack:  Vandal Hearts, for instance, had much better 
battle field design. Plus, whoever choose this font should be drug out 
into the street and lynched:  It's godawful:  Hard to read and just 
plain *ugly*.  The few FMV sequences in the game, however, are amazing:
Better than FF7.

Music: 8/10
	It's a shame Nobuo didn't work on this, but the soundtrack is 
nonetheless very respectable and well done.  But, overall, it suffers 
from a more mediocre flavor than most FF soundtracks, with only a few 
truly standout tunes (such as the opening theme).  I would have liked 
to hear the traditional victory song instead of that grating victory 
music they used, but, oh well.

Job/Ability System: 9/10
	I love this.  The job system not only flawlessly incorporates 
classic Final Fantasy commands such as Steal, Mimic, and so forth, but 
also manages to add in newer commands that apply specifically to the 
unique (for FF) gameplay.  In addition, two of the elements I was most 
wary about:  the ability-based use of items and magics, were integrated 
perfectly, allowing for a degree of freedom in a genre of games never 
noted for their nonlinearity.  The only thing that marks this system 
down is the piss-poor interface, and a lack of explanation as to how 
everything works...

Story 8/10:
	The problem with most strategy games is that they tend to be 
battle after battle with only the loosest of "plots" to connect them 
together.  FFT still has some of that battle-directed feel, but still 
manages to create an interesting story.  Characterization is somewhat 
lax, and often many characters come out as absurd exaggerations, but 
the overall plot is intriguing, and holds the player's interest, IMHO.

Challenge: 7/10
	Let me explain this rating:  I don't mean the game isn't 
difficult!  If I were to grade it by that criterion, it'd get an 11/10. 
What I'm judging here is the effect of the steep difficulty on the 
game.  The game is so difficult, it can, more than once, border on the 
frustrating.  Don't get me wrong:  It's nice to have some challenge 
after the cakewalks that were FF6 and FF7, but FFT may have gone so far 
in the opposite direction as to actually detract from the game.

Other:
	It's clear that the developers had a fun time making this game: 
They seem to have delighted in throwing in just about any piece of the 
FF mythos into the game, thus we are treated to guest appearances by 
Boco from FF5, and Cloud and Aerith from FF7.  FFT is markedly 
different from every other game in the series, obviously, but somehow 
manages to maintain that FF "feel."

Overall: 8/10
	A great game, and worthy of the name.  It's got some major 
flaws, but once one gets involved in the game enough, they're easy to 
overcome.  I wouldn't recommend it to casual fans of the series, but 
for those who are willing to expend the effort, it's well worth it.

----- 
Sean Daugherty (seancdaug@erols.com)