Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles hit its review embargo today, and early coverage paints a picture of a remaster that gets almost everything right. Media outlets are highlighting how the package manages to modernize the 1997 tactical RPG while keeping its soul intact.
The remaster ships with two distinct modes. Classic Mode stays close to the original PlayStation release, preserving the pixel art aesthetic and interface that fans remember. Enhanced Mode brings upscaled visuals, widescreen support, and a completely overhauled UI for players who want a more modern experience.
For the first time in the game’s history, all story scenes are fully voiced. This addition brings new life to the political intrigue of Ivalice, with professional actors delivering the complex dialogue about war, class struggle, and religious corruption that made the original a cult classic.
The script itself has grown significantly. Original writer Yasumi Matsuno returned to expand the dialogue by roughly 50%, adding substantial character development for party members like Agrias who previously faded into the background after joining. The remaster also restores “story books” content that was present in the Japanese release but missing from Western versions.
Square Enix addressed several notorious pain points from the original. Players can now escape to the world map if they get stuck during multi-battle sequences—a simple change that prevents the game-ending softlocks that plagued unprepared players for decades. The difficulty has been completely retuned with multiple options, including an easier mode that removes frustrating edges and a harder “Tactician” mode for veterans.
Genji gear gets a second chance
Balance changes include buffing the underwhelming Archer class and nerfing the game-breaking Calculator job. Random encounters have been adjusted to reduce grinding between story missions. However, one change drew immediate heat—the removal of the ability to steal powerful Genji equipment from specific bosses.
In an unusual move, Square Enix announced they’ll restore Genji stealing through a day-one patch after fan complaints flooded social media. The quick response suggests the developer is paying close attention to community feedback this time around.
The remaster launches on PC via Steam, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. Physical Switch copies reportedly include a free upgrade to the upcoming Switch 2, though some European regions may not receive a dedicated Switch 2 physical edition. Early reports indicate smooth performance on Steam Deck.
One notable absence is the extra content from 2007’s War of the Lions PSP version. New jobs, characters, and cutscenes from that release didn’t make the cut. The soundtrack also remains faithful to Hitoshi Sakimoto’s original compositions rather than offering an orchestral arrangement option.
