I have the PSP version but will get this to have a console version.
Taiko is good for the soul, Hoisa!
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My switch copy isn't getting here until Friday, so uh... I ended up buying a digital copy on the PS4 even though I said I wouldn't. Kinda glad I have trophies (but the game also has its own in-game achievements that are in every version).
So far I'm having a blast. It took me a while to understand how to get through a battle successfully; it walks you through the first two story battles well enough, but right after that, you can get (skippable) random encounters and I died on my first two attempts at those. At the very beginning of the game!! It definitely doesn't have a smooth ramp up like fire emblem - seems to throw you in the deep end instead.
One thing I noticed is that you will be rewarded for thoroughly exploring the menus and clicking every available option. It doesn't tell you that you need to spend job points on skills until you go into the job menu and click on the option to learn abilities. Then it gives you a quick little tutorial. Battles are way easier once you have a counter attack and a ranged attack.
Anyway, after some trial and error, the gameplay started to click with me and I couldn't stop playing. Now it's 2am and I should really be asleep.
@charliecarrot I have this downloaded and good to go... just trying (realllly trying!) to finish up Act 3 in Silksong first.
Is FFT fairly accesible to newbies? I really like challenging games, but equally I'm not a huge fan of obtuse menus. I loved a few deck builders (Spire, Inscryption, Balatro etc) and generally a fan of the FF franchise, so brought tactics due to the flowing reviews.
I'm so on the fence about getting this on Switch vs PS5. How's it run on Switch? That's become my big deciding factor. It also doesn't help the better Nintendo version is a damned GKC.
"I've spent two years wallowing in misery... and tonight, I just want you to know that tonight, I am happy."
-"Hangman" Adam Page, 7/12/2025
@CJD87 I think it's pretty accessible! The new version is rebalanced a bit and has a much clearer UI. People who've played the original say that even the default/normal difficulty is easier than the original PS1 game. There's also an even easier difficulty available if you don't want to struggle too much at the beginning.
Most people have trouble in chapter 1, and a lot of that comes from getting familiar with the mechanics and team setups.
The most obtuse part is probably the zodiac compatibility, but an easy recommendation if you don't want to think about it is to just leave your main character's birthday as default, a Capricorn, then as soon as you can, recruit a male Taurus and two female Virgos from the first city you have available. (Those signs both have basic compatibility with capricorn, and it avoids unfortunate matchups with any later guest characters). You can exit and reenter the recruitment area and the available recruits will regenerate. Try to get ones with stats around or above 60. It didn't take me long to get that setup.
Then for each one, learn the Items ability from their Chemist job (you don't have to switch jobs to learn an ability from that job). That allows everyone to use potions (which you can stock up on in the same city where you recruit new members).
Then do a few battles by walking back and forth over that field with the random encounters until they each have JP Up, Counter Throw, Focus (raises atk), Throw Stone (ranged attack), and +1 Movement. These are all abilities (passive and active) that you unlock in the Squire job. Make sure to equip the skills as well once you learn them.
This makes everything way easier getting started. Then again, lots of people never even knew about the zodiac compatibility and still got through the game fine, and you probably could do so on either easy or normal difficulty.
The voice acting so far is top notch, and the world feels really fleshed out. You can read over a compendium type thing in the menu to recall names and locations as you get familiar with the world. Really enjoying my experience so far!
I've supp'd for months on naught but broth of bean
I'm so on the fence about getting this on Switch vs PS5. How's it run on Switch? That's become my big deciding factor. It also doesn't help the better Nintendo version is a damned GKC.
You could get the (much better looking imo) Switch 1 physical copy and do a free upgrade for the Switch 2 version. At least that way, you have the full game on the cart. From a couple videos I've seen, the Switch 1 version is pretty much flawless 60fps throughout. It's not a very demanding game.
I've supp'd for months on naught but broth of bean
You could get the (much better looking imo) Switch 1 physical copy and do a free upgrade for the Switch 2 version. At least that way, you have the full game on the cart. From a couple videos I've seen, the Switch 1 version is pretty much flawless 60fps throughout. It's not a very demanding game.
Oh, I was going to get the Switch 1 version physically and doing the upgrade. I don't have a Switch 2 yet, but I should by the end of the year. That being said, I'm kind of starting to buy things with it in mind so that when I do have the cash in December to do so, I already have a pro controller, camera, Gamecube controller, and a few other things ready to go.
"I've spent two years wallowing in misery... and tonight, I just want you to know that tonight, I am happy."
-"Hangman" Adam Page, 7/12/2025
I love how the job system in this game works. Each job has a main action set tied to it (think healing spells for white mage or stealing for a thief), and once you learn them, you can use them as a secondary action for whatever other job you pick.
So you could level up white mage and get cure, revive, protect, etc, and then use those abilities as a knight if you desire.
But beyond that, there's other types of passive abilities you learn for each job - reactions, movement-related, and another misc category that usually provides some type of constant buff. You can mix and match all of these to your heart's desire once you learn them, regardless of which job you're using.
I'm only on chapter 2 of the game but I've spent hours and hours just levelling up different characters through different job paths. It's hard to pick any one job because there's so many interesting mechanics tied to each one.
Typically I'd just stick with a physical heavy fighter, a ranged agile character, a black mage, and a white mage, but currently I'm rocking a Geomancer, Ninja, Time Mage, and Dragoon, and it's so fun using all their unique abilities during battles.
It's a great sign when the story is so good that I really want to continue working through it, but the gameplay systems are so engaging that I'm actively putting off continuing the story just so I can continue playing around with the job system.
I've supp'd for months on naught but broth of bean
I love how the job system in this game works. Each job has a main action set tied to it (think healing spells for white mage or stealing for a thief), and once you learn them, you can use them as a secondary action for whatever other job you pick.
So you could level up white mage and get cure, revive, protect, etc, and then use those abilities as a knight if you desire.
But beyond that, there's other types of passive abilities you learn for each job - reactions, movement-related, and another misc category that usually provides some type of constant buff. You can mix and match all of these to your heart's desire once you learn them, regardless of which job you're using.
I'm only on chapter 2 of the game but I've spent hours and hours just levelling up different characters through different job paths. It's hard to pick any one job because there's so many interesting mechanics tied to each one.
Typically I'd just stick with a physical heavy fighter, a ranged agile character, a black mage, and a white mage, but currently I'm rocking a Geomancer, Ninja, Time Mage, and Dragoon, and it's so fun using all their unique abilities during battles.
It's a great sign when the story is so good that I really want to continue working through it, but the gameplay systems are so engaging that I'm actively putting off continuing the story just so I can continue playing around with the job system.
Really glad to hear that the same job system from Tactics Advance is originally from FFT! That was the number one thing that had me so addicted to Tactics Advance, and I was really hoping this game would have the same system.
As you said, I loved mastering all sorts of abilities tied to each class, then assigning that class action as a secondary ability while I kept mixing and matching classes. Such a great system, and really no other strategy game is as satisfying to play with.
Are stats also similar to Tactics Advance, where it's tied to leveling up as certain classes? For instance, mage classes gain more MP with each level up, while warrior/etc classes gain more HP/etc? It gave an extra layer of complexity to team building, like outfitting a paladin with extra MP by leveling them up as a mage before switching back to the other class.
I'm about to order my copy of Ivalice Chronicles! Also debating whether I pull the trigger on the Japanese art book or if I wait and hope that an English translation release on the Square Enix storefront.
Are stats also similar to Tactics Advance, where it's tied to leveling up as certain classes? For instance, mage classes gain more MP with each level up, while warrior/etc classes gain more HP/etc? It gave an extra layer of complexity to team building, like outfitting a paladin with extra MP by leveling them up as a mage before switching back to the other class.
I believe this is the case! The most I've engaged with that mechanic is by generally keeping each party member in a certain type of role so the stat boosts are always beneficial to the role (so keeping one person as a magic user, one in speed based, one as a physical user, etc). But beyond that, I haven't thought about the stat gains at all or done anything to try and game them.
I definitely gotta try out FFTA and A2 one day.
The job system is just so engaging, so I'm happy to hear it's maintained in Advance.
I wonder if we'll get a new FFT game? Maybe if this one sells well?
I've supp'd for months on naught but broth of bean
I believe this is the case! The most I've engaged with that mechanic is by generally keeping each party member in a certain type of role so the stat boosts are always beneficial to the role (so keeping one person as a magic user, one in speed based, one as a physical user, etc). But beyond that, I haven't thought about the stat gains at all or done anything to try and game them.
I definitely gotta try out FFTA and A2 one day.
The job system is just so engaging, so I'm happy to hear it's maintained in Advance.
I wonder if we'll get a new FFT game? Maybe if this one sells well?
Great to hear that about the stat level up!
Yes! Definitely try out TA and A2 if you ever get the chance. One of my favorite aspects of the games is the unique SFX. Even compared to FFXII, Tactics Advance has very unique sound effects. It's hard to describe, but it almost sounds tactile yet bubbly.
I'm really hoping so too! Hopefully The Ivalice Chronicles sells well enough to inspire more games. Unfortunately Tactics Advance and A2 are terribly difficult to play nowadays, so I would love either Nintendo to license TA on GBA NSO, or for Square Enix to make a TA/A2 remaster/remake.
And of course I would love to see a proper sequel as well, if Ivalice Chronicles is successful enough. Because I grew up with Tactics Advance, personally I would love a proper sequel to be set in the FFXII version of Ivalice; the unique races, the setting, the Star Wars-esque technology and vibe... it's definitely one of my favorite FF universes.
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Topic: Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
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