Final Fantasy Tactics sequel on the way
by David Hinkle 
{ Dec 13th 2006 at 1:30PM }
In the latest issue of Japanese mag Shonen Jump, it's confirmed that some new Final Fantasy Tactics action will be gracing both Sony and Nintendo's handhelds, however, as usual, Nintendo is getting the better deal. See, the PSP is getting a remake of Final Fantasy Tactics, while the DS (or GBA, it's unconfirmed which handheld the game will appear on at this time) will be receiving a true blue sequel in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 2: The Sealed Black Book.Considering the recent release of Final Fantasy III, as well as Square's support of the DS with Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, not to mention the recent announcement of Dragon Quest IX being exclusive to the DS, we're banking on the game coming to the dual-screen handheld, as well. What do you guys think?
[Via Joystiq]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Silver R. Wolfe @ Dec 13th 2006 1:39PM
I see the PSP getting the better deal here as FFTA was a terrible game in comparison to FFT. I'd rather have a remake of FFT than a sequel to that steaming pile of poo that is FFTA.
Cowdisease @ Dec 13th 2006 2:54PM
It's too early to say whether the PSP is getting the better deal.
While you can make a convincing argument that FFT was better than FFTA, we have no idea if FFTA2 will be a good game. For all we know, FFTA2 could improve upon the negatives that plagued FFTA and end up being a better game than FFT.
Jimmijam @ Dec 13th 2006 3:16PM
I'd rather see Tactics Ogre... "tactics" RPG done right IMHO.
Ross @ Dec 14th 2006 12:36AM
If the psp gets the original they've gotten the better deal.
FFT >>>>>>> FFTA
And even if FFT2 is a good game, I've been wanting fft on the ds for like, ever.
Kefka @ Dec 13th 2006 7:35PM
I've got FFTA and loved it to bits... I've never played FFT though - what made it so much better?
(and if you say 'graphics', then i'll bitch-slap the lot of you.)
Anyhow, this news makes me happy in the pants!
RDX @ Dec 13th 2006 8:42PM
I agree with Kefka. Why is everyone knocking FFTA? It's one of the best GBA games by far in my opinion. Why was FFT so much better?
Silver R. Wolfe @ Dec 13th 2006 9:00PM
After playing FFT and then years and years down the line, playing FFTA it just felt like a sham. Other than the strategy RPG elements and the name of the world in each game, there was nothing to tie the two together. Something that irritated me, alot.
FFTA was overall simpler game and the judges drove me insane with their inane rules and regulations. Not to mention, there was just all around cooler characters in FFT than there was in FFTA. I mean, Beowulf was off the heezy fo sheezy.
Vaye @ Dec 13th 2006 10:13PM
To Kefka,
When you've never even played FFT before, of course you can't tell which one is better.
Ya you enjoy it... everyone enjoyed living in candle light before light bulb was invented.
Reeve @ Dec 14th 2006 7:50AM
Well, I won't get into the whole FFT vs. FFTA debate since I've never played the latter (it's in my "to play" queue), but as a tactical RPG nut, I'd rather have a new game than a remake. More FFT = good.
Kefka @ Dec 14th 2006 9:19AM
Vaye:
No shit, sherlock. That's why I was ASKING people to explain why FFT was so much better than FFTA.
A question you managed not to answer - well done! If you're going to be a smart arse, at least try to follow it up with something useful. :)
Silver R. Wolfe: FF games have never had strong links between installments. Fair enough reasons overall though... but some more reasons from people other than "it wasn't FFT" would be nice.
Ah well, I'm not fussed. FFTA is a great game - I enjoyed it, every review I've read has rated it highly... people can bitch and moan about it not being as good / the same as FFT all they like, but I'm still happy to hear there will be a second FFTA.
Wooster @ Dec 14th 2006 7:05PM
Personally, I think it's a tad obvious that the game is being developed for the NDS. They're just announcing the game now, and Final Fantasy III was annoucned for the DS a long while ago and is just now being released.
Marche @ Dec 14th 2006 1:48PM
It's like this. If you played Final Fantasy Tactics, suffered through the terrible translation and cludgy interface which by design incorporated elements which had zero bearing on the games progression you were rewarded with one of the deepest and most interesting political plots and challenging (yet exceedingly fun) tactical RPGs to ever grace the Playstation.
If however you didn't 'earn' the fun of FFT and started with FFTA for the GBA then you got a more polished, less convoluted and admittedly stripped down version of the original. They are not the same game, they are however pretty much the same concept. Unless you're a truly bitter, jaded gamer who's lost the sense of fun and childlike wonder that comes from using your imagination while playing there's no reason to hate FFTA. Starting with the GBA title and trying to get into FFT afterwards means steeling yourself for the aforementioned issues.
With the FFXII series taking place in Ivalice, the same world as both Final Fantasy Tactics titles, Square-Enix seems to be interested in expanding the mythology of the Tactics spin-off. This is good news for all FF fans, whether you're in the Sony or Nintendo camp.
thegrey @ Dec 14th 2006 1:57PM
@Kafka
FF:T = Shakespeare
FF:TA= DR. Seuss
Not knocking down FF:TA, it just that FF: T had a vastly superior story line and game play.(and the Final Fantasy 7 easter eggs just rock!)
DAMN IT @ Dec 14th 2006 2:01PM
DAMN IT. Why the hell is DS getting a sequel to that sorry excuse for an FFT game (advance).
I hated that game. The original version was killer, probably the greatest game of all time.
This might force me to buy a PSP, seriously, I love the ORIGINAL game that damn much. And if it includes online battles then I am DEFINITELY going to buy it and a PSP.
I have a DS but if we get shafted with the ADVANCE crap I'm not even going to look at the game.
Rob @ Dec 14th 2006 2:38PM
What makes you all think that the PSP version will be a remake of the original? For all you know it could be a rehash of Advanced.
BatDan @ Dec 14th 2006 9:11PM
I loved both games, they were similar, but both very different. Of course it's normal to have a preference, but I'll bet a lot of people are bashing Tactics Advance cuz' it was simpler and more light-hearted.
And that's the point, some people want to experience deep tactical, job based gameplay without all the extra. The original Tactics was awesome, but I can see how people would've been turned off by the fairly confusing plot and slight tendency towards over-management.
And these are handhelds people, as cool as tweaking stats are, it can grow a little tedious and does't fit well into a pick-up-and-play style.
LLama of Nsider @ Dec 14th 2006 9:39PM
anyways i agree with kefka that FFTA was great, and not in anyway a total Failure, but i will also agree the FFT was godly. In any case news of FFT games whether new or remakes is just music to my ears. Anyways now i have a new game to look foward too.
cocotapioca @ Dec 15th 2006 8:12AM
I truly envy the PSP users for getting the remake of FFT.... i dont want a new brand game, i eant my remake snif
Fox @ Dec 15th 2006 6:31PM
I can't believe I missed this completely. Really awesome news, and shows how strongly Square and Nintendo are starting to get a long. Kinda sad really, the PSP gets a port of a PS1 game, and the DS is getting tons of new stuff for the DS.
With all due respect,
Fox
Gafgarion @ Dec 16th 2006 7:23PM
The original was mindblowingly great and I was soo dissapointed by FFTA. Online battles would be the coolest thing since ever...
Jersey Devil @ Jan 5th 2007 8:03PM
There isn't a single person I know, including myself, who has played both FFT and FFTA, and enjoyed FFTA more. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to find someone who, after playing both games, enjoyed FFTA at all, much less anywhere near the level of the original.
I honestly don't know why I find FFTA so irritating. Maybe it's because I've become somewhat jaded over the years. Maybe it's because it failed to live up to the original? Possibly a mix of both, but I'd most likely contribute it to a combination of FFTA's (1) dumbed-down strategy, (2) barely challenging battles, (3) infusion of annoying hindrances called the 'Law System', (4) bland characters, and (5) a weak plot. I'd go into it in more detail, but I'm gonna save myself the headache of recalling memories of the game.
Overall, someone said it the best when they referred to FFTA as a stripped down version of the original. To newcomers, it may be a nice game, but to those who were lucky enough to play the original, it feels like a world of disappointment.
Atrimis @ Dec 25th 2006 7:06PM
My opinion was that, sure Advance was a "watere'd down" version of Tactics (see in the ps version there were many more job classes, but there weren't charactor races. they were human, but you could get like chocobo, goblins, minatour, and even dragons in your party. your human, both male and female charactors could be any of a number of jobs, the starting being squire with only 3 advancments, archer, knight, and cleric. those in tune gave way to things like summoners, mages, dragoons, ninja... and I know what you're thinking, those are in advance, but the difference is that there were more spells, and abilities, and more overall jobs. and the charactors weren't limited to what jobs they could take. The map had random encounters in it, much better ones, with many more options of fighting to work up your job levels. and with mastering certain skills changing how your charactor played, all in better ways, made tactics, with it's much more involved, devolped, and mature story line, not to mention secret items that I'm sure people are still trying to figure out how to get legitly, and secret charactors that were far improvments over things like the judge from tactics (shall i tell you... Cloud was the final secret charactor)
But if you look at the picture above, the game could be a FFT from ps sequal, instead of a gba sequal. then agian, it might take all the great elements from tactics, and apply them to advance, and come up with something even better. only time will tell.
luckilly, i have both a DS and a PSP, so I'll get the best of both worlds.
marghlar @ Dec 29th 2006 7:23PM
FFT is without doubt one of the best crafted games ever made, its so much bigger. more customisable and ultimatly more rewarding than FFTA it looks better and it plays better... But thats not to say that FFTA is not a very good game its probably one of the best games out for the GBA and a sequel (preferrably for the DS) is great news, lets just hope they make it bigger and better and not wait so long for the next one!
Ofer @ Jan 1st 2007 1:04PM
I own both DS and PSP, so it doesn't matter which platform gets the better FF Tactics game, cause I win either way... Now to focus on the important topic... Finally... Tactics on a portable... Life couldn't be more perfect!!!
Solonjhee @ Jan 1st 2007 7:33PM
FFT top 5 best games ever(!) Unfortunately Tactics Ogre and FFTA didn't have the same depth and dimensions that the original FFT had. (even thought they were great games) The Disgaea series make a good job too but it went too "cartoon" in my opinion and was cursed with overblown effects and attacks. One of the nicest details were the actual changing of weapons equipped. Even though the appearance of the characters did not change depending on armors, the weapon-prites did. ( http://www.squareapex.com/fft/weapons.php ) I could actually see the Rune Blade i saved up to. The magic effects were really polished in terms of pixelated artwork and even the smallest effects were carefully designed without compromise. The environmental/map artwork was another amazing work of art of Hiroshi Minagawa. At that time Vandal Hearts II (also directed by Hiroshi Minagawa) also did a good job delivering the same kind of gaming experience as FFT did although it didn't give the same gameplay depth play hours. You can see and feel the hard work and quality from all the games art directed by Hiroshi Minagawa where every detail is thoroughly polished to the end in games as Vagrant story, the Ogre series and the latest FFXII (which is made by the same SE team as FFT and Vagrant Story [same fonts used almost as trademark item]). This version will surely deliver excellent quality in gameplay as in visual experience as the old game/s. Maybe I have to pick up a PSP too at my nearest Yodobashi because of this game and Jeanne D' Arc (really worth a look for amazing environmental artwork and apparently good gameplay - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGqjZp_7vMU ... wallet gets thinner and thinner... I get older and older.
NovaZengear @ Jan 29th 2007 11:46AM
I have to agree with what 10.Vaye 14.Rob 16.BatDan
have said on the # comments they made.
I have played both FFT (not all the way to the end)and FFTA and i hate when ppl say that FFT is better than FFTA without a good reason(and i don't think vise versa i just hate when ppl flame other games mindlessy without good reasoning).
I didn't care for the skill learning sysem in FFT although the skill learning system in FFTA (which i cared for a bit less)was a bit...cheap (wow a weapon gives good insight...@_@... but i did like how it forced you to use a lot of diffent weapons tho)
plus one point for FFT
And, I did like how FFT had a second sub class skill system (the one in FFTA however was better)
plus one point for FFTA
And Beowulf was pretty AWSOME! + 1 but putting clould in it was just cheezy -1 (*shock* *Gasp* i am not a cloud fan, cause ppl always over hype him.
I'll admit that i didn't care much for the story of FFT cause it leave a lot of questions unanswered( , but hey what FF game doesn't huh?
FFT+0 FFTA+0
and FF games have rarey had anything to do with each other so don't keep whining about how FFTA was so different from FFT cause that a sorry excuse (this happen in a lot of games not just this one ppl)
as for PSP getting the better deal ppl please you don't know that for sure and you can't get technical yet cause its not out and theres not enough proof.
plus you got to think about what the difference (if these is a difference)is in the japan verson and the import(translated import) versons. cause DS can play Import games(that will not be reseased outside japan) without any extra attachments or chips (just incase any of you are willing to import games yourself.)
Any who, I did love the way that FFTA was so different from FFT and in no way do they shadow one another. And I eagerly await for both to get here.
ps. I don't trust what Gameinformer, gamepro and those other game mags/ official game sites say about games anymore cause after that Cima: the enemy
(horrable boss battles, bad battle system, puzzles were nice, and a fun item use/setup system and movement system was horrid, storyline was so-so)
it was getting a good rating and that was the last time i let them tell me a trash game was good. (It was total trash yet it was getting a good rating like 4 out of 5 and 8 out of 10, buy it if you want to feel a little internal suffering and waste some money!)
and see i manage to compare what i liked and dislike about the game.
Anthony @ Feb 3rd 2007 10:53PM
FFTA is brilliant. I'm really looking forward to this. =)
Vastalis @ Feb 9th 2007 2:22PM
I haven't played FFTA, (although I want to, even though total revamps make me cringe). So I can't rag on it.
as far as the remake to PSP, I'd certainly buy it! If you've played the PS1 version, you know how addicting the gameplay was then (High replay factor). I could just imagine how it'll be now with the updated look.
One thing's for sure, I felt shafted when I heard there wasn't a TRUE sequel to the first. I hope this time around, they make it happen for the PSP!