The 90s was a golden age of JRPGs, an era where some of the genre’s best games were released on the Super Nintendo and PlayStation consoles. The list of JRPGs that belong on the list of “Greatest of All Time” may differ from fan to fan, but one frequently named title is tactical RPGTactics Ogre. Initially released in 1995 for the Super Famicon, then brought to the U.S. in 1997 for the PlayStation,Tactics Ogreproved hugely influential on a number ofSquare Enixtitles over the years. And now it’s being remade.
On Thursday, Square Enix officially announced the development ofTactics Ogre: Reborn, a remake of the original JRPG from 1995.Tactics Ogre: Rebornwill include all the elements expected from a robust remaster of a classic game. It will feature fully updated graphics that take advantage of modern platforms' hardware, updated sound, as well as the addition of fully-voiced cutscenes.Tactics Ogre: Reborngoes beyond changes to visual and audial elements, though, as well.
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Square Enix will also be making some significantchanges toTactics Ogre’s gameplay. These start with basic gameplay improvements, including quickening the pace of battle, overhauling in-game controls and the user interface, as well as adding auto-save functionality. There are also deeper gameplay changes, however, like the addition of a unit-by-unit leveling system rather than a class leveling system. Enemy AI has also been revamped to add more complexity to encounters.
For those worried Square Enix may go further in its changes toTactics Ogre, it’s drawing its line at theJRPG’s story. Players will get the full experience of the originalTactics Ogre’s epic tale of war, as three factions vie for control of the Valerian Isles while the lives of those caught within the war are changed forever.
Tactics Ogreis also the last game that game directorYasumi Matsunomade at Quest Corporation before he left and joined Square. He’d go on to direct bothFinal Fantasy TacticsandVagrant Story, as well as initially directingFinal Fantasy 12before Square Enix reworked it.
Tactics Ogrehas become a key piece inJRPG history, impacting the future and direction of Square Enix and the genre overall for decades to come. A remake was released in 2010 for the PSP, but has otherwise remained inaccessible to a generation of gamers.Tactics Ogre: Rebornwill hopefully correct that.
Tactics Ogre: Rebornreleases on November 11 on PC, PS4, PS5, and Switch.
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