In terms of basic design, turn-based strategy games don't differ much from each other. Players tell their units where to move and who to attack, and then watch the enemy numbers dwindle. What really separates the good games from the bad in this genre are the underlying rules, balance, and mechanics. Final Fantasy Tactics A2 succeeds in all these categories.
Xfire writes "The Final Fantasy franchise is nearly as old as the video game industry itself.
First released way back in 1987, what initially started as a hail mary title has since turned into a media franchise that has spawned more than a dozen mainline titles and been featured in other forms of media, making hundreds of millions of dollars along the way.
But while the mainline titles get all of the attention -- all eyes are currently on Final Fantasy 16 -- the franchise also has a handful of spin-off titles that are just as good as the mainline titles."
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@ cool
It’s more than just having characters. KH uses various gameplay mechanics, themes, terminology, & aesthetics from FF.
It just happens to be a spin-off that’s also a crossover, similar to fellow spin-off crossover titles such as Pokémon Conquest, Blazblue: Cross Tag Battle, & Warriors All Stars
Does including characters from a game make it a spin off? If so, is Smash Bros a spinoff of Metal Gear Solid? 😕
I would put Bravely Default as the best Final Fantasy spin off, even though it doesn't carry the Final Fantasy name (although the japanese version does have the subtitle Flying Fairy so it could carry the FF acronym).
About the games in the list, I like Dissidia 012 a lot, but my favorite is Theatrhythm. I still turn on my old 3DS from time to time to play a few songs.
I wish it had some remixed or orchestrated versions of the old songs, though. NES/SNES songs are nostalgic, but when played by an orchestra they're taken to another level. Strange that some people complained that Theatrhythm Dragon Quest did exactly that... I guess nostalgia does speak loudly.
Joining The Duel Screens Podcast this week is Pierre Leclerc, the Co-Founder of Six Eyes Studio and developer of tactics RPG Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark – which recently received a massive DLC update known as Missions & Monsters.
Aside from discussing Missions & Monsters, the conversation eventually gravitated to tactical JRPGs, like FF:Tactics and Tactics Ogre, and how we’ve seen less and less of these types of games throughout the years. Why has this particular sub-genre of JRPG has all but disappeared despite the aforementioned titles great success and loyal fanbase?
Replies(1)@Disagrees:
You honestly think I'm happy about the dozens of potential B to A type SP turn based games that got turned into "F2P" mobile gotcha titles?
Really?
I'm not into tactical RPGs much unless they incorporate elements of other genres. That said I enjoyed the newest fire emblem because it had the school you could walk around and interact with people in.
I LOVE tactical RPG games. While they don't really get made much anymore, there's plenty of masterpieces available to play as many times as I need. :)
Guess Fire Emblem:Three Houses, Valkyria Chronicles and Disgaeas don’t count? Then you have the western ones with Banner Saga trilogy, Xcom, Gears of War Tactics and lots of crpgs filling the roll. Divinity OS scratches this itch perfectly for me. I own plenty of AA or indie srpgs from steam sales.
If you are looking to stratch the SRPG or CRPG itch there are plenty out there for all your strategy/powerhouse building needs.
Agreed - was about to say longtime tactics series like Fire Emblem or Valkyria Chronicles are basically at the peek of popularity, and finally getting decent budgets
Well you can still find a lot of TRPGS out there, but for the most part it is a somewhat dying genre as pretty much everything is sort of merging together and moving more towards an action based combat system.
Amazon has discounted Chrono Trigger to $15.62, Final Fantasy III to $15.14, Final Fantasy IV to $17.99 and Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift to $16.63.
Considering re-purchasing Chrono Trigger for 3DS.
It's such a good game, but I'm not sure I want to struggle through getting all the endings again...XD
