The Remake of Final Fantasy Tactics: Preserving the Essence While Adapting to Modern Times
Kazutoyo Maehiro, who worked on the original Final Fantasy Tactics nearly 30 years ago, now shoulders the pressure as he returns to direct its remake. This role - playing gem, one of the most beloved in the series, sees Maehiro transition from event planner to director. Despite this change in title, much remains consistent, including his approach to game design.
Modernizing with a Light Touch
Maehiro, speaking to WIRED through a translator, explains that the primary objective was to modernize Final Fantasy Tactics. “Players today have higher expectations,” he notes. However, when the game debuts on September 30 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Steam, and Xbox Series X/S, it won't be a complete overhaul. The $50 update mainly features interface tweaks, additional dialogues, and voice - over work.
Essentially, Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles (a new moniker to differentiate it from the original) retains the core gameplay that veterans will recall. Battles are turn - based, set on a board - like map, demanding strategic planning of moves and counter - moves. Characters assume diverse roles, such as healing or attacking, by taking on different “jobs.” The lead character, Ramza, inhabits a medieval - inspired world grappling with the aftermath of a war that has widened the chasm between the rich and the poor. Society is structured around the honor of house names, with the low - born being treated as inferior. Desperation drives people to act beyond basic moral boundaries.
A Timeless Story
Released in 1997, a year filled with gaming hits like GoldenEye 007, Star Fox 64, and Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy Tactics presented an ambitious narrative that deviated from simplistic heroics or clear - cut good - vs - evil tales. Maehiro remarks, “That even 30 years later this game still resonates speaks volumes about the story's compelling nature.”
During the original game's development, writer Yasumi Matsuno was deeply intrigued by medieval European class structures. The story delves into the politics and hardships of an aristocratic hierarchical system in an era of kings and knights. Ramza comes from a noble family, while his childhood friend Delita is of low birth. A tragic event separates them, and they eventually find themselves on opposing sides of a war, amidst religious corruption and throne - claiming, where nobles and peasants clash.
Yet, Final Fantasy Tactics is more than a mere fantasy. Matsuno penned it against the backdrop of late - 1990s Japan, a period of economic and cultural upheaval. “The collapse of Japan's bubble economy left financial institutions drowning in bad debt, sparking corporate bankruptcies, a sharp rise in unemployment, and overall societal stagnation,” he wrote on X after the remake was announced. “It was an era when hope was lost for many, and dreams were quantified by their cost.” Matsuno would concur that much of this description mirrors modern politics and culture, as his post concludes, “Now in 2025, with inequality and division still deeply ingrained in society, I present this story once more.”
Rebuilding from Scratch
Despite maintaining the original's appearance, The Ivalice Chronicles is a ground - up re - creation. The master data files and source code are no longer available; it wasn't until later that retaining such resources became standard in game development. Maehiro's team identified aspects of the first game that felt “clunky or less intuitive” and reconstructed them with improvements in mind. This includes adjusting battle mechanics, such as providing a clear combat timeline for players to anticipate the next turn.
The director reveals that the team considered various modernization methods, including emulating Square Enix's extensive, multi - year remake of the original Final Fantasy VII. “A full remake like FFVII was an option we weighed,” he says. Transforming FFVII into a modern - day success by splitting its ambitious plot into three titles and upgrading its PS1 - era blocky characters to high - fidelity ones roaming a vast world was a viable approach. For instance, Final Fantasy VII Remake is set entirely in Midgar, a city where players spent only a couple of hours in the original.
However, Maehiro rejected this idea for The Ivalice Chronicles. He emphasizes that the original's charm lay in “the enchanting pixel - style artwork and the 3D isometric battle maps, which defined Final Fantasy Tactics.” He was determined not to lose these elements.
Staying True to the Original
Previous versions of Final Fantasy Tactics, such as Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions for the PlayStation Portable in 2007, added new jobs and playable characters like Balthier from Final Fantasy XII. Since these features weren't part of the original, Maehiro's team decided to exclude them. “Our top priority was to recreate the original game,” Maehiro states. Nevertheless, he acknowledges fans' desire for the features introduced in War of the Lions. While he “can't make any guarantees,” there's a possibility of adding extra content if the game performs well.
Moreover, Maehiro hints at potential future projects. “If The Ivalice Chronicles succeeds,” he says, “it could spark discussions about sequels or new tactical RPGs.”
