Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions – A Classic RPG Remastered
If you are a fan of tactical role-playing games, you may have heard of Final Fantasy Tactics, a game that was released for the PlayStation in 1997 and became one of the best and most critically acclaimed games in the genre. But did you know that there is an updated version of this game that was released for the PlayStation Portable in 2007, and later for iOS and Android devices? This version is called Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, and it features a number of improvements and new elements that make it even better than the original. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about this game, including its story, gameplay, differences from the original version, and more.
What is Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions?
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation Portable (PSP). It is an updated version of Final Fantasy Tactics, which was released for the PlayStation in 1997.
The game is set in a fictional world called Ivalice, where a war between two rival factions has broken out after the death of the king. You play as Ramza Beoulve, a young noble who gets involved in the conflict and discovers a dark conspiracy involving an ancient evil that threatens to destroy the world. Along your journey, you will meet various characters who will join your party or oppose you, some of whom are from other Final Fantasy games.
The story of Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
The story of Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is one of the main attractions of the game. It is complex, engaging, and full of twists and turns. It deals with themes such as political intrigue, betrayal, class warfare, friendship, loyalty, religion, and morality. It is told as a historical document written by a scholar named Arazlam Durai, who reveals the truth behind Ramza’s deeds and his role in saving Ivalice from destruction.
The gameplay of Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
The gameplay of Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is another highlight of the game. It is deep, customizable, and challenging. It consists of two main modes: exploration and battle.
In exploration mode, you can move around the world map, visit towns and cities, buy and sell items and equipment, recruit new members, and accept side quests. You can also access the menu, where you can manage your party, change their jobs and abilities, equip them with weapons and armor, and save your progress.
In battle mode, you will engage in turn-based tactical combat with enemies on various terrains. You can control up to five units at a time, each with their own stats, skills, and equipment. You can move them around the grid-based map, attack enemies, use items and magic, and perform special actions. You can also use the environment to your advantage, such as hiding behind obstacles, taking the high ground, or exploiting elemental weaknesses. The battles are influenced by factors such as weather, time of day, zodiac signs, and bravery and faith levels.
The battle system of Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
The battle system of Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is one of the most complex and rewarding in the genre. It is based on a system called Charge Time Battle (CTB), which determines the order of actions for each unit. Each unit has a Charge Time (CT) gauge that fills up according to their speed stat. When the gauge is full, the unit can perform an action. However, some actions have a Charge Time (CT) cost that delays their execution. For example, casting a spell or using a skill may take several turns before it takes effect. This adds a layer of strategy and risk-reward to the battles, as you have to plan ahead and anticipate your enemies’ moves.
Another feature of the battle system is the Job Points (JP) system, which allows you to learn new abilities for your units. Each unit has a primary job and a secondary job that determine their available abilities. Each job has a set of abilities that can be learned by spending JP earned from battles. You can also equip passive abilities and reaction abilities that activate under certain conditions. By learning abilities from different jobs, you can create unique and powerful combinations that suit your playstyle.
The job system of Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
The job system of Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is one of the most customizable and versatile in the series. It allows you to change the class and role of your units according to your needs and preferences. There are over 20 jobs to choose from, each with its own strengths, weaknesses, and requirements. Some jobs are available from the start, while others have to be unlocked by leveling up certain jobs or meeting other criteria.
Some examples of jobs are:
| Job | Description | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squire | The basic job for beginners. Has balanced stats and simple abilities. | |||||
| Knight | A heavy armored warrior who can deal physical damage and break enemy equipment. | |||||
| Archer | A ranged attacker who can hit enemies from afar and charge up powerful shots. | |||||
| White Mage | A healer who can restore HP and cure status ailments with white magic. | |||||
| Black Mage | A spellcaster who can inflict elemental damage with black magic. | |||||
| Monk | A martial artist who can fight with bare hands and use chi techniques. | |||||
| Thief | A nimble rogue who can steal items and money from enemies and evade attacks. | |||||
| Dragoon | A lance-wielding warrior who can jump high and deal massive damage. | |||||
| Ninja | A stealthy assassin who can dual-wield weapons and throw items. | Samurai | A swordmaster who can unleash powerful attacks with katana. | Mime | A mimic who can copy the actions of other units. | Dark Knight |
These are just some of the jobs you can use in the game. You can mix and match them to create your own unique party and strategy.
The multiplayer mode of Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
One of the new features of Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is the multiplayer mode, which allows you to play with or against other players via wireless connection. You can choose from two modes: cooperative and competitive.
In cooperative mode, you can team up with another player and take on special missions that require teamwork and coordination. You can also trade items and equipment with your partner.
In competitive mode, you can challenge another player to a duel and test your skills and tactics. You can also wager items and equipment on the outcome of the battle.
The multiplayer mode adds a lot of replay value and fun to the game, as you can interact with other players and experience different scenarios and challenges.
What are the differences between Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions?
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is not just a port of Final Fantasy Tactics, but an enhanced version that has several differences and improvements from the original game. Some of the main differences are:
The graphical differences between Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
The graphics of Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions have been updated to match the PSP’s capabilities. The game has a higher resolution, smoother animations, and more detailed sprites and backgrounds. The game also has a widescreen format that fits the PSP’s screen better than the original’s 4:3 aspect ratio.
One of the most noticeable graphical changes is the addition of cel-shaded cutscenes, which replace some of the original’s text-based scenes. These cutscenes are animated in a style that resembles hand-drawn illustrations, and they add more emotion and drama to the story. They are also voiced by professional voice actors, who give life and personality to the characters.
The content differences between Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
The content of Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions has been expanded and enriched with new elements that enhance the game’s depth and variety. Some of the new content includes:
The new characters in Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
The game has two new playable characters that were not in the original game. They are:
- Balthier, a sky pirate from Final Fantasy XII, who joins Ramza’s party as a guest character. He is a charismatic and witty adventurer who uses guns and machinery in battle.
- Luso Clemens, a young boy from Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, who appears in a bonus side quest. He is a cheerful and curious explorer who uses various weapons and abilities in battle.
These characters add more diversity and fun to the game, as they have their own unique skills and personalities. They also have their own storylines that connect them to the main plot.
The new jobs in Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
The game has two new jobs that were not in the original game. They are:
- Onion Knight, a homage to the classic job from Final Fantasy III, which is unlocked by mastering several other jobs. It is a versatile job that can equip any weapon and armor, but has no abilities of its own.
- Dark Knight, a powerful job that was previously exclusive to one of the main antagonists, Gaffgarion. It is unlocked by mastering several other jobs and completing a special quest. It is a high-risk, high-reward job that can use dark arts to sacrifice HP for damage.
These jobs add more options and challenges to the game, as they have their own strengths, weaknesses, and requirements.
The new cutscenes in Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
stone. These cutscenes add more depth and emotion to the story, and make it more immersive and cinematic.
Conclusion
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is a masterpiece of tactical role-playing games, and a must-play for any fan of the genre or the Final Fantasy series. It has a rich and captivating story, a complex and rewarding gameplay, and a lot of new and improved content that make it superior to the original game. Whether you play it on the PSP, iOS, or Android devices, you will not regret experiencing this classic RPG remastered.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions:
- Q: How can I download Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions APK?
- A: You can download Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions APK from various sources online, such as APKPure, APKMirror, or APKMonk. However, be careful of malware and viruses that may harm your device. You may also need to enable unknown sources in your device settings to install the APK file.
- Q: How can I play Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions on PC?
- A: You can play Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions on PC by using an emulator, such as PPSSPP, which can run PSP games on your computer. You will also need to download the ISO file of the game from a reliable source, such as EmuParadise, CoolROM, or RomHustler.
- Q: How can I unlock all the jobs in Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions?
- A: You can unlock all the jobs in Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions by leveling up certain jobs to specific levels. For example, to unlock the Samurai job, you need to level up Knight to level 4, Monk to level 5, Dragoon to level 2, and Geomancer to level 2. You can find a complete list of job requirements online, such as on IGN, GameFAQs, or Neoseeker.
- Q: How can I get Cloud Strife in Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions?
- A: You can get Cloud Strife, the protagonist of Final Fantasy VII, in Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions by completing a series of side quests that involve finding a mysterious stone, rescuing a girl named Aerith, and traveling to Zarghidas Trade City. You will also need to have Mustadio in your party and have reached chapter 4 of the game.
- Q: How can I beat Wiegraf in Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions?
- A: Wiegraf is one of the toughest bosses in Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, as you have to face him alone in his human form and then his zombified form as Velius. One of the best strategies to beat him is to use Ramza’s Squire abilities, such as Yell, Accumulate, and Tailwind, to boost your speed and attack power. You can also use items and magic to heal yourself and deal damage. Alternatively, you can use Ramza’s special jobs, such as Dark Knight or Onion Knight, if you have unlocked them.
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