“`html
The text below was published on the Brazilian PlayStation Blog.
The announcement of Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles during an already excellent State of Play in June 2025 was met with collective disbelief and excitement.
No, this wasn’t some fantastic dream. Square Enix has truly blessed our screens with a stunning updated version of the classic 1997 PlayStation strategy RPG. Even better? Part of the original team is working on the remake.
“Final Fantasy Tactics inspired me to dedicate my life to becoming a game designer,” reveals Kazutoyo Maehiro, who was an event coordinator for the original game and now serves as director of The Ivalice Chronicles. “Even today, it remains an emotional cornerstone for me. It holds a very special place in my heart.”
Other development team members like Yasumi Matsuno (original screenwriter, scenario writer, and editor) also worked on the original PlayStation title, meaning the remake is in good hands. New players will experience a rich, engrossing story about conflict in a troubled land, with updated dialogue, voice acting, and new features including a streamlined, optimized user interface.
Rebuilding Ivalice
A few years ago, Maehiro revisited the original, and playing it again reignited his awe for the game. “Even compared to modern games, it stands equally impressive with its excellent design and profound narrative.” But this also brought the realization that the game had become inaccessible on modern platforms. “I felt a strong desire to bring this incredible game back so new players of the current generation could experience it. That’s what began this game’s development.”
The process wasn’t without challenges. Purists can play the Classic Version, which recreates the original as faithfully as possible. But developing both the new Classic Version and the Enhanced Edition posed hurdles since the original core data and source code no longer exist. “This was simply standard at the time,” Maehiro explains. “We didn’t have today’s efficient resource management tools and developed games by continuously overwriting code for bug fixes or adding new languages.”
“The best way to ensure the game would meet modern gameplay standards without losing faithfulness to the original was to rebuild it.” — Kazutoyo Maehiro, Director, The Ivalice Chronicles
“Since the Classic Version aimed to recreate the original game, we considered implementing an emulator,” he continues. “However, that method wouldn’t allow granular readjustments, even with the goal of recreating the original. After evaluation, we concluded that the best way to ensure the game met modern gameplay standards while preserving fidelity was to rebuild it.”
This reconstruction of the original produced the Classic Version, which was later updated into the Enhanced Edition. The effort paid off, giving the team a solid foundation for all improvements and changes while enabling granular quality-of-life adjustments like autosave functionality and restoring elements cut from the original due to time constraints.
“One thing we had to cut previously was character dialogues,” Maehiro reveals. “It was disappointing for both me and Matsuno, who handled the story additions and enhancements for The Ivalice Chronicles. That’s why we’ve now added dialogue to story expansions and improvements.
“Even if the game design is excellent, people won’t enjoy it unless the controls are great.” — Kazutoyo Maehiro, Director, The Ivalice Chronicles
“For example: In the original, certain characters rarely spoke after recruitment. The remake adds mid-battle conversations. During specific battles, characters like Agrias, Cid, and Mustadio have significantly more lines. Some dialogues aren’t just exchanges—they also supplement the narrative or develop plot points, like war veteran Marquis Elmdore’s motivations for his chosen path.”
The interface also underwent rigorous scrutiny, with the Enhanced Edition receiving a complete graphical overhaul. “The goal was to create ‘the ideal solution for playing Final Fantasy Tactics today,'” Maehiro summarizes. “Even with excellent game design, players won’t enjoy it unless the controls are great.”
Giving Voices to Tactics
While the story remains a highlight of the remaster, understanding why it received such emphasis is key. “A major reason for expanding and refining the narrative was the inclusion of voice acting,” says Maehiro. “If we’d simply added voices without adjustments, it would’ve felt unnatural. We reworked dialogue for smoother conversations, greatly enhancing immersion, and added content that clarifies characters’ thoughts, goals, and backstories.
“Hearing character voices on screen, I felt the actors truly brought them to life with powerful performances. Maybe this resonates because I worked on the original, but I’m sure long-time fans and newcomers alike will relate.”
Fans will also appreciate “State of the Realm”—a high-level summary presenting incidental lore between battles, similar to the feature in Maehiro-designed Final Fantasy XVI.
“We wanted to give players another way to appreciate the story, visualizing information chronologically alongside the protagonist’s actions. If you want the story’s overall flow, State of the Realm shows it. For deeper details, listen to tavern rumors or explore other resources.”
These include “Errands,” which reveal minor problems facing Ivalice’s citizens through minigames. “I’m deeply attached to Errands,” Maehiro explains, “because as a newcomer on the original, I was responsible for implementing them and worked hard. Initially, Errands resembled rumors, but I felt they’d be underutilized as just story-information mechanics. So I proposed making them a feature offering unit progression fun. The result coexists with the main story, letting players unwind by tackling Ivalice’s small-scale issues.
“Classic Version Errands retain the original format, while the Enhanced Edition recreates them with high-definition assets and a revamped interface for better accessibility. We hope players enjoy them.”
Tactical Tips and Tricks
With the inclusion of Battle Strategies—a compilation of tactical advice—we asked the team for newcomer tips. “Early on, I recommend pairing Archer with the Knight’s Battle Arts,” suggests Producer Shoichi Matsuzawa. “Especially Break Weapon. Shatter an opponent’s weapon from higher elevation before they engage.
“If you’re not confident with sub-job action skills, stick with items for now. Learning Potion and Phoenix Down alone can get you combat-ready immediately.”
“Generally, having two melee damage-dealers like Monks, Ninjas, or Dragoons; two ranged damage-dealers like Black Mages or Archers; and one healer like a White Mage or Chemist works best,” Maehiro adds. “But focus on progressing each character individually in their role—damage or healing—rather than trying to learn everything simultaneously.
“My personal preference is improvising on the fly, like boosting/reducing parameters or persuading enemies to become allies using Speechcraft. This requires knowledge and adaptability, so I encourage experienced tactical RPG players to try it.”
“Our greatest point of pride is that the game is still loved by so many, 28 years after its original release.” — Kazutoyo Maehiro, Director, The Ivalice Chronicles
Follow these tips literally or build your party with your own strategies. Either way, we’re thrilled to see this masterpiece reach new audiences while delighting longtime fans—a feeling the development team shares. “Our greatest point of pride is that the game is still loved by so many, 28 years after its original release,” Maehiro states. “It’s incredibly fulfilling to have been deeply involved in both the original and now this new presentation of such a beloved title.”
“Final Fantasy Tactics embodies classic Final Fantasy elements like Jobs and Summons yet tells a complete standalone story,” Matsuzawa continues. “It’s perfect for Final Fantasy newcomers. I hope you give it a try.
“Some may have avoided it as a tactical RPG, but the Enhanced Edition lets you adjust difficulty to make it more approachable. We hope you seize this chance to explore Ivalice’s complex world.”
The dream becomes reality soon: Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles launches for PS5 and PS4 on September 30.
“`
