Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions Reviews

• Great Game, Some Flaws

  
  By A2W0LMPC72GGTJ on 2007-10-13
  Final Fantasy Tactics has long been my favorite videogame EVER. Nothing, I feel, has ever matched the original PS1 version of the game. Unfortunately, that still statement still stands.
  
  I've always wanted a portable version of Final Fantasy Tactics, and when I heard it was coming to PSP I went and bought a PSP JUST FOR THIS GAME. I figured that with the fixed translation, new movies, and new content it would be pretty much the only game I would need for awhile.
  
  Well, after sitting down and playing for hours, here is what I have to say:
  
  Pros:
  - The new animations are beautiful! And the voice acting is very well-done. So, big plus there.
  - The new content is fun, and helpful (for understanding the plot)
  - Multiplayer mode looks like it might be fun - unfortunately no one I know (and no one in the entire area as far as I know) has a PSP and Final Fantasy Tactics ... so I can't play it.
  - The load time is almost nonexistent.
  - Rewritten and well-translated dialogue! Yay! The translation is not perfect, I've noticed several grammatical and spelling errors in the dialogue, but its a big improvement from the last translation. I'm bit annoyed that its not perfect, though. Last time I could chalk it up to the horrible translation, but this time I really did expect perfection. Oh well. The big plus is that the plot is much easier to understand now.
  
  Cons:
  - Sound: It sounds like several sound effects were cut. I got especially annoyed at the first fight, when some of the dark knight's sword skill sound effects were cut. I don't know why this is. If you've never played the game you probably won't notice/care (though you might wonder at the strange silence for parts of moves ...). If you have played the game you'll be annoyed.
  - Multiplayer: If you don't have anyone to play with, there is no way to get any of that extra content. I don't know why they couldn't have made the multiplayer missions an option to do all alone - sure they'd be hard, but still ... Very annoying that an entire section of the game is locked to you if you have no one to play with. Of course, you can disregard this if you actually have a friend, with the game, who is willing to spend time doing the multiplayer content with you.
  - Graphics: The PS1 version has absolutely beautiful graphics; not a single pixel on the screen was was wasted. The grahics are still good in the PSP version, but in stretching out the game to 16x9 for the screen, everything looks somewhat ... fuzzy. This was actually a big letdown for me, because the original graphics on the PS1 still look great. It just didn't make the transition smoothly. But, this is a minor issue. If you haven't seen the original, you'll think this is a pretty beautiful game.
  - Dialogue: Again, some grammar and spelling mistakes. Nothing big, but I really wish they'd been fixed.
  - ANIMATION SLOW DOWNS. This was big. For almost EVERY special attack in the game, especially more
  elaborate ones, there is noticeable disconnect between the sound and the animation. The problem is that the video lags so far behind the sound, sometimes the sound will finish playing almost before the animation has started ... this also considerably slows down battles, as the framerate drops so much. The PSP has powerful hardware in it, I have no idea why there is this problem. Especially because emulated versions don't have this issue. I thought that I would get used to it, but it just got more and more annoying, especially as I got stronger and stronger magic. This is the primary reason I gave the game 3 stars. It is not only incredibly annoying, it also considerably slows the gameplay down. UGH.
  
  Conclusion:
  If you've never played the game, do yourself a favor and go try it out. If the lag problem isn't too annoying for you you're in for an amazing game. The plot is sophisticated, and the gameplay is deep. Few games can really compare in those two aspects. And, if you're a big fan of the game, you owe it to yourself to buy it. The new content and new movies are great, and you can't get those on an emulator. That said ... the technical issues introduced in the translation from PS to PSP really knock this game down ... especially the graphics lag. I don't know what Square was thinking releasing the game before they had the problem fixed (I really don't understand why it would even be a problem, the PSP hardware is supposedly more powerful than the PS1 hardware ...).
  
  I really wish I could give this game 5 stars, I really do. In my opinion, the graphics issues alone knocks it down a star, and the combination of everything else knocks another star off. I gave it 4 stars for fun because only the graphics issue really affects how fun the game is to play. Its still a great game, and if the graphics issue was gone I'd say it was a must buy. As is ... :(
  
  *edit*
  Its been a few months now, and I've progressed quite a bit in the game. I have well over 100 hours of playtime (no idea how many, exactly, the playtime clock maxed out long ago) and have played through every class and seen almost every ability in the game. Some additional thoughts:
  
  * No multiplayer is still a bummer - I want some of those items, but there is no way for me to get them ...
  * In my opinion (and feel free to disagree) graphics slowdown is still an issue. I purposely avoid white magic and use items instead, for example, to avoid some of the bigger offenders and speed up battle. If you read the comments for this review you'll see people who agree and disagree with my assessment.
  * I'm continually impressed by the cutscenes, voice acting, and redone script.
  * I still feel that the game isn't as crisp as the original PS version.
  
  All of this said, this is still one of my favorite games out there (as evidenced by the fact that I still play it) ... but I do stand by my rating. This game is, in my opinion, hampered by technical problems - which is sad. But ... it is a lot of fun!
  
  

• One of the Finest Fantasies Out There

  
  By A29BQ6B90Y1R5F on 2007-10-15
  Final Fantasy Tactics was without a doubt one of the greatest Playstation games out there. Starting off as a cult classic it became a big success when it was released later as a Greatest Hits package. Ten years later and Final Fantasy Tactics is still one of the best Final Fantasy games ever made.
  
  Of all the Final Fantasy games, Tactics has arguably the best story out there. It's full of emotion, political intrigue, fantastic characters and it's very deep. If this is your first trump through Final Fantasy Tactics, prepare to be dazzled. It's still one of the most absorbing in the series. To the point where you'll be sad to leave when the whole thing is over. The game is also backed up by a fantastic new translation that out does the original and makes the world of Ivalice come alive. The translation alone may actually warrant Final Fantasy Tactics The War of the Lions worth a buy even for those who played through the original game.
  
  It's the gameplay that makes Final Fantasy Tactics a treat, though. Thanks to the job system, customization is nearly endless. Before each battle you can assign jobs to your characters. Each job has specific traits about them and can greatly affect how you perform in battle. Mages have devastating magic abilities while Knights are strong physical attackers. They also bring their own unique abilities to the table. Because there are so many job classes to choose from, there's a lot of experimentation you can do. As you master abilities you'll also be able to mix and match. You could have a Squire casting white magic, for example provided you've learned some of the white magic abilities.
  
  As battles progress you gain experience. You pretty much gain experience after each and every turn, which is nice. Not only do you gain experience but you also gain job points to help you master the abilities in your job class. It's pretty simple stuff and you'll be surprised at just how fast you can learn abilities here.
  
  Final Fantasy Tactics provides its own challenges, though. Not all your enemies are taken down easily, and if you don't take advantage of the opportunities to improve your characters abilities you'll be overwhelmed before you know it. When they say Final Fantasy Tactics, they're not kidding. Sometimes little simple mishaps in your strategy can cost you a battle. Not only that, but even doing things such as casting spells you must be careful with because if any of your characters are in range, they'll be struck by that spell. You also have to be quick about reviving characters otherwise you lose them forever. If your first plunge into Final Fantasy Tactics was with the GBA version released in 2003 you'll be in for a rude awakening.
  
  There is also a multiplayer thrown in there. You can work with a friend or battle friends. First there are melee battles where you can battle up against friends and then there's the Rendezvous Battles where you'll team up with a friend. These let you get some rare and hard to find items that are otherwise unable to be obtained.
  
  While Final Fantasy Tactics is a great game, it certainly doesn't do as much in the technical department as it does in the gameplay. The game itself doesn't really look any different from the game released ten years ago. There's little, if any, enhancement to the graphics at all. For the pleasure of story, however, there are some pretty cool cutscenes thrown in that are incredible looking. These cutscenes are truly artistic and in depth. While those cutscenes are beautiful, it's a shame Square-Enix did little to update the games other visuals. Despite the cool cutscenes, though, there are some slow down issues in battle.
  
  Music wise, though, Final Fantasy Tactics easily has some of the best music in the series. It's still memorable to hear and can still give many video game soundtracks a run for their money. While the voice acting isn't as good as other video games, they add a lot of depth to the cutscenes.
  
  Surprisingly, there are quite a few differences outside of the translation to Final Fantasy Tactics The War of the Lions. New characters such as Balthier appear. There are new missions exclusive to the PSP version as well as the multiplayer aspect of the game. While there aren't a huge assortment of new items and abilities, you'll find War of the Lions takes a much longer time to master than the original.
  
  Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions is a great re-release of a great classic. While it's still a good game a bit more could've been done to update it. The technical issues will probably annoy some fans, but for the most part you're getting a good game. Even if you have the original, this one is worth a look.
  
  Pros:
  
  +A fantastic storyline
  +Beautiful soundtrack
  +New job classes
  +Good cutscenes
  +Addictive gameplay
  +Tons of customization
  +The New Translation is far better than the original, making even the experience of the story completely different for those who went through before. This alone makes the game worth a purchase for those who already went through it and enjoyed it once before
  
  Cons:
  
  -Will be difficult for newcomers
  -Some technical issues with the graphics and sound
  -Not much of a graphical update at all, it looks just like the original Playstation version
  
  

• Remake of a PS1 Classic

  
  By A3V6Z4RCDGRC44 on 2008-01-19
  This review was written by my son, James Shea
  
  A remake of the hit game for the PS1, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions updates many of the little pieces of the original game in addition to carrying the game over to the Playstation Portable platform. It has been 10 years since the original's release; now the update brings it to a new generation.
  
  As a refresher for those unfamiliar with the original game, Final Fantasy Tactics is a turn-based tactical game using many of the abilities and classes made familiar in the Final Fantasy series of games. The story takes place in the kingdom of Ivalice, where civil war has erupted following a great war against foreign enemies and the death of the old king. The main character, Ramza, must navigate these mazes of treachery and deceit to discover the true secret of the ancient prophecies that govern the kingdom.
  
  The English translation to the original was notoriously bad, with such lines as "I got a good feeling!" and "Bracelet" used instead of "Breath" (as in, a Dragon's breath). The main thing done by the remake was the rewriting/retranslating of almost the entire script to be much more period-appropriate. For the most part this is a good thing, matching the epic, elegant scale of the story, though certain fan-favorite lines were lost ("Don't blame us! Blame yourself or God!" and "Surrender, or die in obscurity!" being two of those). Many names were also changed; besides the re-familiarization of characters (for fans who got used to the old names), the only other problem is the abundance of "th" sounds to replace "s" sounds ("Algus" becomes "Argath", like how "Aeris" from Final Fantasy 7 became "Aerith" in later games).
  
  In certain scenes, illustrated cinematics were used to replace the game-engine cutscenes or CG cutscenes used in the old versions. These cinematics have a distinct art style and coloring scheme and are very well done. These scenes also have voice acting, which is done with English accents similar to much of Final Fantasy XII. Several new scenes are also inserted to either add backstory to the game or to establish a new character. On that note, two new characters from other Final Fantasy games are recruitable through the story (much like Cloud from FF7 was and still is): Balthier from FFXII and Luso from the upcoming FFT Advance 2. Two new classes are also obtainable for regular (IE non-unique) characters. Onion Knight is gained by gaining levels in the two basic classes (chemist and squire) while, on the other end, Dark Knight is gained by gaining a high level of classes in many specialized classes.
  
  The War of the Lions also adds a multiplayer mode, accessible through ad-hoc wireless (the PSPs must be within range of each other; no online mode is available). Through this, two players can either fight head-to-head or work cooperatively on unique missions. Characters do not die permanently in this mode, but there are treasures that can be gained from it, including some unique equipment. While it isn't as developed as it could be, its addition is certainly welcomed.
  
  Graphically, the game is the same. While the older sprites might seem dated, the smaller screen means that they seem more artistic than pixelated. The only troubling spot is major slowdown when spells are cast or abilities are used; this problem is recurring and noticeable, but such is only to be expected with the transition between systems.
  
  Final Fantasy Tactics is still acclaimed as one of the best games of all time. With this remake, there were a lot of worries that the original formula would be watered down. Fortunately, this is definitely not the case; the additions are almost entirely good, and make for a much more serious, solid experience. This game has done a great service in many ways to this classic game, despite occasional troubles.
  
  Rating: 9/10.
  
  
  

• Good, but could have been better

  
  By A32ONSJBNUW3OJ on 2007-10-10
  Final Fantasy Tactics for the original PlayStation was one of my favorite games of all time, so I was looking forward to playing this game.
  
  Only being two hours into the game, I have not reached any of the new content, and I have not tried the multiplayer yet, so I cannot comment on those aspects of the game.
  
  The reanimated cut scenes are gorgeous. However, not all cutscenes were animated, and only being in chapter one, I've only seen one, which is when Ovelia is abducted by Delita. The other scenes so far have been with the in-game sprites. The voice acting is a nice touch to the animated scenes. The new translations give the speech in the game a similar feel to FFXII, which works considering the setting. Gameplay works exactly as it did in the original, which is part of the reason I love the game. If you are not into grinding levels, this game won't be for you. On tip though, the glitch in the original that allows for quick mastering of certain job classes is gone. Looks like he have to be honest men and women from now on. No big deal though.
  
  The two big issues I have with the game are technical in nature. The game expierences slow down any time there is a special effect of sorts curing battles. This occurs during spell animations, mainly, but I've experienced it even using things like "Throw Stone" and items, and even during monster attacks. The sound effects during the battles and the cut scenes that use sprites leave a lot to be desired as well. The sound of wind blowing is particularly horrific.
  
  One more thing to note is just that you may have to get used to new names of abilities. It's nothing big, but every one in a while I check to make sure that it's the same ability it used to be. No big deal.
  
  The game still looks great. Some may find it a little dated, but I think because it's on the PSP, it's not that big of a deal. The music is still excellent, although it doesn't sound re-mixed or re-arranged to me, which would have been a nice touch
  
  Overall, it's a good game that improves on the original, but I would have been willing to wait longer to have some of the technical issues ironed out.
  
  

• 5 star game, except the technical glitches.

  
  By A1VJ6N5YWBDBWW on 2007-10-12
  This game is very well known, there isn't a need to go into all the great aspects of this game. Really happy that it's released 1 week ahead of schedule. But if this early release caused this technical glitch, rather waited.
  
  There is a very noticeable slowdown anytime there is animation in the battles. Such as perfoming magic, using a skill, or even using an item. This is really bothersome, being that a PSP is as powerful as a PS2, this should not have happened.
  
  Other than this, the game is perfect, but seriously, this slowdown is not bearable. Now have to buy the new PSP2000 that supposedly have more memory to reduces load time and slowdown to play this. Maybe it's intentional?
  
  
• A True Masterpeice
  By A11Y85T52M5T4R on 2007-10-10
  I can't begin to count how many reviews have come out for this game comparing it to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (here on "FFTA") I wish they wouldn't do that. This is very much the original game with some key improvements. While I, like many would very much like to see a sequel to this game a well done remake is just as good. With 2 added characters, Classes (Jobs), Multiplayer, smoothed over graphics, smoother game play and updated script and wording to truly resemble a very "Feudal Age England" Square Enix has truly turned a legend into a Classic. Many complain that some of the more forgivable features of FFTA (changing Equipment and Jobs pre battle as opposed to preparing before landing on a battle area & the ability to redo a move should it be a mistake.) Quite a few Tactical RPG's support as unforgiving a Battle System as the Original Final Fantasy Tactics. Although I would have enjoyed some new content and a bit more in the area of side quests I do love the fact that the PSP now has a shinning title that will perhaps give it a much needed boost to attract in even more exceptional games.
  
  
• Great for those who missed it the first time
  By A3WIOO9L0DNGZ on 2008-03-21
  Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is a remake of the original Final Fantasy Tactics for the PS1. The original was perhaps the most popular turn-based tactical RPG ever made, and this newest version remains true to the original.
  
  Not much, in terms of plot, has changed in the remake. The new translation is far better than the often laughable Engrish of the original, and some names have been changed to make the game fit better into the more fleshed out Ivalice of Final Fantasy XII. This doesn't change the story, but makes it easier to understand and far more enjoyable to witness.
  
  Graphically, the game is a bit of a mixed bag. The original PS1 graphics remain, and they haven't aged very well. Characters and monsters are depicted by the now familiar Square-Enix superdeformed sprites. The maps are pseudo-3D. They can be rotated so the player can see around obstacles, but they're not exactly stunning to behold. On the flipside, the new cutscenes are absolutely gorgeous. They're fully animated, and very fluid, but retain an almost parchment-like quality to them. The style mimics the official art very closely, and helps to bridge the gap between the art and the sprites.
  
  The audio, again, is a mixed bag. Some of the music is beautiful, but there are a few annoying tunes thrown in, which quickly becomes a problem as the track repeats itself for the nth time while you're grinding for experience and job points. The sound effects are pretty standard. The voice acting, on the other hand, is superb. It's a shame that its limited to just the cutscenes.
  
  The gameplay is familiar to those experienced with the genre. Battles are fought on a square map. Obstacles - buildings, trees, lava...it all depends on where the battle is taking place - and monsters litter these battlegrounds. You control a squad of up to 5 characters. Each combatant - both the characters you control and the enemy NPCs - gets a turn, which allows them to move and/or perform an action. Most battles simply consist of defeating all enemies on the map or one particular enemy without getting the main character killed in the process.
  
  The tactical side of the game largely comes from which jobs your characters have mastered. Jobs are essentially character classes. You have the standards: warrior, healer, wizard, etc. There are other, more esoteric jobs, like mathematician and dancer. Every defeated enemy gives that character job points, which allows you to purchase an ability from a job, which grants that character permanent access to that ability. So, you can have a warrior capable of casting offensive magic if you purchase the right abilities. Access to jobs is predicated on which jobs that character already has access to, and what levels they have obtained with those jobs. The more useful or powerful the job you want to give your character, the more levels in pre-existing jobs they need. So, expect lots of grinding for both experience and job points, especially early on in the game.
  
  The last aspect of the gameplay I must mention is the steep learning curve. This game is not new player friendly. You'll die A LOT in this game, especially in the early stages. What's worse is that you'll die from creatures that are typically cannon fodder in other Square-Enix games. Trust me when I say that you'll learn to fear Chocobos. The game becomes much easier if you grind for abilities early on, but the beginning portion is hellish, especially during a first playthrough.
  
  All in all, The War of the Lions is a great remake. It's difficult, and parts of it haven't aged well, but it's definitely more than the sum of its parts. This version, given its portability and well-written (properly translated?) story, is perfect for those who missed it the first time.
  
  
• Nothing new to see here
  By AMY3OESU7ZX20 on 2007-10-11
  Everyone I know who is a fan of tactics is a true fanatic. We loved this game and want sequels in the series. This, is not a new game. It should be a "gold edition" or "10 year anniversary series" There are 2 new features between this and the original:
  Some animations
  Multiplayer capability
  This doesn't constitute a new game and a new title. Also as other reviewers have pointed out, the game runs slowly. I think Square Enix should take this off the shelf and create the sequel that fans really want.
  
  
• PSP Tactics!
  By A3C0WSRUOCD8IG on 2007-10-12
  Final Fantasy Tactics is a very fond name to many gamers (including me) and this port has been wonderfully re-translated
  beautiful all new added cut-scenes really bring this gem to life.
  2 new character classes *spoiler* Onion Knight and Dark Knight. Multiplayer and VS modes really make this the best tactics ever.
  
  many of the coolest unlockables being unlocked in multiplayer mode, you might be asking why would I play multiplayer? well several reasons, the new clases have a huge assortment of items ONLY unlockable in Multiplayer as well as several new character additions and finally the 2 new classes.
  
  the only part of the gameplay they didn't fix perfectly is the balance in battles the 3rd battle is harder then some of the boss stages but this is so minute a flaw it's hardly worth the mension. the only other slightly noticable flaw is a tad of slowdown during attack animations
  but otherwise this game is currently winning awards all over (game of the month PSM-9.5 score) and is better then it was before.
  truly amazing how well a game can be revamped into perfection unlike so many others. all the jobs in the job system are back and all the customization on characters you could ever want make this the stratagy rpg to own this year!
  
  Graphics: old school New cutscenes etc 5.0 stars its a gem and wouldn't have been the same too overhauled.
  
  Sound: its Final Fantasy do they EVER scrimp on the sound? 5 stars!
  
  overall: with added classes, characters, enemies, multiplayer modes and more this is the final fantasy to own. 5 Stars!
  
  buy it here:
  Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
  
  
• Best game for the PSP!
  By ASQZKH5OVS0UD on 2007-10-15
  This game is without a doubt the best game on the PSP.
  I was a huge fan of the original Final Fantasy Tactics on the PSP and this new version is able to improve on almost every thing that was in the original.
  Even though most all of the script was changed from the original, it is still very, very well done. Granted, this may mean we lose classic quotes from the original such as "Blame yourself, or blame God." but overall, that's fine. The script is much more refined and all of the translation issues have been fixed.
  The voice cast is very well done, starring Phil LaMarr as Ramza. The voices picked for the characters were exactly what I had pictured their voices to be.
  The only minor thing wrong with the game is the slowdown experienced when characters and NPCs perform special attacks. While this may seem very obvious at first, after playing the game for 15 hours, the slowdown doesn't bother me at all. It is an issue that was big on the Japanese release and was supposed to be fixed for the American release, but sadly wasn't. Yes, it is an issue, but a very tiny issue that the user will become accustomed to after playing the game for a while. It isn't enough of an issue to warrant lowering the score of the game.
  With the addition of new hidden characters, new missions, animated cutscenes, fixed script, and everything else new, this is a must buy game for the PSP. I've beaten the original version 5 or 6 times, at around 80 hours each time. I anticipate this version to be the same way.
  Highly addictive and well-written storyline and the replayability factor are top notch. Kudos to Square-Enix!
  
  
• My addiction
  By A2X3M0AKH6ZM54 on 2007-10-22
  Coincidentally, I had just dug up my old PS version of FFT to replay, when I discovered that it was going to be re-released on PSP. This was my first tactics game, which led me to try others, but FFT by far surpassed them all. So I blew the dust off my PSP. Yes, the PSP version is the same game (shouldn't have been a surprise to anyone: read the title), but the additional scenes and updated translation are well worth it. The plot and even particular conversations make more sense, and the Renaissance-like dialogue really enhances the aesthetics. I recall putting in 100+ hours (the clock only went up to 99) on the original, and I expect I'll be doing it again.
  
  
• Buy it!
  By A19B1S28ITZBX on 2007-11-16
  If you like Final Fantasy, this game is your reason to buy a PSP! This game is a well-polished port of FFT for the original playstation. Some will say the graphics on the PSP version look better and I agree with them. Others may complain about the occasional wait time when doing something "cool" like casting a spell or putting the smackdown on a monster but I disagree with them. While there may be a second or two of wait while things load here and there... it doesn't detract from the game itself. While Nintendo's DS games show that simple can be fun, Sony's games such as this show that amazing graphics, great sound and a good storyline are even more fun. If you're into RPGs, buy this! You won't be dissapointed.
  
  
• Wow, not usually a strategy RPG player...
  By AMKKS5NCN7W8I on 2007-11-18
  I'm not usually a strategy RPG player (or an FF player at that), but this game has got me hooked. I bought it last week and I've already sunk 30 hours into it. The gameplay is amazingly complex, and completely revitalizes the 1997 FFT game. The cutscenes are wonderful also.
  
  Definitely grab it if you're interested. People hype up Jeane d'Arc and Disagea, but this game is where it's at.
  
  
• If you don't have this game, you should seriously rethink your life.
  By AWETPLAE2ZCPH on 2007-11-20
  Let's see, you just picked up War of the Lions, excited, because you love tactic-based RPGs. What you got was the best tactical RPG port of all time, full with new jobs, and improved graphics, storylines, depth, and basically everything.
  
  Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions is the best role-playing game on the PSP. It has everything you could ask for a tactical RPG. First off, you have over twenty jobs to unlock and choose from. This increases the depth tenfold, even if you beat the game, you probably have many jobs to master completely, which is a joy for the replay value. The battle system is well thought out, with hardly any bugs. The camera starts out awkward, but you can move it, so problem solved. It plays out like an average tactical RPG, full with spells, normal attack, the "wait" option, as well as support, reaction, and passive abilities, to add even more depth to certain characters. You can do this to any character, which immerses you in the world quickly, and joyfully.
  
  The graphics have solid sprites, great attacks, and most of all, cel-shaded cut-scenes. It truly looks like the game is alive, and the story-telling is now truly mastered. Also, you can replay them, as well as other, normal game-based cut-scenes, which is a great feature. Although, the graphics suffer a lot in this game. Every magic attack suffers a slowdown, which is annoying. The sound works properly, but it finishes before the attack, because the attack is slowed down, which practically kills the enjoyability of the attacks. To be honest, I usually play with the sound off, but it's still nice to listen too. Speaking of sound, let's talk about sound. The soundtrack is wonderful, the voices for the cut-scenes well matched, and not to mention, the attack sounds are perfect. Although, some sounds in the normal game-based cut-scenes are a bit dinky and bland, but otherwise it's alright.
  
  Let's talk about the story. It is set in a very medieval setting, it has the divided kingdom, lords, dukes, and most of all, the church, which is, as you might guess: Corrupt. Of course, everyone talks in the "ye olde speake". Some of the translating went haywire, so we end up with some spoony bards. If anyone knows what "spoony" means, please don't hesitate to tell me. But enough of that. This game is full of switching sides, corrupt dukes, backstabbing, and many more believable situations in the times of ye olde speake. Ye verrily.
  
  The depth of this game is great. Many jobs are included, as well as the new introduction of the Onion and Dark Knight, both very powerful and challenging to get. There are new missions, as well as "errands" where you dispatch three members of your party to gain job points, gil and as well as ancient artefacts. It's nifty, to say the least. Also, the re-playability is fantastic. The job classes are good to try out new things, as well as the story-line is worth re-watching again. And maybe again. And most of all, four slave slots. Yes, four. It's what many of us like to call "awesome".
  
  Overall:
  
  Graphics- 8.5
  Solid sprites, great looking attacks, backed up by the cut-scenes. Although, it suffers from frequent slowdown.
  
  Sound- 9.0
  Some sounds are a bit dinky, but everything sounds wonderful from attacks to voices.
  
  Gameplay- 10
  New missions, new multiplayer, new jobs, new errans, and more artefacts, once again, story-line is backed up by the cut-scenes.
  
  Lasting Appeal - 10
  Overall, more content, which means more time. With this you'll have a great time, and you'll have it many times, for this is all backed up with four save slots.
  
  This is my favorite game for the PSP, and I can say one thing, it'll be staying in my PSP for a while.
  
  
• Great Remake with One flaw
  By A1N68YDY11R52G on 2008-06-01
  I played the PS1 version of this game years ago and it is what got me into the whole SRPG (Strategy Role Playing Game) genre. This game is more or less a straight port of the original game, with a multi player mode, remastered cut-scenes, a few extra characters and classes, and a new script.
  First the Good:
  The cut-scenes are awesome. In the original version of the game their is one cut-scene in the beginning (maybe one towards the end, I never finished the game). It is nice to see new videos. Second there were some problems with the translations in the first game, and this fixed it. It is also cool to see some extra special characters plus and addition of new classes. One of the stronger points of this game for me was the in depth class system, and the new classes are cool.
  
  Now the Bad:
  Personally, I prefer ed the old script because it read easier. The new script is much more formal, reads more like Shakespeare, which is great for plays but personally I find not the greatest for video games. And the biggest flaw with this game is the spells. I did play this on the 1000PSP model, but I don't imagine it being any different with the slim. The spells/special skill move PAINFULLY slow. Now for those of you new to the SRPG, you have a number of charters on a map (normally a grid) whom you move and attack. All of the attacks have certain area in which they can effect. This genre generally consists of very many maps that can take lots of time to complete. The problem with this game is that on top of an already slow genre, it is even slower. It almost seems as though the PSP has trouble rendering the skills/spells. This makes the game painfully slow. I couldn't even make it through the first chapter of the game. Honestly, I would find the PSone version of the game.
  
  
• This remake makes me sad.
  By A3KH3DP66FW8WO on 2008-07-16
  Imagine if everything you wanted to do took 4 times longer than it should take. That's what playing this game is like. All of the special animations slow down to a crawl, and you're left wondering why you paid $40 for a game that came out 8 years ago, but has LESS SPEED. The new dialogue is repulsive, the slow-down is unreal and unbearable, and the new classes are positively worthless in single-player mode (the dark knight requires mastering 2 jobs and getting job level 8 in 4 others! you'd finish the game before you got half of that done).
  
  This is by far the worst remake of a Final Fantasy game I've ever played in my life, and that's saying a lot, because Final Fantasy Tactics is one of my all-time favorite games. So good, in fact, that I can't even bear to give this remake 1 star. If you want to play this game, find the original. Avoid this remake at all costs.
  
  
• A lot of excitement with a little disappointment
  By on 2008-01-16
  When first hearing and reading about Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions I was ecstatic. I purchased it as soon as I could for my PSP and was slightly disappointed when I realized it was exactly the same as my Playstation game, Final Fantasy Tactics. The only difference this game has is the change in names of some characters, the dialogue is all new and worded differently as if it were out of Medieval England or some such depiction of the Medieval era, and the new cut scenes are great with an incredible animation style but alas the lines are a little cheesy.
  
  If you love Final Fantasy Tactics this is a great way to make it portable. Just note, there are differences in names, what classes are called, and how they speak. Took a little getting used to but the game is still a lot of fun.
  
  
• Classic Final Fantasy With a Strategic Twist
  By A2HZ1CSWXDMFCU on 2008-08-14
  Summary:If you've liked the GBA or DS Versions of Final Fantasy Tactics, you won't be disappointed by War of the Lions. It's an almost direct port from the PSX version, but it doesn't disappoint. It can be a bit slow paced at times, but a complex and deep storyline filled with beautiful hand drawn cutscenes makes this a pretty emotional game.
  
  Gameplay- Five Stars
  Confusing at first, after the first hour, things will quickly sort themselves out. Every time you successfully perform an action, your characters will get both EXP (experience) and JP (Job Points, not Judge Points). EXP is obviously used for leveling up, while JP are used for advancing classes. Classes are the set of abilities that a character can use, i.e. the "White Mage" class allows a character to use White Mage JP to access stronger and stronger White Mage spells, such as Curaja or Holy. You can change the camera angles to get a better look at the battlefield or to plan your next move. I'll admit, sometimes waiting for the CPU to move was a bit boring, but you have to pay attention or else you'll find yourself losing people left and right. Gameplay can be frustrating when you lose a character. When someone in your party loses all of their hit points, then a three turn timer is activated; when it reaches 0, your character is lost forever, and a jewel or chest takes its place.
  
  Story- Five Stars
  The story is rather complex. I won't reveal it, but it's a classic theme: save the world. Hand drawn cutscenes add to the story. It's a deeply emotional game, and there is no happy ending. You follow Ramza in dark times as he defeats revived legendary monsters, kept in stones known only as the Zodiac Stones.
  
  Online Play - Two Stars
  You can play with a buddy if they happen to own a copy of the game, and go on cooperative missions together, or battle each other. There is no infrastructure mode included, but there is a means of obtaining it is you really want to play other people. You don't honestly expect an infrastructure mode for a decade old game, do you?
  
  Final Verdict- Five Stars
  This game really is epic, and is a perfect port from the Playstation One. If I could only own five games for the PSP, this would be one of them. There is almost unlimited replay value.
  
  
• A classic revisited
  By A2B40ERM3QI6E on 2007-10-11
  So, right off the bat, I must say, that Final Fantasy Tactics for PSX is my favorite game of all times. So I hope you understand that this review is quite biased, but, with good measure, I should hope.
  
  First off, the bad news: It's true, theres a significant slowdown during battles only, when casting spells (protect takes forever, for example) and special attacks. The sounds and the actions might be out of synch at times as well. Also, there's new content, so far, most of it has had to do with Delita's own story. These scenes feel weird: they do explain thoroughly several plot points that weren't explained in the game's first iteration, but they feel a little bit tacked on to me....still, they serve their purpose, to further Delita and Ovelia's relationship, which is an important plot point that was glossed over the first time. Also, some sounds have been changed, most noticeably, the echo in the death rattles was taken out, and, it's not that it sounds cheap...but it doesn't sound as cool anymore. Some sounds HAVE been downgraded, like some higher level magic spells. All in all, I don't understand that tradeoff in particular.
  
  The good - very interesting re-write of all the dialogue in the game. It was given the Ivalice-treatment, and characters now have a Shakesperian depth...just by reading them, you know what their station in life is, whether it be noble or not so. Also, the re-write made some of the plot points way clearer than the first time around. The incredibly intricate plot got a new lease on life, really. It makes me wonder what if they re-made Vagrant Story... I digress. So, the animated cut-scenes are beautiful, and the voice acting is great (not superb, but very good). And some people have complained about the fuzzy graphics. Honestly, I see the same pixelated isometric 2 1/2 D graphics I saw back in '98.
  
  The neutral- so, the gameplay is the same: if you've never played it, it might take a while to get a hang of it. The gameplay is quite daunting for even regular gamers, and some people haven't even played it because they could never get a hang of it. Moreover, once you do get the hang of it, it takes a while to truly master it. Theres two new classes: Onion Knight and Dark Knight. The Dark Knight is a pain to get and is totally worth it; the Onion Knight might be worth it later on...there's also a multi-player feature which I haven't tried out yet, sadly.
  
  Odd observation, this time around, the odds favor enemies a lot more often...for example, I once cast Haste on myself, with a 97% chance of success. Good as done right? Wrong. The spell missed. And that's just one example. I've been missing enemies with sure shots all the time, like 85% success rate. And yet, long shots, like 35% hits, happen more often this time around as well. The AI, I feel, is way more goal oriented this time around: enemies will try flanking you or will prefer causing status changes instead of hitting you directly. The archer, which sucked the first time around, is quite useful now, on both sides.
  
  All in all, this is a great game, perhaps a bit pricey, considering that Jeanne d'Arc, another great SRPG is out for 10 dollars less. Obviously, two very different games, and, honestly, get both. If you can only get one, get this one. I'm gonna be playing this one for a while. Again.
  
  
• FFT, For the handheld generation.
  By ADXUFXVZSWH6J on 2007-11-03
  I've only played through the first few battles so far, but having beaten the PS1 game countless times, I've seen enough to notice a few differences. Overall, game play is exactly how i remember it, enjoyable, easy to understand, and just plain fun.
  
  One thing about the abilities though: i did notice a slight slowdown in animation while some spells took effect, not enough to deter me from playing, but maybe 1 fps, so no big deal there. Some sounds have been taken off the ends of spells too, (ie. no *shing* with the spellsword abilities when the sword rises from the ground) but as far as i can tell, both sound and visuals are in sync. I'm playing on a psp 2001 model, so maybe the other reviews were on the psp 1000?
  
  The translation is also slightly different, in a good way though. Much more 'accurate' to how one would expect people from an era of castles and knights to speak. Its a nice touch.
  
  I only gave it a 4/5 because of the minor animation slowdown and the fact that since I'm used to the normal screen presentation, the wide presentation does look a slight bit fuzzy. Other than that, I can't wait to get into the core story. Highly recommended for anyone who likes the FF series or strategy type games.
  
  
• Amazing Game, Yesterday and Today
  By A2EMEQIZ071CAU on 2007-11-04
  This is an absolutely incredible game!! If you are a little older, you can enjoy it... once you understand it that is... And there's the catch... it can be a little confusing at first... thankfully... they provide a HUGE tutorial section for you to use.... and that helps A LOT! Graphically, this is truly impressive... they have fully voice acted cut-scenes, and the entire game looks amazing! It was good back in the first one... and it's good now! You won't be let down if you buy this game!
  
  
• I might be a lion
  By A23CL2TXNWBKRP on 2007-11-14
  Who amongst Final Fantasy fans DID NOT love Tactics? I know I loved it. And now I can love it more because I can take it with me everywhere I go! The gameplay is intact, the story is still intriguing and deeply satisfying, and the localization has been greatly improved with more thought put into the translations (though even the original translation has its place in your heart).
  
  If you're new to Final Fantasy don't worry, little n00blet, I'm here for you. Tactics uses a turn-based, grid-mapped style of play where you move your char a number of spaces, select an action, then watch it unfold. Simple, yes? The story involves a lot of plotting, betrayal, deception, a cameo by Cloud and Tifa (mmm... Tifa), and CHOCOBOS!! Everybody loves chocobos (I hear they taste like chicken).
  
  
• Playstation to PSP
  By A1AOUMPM23BY5A on 2007-11-24
  Great game... loved it on the playstation (thats right not the ps1) This time around you get the cinematic in a much better way than what the playstation was capable of. The only down side I see is you still have to read the conversations between characters during the game. The other trouble I have is unlike the other final fantasy games where you can just level up beyond your enemies and pound them to little puddles of mush you have to be strategic in your attacks because the baddies keep pace with your level, that and the non-player members of your team always charge out there and get swatted down instead of staying with the group and supporting each other.
  
  
• i am not much for writing reviews...
  By A2SAAYZEW1UVD9 on 2007-12-11
  but, i thouroughly enjoy this game. i have the original for playstation and it has been far too long since i have played it, but i guess i don't really need to now that i am playing this game like crazy. i am only in chapter two, after about 30 hours of gameplay but that is because i am spending way too much time leveling up my characters and teaching them abilities.
  many people find a delay in spellcasting to be annoying, but i haven't really noticed it. i am not saying that it isn't there, but i don't find it to be a big deal in turn-based battle alltogether.
  the new cutscenes look great, and are pretty awesome.
  the only issue i have with this game, is that i don't have anyone with which to wi-fi with right now. i guess the only way to get weapons for the new jobclasses is to do missions with a friend (who has a copy of this game too), so i will have to wait until i get back to the states to do those missions with the only other person i know to have a copy of this game. either that, or randomly encounter another, here in iraq.
  overall, great game, great fun, good times. i took a star off of the overall because of my aforementioned problem with wi-fi.
  
  
• Best Game so far in PSP gaming History
  By A3861MXB9Z715F on 2007-12-17
  This game is pretty cool. Although you may not be stunned by the graphics, the storyline and content will make you addicted. This game is the best one in all of PSP gaming history so far...
  
  
• Excellent remake from a excellent game
  By AV2DHOQWCL4FB on 2007-12-31
  For a remake its good to know that you will get surprises from the new story added and the cinemas making me play the game again, but the slowdown from spells is a little dissapointing, the price the have to pay for a big game in a small system
  
  
• A must for RPG fans!
  By A1GZ19Z8AR5CCT on 2008-01-21
  I first played this game back in '97 when it came out. I was really happy to see this come to PSP(it was the reason I bought it)
  
  It's a strategy RPG, that has a really good story, insanely addictive game play, and almost endless customization. I was hoping the PSP port wouldn't dissapoint, and it sure didn't.
  
  They added quite a bit to this version, including new characters, battlefields, job classes, and even multi-player. You can now battle with friends to see who has the best team, or just team up to take down some pretty intense missions.
  
  PROs:
  - Great story, characters, and the graphics hold up.
  - New CG's that add to the story.
  - A new translation to try and clear up any vague details from the PSX version.
  - New Multi-Player is a lot of fun.
  
  CONs:
  - A little lag sometimes on certain moves only. This isn't very noticeable though in my opinion. Compared to the PSX version it's nothing big.
  
  All in all, this is reason enough to own a PSP. If you liked the original or are just a big RPG fan I'd definitely recommend this.
  
  
• One of the best FF
  By A2PFY6KIRX2KA on 2008-01-29
  It is one of the best Final Fantasy games out there.
  The PSX version was very good, but with all that they added for the PSP it got even better.
  
  Two new jobs, more missions and really good animated cinematics (in my opinion, that is the best part).
  
  Really a must have.
  
  
• fans of the original beware
  By A2LPK8AEJ83RCU on 2008-01-29
  ok some of u might stumble apon this and think due to the non proper punc. that im lazy well yes. however i can honestly say i do not think any one else has totally been this crazy about the original ps1 game as i.
  that being said i am completely blank blank off by the new translated version. this is close to blasphemy personally. played at least 20 times thru and mastered all. dont know if any old schoolers notice the missing god element at the intro what the f.... way to seriously go square/pants.
  
  
• A New View for an Old Game
  By A3CTCU9851P0R on 2008-02-18
  When I first purchased this game I thought it would be a whole new adventure set in Ivalice after we all saw Ramza kick the bucket. However this game is exactly like the origional Final Fantasy Tactics with some changes. The changes are as follows: Some characters have different names, some locations have different names, and everyone speaks as if they are part of some poorly written old english stage performance. The dialogue is not all that bad, just how it went from english to whatever it is now was kind of funky to get used to. The cinematics are great, I love how they are drawn but the dialogue is lacking. All the lines are cheesy at best but the visuals are good. All in all, if you loved FFT, then you will love this game, just be prepared for some changes.
  
  

• PSP 2000 Console - Piano Black
• FINAL FANTASY Tactics: The War of the Lions Official Strategy Guide (Official Strategy Guides (Bradygames))
• PSP Daxter Entertainment Pack - Ice Silver
• Final Fantasy
• Final Fantasy II