Hey, I'm going to the mall this weekend to buy a copy of Final Fantasy Tactics which I now know (didn't know before) is based on in Ivalice which was good news to me since I'm a big fan of XII.

I've visited the official Tactics site and got some info about the character and races but I'm not sure if it's like XII or not.

I was wondering if anybody could update me on the gameplay, characters, and on which Ivalice is the same as on XII?

I'd appreciate it :)

Get a GBA Emulator and a Tactics Advance ROM and play that first. If you like it, Buy Tactics.

Okay thanks I'll try that

Get a GBA Emulator and a Tactics Advance ROM and play that first. If you like it, Buy Tactics.

what? tactics for the PS1 was amazing. you dont need to play that wank version tactics advance.

War of the Lions will be a game you will love, guranteed. Its one of those game you just have to play.

Tru Dat

I was wondering if anybody could update me on the gameplay, characters


Well it's a turn-based rpg but you probably already knew that so all I can really say is you can get balthier in your party.

play tactics ogre instead

Final Fantasy Tactics is made by the Yasumi Matsuno led team, which made five games...

Ogre Battle(Snes, remade for Saturn/PS 1)
Tactics Ogre(Snes, remade for Saturn/PS 1)
Final Fantasy Tactics(PS 1, remade for PSP)
Vagrant Story(PS 1)
Final Fantasy XII(PS 2, got an updated version for Japan PS 2 also)

If you want to see what FF Tactics is like, I recommend three games which are extremely similar, maybe the most similar tactical rpg's out there? ...

Tactics Ogre(Snes, remade for Saturn/PS 1)
-The Snes version only came out in Japan, and there is no English translation for the Rom. You can buy the PS 1 version in USA, not sure if the Saturn version came out in Usa

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance(Gameboy Advance)
-This has some of the same development team as FF Tactics. Try it!

-Final Fantasy Tactics A2(Nintendo DS out on June 22nd)
-This has nearly the same team as FF Tactics Advance, it's not out yet though. It's extremely similar to FF Tactics Advance, although those two are more similar to each other than to FF Tactics I believe.

I'd recommend Tactics Ogre first, then FF Tactics Advance, and later try FF Tactics A2 when it's out.

Also, here are the top tactical rpg's out in 2006, 2007, and 2008 already...
Disgaea 3(PS 2 8-29-2006)
-This game was pretty popular also, I haven't tried it though.
Jeanne D'Arc(PSP 8-21-2007)
-This is a Level-5 made game, it was given high ratings by users and critics but I don't think the sales were high, nevertheless tons of people on this forum and eyesonff.com were playing it. Try it also.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions(PSP 10-9-2007)
-This game got high critical and user reviews and had the highest first week sales of any PSP game in the second half of last year I think. Tose ported the game from PS 1 to PSP under the supervision of Square Enix. Tose and Matrix Software do porting for Square Enix, research them. And buy this game right now!!! :)
Front Mission(DS 10-23-2007)
-This is Square Enix's other tactical rpg series, it's set in the future with huge customizable war machines called Wanzers that you command, it's military style, this game I gave 9/10!
Disgaea 1(PSP 10-30-2007)
-This is a remake of the popular first game, popular for PS 2, haven't tried it.
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn(Wii 11-6-2007)
-I haven't played this game but it was pretty great I here, I want to play it also.
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings(DS 11-20-2007)
-I don't call this a tactical rpg I call it a real-time strategy rpg, I gave it a 9.5/10! The only other rts rpg I know of is Heroes of Mana(which wasn't real great) for DS, whose team is making Blue Dragon Plus now.

...
Upcoming top tactical rpg's out this year that I know of...
Final Fantasy Tactics A2(DS 6-24-2008)
-Yea, buy this the day it comes out like me!
Disgaea 3(PS 3 probably 8-26-2008
-This game will be popular, try to rent it.

Edit, go here...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy_Tactics:_The_War_of_the_Lions
http://na.square-enix.com/fftactics/

Just play final fantasy tactics dude, wether its the PS1 version or War of the lions on PSP

Yeah don't play tactics advance it's really lame.

Yea I agree, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is so great of a game that I think that every rpg fan should rent it, even if they haven't tried tactical rpg's before. Go for it Ubernoob! :-)

Get a Wii/Brawl/MK Wii instead please

Yeah don't play tactics advance it's really lame.

as opposed to what: crystal chronicles? fft-advance made a fine sequel imho.

The original FF Tactics for the PS1 was on the of the best games on that system.

Play the original tactics for psx. It is better than the remake.