Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles isn’t just a remaster—it’s a pivotal moment for Square Enix and the tactical RPG genre. In a new interview, director Kazutoyo Maehiro and original scenario writer Yasumi Matsuno reflect on the legacy of Tactics, major script revisions, and how this re-release might signal a rebirth for strategy RPGs under the Final Fantasy name.
📜 A Tactical RPG That Still Matters
Originally released in 1997, Final Fantasy Tactics broke new ground by replacing hero-versus-villain tropes with class conflict, betrayal, and political tragedy. For Matsuno, the themes of inequality and freedom still hit today:
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“Ivalice is a world where basic human rights do not exist… What is true freedom? Even after 30 years, is this not still one of the important things that we truly desire?”
🎤 Full Voice Acting, Script Changes, and Classic Mode
The new release includes a fully voiced Enhanced mode with updated dialogue to better express emotion—written by Matsuno himself. Maehiro explains that the team didn’t just plug in voices; they restructured the script so it would sound natural when spoken aloud.
Meanwhile, Classic mode uses the War of the Lions script, but removes bonus characters like Balthier and Luso to preserve original game balance. The result is two distinct experiences—one updated, one faithful.
New Features in The Ivalice Chronicles:
- Fully voiced Enhanced mode with revised script
- Classic mode based on War of the Lions localization
- Scout camera + unit turn previews
- Mid-battle autosave + adjustable difficulty
- Fast-forward and refined UI elements
🧠 Ramza vs. Delita: The Game’s Heart
At its core, Final Fantasy Tactics tells the story of Ramza and Delita, childhood friends whose paths diverge. One loses everything to gain freedom, the other gains power but loses what he loves. Matsuno designed them to reflect different philosophies on success:
“Ramza attains true freedom. Delita gains everything, but loses what he truly wants.”
It’s a rare case of Final Fantasy stepping away from crystals and chosen heroes to instead explore the cost of ambition and the complexity of human motivation.
📈 A New Hope for Tactical RPGs
So what happens if The Ivalice Chronicles succeeds? Maehiro didn’t hold back in his response:
“If this title is successful, it will not only demonstrate interest from gamers, but also the viability of tactical games as a business.”
For fans hoping to see Square Enix invest in more strategy RPGs—this is the moment. A win for Ivalice is a signal for future projects.
Final Thoughts
The Ivalice Chronicles isn’t just for old fans—it’s for anyone curious about what Final Fantasy can look like when it’s bold, political, and deeply human. Whether you’re replaying it or discovering it for the first time, this is more than nostalgia. It’s a reawakening.
“Success does not necessarily equate to happiness. Ramza redefines happiness. Delita loses his.” – Yasumi Matsuno
