Summary
The PS1 launched in 1994 in Japan and a year later in North America. The games were limited at launch, especially for RPG fans, and the art of the tactical RPG would not explode untilFinal Fantasy Tacticshit the West in 1998. It was a novel idea for a spinoff that took the famous Job system and laid out characters on a grid.
But is that game the very best tactical RPG the PS1 has to offer? What about the other PlayStation consoles and portables? What tactical RPG best represents each platform? From the PS1 to the PS5, let’s dive in and find out.
Final Fantasy Tacticsis without a doubt the best tactical RPG on the PS1, even though it did have a lot of good competition. It was the darkestFinal Fantasyto that point, offering players a look into the world of warring nobles and religions.
The grid-based battlefield was a leap beyondFinal Fantasy 7a year before, but the Job system made it a worthwhile engagement. It was hard beyond words, with some missions teetering on unfair, but players stuck with it to see the end again and again. At long last, console players will be able to relive the magic come September when the remaster,Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicle, will launch.
Disgaea: Hour of Darknessretooled the genre to make it unlike anything else out there. To this day, there’s still nothing like theDisgaeagames. Set in the underworld, this first game starred a young demon Prince, Laharl, who’s too green to rule, so a rebellion breaks out to see who will usurp the throne.
Players can recruit named characters as they progress through the story or craft from avariety of classic RPG classesfrom monks to mages. Players can access a court system to get cheats, dive into items to level them up through random dungeons, or stack characters on the grid to throw enemies and allies across the map. Until players engage with it, this may all sound like poppycock, but it flows well together given patience.
Jeanne d’Arcisa Level-5 RPGbased on the French and English War. Historical figures make an appearance, like the lead, Joan of Arc, but with a fantastical twist, as these kingdoms are inhabited by animal people too, and demons. It’s a classic grid-based battle system, but certain hero units can transform via objects of power into armor knights, similar to transformation sequences in shows likePower Rangers. In times like these, it’s interesting to think about what the real version of Joan of Arc would have thought about the game. Thanks to PS5 emulation, the game can be enjoyed on modern platforms with slightly enhanced visuals, but it will always be best on the PSP.
Valkyria Chronicles is also analternate history RPGalthough it’s framed around a World War 2-type incident in a fantastical version of Europe instead of being directly based on a country like France inJeanne d’Arc. Players start in a peaceful nation that gets roped into an ongoing war.
Two distinct things set this game apart from any tactical RPG of this era. The art design makes it look like a watercolor painting come to life, presented like a history book. Instead of moving on a grid, each character can freely move anywhere on the battlefield, within their energy limits, in real-time, and the game pauses once they start aiming. This adds to the chaos of war, making every conflict more harrowing than the last.
The PS Vita had an even less celebrated library than the PSP. There weren’t a lot of tactical RPGs in particular, but the one that stands out amidst a backlog of remasters and ports isGrand Kingdom. Players leada mercenary groupand can take on missions offline and online, getting rewards as time passes in real-time. On missions, players will move their chess-like pieces on a board and, once engaged in battle, combat will be displayed on a 2D playing field. Units can move and act on a designated path. While the game didn’t gain a large following, it remains a solid underrated gem just waiting to be discovered.
Most tactical RPG masterpieces come from Japan, butSteamWorld Heistis the one case wherein a Western developer outdid the East. Not only that, but it was from an indie team. Set in space, players command a group of robot pirates who engage in 2D battles on small ships.
Units can take cover and aim their shots to deal critical damage or ricochet bullets to do amazing trick shots. With the bite-sized nature of the missions,SteamWorld Heisteasily became an addiction beyond other entries in the series. The sequel, taking place around aquatic islands, is a fun tactical game too.
Vanillaware is awell-known presence to RPG fans, but their games have always been niche to a degree.Unicorn Overlordwas the first time they saw a bigger success in the Western market, and it stands to reason why. This was another case of tactical RPGs doing something different. Players can explore an open-world between missions to gather items or talk to NPCs. On missions, players can move their units in real time, similar to RTS games. When units engage in combat, they play automatically depending on how players posited each commander. So far, it is a must-play on any system beyond the PS5.
