Summary
AlthoughSquare Enixhas produced titles innumerous video game genres, from their stellar JRPGs all the way to shepherding theTomb Raidersurvivor trilogy, theirstrategy and tactics gameshave been some of the best the industry has ever seen. With a stalwart RPG pedigree and a near flawless track record, Square has made quite a mark in this prolific genre.
Over the years, Square has shown that they aren’t just good at makingFinal FantasyorDragon Quest, as they’ve madesome other truly incredible games in the genre.From fantasy-based fare all the way to tales set in science fiction worlds, they’ve shown a great deal of variety in this fantastic genre of games.
First announced during a State of Play event in 2022,The Diofield Chronicleturned outto be lessFinal Fantasy Tacticsand moreXCOMmeetsLord of the Rings. By not using grid-based movement,The Diofield Chronicleis content with letting the player run around the battlefield, akin to something like a real-time strategy game.
While theDiabloorStarCraftinfluences may not be intentional, it certainly feels like these two mammoth game design philosophies were merged into one. Along with a deep skill tree, a fantastic soundtrack and some exceptional writing,The Diofield Chronicleis a great time for fans of the genre.
Front Missionhas seen something of a revival lately,as remakes of the firsttwo gameswere launched recently, along with an announcement of a remake for the third game as well. But inFront Mission 5: Scars of the War, Square showed just how capable they are in the genre and created one of the absolute best mech strategy RPGs ever made.
Like the previous entries,Front Mission 5sets the player off on a series of missions where they will need to organize and deploy their units. Thanks to the power of the then next-generation PlayStation 2,Front Mission 5unfolds in spectacular fashion with cinematic cameras and a cast of lovely characters.
Directed by Yatsumi Matsuno ofVagrant StoryandFinal Fantasy Tacticsfame,Tactics Ogrewas originally released on the original PlayStation in 1998. A few remasters and ports later, Square put out the ultimate version of this classicgame withTactics Ogre: Reborn. Like many of Matsuno’s titles, its reliance on deep strategy gameplay with a theatrical script is a home run.
Tactics Ogre: Rebornfeatures some absolutely fantastic battles, phenomenal music and amazing art direction.Rebornmade a lot of effort to re-orchestrate the music and filter out a lot of issues that previous versions had, resulting in one of the best strategy RPG experiences available on modern consoles.
The 90s were good forFinal Fantasy, as it saw the release of some of the series' most successful entries. One of the most outrageously popular of those releases wasFinal Fantasy Tactics,an incredible strategy RPG that not only proved thatFFcould be more than just a JRPG, but also gave birth to an entire spin-off franchiseknown as the Ivalice Alliance.
This expertly crafted strategy RPG feels amazing to play even to this day, as its remarkable mix of turn-based tactical gameplay with all theFinal Fantasytrappings is a mesmerizing experience. It’s been remastered several times, while a full-on remake has been rumored for some time now, but the original version of this classic game is still the best way to play and one of the finest strategy games that Square has ever produced.
First being used forOctopath Traveler, Square’sabsolutely gorgeous HD-2D art stylehas been responsible for some of their greatest titles recently. One of those titles wasTriangle Strategy, a turn-based tactics game influenced by the likes ofFinal Fantasy TacticsandTactics Ogre. Set in the world of Norzelia,Triangle Strategyexplores a complex world of political strife and war.
The script is incredibly strong, and the voice cast is magnificent, lending some genuine gravitas to these fabulous characters. Its world feels wonderful to explore as well, with the downtime between missions featuring some great interactions between party members. Once the missions are underway, Square’s confident hold over this type of game is evident, as the battles feel phenomenal. It’s Square Enix’s best effort in this genre in decades, and a wonderful example of one of the industry’s most fascinating game styles.
