ComicEarth

This year for Christmas I decided to buy myself Final Fantasy Tactics off of the PlayStation Network for $10 and play though this game again. While I got pretty far the first time I played the game, I never beat it when it was released on the original PlayStation way back in the day (January 1998). Still, I was very fond of this game and the job system that it used to customize my characters in ways that I could only dream later in Final Fantasy XI.

So now, having downloaded and installed the game on my PS3, I decided to transfer the game over to my PSP. More so, because I'll be traveling soon, and two I wanted to watch some TV and play the game at the same time, so this seemed like the best option. Transferring the game to the PSP was quick, easy, and painless and I was also able to transfer over my saved game to the PSP as well so I didn't lose any of my progress. After playing with the settings I was able to make the game Full Screen on the PSP and the game looks beautiful on that system. I then changed some of the controls to suite my liking and I was off. 

Even though, this game is eleven years old here in 2009, it stands up as an amazing game, and one that sadly hasn't been replicated to the best of it's ability. Now, I've played all the games in the Tactics series that have been released after this game on the Gameboy Advance and the Nintendo DS, but they don't even come close to the sheer awesomeness of the original. The story, the game play, and the job system all are top notch. 

What I am really enjoying currently is the Job System. The highlight of this system is that you are able to really customize your characters  to your liking. Case in point, you have five ability slots, two action slots (meaning abilities that your character can preform in battle), on reaction slot (active when triggered), one passive ability slot (always active), and one movement slot. In these slots you are able to put any ability from any job that you have unlocked and learned an ability from to work. So if you are a Knight, your first action slot is taken by default to your main job, but in your second you can set any ability that you have learned before from any other job. So for example, if you wanted your knight to also be able to use White Magic you can set that into your second ability slot and now you can use Knight abilities along with White Magic. But let's say you wanted to counter an enemies attack if you were attacked then, if you have unlocked Monk and learned counter you can set counter in your reaction slot and presto you can now counter. 

This adds a whole new level to how you level your characters and how they play. The best part of this system, is that each time your character preforms an action, using an item, attacking a monster, using an ability, curing an friend, they get EXP and JP (Job points) those job points are what is used to learn new abilities from that job. And you get to spend them however you want. You can use them on low level abilities, or grind some JP and use them on higher level abilities. And as you level jobs, you unlock new jobs, so you are always able to play with how your party is setup.

The jobs are listed as follows: (Information gathered from Wiki)

• Squire: Basic job for all warrior units, with the exception of the characters that possess a special class. Uses Basic Skills. Ramza has a special version of this job class which gives him additional Basic Skill actions to choose from (as well as notably better stats and the ability to equip certain items other squires cannot), as does Delita until he undergoes a class change later. Squires have very useful skills that can be used to quickly level JP (example: Accumulate, Gained JP Up).

• Knight: Fine warriors, bold and brave, with etiquette. Use Battle Skill, which allows the destruction of an opponent's weapons, armor, and stats. Their Equip Sword, Equip Shield and Equip Armor abilities allow you to equip your character with these items regardless of class.

• Archer: Archers use bows and crossbows and attacks from a distance. Aim allows strengthened attacks by delaying the shot for extra damage, and the Concentration skill increases hit rate.

• Monk: Monks are warriors who train their bodies in the ways of Punch Art. Their battle ability has numerous effects, such as striking from a distance or even reviving knocked out allies. They do not equip any weapons, but can deal considerable damage with their bare hands. The brawler ability allows for powerful attacks without weapons.

• Thief: Rogues who can steal anything from anyone -- Gil, items, even Experience Points. Use the Steal command to obtain items from enemies, and possess the Secret Hunt skill for Poaching.

• Geomancer: Warriors who use a different Elemental spell depending on what type of ground they are standing on.

• Lancer: Known elsewhere in the series as Dragoons, these warriors Jump high and attacks enemies despite heavy arms and weapons with extra damage. They are experts with spears. The drawback of the Lancer is that when choosing to Jump over an opponent, you can't access the number of turns it will take. Therefore, the enemy may be able to move out of the way. A major advantage, however, is that a Lancer is immune to attacks and spells while Jumping.

• Samurai: Foreign warriors who strengthen their soul by improving swordsmanship. Use the Draw Out skill to gain different effects from katanas in stock; however, this may cause the swords to break. Also have the ability to hold a single weapon with two hands, increasing its power greatly. Blade Grasp allows for the evasion of non-ranged physical attacks, making this a valuable job.

• Ninja: Combatants who hide as a means of fighting. Can Throw weapons at distant enemies (resulting in the loss of the weapon) and hold weapons in both hands, a skill that can be passed to other jobs. Considered one of the best classes in the game, they have superb speed, attack with a weapon equipped on each hand, and have a nice dodge rating.

• Dancer: Warriors who dances in battle in charming costumes, their Dance abilities affect all enemies. Only female units may become Dancers. Although they lack attack power, there are some very attractive skills that Dancers and Bards offer.

• Chemist: The basic job for all caster units, Chemists prescribe items to restore HP and treat abnormal status. They are the only unit who can administer items at a distance from the target, by means of their special skill, Throw Item.

• Priest: The Priest controls holy magic by borrowing the power of the soul. Often uses recuperative and support magic, i.e. White Magic. (White Mage)

• Wizard: The Wizard controls the elements which make up this world. Uses offensive magic, i.e. Black Magic. (Black Mage)

• Oracle: The Oracle has control over elements of life itself, through the manipulation of Yin and Yang, and is dominantly responsible for status-changing spells (Poison, Blind, etc.) This class is loosely based on the "Onmyōji". (Mystic)

• Time Mage: The Time Mage controls time and space, adding such status changes as Haste, Slow or Stop. This sorcerer toys with the laws of the universe with Time Magic.

• Mediator: Warrior who fights battles by talking to the enemy. Uses clever Talk Skill, affecting their stats and even enabling them to change sides. Also the only other unit able to normally equip guns, making them very valuable. (Orator)

• Summoner: Warrior who can call illusionary monsters, spirits of the highest rank, to deal massive damage to enemy units or restore health to friendlies. Uses Summon Magic, a special contract with the spirits. Most powerful caster class in the game. Unlike any other caster class, the Summons do not damage friendly units.

• Bard: Warrior who uses his voice as a weapon. Can Sing songs that protect allies. Male units only.

• Calculator: Scholarly warrior who creates phenomena through math. Uses Math Skill to target all units with known spells who meet his or her conditions with no casting time or MP cost. Can be extremely powerful if the right Math Skills are utilized. Hard to use, as there is a high risk of damaging friendly units or healing unfriendly units. (Arithmetician)

• Mime: Warrior who can Mimic others. When an ally takes action, he or she mimics it completely.

 And while I only talked about the Job system, and a bit about the game, the story is no slouch ether. All in all, this is a great game to revisit, or play for the first time if you haven't already. And here is hoping that we will see a sequel to this game to do the first game justice.