Tactics Ogre: Reborn Is Finally Announced

While we knew already that something was coming, we finally have the official announcement that Tactics Ogre will remastered!

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Let Us Cling Together… Again

It is hardly a surprise with all the leaks that this was coming. Actually, Square Enix if you would update us on that supposed Final Fantasy IX Remake/Remaster that would also be nice, but Tokyo Gameshow is in September and Gamescom later this month so I’ll be patient. But to all my fellow connoisseurs of RPG’s and Tactical RPG’s I am happy to inform you that Tactics Ogre: Reborn will be released on November 11, 2022 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Steam.

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This Reborn version is based on 2010 for the PlayStation Portable, which itself was a ground-up remaster of the Super Nintendo classic that was initially released in 1995. The 2022 Reborn version promises to be an even further remaster of the original, with overhauled and updated graphics and an update to Tactics Ogre’s already extensive systems.

But there are probably some of that don’t know what Tactics Ogre is and why this is a big deal. Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together was originally developed by the now defunct Quest Cooperation and was the title that put Yasumi Matsuno on the map and most importantly in the sights of Square Enix and Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi. Previously, the team that also included art director Hiroshi Minagawa and the iconic character designs by Akihiko Yoshida shipped Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen.

Compared to its predecessor, Tactics Ogre stood out for having a rich narrative soaked in a personal and political drama set in a well-thought-out fantasy world. And it serves as a ground zero for what would later become the Ivalice setting that Matsuno is famous for today. It is important that we stress here, Tactics Ogre did this kind of story in the mid ’90s and even today its character writing and narrative can easily compete with titles of today.

Its not only that, Tactics Ogre featured a very deep combat system that allowed you to micro-manage your army down to the individual character. Characters you could personalize, level, who had a backstory that you could lose in battle. It also featured a branching story that would be affected by your choices. And that is not just some dialogue changes either, there are virtual lives at stake here and your choices, depending on your morals, will influence the fates of everyone involved.

The story follows the young knight Denam Morne, a member of the resistance trying to navigate the messy civil war in the kingdom of Valeria. One with many twists and turns that will question loyalty to the resistance and his own beliefs. Tactics Ogre features a cast of well-written characters that are always more than meets the eye. Don’t let the cute sprites of the characters fool you. This tale goes to some rather dark places and forces its characters to make choices no one should ever have to make. And it seems like this time around it’ll even feature voice acting!

Tactics Ogre’s legacy can not be understated. The team behind it would then move on to develop Final Fantasy: Tactics, Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy XII. Many members of those teams would then go on and develop The Last Remnant, join the development team of Final Fantasy XIV and are now working on Final Fantasy XVI. It is a title that was revered by both the media and developers. Final Fantasy XIV director Naoki Yoshida praised it for its level of completeness as a video game and a work of art and Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi cited it was his favorite game ever made.

So in short, go buy it when it comes out. This is a landmark title which’s influence can still be felt today but in the same vein, it is a game that is almost criminally unknown in the west. For more gaming and esports news, visit us here on ESTNN