FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles Gameplay and Story

updated_at: September 30, 2025 10:39

published_at: June 04, 2025 18:28

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
Release Date	Gameplay & Story	DLC & Pre-Order	Review

Command your forces, plan your strategy, and lead Ramza into battle in FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles. Read on to learn how it plays, what it's about, and everything else we know so far.

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FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles Chronicles Gameplay

Combat and Job Classes

FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles Chronicles is a tactical role-playing game that builds upon the core mechanics of the original 1997 title. Combat still unfolds on isometric, three-dimensional battlefields composed of square tiles. Each unit’s movement and action range are determined by their job class and individual stats. There is a Charge Time (CT) system, where a unit’s CT increases based on its speed stat. Once a unit’s CT reaches 100, it can perform actions such as moving, attacking, or using abilities.

The game is perhaps most known for its job system. Characters can adopt various job classes, each offering unique abilities and progression paths. Notable classes include Geomancer, Chemist, and Oracle, among others. As characters perform actions in battle, they earn Job Points (JP), which can be used to learn new abilities within their current job. Mastering abilities and leveling up jobs unlocks additional classes and skills, and players can equip abilities from multiple jobs.

Outside of battles, players can explore a world map consisting of interconnected nodes representing towns and battle locations. In towns, players gain access to shops to purchase equipment, recruit new units at Soldier Offices, and undertake side quests at Bars. Random encounters may occur when exploring certain paths, however. Moreover, similar to games like Fire Emblem, the game also incorporates a permadeath mechanic; if a unit is incapacitated and not revived within a set number of turns, it is permanently removed from the roster.

New Enhancements to the Game

The Ivalice Chronicles introduces two game modes: Classic and Enhanced. The former is a faithful recreation of the original, including the acclaimed War of the Lions translation, while the latter is an enhanced version that incorporates a slew of quality-of-life features, such as:

　⚫︎　Brand new UI
　⚫︎　Updated HD visuals
　⚫︎　Full voice acted
　⚫︎　Script and translation updates
　⚫︎　State of the Realm chronicle
　⚫︎　Tactical View mode
　⚫︎　Adjustable battle speed
　⚫︎　New difficulty levels
　⚫︎　Auto Save

Strictly a Remake of the Original

It's important to note that the game is strictly a remake of the original 1997 release, meaning that the new content included in the War of the Lions port was omitted. This means that the new jobs, such as Onion Knight and Dark Knight, and new playable characters, specifically Balthier and Luso, will not be included in the remake.

FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - The Ivalice Chronicles Story Plot

The game is set in the war-torn kingdom of Ivalice, a realm composed of seven unified territories on the brink of collapse. Following the untimely death of the king, a two-year-old heir ascends the throne, leaving the kingdom’s true power in the hands of whichever noble is named regent. This sparks a fierce struggle between two powerful dukes—Goltanna, the Black Lion, and Larg, the White Lion—igniting a conflict that becomes known as the War of the Lions.

Amid the chaos rise two key figures: Ramza Beoulve, the third son of the noble House Beoulve, and Delita Heiral, a commoner raised among nobles. As the two navigate a treacherous political landscape, they’re drawn deeper into a shadowy conspiracy that threatens to consume the kingdom. Joined by allies such as Mustadio, Agrias, Rafa, Marach, Count Cidolfus, and Meliadoul, Ramza must uncover the truth behind the war—and the dark forces manipulating it from the shadows.