Latest news with #tacticalRPG
Forbes
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Front Mission 3: Remake' Switch Review: Wanzers On A Budget
'Front Mission 3: Remake' has had a substantial makeover compared to the original PlayStation game. Originally, the first Front Mission game to come Westward, this remake of Front Mission 3 has a lot to live up to. If you're not unfamiliar with the Front Mission games, these are tactical role-playing games where you control 4-5 meter tall mecha called wanzers. Each map is grid-based and has a large variety of locales and enemies you face, from tanks to helicopters, and of course, enemy wanzers. Despite the fact that the name for mecha in this setting is the obviously comical wanzer, its influences are very clearly from mecha anime such as Armored Trooper VOTOMS. Like the ATs in that anime, the wanzers can also zoom along the ground at high speeds and are roughly the same height. Your wanzer customization options are extensive. The big difference with wanzers is that you can customize their bodies as well as their weapon loadouts, which is closer to the setup in Armored Core, although arguably Front Mission got there first. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder In this iteration of Front Mission series, you can also target the pilot and force them to eject and surrender. It's a neat little thing, and naturally, your own pilots can jump out of their wanzers, too. The only oddity with specificity in targeting is that you can't target specific limbs in this game. It seems like a very obvious omission and would actually be very useful in combat from a strategic standpoint. Instead, we are left with a random chance of what limbs will be attacked, which can be a tad frustrating. As for this remake, from a visual standpoint, it's not bad. The game is using Unity, which is arguably better suited for 2D games, but the wanzers and the environments here look good in their updated form. Some of the game's 2D art appears to be AI-generated. However, it seems that a chunk of the 2D art has been AI-generated or modified by AI in some way. This feels like a budgetary constraint more than anything else, but it does make the game feel cheap in places. Which brings me to my main point: this game feels like it was done on too tight a budget. Not only in a visual sense, with the use of AI-generated art, but also some of the obvious quality-of-life features, such as targeting of specific limbs, that could have been added in if the team had had more time. The other thing here, and this is more of a criticism of the developer when it comes to their library of remakes, is that they are in many ways too faithful to the host material without thinking of what modern gamers would expect. If this were a straight-up retro port of the original game, of which many exist, that would be fine. However, this is meant as a remake, and that means taking into account the games that were released after the original game and potentially implementing functional features that modern gamers would naturally expect to be there. Overall, Front Mission 3: Remake is a solid update to a classic mecha tactical role-playing game from the PlayStation era. It does feel rushed in places, and here's hoping the game receives some patches to fix some of those issues, much like the previous remakes in the series have. Front Mission 3: Remake Platform: Nintendo Switch Developer: MegaPixel Publisher: Square Enix, Forever Entertainment Released: 26th June 2025 Price: $34.99 Score: 7/10 Disclosure: Forever Entertainment sent me a copy of this game for the purposes of this review. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
Forbes
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Super Robot Wars Y' Gets Ready For Its August Release
'Super Robot Wars Y' is released at the end of August. With the August release of Super Robot Wars Y looming, we've been graced with another trailer that shows off what the game has to offer. The full roster of series was revealed a while back, but it's still nice to see more gameplay footage, especially from the 'nemesis' viewpoint (shown below). However, the real meat of this trailer covers the game's new systems, such as the ability upgrades, shop, and other series staples. The interesting thing, though, is that we finally get an auto-save setup and, more weirdly, an 'auto mode'. The latter allows the game to effectively play itself, which is…odd. After all, the whole point of these games is that they are turn-based tactical role-playing games. You have a grid filled with enemies, and your plucky heroes have to take them out, This new auto mode means that all of the tactical planning and strategy is taken away from you, which is basically the core of what the game is. I get the desire for quality of life improvements in game series like this, but this feels a step too far. The good news is that it is an optional mode, which is a relief. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder Apart from that, the trailer breaks down the various bonuses and DLC packs you'll get from pre-ordering the game. The Japanese trailer also covers the Robot Damashii toy tie-in, which is absent from the English trailer. To be honest, I am still in shock that a mainline Super Robot Wars game is being released in a proper global way. In the meantime, feel free to check out my reviews for Super Robot Wars V, X, T, and 30. Super Robot Wars Y will be released on August 28 for the PlayStation 5, Switch, and PC, via Steam. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
Forbes
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles' Looks Amazing
Final Fantasy Tactics is one of the best tactical role-playing games ever made, and it is finally getting remastered. Called The Ivalice Chronicles, it will include an enhanced and classic version of the game. The enhanced iteration will include new voiced dialogue, improved user interface, graphical updates, and a new and easier 'Squire' difficulty setting. The latter is actually a sensible addition for modern players, as the original Final Fantasy Tactics was an exacting game. This should come as no surprise, as it was directed by Yasumi Matsuno, who is a somewhat curious figure in gaming. Having worked on previous tactical role-playing games such as Ogre Battle and Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy Tactics was as meticulous in many ways. While many hadn't played these kinds of tactical role-playing games outside of Japan before, for them, Final Fantasy Tactics was something very new and different. The tactical element, with characters moved around on a virtual board, was a visual and functional departure from the classic Final Fantasy games, and imbued a new kind of strategy. For many, Final Fantasy Tactics is regarded as the definitive tactical role-playing game. Although I would beg to differ, as the Super Robot Wars games, I think, are more involved, and also predate the likes of the first Ogre Battle as well as Final Fantasy Tactics. That aside, this new remaster of Final Fantasy Tactics is most certainly welcomed. Regardless of my personal tactical role-playing game preferences, it is still an excellent game. You should also check out Tactics Ogre: Reborn if you fancy a challenge before this remaster is released. Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles will be released for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and PC on September 30. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
Digital Trends
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles drops on PlayStation 5 this fall
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is coming to PlayStation 5 on September 30, 2025, and contains both the 1997 version of the game and a new, remastered edition. It's available for preorder starting today. Final Fantasy Tactics is arguably one of the greatest tactical RPGs ever made, and is still a fan favorite nearly three decades after its release. The Classic version of the game 'unites the graphics and gameplay of the original with the renowned War of the Lions translations,' while the Enhanced edition provides a more modern interface, 'extensive' additions to the game — though no word on what, exactly, that means — and fully voiced dialogue. Recommended Videos The Ivalice Chronicles brings a classic tactical game to modern consoles and to a brand-new audience. Better yet, it's coming to both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, so anyone who hasn't sprung for a next-gen console can still experience the game. Final Fantasy Tactics was praised for its character class system, allowing players to customize each character into different roles. The original game had twenty different jobs to choose from, including Summoner, Thief, Priest, and Lancer. Battles take place on an isometric, three-dimensional battleground where terrain and weather play a role in determining attacks. The story follows a cadet named Ramza Beoulve who finds himself caught in the middle of the Lion War. Two different factions are fighting for control of the kingdom — the usual sort of fantasy fare, but the story has its fair share of Final Fantasy influences. The real story is found in the interactions between characters, many of whom are more memorable than their more well-known JRPG cousins. Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles was announced at Wednesday's State of Play alongside a slew of other games, including the long-awaited Pragmata and a new Lumines in the style of Tetris Effect.
