Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles Switch Review

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles Switch Review
Version reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2

The Final Fantasy franchise holds a very special place in many gamers’ hearts. From Cloud Strife battling Shinra in FF7 to the Warrior of Light saving the world, these epic stories have captured the imaginations of players for decades. Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles was a departure from the usual JRPG epic, giving PS1 gamers a taste of battlefield strategy intertwined with the series’ trademark storytelling. Now, the game comes to modern consoles, including Switch 1 and Switch 2, introducing a whole new generation to one of the best Final Fantasy experiences. What’s it like? Grab your potions, train an army, and prepare to get tactical as we review Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles on Nintendo Switch 2.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles comes to modern consoles in two distinct versions, giving players the choice between pure nostalgia and modern convenience.

The Classic version looks and plays exactly like the original PlayStation 1 release. All the original sprites, menus, battle animations, and sound design are preserved, making it the perfect choice for players who want to experience the game exactly as it was over twenty years ago. Every detail, from the isometric battlefield to the turn-based pacing, is untouched. It is a faithful tribute to the original and ideal for longtime fans or anyone curious about how the game first felt.

The Enhanced version brings the game into the modern era without changing the core gameplay. It features higher resolution graphics, an updated and more intuitive user interface, and quality-of-life improvements that make managing your army and navigating menus easier. This version also includes new jobs and abilities, optional cutscenes that add more narrative context, and improved translations for clearer dialogue. These updates make the game more accessible to new players and smoother to play on modern hardware, while still keeping the tactical depth intact.

Choosing between versions comes down to what kind of experience you want. If you want the pure, original PlayStation 1 feel with all its charm and quirks, the Classic version is the way to go. If you prefer a smoother, modern experience with visual upgrades and gameplay conveniences, the Enhanced version is the better option.

Now, I realise the game came out a long time ago, before this remaster, but I want to keep the story details light to avoid spoilers. You play as Ramsa, a young noble who is thrust into a world of political intrigue, betrayal, and honouring a sense of duty when others don’t. While there are some moments where the story scenes linger on a bit longer, and even some exposition is told mid-battle, but it is one of the best stories I’ve experienced in a strategy game.

Ramsa is naive at first, forced into making hard choices while hoping there are situations where everyone wins, but he slowly realises there are not, and the people he interacts with may not uphold the righteousness they are sworn to. There were many times where the story caught me off guard, surprising me with a twist or subverting my expectations in what was happening, and that’s what made me persevere.

Final Fantasy Tactics takes a detour from the traditional JRPG format and puts you in a grid-based tactical RPG, similar to Tactics Ogre or Triangle Strategy. You move characters with limited movement ranges, use attacks and abilities, and have to think several steps ahead of the enemy by setting up plays and defensive strategies. The game starts off relatively easy, gently coaching you through battles with basic classes like a Chemist who can use healing potions, or a Squire who follows the sword-and-shield melee path.

This then expands with the intricate job system. After characters earn JP, they can learn new skills to bolster their moveset or switch jobs entirely. This system is deep, and I could spend much of the review talking about it. I made the mistake of playing jobs too safely, upgrading my Squires to Knights and my Chemists to Mages, only to hit a wall at the end of the first chapter. I then had to go back and grind, which was actually quite fun, to learn abilities I had skipped, building powerful hybrid Black Mages and Knights that could automatically counter enemies or use potions.

The depth of the system rewards experimentation, and I found myself accidentally unlocking new classes simply by trying different combinations. Eventually, I had a balanced squad, mixing melee units with support classes, making me a formidable force. This leads into the depth of strategy in the game. Do you spend your first few rounds buffing your melee warriors or rushing your opponents with some shock and awe?

Should you set up an ambush, or meet the enemy head-on? The choice is yours, and when the best-laid plans go awry, it is time to pivot and adopt a new tactic. Many times, I was routed, either by the enemy or by “guest” units that joined my squad and were controlled by AI, moving away from a buff or heal, or directly where I planned to go. Adaptability is one of the key skills needed to succeed.

Another aspect of adaptability is sequential battles, which are set over several fights to achieve a single objective, like storming a castle. These maps chain multiple encounters together, often with limited healing or resources between them. This design forces careful preparation and adds a real sense of tension and accomplishment when you finally clear a stage. Halfway through the game, I faced one such battle where my forces were completely tapped out by the second encounter, forcing me to restart with a new approach. These setbacks rarely feel frustrating and instead guide you toward improving your strategy, which is a credit to the game’s design.

The system can punish you if you rush in blindly, but it rewards players who plan carefully and think through their moves. Outside of the main story are side quests and hidden jobs, which you can complete and unlock. Side quests allow you to recruit and send off members on timed missions that might last for several encounters, returning with JP and EXP to help level them up to keep your battalion strong. There’s a lot of game here, and you can expect to sink about 30-40 hours getting through to the end.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles features 2D sprites on isometric 3D backgrounds, and the style works exceptionally well. Character designs are distinct, battles are easy to follow, and spell effects carry that classic Final Fantasy flair. Units are brought to life with detailed portraits and fully voiced scenes, which help draw you into the story and give the characters real personality. While the visuals may seem dated compared to modern games, Square Enix has made the smart choice to honour the original aesthetic rather than completely rework it. The enhanced version sharpens the sprites, improves resolution, and cleans up menus, but it still keeps the charm and identity of the PS1 classic intact.

You can see the origins of Square Enix’s 2.5D/HD style in this remaster, which strikes a balance between nostalgia and modern presentation. I have literally one complaint about the game, and that’s the camera angle frequently blocking full views of the units. There is a top down view you can select to counter this, but I found this issue frequently gets in the way of the action. The soundtrack, composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto, remains a standout. The battle themes, ambient tracks, and dramatic story cues are all memorable and perfectly suited to the tactical battles of Ivalice.

The music is iconic without being overbearing, and the updated audio in the Enhanced version makes the experience even more immersive. Final Fantasy Tactics runs smoothly on both Switch 1 and Switch 2. Battles are fluid and load times are minimal, so the tactical experience is never interrupted by performance issues. The Switch 2 version offers a free upgrade path for existing owners and takes advantage of the hardware with higher resolution graphics.

For my tacticians looking into accessibility options, there aren’t very many options to choose from, so, as always, I recommend further research into finding out if Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles suits your needs. For just under $85 AUD, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles delivers an in-depth tactical experience paired with a gripping story full of intrigue that will keep you glued to your screen.

The game rewards players who approach battles thoughtfully and quickly humbles those who rush in. For anyone looking for their next epic strategy game, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles has it all. From rewarding combat and an intricate job system to the modern features in the Enhanced version, the smartest tactical decision you can make is to give it a try.

So, what’s it like? Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles feels like Fire Emblem crossed with Triangle Strategy

Final Fantasy Tactics is a What’s it Like Certified Exceptional Game.

In the interest of full disclosure, a review copy was provided by Square Enix, but this doesn’t influence my score.

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