The newly released Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles has been met with strong acclaim by players, achieving an 88% “Very Positive” rating on Steam based on nearly 1,000 reviews. Fans have praised the remaster for its visual enhancements, voice acting, and fidelity to the original experience.
“A perfect remaster of a perfect game,” one fan under the name og.gring comments.
Another user, namelessyami, sums it all up pretty well: “This is a beautiful recreation of an already beautiful game.”
“We finally have a definitive (debatable for sure) way for players to experience Final Fantasy Tactics,” writes another Steam member, Kebin.
These sentiments reflect a warm reception from both returning fans and newcomers hoping for a refreshed version of the classic.
Developer Insight: UI, Balance, and Legacy Design
Director Kazutoyo Maehiro has shared how he approached the remaster with a commitment to both modern players and longtime fans. In describing his approach behind the new interface, Maehiro said, “I myself play a lot of games on PC, so … I was very particular making sure we got it right.” He also noted the team preserved core character balance decisions, flattening only the less utilized abilities without altering the signature job system.
Furthermore, the development team faced challenges because the master data and source code from the original game no longer existed, a hurdle that required reconstruction through archival sources and alternate versions to preserve the integrity of the original design.
Narrative Revision: Closure and Sequel Possibilities
One of the more talked-about changes in The Ivalice Chronicles is its reinterpretation of the ending. The remaster confirms that Ramza and Alma survived and chose a life in hiding, resolving ambiguity that has lingered for decades. This explicit clarification opens the door to potential sequel paths involving those characters or their descendants, deepening interest in the world’s ongoing story.
What the Score Means for the Franchise
An 88% positive rating is significant—or especially so for a tactical RPG remaster launched across multiple platforms simultaneously. It suggests that Square Enix’s balance of honoring nostalgia while modernizing key systems is resonating with the community.
While some users remain critical of the game’s inclusion of Denuvo anti‑piracy software or its price point relative to the improvements, the broader consensus holds that The Ivalice Chronicles succeeds as both a tribute to the original and a compelling gateway for a new generation of players.