Definitive version to play Final Fantasy Tactics for new player

[mortuz]

As someone who is interested in playing the game, I was wondering which version should I start with. (romhacks for quality of life included)

 

[Tonberry]

Either the PSX version with the PSP script, or the PSP version with slowdown fixes, imo.
Many people prefer the original script but I think the PSP one is a lot more fun.

 

[χKai]

Original Playstation if you ask me.

 

[Kingofthemilksea]

PSP version with the slowdown fix.

 

[Bonkers225]

PSP version with the slowdown fix.

This.

 

[MasterEn]

i found this on the wiki, it goes over some of the differences between the two versions:

Final Fantasy Tactics version differences

The following is a list of version differences between the two ports of Final Fantasy Tactics. Throughout the two releases of the game, it has been subject to major alteration to the game script and overall difficulty. The second version also has various new additions not present in the original...

finalfantasy.fandom.com

and as it has been mentioned in earlier posts, the psp version has a slowdown removal patch. i've been playing the psx version, so i just hold down the fast forward button when i need to. it achieves the same effect.

 

[freebie#47]

I own 3 versions....go with psp or android. They have more extra content and is still very good. Funny part is I bought the android for 99 cents. Good deal for a great game.

 

[Castilho]

Hey, glad to see you like your romhacks. I don't recommend romhacks unless I am confident those are superior to the original version of the game. So here we go:

The Lion War of the Lions (PSX)
https://ffhacktics.com/smf/index.php?topic=12951.0

There's just too much to cool stuff here. Mostly everything from the PSP version has been ported, all multiplayer content can be played solo, some JAP exclusive stuff was added, bunch of fixes and so on, please check the link above to have a look at the full thing. I'd go as far as to call this the definitive edition.

Edit: Kinda forgot about this PSP one, also a great option, especially if you want to play on your psp/vita.

War of the Lions Tweak (PSP)
https://retrogametalk.com/repository/psp/final-fantasy-tactics-war-of-the-lions-tweak-hack/

Has de slowdown fix, you can control guest characters and the random encounters do no scale up to your level, which is something I always felt like a pain. Bunch of other stuff.

 

[newageretrohippie]

In general, when you ask a question like this, you are gonna at least get as many different answers as there are versions of the game...

usually i would say try the OG version, but many 90s games have severe localization issues... but usually its decent if you find a good retranslation patch, and then you are getting the og experience but usually more faithful to the original language, also.

in this case, i ONLY played the og and i dont remember the details, but it was fun (started smoking weed around the time that game came out... duhr duhr duhr(

 

[Yousef]

In general, when you ask a question like this, you are gonna at least get as many different answers as there are versions of the game...

I’d have to regurgitate this, since this has always been a cause of choice paralysis for me.
Best course of action is to learn about each version best as reasonably possible and make a calculated decision based on the facts given, rather than hope someone having the ideal answer.

 

[Hourai]

I’d have to regurgitate this, since this has always been a cause of choice paralysis for me.
Best course of action is to learn about each version best as reasonably possible and make a calculated decision based on the facts given, rather than hope someone having the ideal answer.

Whenever I see it, I go with whatever's rated the highest. That is, the most likes, or if it's on the internet's cesspit, upvotes. So always remember to press like on what you like!

If it's equal, I tend to go for the most modern thing. Unless it's really really cheap looking (Final Fantasy PC ports prior to pixel remasters), but those things usually aren't.

 

[Yousef]

Whenever I see it, I go with whatever's rated the highest. That is, the most likes, or if it's on the internet's cesspit, upvotes. So always remember to press like on what you like!

If it's equal, I tend to go for the most modern thing. Unless it's really really cheap looking (Final Fantasy PC ports prior to pixel remasters), but those things usually aren't.

On some occasions the most upvoted version is just the one everyone played, which isn’t inherently wrong, but it goes without saying that people can’t comment on versions they never owned. So anecdotal comments would be more valuable in this case.

 

[Hourai]

On some occasions the most upvoted version is just the one everyone played, which isn’t inherently wrong, but it goes without saying that people can’t comment on versions they never owned. So anecdotal comments would be more valuable in this case.

Yeah, that's absolutely true. Nostalgia (and people generally only playing one version) does indeed play a lot into older games like this. I've had people recommend the Mega CD version of Lunar, because of that. But I do believe that it's generally safer than looking at everything different in the versions and either deciding no version is obviously the winner (thus ending up right back where you started), or just picking an unpleasant version by accident.

 

[Sinmenon]

The thing about the original version is that it was back when the translation could get a bit messy, I recall there was this one scene that they changed the spelling of a character's name like... 4 times? imo the ideal is either the PSP with slowfix or the PSx with fan tweaks. To me, it is just a preference to which emulator you prefer, and if you'd like widescreen + CGi or not.

 

[Yousef]

But I do believe that it's generally safer than looking at everything different in the versions and either deciding no version is obviously the winner (thus ending up right back where you started), or just picking an unpleasant version by accident.

it’s generally not really needed to search up and compare everything between versions, just general tidbits that stand out and would matter to you. Ideally the differences should still be somewhat readable from the outset without necessitating investing the knowledge required to differentiate smaller nuances.

 

[nobitakun]

As it's been said, this question will lead you to nowhere.

I usually don't care about anyone & anything when I have to take a decission like this, and I go first with the base game of the base console. After finishing it, you can then check what internet has to offer. But that's me, because I am an irresolute bastard.

 

[Yousef]

I usually don't care about anyone & anything when I have to take a decission like this, and I go first with the base game of the base console. After finishing it, you can then check what internet has to offer. But that's me, because I am an irresolute bastard.

in most cases I feel going with the first version of a game has never let me down. There’s cases where a new version is more accessible, but often some of those borderline on being straight up remakes, like picking between the NES or Super Famicom versions of DQ3.

 

[mortuz]

Hey, glad to see you like your romhacks. I don't recommend romhacks unless I am confident those are superior to the original version of the game. So here we go:

The Lion War of the Lions (PSX)
https://ffhacktics.com/smf/index.php?topic=12951.0

There's just too much to cool stuff here. Mostly everything from the PSP version has been ported, all multiplayer content can be played solo, some JAP exclusive stuff was added, bunch of fixes and so on, please check the link above to have a look at the full thing. I'd go as far as to call this the definitive edition.

After checking the link, I have to ask: Is it really a big difference between The Lion War of the Lions and the other version of The Lion War?

 

[χKai]

After checking the link, I have to ask: Is it really a big difference between The Lion War of the Lions and the other version of The Lion War?

LWotL has a lot of scenarios first-time players might think about but is ultimately an alternate telling of the story itself which may be confusing for first-time players.

The Lion War is more accessible for people who want the new features from the PSP remake (and Ashley instead of Luso).

 

[Raziya The Seeker]

Final Fantasy Tactics for the PS1, with the Convenience mod from the Repo. Done. It has the PSP translation with none of the slowdown and unnecessary fluff they added, plus purchasing skills for your characters costs less AP.

 

[Felipe]

i found this on the wiki, it goes over some of the differences between the two versions:

Final Fantasy Tactics version differences

The following is a list of version differences between the two ports of Final Fantasy Tactics. Throughout the two releases of the game, it has been subject to major alteration to the game script and overall difficulty. The second version also has various new additions not present in the original...

finalfantasy.fandom.com

and as it has been mentioned in earlier posts, the psp version has a slowdown removal patch. i've been playing the psx version, so i just hold down the fast forward button when i need to. it achieves the same effect.

Thanks for this list. The PSP version is considerably better.

Edit: I played the PSX version MANY years ago.

 

[werewolfx]

original unpatched. embrace the jank and break it over your knee

 

[glokglakglak]

i haven't played it yet but the version i'd wanna play is ps1 version cos i hate handheld gaming for many many reasons
games weren't meant to be played on the go, they're meant to be played in the comfort of our home on our tv's, so naturally what handheld gaming fucks up is the resolution, the audio quality, framerate, and that's already 3 downsides i can spot instantly

an example is star ocean 1 and 2
i played the psp version because that's what was easily available to play for me back then on my crappy laptop, but i couldn't have hated it more because the art is so garbage compared to the original (thanks production i.g) and the audio quality is soooo much worse than the ps1 version

there are cases where psp versions were preferrable like disgaea 1 and 2 as the psp version of disgaea 1 included animation skip option which was a very great QoL change and also some dlc characters if you fancy that

but tl;dr, nothing wrong with trying the original first, unless there's a much sexier version available like a pc port for old games like the Marl Oukoku games and Disgaea 1 and 2 which offer HD HUDs (sometimes textures) so the menus, text, and images are actually clear now and not their old pixelated counterparts

oh i forgot to mention that it's harder for exclusive english speakers because they might have to deal with localisation butchery that may involve the script being changed altogether, or even sprites/models getting altered, or flat out omission of certain events from games so my personal opinion is play the japanese version (but i guess 99% of users in here can't read japanese) so if ever there is a tweaked original version, i'd go for that (such as script fix, sprite restoration, etc.)

 

[MetalSharkPlayer]

Avoid the PSP version like the plague if you like nice sound effects and care about sound quality. The PSP version slash effects and various other magical effects sound "weak" and lack reverb, also screams sound weird as f***
That is one of the major letdowns of that version, seems the PSP couldnt handle the audio format of the original game or something. Cant believe no one noticed this.

Best way is the PS1 version with the Lion War mod.

 

[Castilho]

After checking the link, I have to ask: Is it really a big difference between The Lion War of the Lions and the other version of The Lion War?

I am going to assume you mean the psx mods featured in that forum and not the psp mod I also recommended. Both are pretty similar, the big difference is that TLWotL uses the psp version's script, which I like better.

Other changes:

• Abilities' JP costs, Charge Time, and power have been reverted to the JP/WotL levels, rather than the PSX US levels.
• Job stats have been reverted to the JP/WotL levels, rather than the PSX US levels.
• The JP scroll glitch, outfitter duplication glitch, and Oil glitch have all been fixed.
• Meliadoul's skills will now hit monsters & humans without gear in that slot. (They still say "Rent", however, and will continue to do so until and unless a better hack presents itself in the future.)
• The random hit skills in Rapha, Marach, and Reis' skillsets have been buffed. They have a higher number of maximum hits, and have had their Vertical AoE range reduced to simulate WotL's increased chances of hitting the center tile since there wasn't a hack available for that effect.
• Enemies that had Maintenance/Safeguard in the JP/WotL versions now have it again.