With the release of the original PlayStation in 1994 came a golden age of gaming that would see many beloved franchises take their first steps. Sony's little gray box took the world by storm, introducing gamers to memorable characters such as Lara Croft, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, and many more. It also marked the transition from cartridges to compact discs, as well as started a long line of successors that's still going strong today.
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Among the more than 4000 titles released were plenty of role-playing games, from fan-favorite Final Fantasy to more obscure titles such as Jade Cocoon. One particular sub-genre of this mammoth collection that captured as many hearts as it did vantage points is the tactical JRPG, where strategy and careful planning were essential for victory. Below are some of the best tactical JRPGs from the PlayStation 1 era.
6 Breath of Fire III
Unleash The Dragon Within
Breath of Fire III
- Turn-based combat speed based on the agility stat.
- Swap the party's formation to gain an advantage.
Originally released by Capcom in 1997 for the PlayStation, Breath of Fire III continued the established story and exploits of Ryu, the last member of a shapeshifting race that can turn into dragons. It was widely praised for its engrossing narrative set in a colorful fantasy Medieval kingdom, as well as the tactical and strategic turn-based battle system.
Players are ambushed by enemies randomly when traveling through hostile areas or dungeons. During the course of the battle, they must input commands such as attack, defend or use magic at the start of each round. Every action then happens based on the character's agility stat. Players can also take advantage of the formation system to position the playable characters for certain benefits, turning the tide of upcoming fights in their favor.
5 Vagrant Story
Unique Tactical Combat Set In A Surprisingly Dark World
Vagrant Story
- Released
- May 15, 2000
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Lets players target specific limbs within range.
- Features a deep crafting system and roguelite elements.
Taking place on the dark side of the Final Fantasy series, Vagrant Story was released for the PlayStation by then SquareSoft in 2000. It follows the main character Ashley Riot, a so-called Riskbreaker on a mission to uncover a secret cult operating in the lost city of Lea Mondé. A mysterious evil power emanates from every crack in the stone walls, spawning monsters and bringing the dead back to life. Players guide Ashley through a spiraling series of labyrinthian rooms full of enemies, puzzles and traps that are just as twisted as the story itself.
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When it comes to battle, the unique Battle Mode targeting system pauses the game and allows Ashley to strike the various limbs of any enemy in range, and is also affected by things like elevation. Alongside that is a deep crafting system that lets players break down and re-combine weapons to make them more effective against certain enemies. Defeating a boss also introduces a roguelite element, where a random stat is boosted by a roulette well that can make or break a playthrough.
4 Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete
A Playable Anime Full Of Charm And High Stakes
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete
- Released
- October 25, 1996
- Developer(s)
- Japan Studio
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Move around the battlefield to gain an advantage.
- Find the right time to strike and know when to withdraw.
Released for the PlayStation in 1998, Game Arts' Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete received critical acclaim for its lavish and colorful world, full-motion animation sequences, and the quality of the English translation for the script. Aside from that, it's a traditional sprite-based top-down adventure that follows Alex, a young boy from a small town who just so happens to be the next Dragonmaster of the world.
Players will encounter random monsters every few steps much like Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest. But where this title differs is the ability to use a turn to move around the battlefield to a more advantageous position. This turns fights into a sort of chess match, with a risk/reward system that requires players to move closer to enemies in order to attack them. Knowing when to strike and when to move is a key element of gameplay, allowing for tense, strategic combat.
3 Grandia
Explore A Fantasy World With A Technological Twist
Grandia
- Released
- September 30, 1999
- Developer
- Game Arts
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Sneak up on enemies in the field to gain an advantage.
- Raise Skill Levels to use a variety of weapons.
Released by Game Arts for the PlayStation in 1999, Grandia served as the basis for a lot of strategic JRPGs moving forward. Rather than the usual Medieval setting, its story takes place in a fantasy world on the verge of technological innovation and follows Justin, a young boy from the small village of Parm. The hero inherits a magical stone that leads him on a journey to discover the secrets behind a long-lost civilization.
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While adventuring through the world, players will be able to see monsters on the field and initiate a battle by touching them. But the strategic elements come into play before combat commences, since clever players are able to pull off a sneak attack by creeping up behind opponents. This also applies to enemies too, so it's crucial to pay attention and open every fight with the upper hand.
2 Xenogears
Mechs Meets Martial Arts
Xenogears
- Released
- October 20, 1998
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Features a unique combo system that's almost like a fighting game.
- Strategically switch to mech-based combat to gain an advantage.
Published in 1998 by then SquareSoft for the PlayStation, Xenogears strongly resembles other popular JRPGs from the time, such as Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger. It used a variation of the signature Active Time Battle system for turn-based combat combined with a focus on martial arts, letting the player input combos that felt more like a fighting game such as Tekken. This unique style tied in heavily with the narrative elements based on Jungian psychology, creating a consistent feel across the entire campaign.
Xenogears featured two distinct battle styles - regular combat using human characters, and epic mech-based clashes utilizing specific 'Gears', pilotable robots that greatly enhanced the party's abilities. The strategy comes into play when deciding when to use these Gears, and when it might be best to stick to fists. That's because Gears are limited by their fuel gauge, and require a more tactical approach to build up and maintain their Attack Level. There's a lot to pay attention to, and that's before getting into the excellent story.
1 Final Fantasy Tactics
The Classic Job System Meets Strategic Battles
Final Fantasy Tactics
- Released
- June 20, 1997
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG
- A chess-like battle system lets players choose where and when to move.
- Features 20 iconic Jobs from the Final Fantasy series.
A spin-off from the main series taking place in the same world as Vagrant Story, Square released Final Fantasy Tactics for the PlayStation in 1997, three years before its companion title. As part of the Ivalice Alliance series, and follows the adventures of Ramza Beoulve as he experiences the aftermath of the Fifty Years War between the kingdoms of Ivalice and Ordalia.
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Instead of the random turn-based encounters common throughout the franchise, battles in Final Fantasy Tactics take place on a 3D isometric world made up of square tiles. Players can maneuver around the battlefield almost like a chess match, with their available actions and movement determined by one of the 20 job classes that can be leveled up and enhanced. Outfitting the right jobs to tackle different situations is crucial to success, since a well-balanced squad of units can make or break any given battle.
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