Ragnarok: Tactics

Before I begin, I wanted to say that I have written this review with the collector mentality in mind (being one of the last physical PSP games in the NA region), but I have not shied away from my viewpoints of the game itself for those curious to the foundation of the game and if it is for you or not.

I pre-ordered this game over a month before it came out not expecting a top notch game, but I come out of it surprised and finding myself wanting to play it more than I ever thought I would. Ragnarok Tactics is a spin-off to the MMO game, Ragnarok Online, that is based on the more traditional gameplay genre of strategic RPGs, such as Final Fantasy Tactics, Growlanser, Tactics Ogre, and Disgaea. This is not a bad thing, as the game borrows from its original MMO source material such as with its classes such as Assassins, Lord Knight, High Priest, and Shaman (I was the Assassin class myself) in terms of style, and in terms of gameplay offers the ability to heal while sitting, which I loved. The story will not necessarily suck you in, but the simple prospect of having conflict between two sides against each-other while you can divide yourself against the two works well enough and you, as the player, can inflict change depending on which decisions you make at each point during cut-scenes.

The art direction is quite nice, and the pictures do not give it justice. I did not do that much research on the style of the game because I was familiar enough with the series having played it with friends years ago and more recently playing Ragnarok Odyssey (PS Vita), but before I got the game while looking at pictures, I can say I had a hard time identifying if the game was 3D, 2D-3D, what were the characters models composed of, and the like. What I can say now is that the backgrounds for each battle are painted with great scope of distance, meaning that when the camera zooms in really close to the character's area during certain sequences, it still looks just as beautiful as it did from afar. That is not to say the backgrounds for each battle arena are statics, as there are layers of substance that bring it to life. For instance, water streams, weather, and moving particles or items make the stages come to life. There is no camera like more popular SRPGs you may be used to (Tactics, Disgaea, MG Acid, etc.) but the gameplay and strategy are not ruined because of this design choice.

Furthermore, characters are wonderfully stylized during battles. Let me take a step back real quick into the very first menu of the game however: character selection. Straight from that menu screen with up-close 3D models of the characters you can choose from to be in the game, the game uses style over highly detailed character models, which works amazingly on the PSP's limited capabilities (which is unfortunately commonly compared to more contemporary devices like tablets, consoles, phones, and even the PS Vita). I have always found this to be the PSPs greatest strength. The graphics reminded me of Wind Waker's style, and if you are a fan of those types of visuals, combined with the SRPG genre, there is no doubt you will have a tremendous time playing this game. On the other side of graphics, in terms of cut-scenes, the 2D artwork is just as breathtaking. Everything looks very suited to the PSP and it defiantly keeps jaggidies to a bare minimum. Whether it was during combat (3D) or cut-scenes (mixed 3D characters with 2D portraits), everything looks like a fluid 2D experience.

As for the packaging, which collector's out there might be wondering (if any of you already have not pre-ordered/purchased it that is), it most certainly shines out as a heart-felt effort. The front of the box (look at Amazon's pictures for a look) has a magnificantly drawn piece of artwork with the title really standing out. The side of the box (where the PSP logo and title go) is really interesting. Instead of the words going like they are now, from left to right, the letters go down one at a time, such as when the box is standing up. For example:

R
A
G
N
A
R
O
K

It's a very curious choice because out of my collection and the games I have seen, there is no other PSP box I can find like this. I don't know if I like it, but it's growing on me because of its uniqueness. The back of the box looks beautiful, but the text is small, dark yellow, and blends in too much to the background. It makes it a headache to read because of these faults and not necessarily the font type, more like the font size and color. The manual on the inside is in black and white (unfortunately), but it is a 29 page manual with plenty of detail on the class types, gameplay, and more. The UMD art is a more expressed version of the front of the box, with both women separated with more color. Overall, the physical box and its contents do well, and it does not seem like they cut corners (tiny manual, basic box) on this late release.

If any of you are itching to play a well rounded, although sometimes slow, SRPG on your PSP or Vita, this could very well be the game for you. I am more surprised with how well this game turned out than I thought I would be, and it is great with daily commutes or to unwind at the end of the day. If you are a fan of the series, this purchase is almost a no-brainer. If you are looking for a more action packed adventure of the same quality, grab your Vita (or get a Vita first) and tackle Ragnarok Odyssey with a four player online system. For the PSP collectors out there, you may be looking for a price drop first, which may happen for a while, but you owe it to yourself to grab this game as soon as possible. It's a great swan song to the final days of the PSP.

Finally, I just wanted to say one more thing: Aksys Games, I can not thank you enough for bringing such quality games overseas. Next up is a new Hakuokai PSP game from them. They have sold me as an ongoing supporter and customer. Check out their website if anyone reading this gets a chance.

Even though I believe Gungnir and Jeanne D'Arc are better games on the PSP, I am really having a lot of fun with Ragnarok Tactics. It is a decent comparison versus the aforementioned games as well as Disgaea, Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics. But note: the combat system is slow. If you want fast combat, go with FF Tactics or Disgaea. I would say it is around the pace as Gungnir, though Gungnir is more about planning your next move (ala chess) rather than the actual movement and menu presses being slower.

I am playing on a PSP and there are virtually no loading times. The only brief loading times seem to be in menu sections when you want to view the individual stats or change the hero's name. There is little to no loading time in battle. And I didn't install the data either!

The story seems a bit generic at first, but it really gets quite interesting. The premise is the conflict between two countries, and it seems a bit like Radiant Historia. The art is also a little similar to Radiant Historia. You have 2-d sprites on a locked isometric 2d/3d battle screen. Otherwise your characters interact in story like scenes much like the Atelier series or Etrian series. But the characters are likable, and the dialogue is translated wonderfully. I give big points to the translators! Not like Disgaea and the most terrible faux-pas ever: anywayS. There is no S in anyway. EVER!

The music is top notch. It reminds me of a blend of the PS1 and DS Castlevania games and Chrono Cross. The battle scenes are sometimes heavier marches, though often there is a much more mysterious theme playing. I felt the music one of the strongest aspects.

You select your path which affects the story and characters in your party. Dialogue selections don't really do much other than change other characters' reactions towards your selection. But picking to go on to one scenario usually wipes out the other options. So multiple plays through can be rewarding. Also, you unlock additional classes on subsequent plays through.

The other interesting aspect of the game is the card system. It allows for a great range of customization. Plus, they can only be found in battle, so they are a lot of fun to try and collect. The stronger the opponent and the stronger the finishing blow, the better the card.

You can recruit additional characters at the tavern. You basically pay them depending on what level you want them (up to the hero's level). Enemy AI is pretty average. Most of the baddies will hang back until you actually engage them. This was the one aspect I didn't like. I would have enjoyed the challenge of them all coming at me at once. But alas...

It's not FF Tactics, Tactics Ogre, or even Disgaea. It IS however, a solid, yet slowly paced strategy RPG with gorgeous graphics and wonderful music. It's sad that this is one of the last RPGs for the PSP, though they are making a few more in Japan (probably won't come over to the states). I applaud Aksys games for taking a chance on this title. It seems the last year or two of the PSP's life showed us many great titles: Growlanser, Gungnir, Ragnarok Tactics to name a few. A great swan song for a wonderful game system.

Update: Really does get a bit annoying what with having to move your characters to get close to monsters, but it's nothing too bad. It just detracts from the pace. More annoying when you have two groups of monsters and you either need to split your team if you're impatient; or attack one group, then spend 5 minutes moving everyone into position to strike the second group. Also, the combos are really important the farther into the game you get.

Other nice things: the story changes depending on your path. If you go to one map and win a story battle, then perhaps the tide of war might shift in a different direction? I followed the joker on the first play through, keeping Toren in my party. But to each his own.

Also, spending time leveling pretty much ensures that you will be way stronger than the story battle foes. But the extra side quests are fun and welcome. Many involve just killing groups of baddies for money or items. But you can get NPCs this way. And experience. And money. Win win win. Money is tough to come by, and you will be hurting for cash early on. Especially as you recruit new members and spend money on them. Then spending money on decent equipment.

My only beef is that characters gain next to no experience unless they kill a foe. So to level the white mage type character you need to get them involved in combos or chains OR have them deal the finishing blow to a weakened foe.

I consider myself somewhat of an SRPG enthusiast. Starting with Final Fantasy Tactics and moving on through the entire Disgaea series (over 2000 hours across 4 games) and most recently Gungnir. Ragnarok: Tactics is most like FFT, with party members each having their out Action timer, and Jobs/character levels are increased separately. What I like about R:T is the branching storyline. The game allows you to change the story based on which country you wish to side at with any given moment, The level of customization is wonderful, and you can change your party setup at every battle. My biggest complaint however is the pacing of the game. The battles feel long and drawn out, and skills can take a bit to load. Battles can often last upwards of 30 minutes which can making losing one even more frustrating, especially when you lose because a npc moves into a dangerous area and dies.