Info about Tactics Ogre: Reborn:

Official game description:
Digital Premium Edition Contents
================================
The Digital Premium Edition includes the following content:  
\-Tactics Ogre: Reborn Standard Edition (the core game)  
\-Tactics Ogre: Reborn Original Soundtrack  
This soundtrack includes new pieces composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto for Tactics Ogre: Reborn, as well as rerecorded live versions of Tactics Ogre favorites like Fight It Out! and Limitation.  
\*The Tactics Ogre: Reborn Original Soundtrack is planned to be sold separately at a later date.
About the Game
==============
Tactics Ogre, crown jewel of the tactical role-playing genre, is reborn!  
Based on the 2010 release, the game features improved graphics and sound, as well as updated game design, bringing to life a new Tactics Ogre that remains true to its roots. Tactics Ogre veterans will experience a game that surpasses their fondest memories, while players new to Tactics Ogre will discover a game unlike any they've ever played. Reborn and deeper than ever, the game enables players to immerse themselves in the world and intrigue of Tactics Ogre like never before.  
The Valerian Isles, jewels of the Obero Sea. Long a center of naval commerce, the people of the isles struggled throughout history for dominion over her shores.  
Finally there rose a man to put an end to this conflict: Dorgalua Oberyth. But history would know him as the "Dynast-King." King Dorgalua strove to stamp out the hatred among the people of the isles, and for fully half a century, Valeria knew prosperity.  
Yet upon the king's death, civil war erupted anew as three factions vied for control: the Bakram, who comprised much of Valeria's nobility; the Galgastani, whose people made up the majority of the isles' population; and the Walister, who numbered but few.  
The isles were soon divided between the Bakram and Galgastani, and an uneasy peace settled across the land. Yet none believed the calm would last...  
*   Your choices affect how the story unfolds, and even how it ends, with a game system that allows for multiple paths through the game and multiple endings. The story takes place through the eyes of a young man named Denam. The decisions he makes will alter the fate of those around him, and shift the course of Valeria's history.  
*   Fight pitched tactical battles on three-dimensional battlefields. The completely revamped AI enables enemies to adapt their tactics to the situation, providing a battle system that always keeps you thinking and never grows old.  
*   The class-wide level management system used in Tactics Ogre (2010) has changed to a unit-by-unit level system. Theorycraft your way through endless combinations of classes, equipment, skills, and magic.  
*   Enjoy numerous playability improvements, such as a quicker pace of battle, auto save, and a complete overhaul to the controls and UI to make it easier to get into the game than ever.  
*   The unparalleled details of the characters and backgrounds from the original Tactics Ogre (1995) have been recreated in high definition, while the detailed pixel art that gives the game its unique feel has been preserved and enhanced.  
*   The cutscenes are fully voiced in English and Japanese, and all of the music has been rerecorded with live performances! The voices bring new life to the complex motivations of the characters that make up the factions and shifting political alliances of this epic story.  
*   When you advance far enough in the game you'll unlock the World Tarot, enabling you to travel back in the story with the power of your forces intact; an incredibly useful feature in a game where your choices have such a huge impact on how the story unfolds. If you wonder what a different choice would have led to, now you can find out!  
*   Traveling back isn't limited to the story; the Chariot Tarot lets you rewind up to a certain number of moves during battle. In a game of tactical battles where a single mistake can mean the difference between victory and defeat, you can play without worrying that you'll back yourself into a corner.  
*   Enjoy a wealth of endgame content such as the 100-level Palace of the Dead. A world of endless stories and intrigue awaits!

Release date: 11 Nov, 2022

Categories: Tactical RPG, Turn-based Combat, Single-player Story, Choice-based Narrative, Multiple Endings, Character Progression, Unit Management, Endgame Content


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Deep, Challenging, and Engaging Gameplay (weight 0.86): Players consistently praise the game's deep, complex, and strategic gameplay, highlighting its challenging nature and the satisfaction derived from overcoming difficult battles. The game offers high replayability due to its intricate systems and strategic depth, keeping players engaged for hundreds of hours.
- Masterpiece Tactical RPG (weight 0.76): The game is widely regarded as a masterpiece within the tactical RPG genre, often compared favorably to or even surpassing Final Fantasy Tactics. Reviewers highlight its exceptional tactical gameplay, compelling storytelling, and overall quality as a defining title in its category.
- Captivating Branching Narrative (weight 0.59): The game features a compelling, dark, and mature story with multiple branching paths and meaningful player choices. These decisions significantly impact the narrative, characters, and endings, encouraging replayability and deep immersion in its rich political conflict and world-building.
- Enhanced Audio-Visual Experience (weight 0.48): The remaster significantly elevates the game's presentation with full voice acting (praised in both Japanese and English), a masterfully reorchestrated soundtrack, and updated graphics that retain the original's charm while adding modern polish. These enhancements greatly boost immersion and overall enjoyment.
- Definitive Remaster of a Classic (weight 0.43): This version is celebrated as the definitive edition of the classic game, successfully modernizing it with quality-of-life improvements, enhanced visuals, and refined mechanics while preserving the original's essence and depth. Many changes are seen as improvements over previous iterations, making it more accessible without sacrificing complexity.
- Engaging Post-Game Content (weight 0.15): Players appreciate the substantial and challenging post-game content, which adds significant replay value and extends gameplay beyond the main story. This includes side missions, extra stages, and systems that encourage continued engagement and exploration.
- Balanced Class System (weight 0.08): The game's class system is noted for its good balance, with all classes being viable and contributing to diverse strategies. Adjustments to class individuality and abilities are appreciated, allowing for varied and effective team compositions.

Common complaints:
- Restrictive Level Cap System (weight 0.97): The level cap, tied to story progression, severely limits player progression and forces repetitive grinding. This artificial difficulty increase leads to frustrating battles, especially in post-game content where enemies often exceed the player's cap, making the game feel like a chore rather than a strategic challenge.
- Poor Game Design & Balance (weight 0.86): The game suffers from numerous design flaws, including a slow pace, sluggish controls, and a lack of modern player comfort features. Many mechanics, such as the card system and class balance, are poorly implemented, leading to a frustrating and unengaging experience that feels dated and often unfair.
- Frustrating Buff Card System (weight 0.7): The random buff card system is a major point of contention, introducing excessive RNG and visual clutter. Players feel forced to chase cards, disrupting strategic formations and often leading to unpredictable, unfair advantages for enemies or trivializing battles, ultimately reducing strategic depth.
- Questionable Remake Quality (weight 0.37): The remake is seen as a disappointment, with many players feeling it failed to improve upon the original or even worsened certain aspects. Criticisms include average voice acting, questionable graphical updates, and the removal of beloved features, leading to a perception of a low-effort cash grab.
- Tedious and Lengthy Battles (weight 0.3): Combat encounters are frequently criticized for being excessively long, repetitive, and slow, even with speed-up options. Many battles devolve into drawn-out slugfests, lacking strategic depth and often requiring restarts due to unfair difficulty spikes or poor party composition, making the gameplay a chore.
- Poor Map Design & Movement (weight 0.15): Battle maps often feature narrow corridors and restrictive unit placement, leading to traffic jams and limiting strategic movement. Players frequently start at a disadvantage, spending early turns just moving units, which prolongs battles and reduces opportunities for flanking or interesting tactics.
- High & Unadjustable Difficulty (weight 0.14): The game's difficulty is perceived as unreasonably high and unadjustable, particularly for players who prefer a more relaxed experience or wish to focus on the story. The lack of difficulty settings forces players into challenging scenarios, often leading to frustration and a lack of motivation for repeat playthroughs.
- Unfair Boss Encounters (weight 0.14): Boss battles are frequently cited as incredibly frustrating due to bosses starting with multiple powerful buff cards, higher levels, and superior stats. This often leads to player units being one-shotted, forcing specific, narrow strategies and making these encounters feel unfair and reliant on luck.
- Limited Skill & Spell Slots (weight 0.13): The restriction to only four skill, spell, and item slots severely limits character customization and tactical options. This forces players to choose only 'must-have' abilities, reducing strategic depth and making many spells and items feel less impactful or even useless.
- Ineffective Archer Class (weight 0.12): Archers are widely considered ineffective, consistently dealing minimal damage (often 1 HP) to armored units and bosses. Their role is largely reduced to applying status effects, making them dispensable and significantly nerfed compared to previous iterations, which negatively impacts party composition.
- Inferior to Final Fantasy Tactics (weight 0.11): Many players compare the game unfavorably to Final Fantasy Tactics, citing it as inferior in terms of strategic depth, narrative, and overall design. This comparison highlights perceived shortcomings in the game's mechanics and overall experience, suggesting it fails to live up to genre expectations.
- Frustrating Party Management (weight 0.11): Managing party composition, items, and AI behavior is a source of frustration. Players often face drawn-out deaths due to incorrect party setups, while automated AI can be unreliable. The tedious inventory management and crafting systems further detract from the experience.
- Weak Early/Mid-Game Mages (weight 0.11): Mages and healers are largely ineffective in the early to mid-game due to low MP recovery, limited spell options, and low damage output. This makes traditional magic users difficult to integrate into parties, forcing reliance on other classes until late-game when mages become more viable.

Gameplay feedback:
- Significant System Changes from Original (weight 0.41): The 'Reborn' version features substantial changes from the original SNES and PSP iterations, including a revamped battle system, streamlined mechanics, and quality-of-life improvements. Key differences include skill slot limitations, changes to class roles, and the removal of random encounters.
- Random Buff Card System (weight 0.32): The game introduces a new buff card system where cards randomly appear on the map during battles, providing temporary stat boosts or debuffs. This system aims to increase tactical variety and reduce reliance on fixed overpowered classes, though some players find the randomness and sheer number of cards overwhelming.
- Chapter-Based Level Caps (weight 0.29): The game implements a level cap system tied to story progression, preventing players from over-leveling and forcing strategic play. This mechanic, while challenging, can necessitate grinding training battles when the cap increases, and some players find it a mixed bag.
- Core Tactical RPG Gameplay (weight 0.28): The game is a classic turn-based tactical RPG, emphasizing strategic depth through unit positioning, terrain advantage, and skill usage on grid-based isometric battlefields. It is often compared to Final Fantasy Tactics and is considered a progenitor of the genre.
- Branching Story & Player Choices (weight 0.19): The narrative features multiple branching paths and endings, where player choices significantly impact the story's flow and character fates, including permadeath for prominent party members. This system, enhanced by the 'Wheel of Fortune' mechanic, offers high replayability.
- Training & Difficulty Options (weight 0.13): The game includes a training mode, often involving AI-controlled mock battles, which allows for quick character leveling and weapon proficiency. It also offers adjustable difficulty settings, catering to different player preferences, though the learning curve can be steep.
- Consumable & Equipment Slots (weight 0.11): Characters now have four dedicated consumable slots for items like healing and buffs, alongside standard equipment slots for weapons, armor, and rings. This system allows for flexible loadout adjustments and strategic use of items during battle.
- Mid-Battle Enemy Recruitment (weight 0.09): Players can recruit various enemy units, including monsters and non-humans, during battles. This typically requires reducing their HP to critical levels and using a specific recruit skill, adding a strategic layer to unit acquisition.
- Early Game Difficulty & Pacing (weight 0.07): The early to mid-game is noted for its higher difficulty compared to the late game, with a slow burn for story and system introductions. Some players find battles tedious, but the overall difficulty is considered high compared to modern games.
- Varied Classes & Enemy Abilities (weight 0.07): The game offers a diverse range of classes for both player units and enemies, each with unique skills and roles. Enemies can possess exclusive classes with high stats and powerful abilities, requiring players to adapt their tactics.

Performance notes:
- Excellent Steam Deck performance (weight 0.08): Players consistently report that the game runs flawlessly on the Steam Deck, maintaining a smooth 60FPS with no noticeable issues or glitches, making it an ideal portable experience.
- Frequent frame drops and freezes (weight 0.04): Multiple players experience random frame losses and freezes, occurring every 30 to 60 seconds for several seconds, significantly impacting gameplay fluidity. This issue seems to be a recent development for some.
- Game crashes during name input (weight 0.03): A specific bug causes the game to crash when players attempt to enter a name, particularly on Windows 11 with Microsoft IME. A workaround involving making the game inactive temporarily prevents this crash.
- Slow game speed (weight 0.01): One player reported that the game's speed felt consistently slow throughout their playthrough, up until the ending. This feedback is based on limited information.

Recommendations:
- Highly Recommended for Genre Fans (weight 0.64): The game is overwhelmingly recommended for fans of tactical RPGs, especially those who enjoy titles like Final Fantasy Tactics, Triangle Strategy, or Fire Emblem. Many consider it a must-play for its genre, story, and challenging gameplay, often comparing it favorably to other classics.
- Mixed Reception, Price Sensitivity (weight 0.4): Player reception is mixed, with many recommending the game only when heavily discounted due to perceived issues or a high initial price. Some players regret their purchase or would only recommend it to specific niches like veterans or those seeking extreme challenges.
- Original/PSP Versions Preferred (weight 0.21): A significant number of players suggest that older versions, particularly the PSP's 'Let Us Cling Together,' offer a superior experience. They recommend emulating or playing these older versions over 'Reborn' due to various changes and perceived flaws in the remake.
- Patience and Learning Curve Required (weight 0.03): The game demands significant patience to learn its mechanics and abilities. Achieving 100% completion or mastering content often requires extensive grinding, online research, and thorough planning, making it less suitable for casual players.
- Consider Alternatives (weight 0.02): Some players suggest that there are better, more modern tactical RPGs available, such as Fire Emblem or Dark Deity, which might offer a more satisfying experience than 'Reborn'.

Other player notes:
- Multiple Version Experience (weight 0.28): Players frequently mention having played various previous versions of the game, including SFC, PSP, and Saturn. This extensive experience often shapes their expectations and appreciation for the 'Reborn' edition, noting both improvements and areas where it falls short of a definitive version.
- Nostalgia Drives Purchases (weight 0.25): Many players bought the game due to nostalgia for the original or other classic RPGs, often playing for extended periods despite initial reservations or issues. Some even purchased it specifically for available mods that enhance the nostalgic experience.
- Modding Community Interest (weight 0.23): There is a strong interest in mods, particularly for the PC version, to address perceived issues like the level cap, Union Level, and Level Sync. Some players even purchased the game specifically because mods were available or anticipated.
- Long Playtime & Endgame (weight 0.22): Despite some complaints, many players report investing significant hours into the game, often exceeding 90-200 hours to complete the main story, post-game content, or achieve all achievements. This indicates substantial engagement for those who stick with it.
- Compared to Final Fantasy Tactics (weight 0.2): A significant portion of the feedback directly compares the game to Final Fantasy Tactics, often expressing a preference for FFT's storytelling, mechanics, or overall impact. Many players hope for a similar remake or sequel for Final Fantasy Tactics.
- Graphics and Music are Acceptable (weight 0.15): Feedback on graphics and music is generally neutral, with players finding them 'decent' or 'okay' for the style and age of the game, though some note fuzziness or similarity to previous versions.
- Classic Status & Price Justification (weight 0.07): Some players view the game as a controversial masterpiece and a classic that younger generations should experience. They believe the price is justified for a game with such a rich history and influence on the TRPG genre.
- Localization Concerns (weight 0.06): Several players expressed dissatisfaction with the English localization, citing poor script quality and suggesting that the Japanese voice acting is preferable. There's a clear preference for fan translations over the official English script.
- Early Game Engagement (weight 0.05): A notable number of players are still in the early stages of the game (Chapter 2 or earlier), with some not yet fully understanding the content. This suggests a potential drop-off point or a learning curve that might deter some players early on.
- Desire for Ogre Battle Remakes (weight 0.04): Fans of the Ogre Battle saga express a strong desire for other titles in the series, such as Knight of Lodis, to receive a similar 'Reborn' treatment, indicating a loyal fanbase for the broader franchise.
- Guides Recommended for Progression (weight 0.02): Players suggest that new players should consult guides to avoid missing important NPCs or content, indicating that the game's progression can be complex or unforgiving without external help.
- Deluxe Edition Value Questioned (weight 0.01): One reviewer explicitly states that the deluxe edition does not add value, suggesting that the extra cost may not be justified for the content it provides.
- Steam Features Missing (weight 0.01): Some players noted the absence of Steam Workshop support and difficulty finding the soundtrack via Steam filters, indicating minor quality-of-life issues for the PC platform.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.23): Players are frustrated by restrictive game mechanics such as the level cap system, which forces excessive grinding and limits character progression. The random buff card system, unbalanced difficulty spikes, and poor AI for allied units also contribute to a feeling of unfairness and lack of control. Additionally, numerous bugs, clunky UI, and slow, tedious combat further detract from the experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.23): Players are satisfied with the game's captivating and dark story, deep tactical gameplay, and high replayability. Many appreciate the quality of the remaster, including improved graphics, voice acting, and quality-of-life features. The challenging yet rewarding gameplay and the overall execution of the remake contribute to a positive experience for fans of the genre.
- Disappointment (weight 0.21): Disappointment stems from changes made in the 'Reborn' version, particularly the level cap and buff card system, which many feel detract from the original's strategic depth and fun. Players also express disappointment with the game's slow pace, dated graphics, and perceived lack of significant improvements for a full-price remake. Balance issues with certain classes and a general feeling that the game doesn't live up to expectations or the original version are also common.
- Excitement (weight 0.06): Players are excited by the game's status as a top-tier tactical RPG, its challenging and deep strategic gameplay, and its compelling, plot-heavy story with branching paths. The high quality of the remaster, including voice acting and presentation, also generates excitement, particularly for those eager to revisit a legendary title or experience a new, improved version.
- Anger (weight 0.04): Anger is primarily directed at perceived malicious game design choices, such as the level cap, random buff cards, and poor AI for guest units, which many feel actively ruin the game. Players are also angry about unaddressed bugs, the permanent loss of characters, and the feeling that the developers did not adequately playtest or balance the game, leading to a frustrating and unfair experience.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): Nostalgia is a strong emotion, with many players expressing fondness for the original Super Famicom (SFC) or PSP versions of the game. Revisiting the classic title evokes memories of childhood and earlier gaming experiences, contributing to a sense of familiarity and appreciation for the game's legacy.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Players experience joy from the game being as fun as they remembered, enjoying the process of collecting characters and customizing their troops. The engaging story and the game's overall quality as a Square Enix remaster also contribute to a sense of happiness and enjoyment.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom arises from repetitive and tedious battles, a lack of engaging combat options, and excessive lore dumps. The level cap system, which hinders character progression, and the overall slow pace of the game also contribute to a feeling of disengagement and a lack of excitement during gameplay.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Players express admiration for the game's status as one of the greatest SRPGs and a progenitor of the genre. They view it as a masterpiece, praising its complex story, wonderful pixel art, and its enduring quality despite its age, considering it a 'crown jewel of tactics games.'
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate modern quality-of-life features like the rewind function, high-definition UI, and ample in-game help and lore. The full orchestral BGM, voice acting performances, and the game's emphasis on tactical use are also highly valued, along with the developers' effort in bringing the game to modern platforms.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance is caused by tedious elements such as long, unskippable animations, the random card system, and the repetitive nature of crafting healing and magic items. Targeting issues, the high price, and frustrating 'escort the dumb AI' battles also contribute to player irritation.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Players are confused by the game's overly complicated and unclear mechanics, opaque stats, and unexpected bugs. Difficulty understanding unit recruitment, the unclear intent behind mouse and keyboard controls, and general design choices that seem illogical or poorly explained also lead to confusion.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.01): Players generally enjoy the game's complexity, presentation, story, voice acting, and overall gameplay experience, even when acknowledging its flaws. The fun gameplay, in-depth elements, and the game's ability to become more fluid after unlocking special weapon skills contribute to a positive overall experience.
- Mild frustration (weight 0.01): Mild frustration is caused by the randomness of the card system, a need for some grinding, and new mechanics like random buff cards and level caps. UI issues, localization problems, and battles that feel too long due to the number of units or unexplained mechanics also contribute to this feeling.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players express surprise at the game's low ratings from other reviews, its unexpected quality on par with Final Fantasy Tactics, and its ability to exceed expectations despite previous dislikes for Square Enix titles. The pricing of the game and the high quality of the English voice acting also elicit surprise.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Players are engaged by the game's rich tactical RPG experience, deep and challenging systems, and the philosophical implications of its story's multiple branching pathways. Helpful descriptions, tooltips, and compelling combat and character management also contribute to a strong sense of involvement.
- Mild disappointment (weight 0.01): Mild disappointment stems from specific changes in the 'Reborn' version, such as map restrictions, outdated visuals, and missing localization. System changes and a perceived similarity between classes also contribute to this feeling, indicating that while not severely negative, these aspects fall short of expectations.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Players find amusement in the repetitive use of the 'Shiftstone' plot device, the auto-battle feature, and the humorous portrayal of certain characters, particularly Vyce, through voice acting. The game's early request for players to commit war crimes and chaotic gameplay scenarios also provide a source of lighthearted enjoyment.
- Mixed feelings (weight 0.01): Players experience mixed feelings due to the remake's changes, which are perceived as a blend of good, bad, and neutral. Specific alterations to level caps, buff cards, bow mechanics, and auto-skills create a 'wishy-washy' experience where improvements are not always clear, and some changes are seen as detrimental.
- Hope (weight 0): Players express hope for future AAA tactics games, the potential for the game's story to improve, and a desire for DLC or a sequel. There is also hope for a more thorough remake in the future and for Square Enix to release Final Fantasy Tactics on PC.}