StarTopic Tactics Ogre: Reborn |ST| Valerian Rhapsody [NSW|PS|PC]

[MissingNo.]

​

Release date:	2022/11/11 (all platforms)
Platforms:	Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Steam
Genre:	Tactical RPG
Developer:	Square Enix
Publisher:	Square Enix
Rating:	PEGI 12, USK 12, ESRB T, CERO B
File size:	6.4 GB (NSW)
Physical release:	Standard Edition, Collectors Edition (Japan exclusive)
Demo:	not available
Voices:	Japanese, English
Text:	Japanese, English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Korean, Chinese (simplified, traditional)

The 2022 remaster of a 2010 PSP remake of a 1995 Super Famicom game, Tactics Ogre: Reborn is the definitive version of the beloved SRPG Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together.

Tactics Ogre is part of the Ogre Battle series, which started in 1993 with Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen. The game was directed by Yasumi Matsuno, who would later go on to work on Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII, to name but a few.

After its initial Super Famicom release, Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together was later ported to the Sega Saturn, and first released outside of Japan when it appeared on PlayStation in 1998. The 2010 remake for PSP was released as Tactics Ogre: Wheel of Fortune in Japan, and marked the game's first official release in Europe, where it was released with its original title intact.

Rather than simply giving the PSP remake a fresh coat of paint, this version offers a variety of improvements and changes.

• Fully re-designed and updated UI, offering more information, while being easier to read
• Fully voiced dialogue in English and Japanese, changeable at any time
• Remastered sound effects
• Fully orchestrated soundtrack, worked on by original Tactics Ogre composer Hitoshi Sakimoto, including all new pieces composed specifically for Reborn

While all this has become the norm modern remasters by now, the developers also revamped some of the game's mechanics.

• A new unit-by-unit leveling system replaces the class-wide level management system from the PSP remake
• Significant changes to the enemy AI have been introduced, allowing the enemy’s tactics to change depending on the layout of the battlefield and the state of the battle — the AI for your allies has seen similar improvements as well
• Various quality of life improvements have been made, such as a quicker pace of battle, auto save, and a complete overhaul to the controls

But wait, it still goes deeper than that!

• Changes have been made to equipment requirements, ensuring you can equip and use everything when you find it, while keeping class restrictions for equipment and magic intact
• The skill system has seen a significant overhaul, including the addition of new skills, and the re-tuning of returning ones
• Finishing moves, ninjutsu and war dances now use MP instead of TP, which are gone entirely
• The ability to scout a battlefield ahead of battle has been introduced
• You can now save up to five different battle parties

There are still even more new additions and changes, but in the interest of keeping this OP nice and snappy, you can read up on them here instead:

What’s new in Tactics Ogre: Reborn? | Square Enix Blog

What has been added and improved in Tactics Ogre: Reborn? We run you through the changes coming to the tactical RPG masterpiece.

www.square-enix-games.com

The game is set on 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 half a century, Valeria knew prosperity.

Yet upon the king's death, civil war erupted once more, 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 believe the calm will last...

What follows is an epic tale of war, as many memorable characters get swept up into an escalating conflict. Expect a lot of pivotal decisions to be made, leading to varying branches in the story and, of course, to different endings.

It is worth noting that unlike Fire Emblem, this is not a purely turn based SRPG, but rather one where the turn order of individual units is decided upon by their stats. If you played Triangle Strategy earlier this year, you will already know what to expect in terms of how the battles play out. (And if you did not — what is wrong with you?)

In case you want to read up in more detail on how the battle system, classes, units, etc. work, you can do so right here:

Take a new look at Tactics Ogre: Reborn | Square Enix Blog

We take a look at the gameplay systems of the tactical RPG, coming November 11, 2022 to PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch and Steam.

www.square-enix-games.com

To get this thread rolling, I would like to know the following:

1. Are you playing this classic for the first time? Or is this but one of your many trips around the Valerian Isles?
2. What is your favourite Queen song (and why is it not Dead On Time)?

And last, but not least:

Let Us Cling Together​

Reviews:

Tactics Ogre: 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...

www.metacritic.com

Tactics Ogre: Reborn Reviews

Tactics Ogre: Reborn is rated 'Mighty' after being reviewed by 73 critics, with an overall average score of 84. It's ranked in the top 7% of games and recommended by 96% of critics.

opencritic.com

 

[Legion of Primes]

I really hope to try and get this next month around my birthday

 

[Dardan Sandiego]

 

[Sumio Mondo]

Great job, MissingNo.

Return of the King! Matsuno's masterpiece (one of many, tbf).
I'll have more time for it during the holiday season. Hope any newcomers to the game enjoy it.

 

[MissingNo.]

Return of the Cling!

Ftfy.

I'm so sorry.

 

[Vantell]

This one is on my list to get. But currently there is an overload of games :'). So I guess this will be a next year game in a lull moment.

Also our review is also online. In Dutch tho.

 

[Rowsdower]

This is my most anticipated game for the year. I’ve never played any Ogre Battle games, and am very excited to jump in to this after reading for years what an amazing game LUCT is.

 

[Earthbounder]

I am waiting for a price drop to grab this one. I really want to play it, but games are way too expensive here in Brazil and that 50-dollar tag for a remake without many updates made me balk.

I am glad to see it's been getting fantastic reviews.

 

[MissingNo.]

I am waiting for a price drop to grab this one. I really want to play it, but games are way too expensive here in Brazil and that 50-dollar tag for a remake without many updates made me balk.

I am glad to see it's been getting fantastic reviews.

It does have a shit-ton of updates, but mostly under-the-hood ones affecting the game's mechanics.

But I know what you mean. It is not exactly an overhaul in terms of visuals. And while I would have loved to see this get the HD-2D treatment or a similar upgrade, the idea of them retaining the original look for the game while only making it look more crisp has grown on me a lot over time.

Hope you will enjoy it whenever you get to it!

 

[SammyJ9]

I've been wanting to play this game for years, so I'll definitely pick it up, but probably not until after Pokemon it's looking like. Great ST though!

 

[King_Dodongo]

Will play this with a smile (first time playing this particular Tactics Ogre).
Hopefully, Knight of Lodis Reborn will follow, as well as a completely new one. (yes,yes people will be looking forward for Final Fantasy tactics soon, I know I am as well)

 

[Xenoblade 3]

I'll be buying this soon, my backlog is looking enormous tho

 

[ermitron2]

I was looking at other upgrades and the no random battles and power ups you can get during the battles seems to make the game more friendly and avoid grinding

 

[Seven]

Great ST @MissingNo.!

The first time I played this game was when it released on the PSP back in 2010 and I loved it; went Law that time so I may go either Chaos or Neutral this time around.

Hopefully it'll do better this time around so we'll see an Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen remake and maybe Matsuno will continue the saga.

 

[SirArthur]

Great that everyone liked it, looking forward to it. Probably after the holidays (P5R and Pokemon are taking my winter break)

 

[ermitron2]

Ok this may be one of my favorite releases just for one reason: BIG TEXT. Thank Matsuno and SE they really kept in mind people were going to play this in switch. Also the game looks really good and it's really fast too (my main issue with triangle strategy was that it was too slow).

I thought they used a filter similar to those in emulators that look really bad, but nom, they do use a filter but it's kinda like in a middle point where it softens the edges but not too much.

Voice acting is also decent, listened to both english and japanese and both do a good work.

 

[linkwashere]

Amazon making me wait an extra week for my game... good I am still closing the last chapters of my golden route in Triangle Strategy.

 

[MissingNo.]

Waiting for the delivery person on release day morning is always the most painful part of the journey, isn't it.

Managed to grab the game+steelbook version from amazon and I am curious to see whether the steelbook will come in Switch size, or if it is a PS4/5 sized steelbook for everybody.

 

[AngryNopon]

Somebody has fucked up my order apparently, no Tactics Ogre weekend for me


Pain

 

[Deleted member 1896]

I just wanted to thank you, @MissingNo. , for acknowledging Queen in the thread title and the post itself. I've never played a Tactics Ogre/Ogre Battle game, but have always appreciated the amusing musical connection.
Perhaps I'll pick this up on Switch eventually, there are too many good games to play and not enough free time.

As for a favorite Queen song, I'm rather fond of the darker and more sinister melody and prog-rock elements of Innuendo.

 

[MissingNo.]

Somebody has fucked up my order apparently, no Tactics Ogre weekend for me


Pain

Jury's still out on whether mine will arrive in time or not. Cutting it awfully close there…

I just wanted to thank you, @MissingNo. , for acknowledging Queen in the thread title and the post itself. I've never played a Tactics Ogre/Ogre Battle game, but have always appreciated the amusing musical connection.
Perhaps I'll pick this up on Switch eventually, there are too many good games to play and not enough free time.

As for a favorite Queen song, I'm rather fond of the slightly darker and more sinister melody and slightly prog-rock elements of Innuendo.

Hell yeah, Innuendo is a great choice! One of my faves as well. I really appreciate whenever they mesh different styles into the same song, and this is probably the prime example of it, even though Bohemian Rhapsody still exists.

 

[Shinespark]

I've got Front Mission 1st on my horizon, and this game will probably be saved until next year. Also to echo the sentiments in the fantastic OP, if you're interested in this game and haven't played Triangle Strategy then change that! That's probably my personal GOTY.

 

[ermitron2]

For someone kinda noob to the series (I remember played ogre battle in snes but it was more a strategy game and it was more than 20 years ago), are there actually 7 games or its something kinda like a xenogears thing?

 

[MissingNo.]

For someone kinda noob to the series (I remember played ogre battle in snes but it was more a strategy game and it was more than 20 years ago), are there actually 7 games or its something kinda like a xenogears thing?

Definitely a Xenogears type of situation. Or maybe closer to a Star Wars OT type situation before they did the prequels.

 

[bathynomus]

Quick y’all I can’t make decisions for myself, do I get this today and play like six hours before I drop it to play Pokémon, or do I wait til like December/January and try to get a sale

 

[ermitron2]

Definitely a Xenogears type of situation. Or maybe closer to a Star Wars OT type situation before they did the prequels.

Ok I get it, rather the question is, is the franchise still alive to make the rest of the games? (IIRC theres the 2 snes games, the gba game and the N64 , the other ones are ports right?)

 

[MissingNo.]

Ok I get it, rather the question is, is the franchise still alive to make the rest of the games? (IIRC theres the 2 snes games, the gba game and the N64 , the other ones are ports right?)

Guess it depends on how well this does.

 

[ermitron2]

Welp I did it

 

[uncleoptimus]

I had a steam version pre-ordered (thx GmG 20% off!) and intended to main my playthru(s?) on Deck.

Simultaneously ordered a steelbook version via Amazon Germany for a pretty physical switch collecible. Fingers crossed it makes its way over to the US. Shame we don't get the steelbook here!

But then there I am skimming some review articles and videos and yup, Boom caved at midnite

Grabbed Reborn on the eShop (thx switchup 10% off!) and stayed up Too Late soaking in the beginning couple scenarios. Switch version is pristine, looks fabulous on the OLED and the system will be much lighter than Deck for portable play.

I never played the PSP version only the SuperFami cartridge back in the day. So a lot of the gameplay systems are quite different to my memory. Everyone apparently levels at the same time post battle now. I recall back then lobbing rocks all over the battlefield (incl friendly fire) to farm XP, but no more

The pixel graphics are OK, my nostalgia is going to bias me here. Love being able to view the map from above with a stick flick.

The orchestrated music is really terrific! The songs were all in the back of my head for years and years. It was a treat to hear them conjured forth in an even better-than-remembered format.

Also: HD rumble? Understated but kinda cool effect.

Voices are a mixed bag. Katiua sounds a bit too old for example. Canopus kinda throws me off, too. Hopefully it all grows on me!

At any rate I give it 10/10 Would Buy Three Times Again

 

[7threst]

Whaaaaat didn't even realise this released now lmao! This is gonnna be a great weekend haha!

 

[uncleoptimus]

Ok I get it, rather the question is, is the franchise still alive to make the rest of the games? (IIRC theres the 2 snes games, the gba game and the N64 , the other ones are ports right?)

This is the PowerBall 2 Billion dollar question and why I'm quixotically buying multiple copies of Reborn with a starry-eyed smile.

Square-Enix has actually prioritized this franchise with an above-and-beyond budget and scope release in order to test the waters again.

If Reborn succeeds, surely the Ogre Battle Saga will return again in full force!

Matsuno is willing to do it, even return to the director's chair for it.
To me, thats like a call to action

Between a full-on remake of the original Ogre Battle and a brand-new game I am actually not sure which I would like more. I really love the former, but ofc the latter would be a dream come true.

As for the series gameography:

• Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen (Epsiode V)
• Ogre Battle Gaiden: The Price of Zenobia (side-story, Neo-Geo Pocket!?)
• Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (Episode VII, incl two remakes!)
• Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Calibur (Episode VI)
• Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis (side story, GBA)

 

[ermitron2]

This is the PowerBall 2 Billion dollar question and why I'm quixotically buying multiple copies of Reborn with a starry-eyed smile.

Square-Enix has actually prioritized this franchise with an above-and-beyond budget and scope release in order to test the waters again.

If Reborn succeeds, surely the Ogre Battle Saga will return again in full force!

Matsuno is willing to do it, even return to the director's chair for it.
To me, thats like a call to action

Between a full-on remake of the original Ogre Battle and a brand-new game I am actually not sure which I would like more. I really love the former, but ofc the latter would be a dream come true.

As for the series gameography:

• Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen (Epsiode V)
• Ogre Battle Gaiden: The Price of Zenobia (side-story, Neo-Geo Pocket!?)
• Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (Episode VII, incl two remakes!)
• Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Calibur (Episode VI)
• Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis (side story, GBA)

Ok that make sense now. I really liked so far and I recommending it to everyone I know

 

[MissingNo.]

I had a steam version pre-ordered (thx GmG 20% off!) and intended to main my playthru(s?) on Deck.

Simultaneously ordered a steelbook version via Amazon Germany for a pretty physical switch collecible. Fingers crossed it makes its way over to the US. Shame we don't get the steelbook here!

But then there I am skimming some review articles and videos and yup, Boom caved at midnite

Grabbed Reborn on the eShop (thx switchup 10% off!) and stayed up Too Late soaking in the beginning couple scenarios. Switch version is pristine, looks fabulous on the OLED and the system will be much lighter than Deck for portable play.

I never played the PSP version only the SuperFami cartridge back in the day. So a lot of the gameplay systems are quite different to my memory. Everyone apparently levels at the same time post battle now. I recall back then lobbing rocks all over the battlefield (incl friendly fire) to farm XP, but no more

The pixel graphics are OK, my nostalgia is going to bias me here. Love being able to view the map from above with a stick flick.

The orchestrated music is really terrific! The songs were all in the back of my head for years and years. It was a treat to hear them conjured forth in an even better-than-remembered format.

Also: HD rumble? Understated but kinda cool effect.

Voices are a mixed bag. Katiua sounds a bit too old for example. Canopus kinda throws me off, too. Hopefully it all grows on me!

At any rate I give it 10/10 Would Buy Three Times Again

The steelbook is really nice, you can look forward to getting that whenever it makes its way across the pond! Might post a picture of it tomorrow, in case you want to see it.

Also couldn't agree more about the nostalgia hitting hard the moment you hear the music and see the pixel graphics. Even without the nostalgia it looks pretty good, I'd say. The voice acting will grow on me, I'm sure, if Triangle Strategy is any indication. I am also a huge fan of what they did with the UI.

Only managed to play for a bit over an hour so far, but I am looking forward to losing dozens of hours to it over the next couple of weeks, and I hope this does well enough for them to revive the series for good.

 

[Terrell]

I did my part.
Not my first time playing it (I first played the PS1 release when I rented it before it was stolen from the rental store by someone else), but this is first time owning a copy of it, as buying a PS1 copy was notoriously difficult for me at that time. This will be the first time it has released on a platform I've owned since that localized PS1 port, so I look forward to playing through it in full for the first time.

 

[Jimmy Joe]

Picking it up on the Switch tomorrow. Actually my first time playing it!

I hope it does well enough that, I mean.... do you think Matusno would be willing to come back for a new Ogre Battle or Tactics Ogre???

 

[Terrell]

Picking it up on the Switch tomorrow. Actually my first time playing it!

I hope it does well enough that, I mean.... do you think Matusno would be willing to come back for a new Ogre Battle or Tactics Ogre???

Well, Algebra Factory was contracted for a FFXIV Ivalice raid and something else, so... maybe? He might be well past continuing the Ogre Battle saga, though, who knows. His big bugbear working at Square Enix was other people meddling in his scenario writing.

 

[ermitron2]

Played 2 more hours today and it's really good, the extra things they add like becnhing the xp into charms when you reach the max party level is a great way to avoid having units underleveled. Also the dialog is awesome, don't know if it's the same of the psp port but they really add personality to every important character.

 

[MissingNo.]

Played 2 more hours today and it's really good, the extra things they add like becnhing the xp into charms when you reach the max party level is a great way to avoid having units underleveled. Also the dialog is awesome, don't know if it's the same of the psp port but they really add personality to every important character.

This is the first time the game has been given voiced dialogue!

So far I am split on it in that I think it works better for some characters than others, as in I would have expected/imagined some characters to sound different. But that is to be expected when you give a classic game VA for the first time.

 

[ermitron2]

This is the first time the game has been given voiced dialogue!

So far I am split on it in that I think it works better for some characters than others, as in I would have expected/imagined some characters to sound different. But that is to be expected when you give a classic game VA for the first time.

Oh I meant the script. Like there are a lot of responses and remarks that just make me go "Now that's witty", like at the beginning after you take the castle and then someone warns Denam about the dangers of war and he goes like "If I wanted to die I'd wouldn't be a soldier. I fight to live" or the interactions between Vice and Canopus

 

[MissingNo.]

Oh I meant the script. Like there are a lot of responses and remarks that just make me go "Now that's witty", like at the beginning after you take the castle and then someone warns Denam about the dangers of war and he goes like "If I wanted to die I'd wouldn't be a soldier. I fight to live" or the interactions between Vice and Canopus

Ah, gotcha! No, from what I have seen and heard in previews, they did not change the script.

 

[ermitron2]

Ah, gotcha! No, from what I have seen and heard in previews, they did not change the script.

I went and check and they actually changed some things. For example that conversation with Denam and LAnselot, it goes the same way up untill that part. In the PSP script Denam goes

"If death were our aim, there are swifter ways to go about it than soldiery"

While in this version they added more dialogue

"If death were our aim, there are swifter ways to go about it than soldiery. We fight to live"

So it seems they added a few more things to make it flow more natural I guess

 

[MissingNo.]

I went and check and they actually changed some things. For example that conversation with Denam and LAnselot, it goes the same way up untill that part. In the PSP script Denam goes

"If death were our aim, there are swifter ways to go about it than soldiery"

While in this version they added more dialogue

"If death were our aim, there are swifter ways to go about it than soldiery. We fight to live"

So it seems they added a few more things to make it flow more natural I guess

Oh, that's neat, nice catch!

 

[uncleoptimus]

I hope it does well enough that, I mean.... do you think Matusno would be willing to come back for a new Ogre Battle or Tactics Ogre???

Well, Algebra Factory was contracted for a FFXIV Ivalice raid and something else, so... maybe? He might be well past continuing the Ogre Battle saga, though, who knows.

I also thought "ah, I think he may be done captaining the series" but then a friendly redditor links to this segment of a 5-part interview with Matsuno and other key dev team members:

Matsuno says that he would very much like to answer the calls for a sequel to Tactics Ogre, but this is ultimately a business decision, and he reiterates that it is ultimately up to Square Enix.

Granted the interview was from two years ago, but the desire shines through. Heck its magnified by all the work we now know he and the team put into Reborn! Finally, I like to think the flood of posts on his Twitter promoting the release expresses his sincere wish to be given the opportunity!

I hear you, Matsuno-san!!!

Anyway, though it pre-dates Reborn's announcement and subsequent release, that was a really good interview. A 5-parter with all kinds of nuggets.
Here is a link to part 1 for anyone who is curious.

 

[MissingNo.]

Made some pictures of the steelbook, it is a nice one!

Spoiler: Behold my shitty photography skills

 

[Terrell]

I also thought "ah, I think he may be done captaining the series" but then a friendly redditor links to this segment of a 5-part interview with Matsuno and other key dev team members:





Granted the interview was from two years ago, but the desire shines through. Heck its magnified by all the work we now know he and the team put into Reborn! Finally, I like to think the flood of posts on his Twitter promoting the release expresses his sincere wish to be given the opportunity!

I hear you, Matsuno-san!!!

Anyway, though it pre-dates Reborn's announcement and subsequent release, that was a really good interview. A 5-parter with all kinds of nuggets.
Here is a link to part 1 for anyone who is curious.

2 years ago is nothing, really. So with that in mind...

RED ALERT! BUY THIS GAME IF YOU WANT MORE OGRE GAMES, THIS IS NOT A DRILL, PEOPLE!!!

 

[PixelKnight]

2 years ago is nothing, really. So with that in mind...

RED ALERT! BUY THIS GAME IF YOU WANT MORE OGRE GAMES, THIS IS NOT A DRILL, PEOPLE!!!

As an SRPG fan I picked this up too, even if I won’t play it for a while. I’m just stoked that so many of my favourites are getting re-released, such as the Front Mission games. I’ll pick them all up on Switch, I’ll get around to playing them through eventually but there’s only so many 30+ hour rpg campaigns I can fit into a year

 

[Jimmy Joe]

God, don't give me hope. I would kill any other major RPG series on a blood-soaked altar if it meant I got a trailer for a new Tactics Ogre, or just a logo for a new Ogre Battle

I know we'll probably never see another Ogre Battle game again, but imagining it makes me very happy

 

[ermitron2]

ANybody knows what does spellstrike does? See the skill and I see it activates sometime but don't see any difference in damage or range

 

[MissingNo.]

ANybody knows what does spellstrike does? See the skill and I see it activates sometime but don't see any difference in damage or range

Afaik it increases accuracy for spells, but is only really useful for debuffs, which tend to have lower accuracy.

 

[Jawmuncher]

Is it true that the defular Group name is "blocked" when trying to use it?

Regardless, I hate to admit that it wasn't until recently where I found out Ogre Battle 64 is a far different game from Tactics Ogre (It's not even a Tactics RPG from the look of things lol).