#6

Tactics Ogre (Originally released in 1997 on the Playstaion 1)

Strategy.

Most rpgs never deal with this mechanic. TO does, and does so in the most hardcore of fashions. In the rpg world there are numerous sub categories and games such as TO fall under the Strategy Role Playing Game experience or SRPG for short. Those games pit you (usually) on a grid, kind of like a game of chess. You get to place your pieces on a selected area and the battle begins. In these games you can create your army to however you see fit. There are so many job classes to choose from, and the game even gives you special characters that are important to the story which are stronger then your average grunts the game lets you recruit normally.

Some strategies let you control everyone on your party as a group and then the enemy gets their turn to do the same. In this game, turn order is based on speed and weight of each character. If you unequip a character of all their gear, they become more agile and their turns come faster and more frequent. The trade off is they are naked and can easily get exposed by enemies who reach them. Strategy, it is entirely up to you.

As I mentioned earlier, this game is hard. The enemy artificial intelligence (or AI) isn't too stupid and seems to know to pick on units who wander off away from their allies. If anyone in your army dies, they die permanently. At least this is the case for a good 3/4 of the game. there is no resurrection spell, so its one and done for anyone in your army and of course if the main character dies its game over completely. For someone that enjoys a good story this is very crucial. You spend a good amount of time resetting certain battles and making sure no one important dies. If you place someone in harms way they sit there until there next turn. You have to plan carefully and keep your units close, but not too close in case of a magic user who can target a large area and damage multiple units at once. That's where the whole strategy aspect comes in. You have to plan and prepare for every move the enemy makes.

This game also gives you branching paths. At certain parts of the story you are given choices to make. these choices affect the entire story and eventual outcome of the game, so once again the strategy essence of the game comes into full effect. Some of these choices might turn your best friend into an arch nemesis or cause strains in your previously strong relationships to dwindle and turn bitter. Every choice matters and provides you with multiple stories arcs. It makes replaying the game entertaining because it is never the same experience.

TO has a great bend that really touches me. Its hard enough where you can't plow through the game mindlessly, yet it is almost never the same every time you replay it. It has great characters, who show real human emotion and it provides another great story along with all the extra features a SRPG has to offer. This game is a true gem and now it is being re released on the PSP for those who weren't as fortunate as me to play it. Tactics Ogre is a true classic.