Out of the thousands of games I’ve played since I was a child, Final Fantasy Tactics is the one that I’ve completed the most times. I’ve dived head first into the medieval world of Ivalice so many times I can see castles racked with knights behind my eyelids. It’s not a short game, either. Unsurprisingly, I’d call it my favorite game of all-time.
As strange of a choice as that is given it’s a tactical RPG made with a smaller budget than just about any contemporary game, I’m not alone. Final Fantasy Tactics creator Yasumi Matsuno knows how impactful the game has been, and more importantly, how much the strategy RPG genre has suffered since the 90s. To combat that, he’s working together with a studio based in Carlsbad, California to deliver a spiritual successor. If I said I was excited that’d be an understatement.
The game is called Unsung Story: Tale of the Guardians, and unfortunately it won’t exist unless it gets funding. Since this is a bold venture for Playdek, a studio that previously has delivered just a small handful of mobile titles, they seek funding on Kickstarter.
Okay, so the game isn’t a true FFT sequel thanks to Square Enix owning the rights to the Final Fantasy IP. However, this game has been pitched as everything a FFT fan would want from a spiritual successor: a mature story with deep strategic combat that is addictive as it is rewarding. Its soundtrack will even be scored by Hitoshi Sakmito, the man responsible for Final Fantasy Tactics‘ gripping musical pieces.
This could be a real missed opportunity for Square Enix as their “fan-base” has been begging for a return to its golden age when Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy Tactics released. On the other end of the spectrum, this could be a huge opportunity for Playdek.
If the game meets its project goal it’ll be designed for iOS, Android, PC, and Mac. However, among many additions to the project its stretch goals include a port to PS Vita and 3DS.
To learn more about Unsung Story, and even see a video about the project, check out its Kickstarter page.
[Via]
