"Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together" is a tactical role-playing game developed by Quest Corporation and originally released for the Super Famicom in 1995. It was later ported to the Sega Saturn and PlayStation, with the latter version released in North America by Atlus USA in 1998. The game is the second entry in the Ogre Battle series and was directed, written, and designed by Yasumi Matsuno.
Gameplay and Features:
Storyline: The game is set in the war-torn kingdom of Valeria, where the protagonist, Denim Powell (whose name can be chosen by the player), joins a local resistance force against the occupying powers. The story delves into ethnic conflicts and political drama.
Gameplay Mechanics: Battles are turn-based and take place on grid-based maps from an overhead perspective. The game emphasizes positioning and the use of character class abilities.
Character Customization: Players can input the lead character's name, birthday, and answer questions that determine their alignment and statistics.
Music: The game's soundtrack, composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata, is inspired by the narrative and remains fondly remembered by fans.
Reception:
The game received positive reviews for its gameplay, narrative, and graphics. It sold 500,000 units in Japan and was praised for its deep story and engaging combat system.
Legacy:
"Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together" is considered one of the best tactical RPGs of its time and has influenced many other games in the genre. Yasumi Matsuno, the game's creator, later joined Square (now Square Enix) and developed "Final Fantasy Tactics," which shares many similarities with "Tactics Ogre."
A remake titled "Tactics Ogre: Reborn" was released in 2022 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and PC via Steam, featuring updated graphics, sound, and game design while staying true to the original game's roots.