One of the biggest surprises from the latest Nintendo Direct might just be Project Triangle Strategy, a tactical RPG that feels like a successor to the the Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics series. While it may look more like Square Enix's Octopath Traveler, Project Triangle Strategy (a working title) might just be the the closest fans get to a new Final Fantasy Tactics game.
Tactical RPGs appear to be in-demand once again, and while many TRPG fans are still waiting on a true Final Fantasy Tactics follow-up, Project Triangle Strategy appears to be that in everything but name. Square Enix has released a couple of TRPGs lately based around some of its most famous franchises, with War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius releasing last year and Dragon Quest Tact releasing internationally just last month. However, both of those are mobile titles, so it's great that a new TRPG is finally headed to consoles.
There are multiple character and story parallels already present between the two games. In Project Triangle Strategy, the protagonist is named Serenoa Wolffort, who's also the heir to House Wolffort. Fans of FF Tactics should be reminded of that game's protagonist, Ramza Beoulve, who was the son of the head of House Beoulve. The parallels between the warring nobility and political intrigue found in Final Fantasy Tactics and Project Triangle Strategy is instantly noticeable.
How Project Triangle Strategy & Final Fantasy Tactics Are Alike
It's not just the world and characters that feel distinctly like Final Fantasy Tactics. As in Tactics, height elevations and distances play a key role in how combat is undertaken in Project Triangle Strategy. Fans of Final Fantasy Tactics will notice similarities, but Project Triangle Strategy's combat feels like a more modern version with some refinements and improvements.
So, while Project Triangle Strategy may look like the critically-acclaimed Octopath Traveler, it feels and plays much more like a Final Fantasy Tactics, or even Tactics Ogre, follow-up. Player choices also matter in Project Triangle Strategy, creating divergent paths based on the decisions players make throughout the game. So, players will need to think carefully before acting, since their decisions could have serious ramifications.
While it may not be the Final Fantasy Tactics sequel or remake that many fans were hoping for, Project Triangle Strategy appears to be a promising successor - and a free demo is currently available on Nintendo Switch. Both Square Enix games have a lot in common, from world-building and characters to story and combat. With all these similarities, the biggest question is why Square Enix simply didn't make another Final Fantasy Tactics game.