Final Fantasy Tactics

Final Fantasy Tactics is a near-legendary strategy RPG for PlayStation, made by the same team as, and based heavily upon Tactics Ogre, although with a more "Final Fantasy" twist, naturally enough. In 2007, it was ported to the PlayStation Portable with a new translation and various extras.

Debug Mode
Final Fantasy Tactics contains a debug mode with a few interesting options. To activate it, input the following Gameshark code:

D0198090 0000 80198090 0006

Load a saved game, open the menu on the world map, and the cursor will now scroll down past "Option", allowing several invisible options to be selected.

The first option is probably the most interesting of them: a map/battlefield select. Simply input a number in the box that pops up, and you'll be taken to a corresponding map, where you can set up two parties, not unlike Training mode in Tactics Ogre. Of particular note is that every map in the game can be accessed here, including the ones otherwise used only in cutscenes, and even a few that are unused entirely! While they all work fine in that you can fight on them without crashing the game, some of them cause the movement/effect ranges to either glitch up or disappear entirely (although they're still functional as normal). Some maps are also largely unplayable due to obstacles and other obstructions.

A list of every map in the game, and its value, can be found on the Notes page.

The second option brings up a list of flags. They can be set to any number from 0-9999 (except "Flag 0", which always stays at 0, no matter what you input), but it's unknown at the moment what this menu does.

The third option is similar to the first, except that each digit completely changes your team setup to one of any number of in-game enemy formations, which can also give you characters you normally can't play as. However, as this option erases your current team (including Ramza), its usefulness is limited. It's fun to play with in conjunction with the map select option, however.

The fourth option brings up a small box with what appears to be a Zodiac-based date in Japanese, and freezes the game. The purpose of this is unknown.

All the options from the fifth onward bring up a menu full of blank or gibberish options, all of which freeze the game. If there was any functionality here at one point, it was removed entirely.

Unused Areas
There are a handful of areas/battlefields that were entirely unused in the main game, but you can fight on them with with the debug mode, as seen above.

Gate of Limberry Castle


This is entirely different from the map normally used in the game. It's possible that the developers may have intended for it to be similar to Bethla Garrison, in that you could choose which side to attack the castle from, but as it's a rather small map, it seems more likely that it was intended for a cutscene. Also of note is that the barred gate near the entrance is impassible, lending further credence to the latter theory.

Debug Menu Digit:

Hospital in Slums


A series of four small rooms, set up in such a way where only one can be visible on screen at a time without rotating the camera. This appears to have been for cutscene use, rather than somewhere you'd actually fight, although the doors do connect the rooms in such a way that it would be usable in battle. Presumably, it would have appeared during Chapter 1, but it realistically could have been put just about anywhere.

Debug Menu Digit:

Warjilis Trade City


This is the one and only area where you never fight at any point in the game, yet there exists a full map for it. It looks rather like you'd expect a port city to, with a pier, houses, and a few shipping crates scattered about. It's possible a battle or cutscene was planned here at some point, but was scrapped.

Debug Menu Digit:

Inside Castle Gate at Lesalia


In addition to the one used normally, there are actually three maps for Lesalia that never made an appearance, all most likely intended for cutscenes only. This first one appears to be, as the name suggests, the inner courtyard of Lesalia Castle. Note that these three maps are considerably glitchier than the rest; move/attack ranges don't show properly, and the objects are generally only textured on one side, so rotating the camera causes most or all of them to disappear. This angle is the only one not to display any glitches.

Debug Menu Digit:

Outside Castle Gate at Lesalia


The second of three unused Lesalia maps. This appears, once again as the name suggests, to be the exterior gate of the castle. Move/effect ranges are, again, glitchy, and again, this is the only angle in which this map can be viewed properly.

Debug Menu Digit:

Main Street of Lesalia


Finally, the main streets of Lesalia City. This one appears, at first glance, to be the most complete of the three... but that entire row of houses vanishes at certain map rotations! As with the other maps, the move/effect ranges aren't displayed properly.

Debug Menu Digit:

Completely Unused
There are several sets of commands that went unused in the game, possibly for testing purposes. There aren't any new attacks, but the formations of them are entirely unused, even by enemies such as Lucavi, whose stats and command sets cannot be viewed.

Unseen
Commands used by enemies whose stats are hidden. Their descriptions cannot normally be seen, and naturally, neither can the skills they contain.

Enemy Only
These commands differ from the ones above in that, while they're only used by enemies, you can see their descriptions normally. However, there's no way to see the skills they contain. Some commands have the same names as ones you can normally use, but contain different (often fewer) skills.

Completely Unused
There are also a few supplemental abilities that went unused. One of each type, in fact.


 * [[Image:FFT-Reaction.png|Reaction ability]]Reflect - "Create magic reflect wall. Add: reflect." - A reaction ability. This has no effect, though its name and description suggest that it would probably have granted Reflect status to the user if he/she was hit with magic.


 * [[Image:FFT-Support.png|Support ability]]Non-charge - "CT becomes 0" - A support ability. Non-charge is absolutely legendary among hackers/Gameshark users, as it removes the charge time from every command, except Jump, Charge, Sing, and Dance. Probably more of a debug tool than something that was intended to be in the game, as nobody, not even Lucavi, make use of it.


 * [[Image:FFT-Movement.png|Movement ability]]Silent Walk - "Become invisible, move without being seen." - A movement ability. Like Reflect, this skill is unfinished and has no effect. Its description suggests it would put the user in Invisible status by default, though the effect would likely wear off, as normal, once the user acted.

Hidden
A pair of skills that are enemy-only, and cannot be set or seen normally by the player.


 * [[Image:FFT-Movement.png|Movement ability]]Move undrwater - "Move in water up to 3h deep. You can also stop." - Just as the description says. Used by the squid demon type.


 * [[Image:FFT-Movement.png|Movement ability]](No Name) - Hex digit . This nameless, descriptionless command is actually the "Can't enter water" effect present on many monster types.

Unused Text
Lots of text that was included in the game, but cannot be seen normally.

Unused (NPC) Jobs
Many NPCs were given jobs, complete with unique descriptions, despite never appearing in battle where these would be seen. None of these jobs have a special command, and most don't work except on the most basic level. Also, the descriptions are copied directly from the game, typoes/mistranslations/bad grammar and all.


 * Arc Duke - Used by Barinten; probably a mistranslation of Archduke. "High-ranking Noble. United feudal lords from various regions. His power equals that of a King of a small nation."


 * Arc Witch - Used by Balmafula. "Witch reborn as an archwitch by contract with the darkness. Uses the mighty power of darkness."


 * Bi-Count - Used by Rudvich; probably a mistranslation of Viscount. "Rank for Nobles. Fourth highest peerage of fifth-class Nobles".


 * Bishop - Used by Simon. "Priest who takes an active part in spreading the teachings of God to people around the world."


 * Cardinal - Used by Draclau. "Cardinal, the highest authority in the church next to the High Priest."


 * Duke - Used by Larg. "Duke with hundreds of knights. A rank only given to selected nobles."


 * Duke - Used by Goltana. Same name as Larg's class, but with a different description. "Duke attended by hundreds of knights. A rank only given to selected ones from the nobility."


 * High Priest - Used by Funeral. "A messenger of God who has the highest authority in the church. His words are powerful enough to alter the fate of a nation."


 * Phony Saint - Used by Ajora. It's probably for the best that this wasn't seen in-game. "Agitator who misleads people with lies and masks. Don't underestimate him, although he cannot match the power of a genuine saint."

Other Inaccessible Jobs
The Lucavi and a few other characters' stats are hidden, so you can never read the descriptions of their jobs. Nevertheless, they do still have descriptions. Once again, all are copied directly from the game, Engrish and all.


 * Delita's Sis - Used by Teta. "Younger sister of Delita Hyral. Supported each other since their parents died at a young age."


 * Impure King - Used by Queklain. "One who wants all hideous impurities. When controleld by his wickedness, becomes difficult for a human to even maintain sanity."


 * Warlock - Used by Velius. "Strange monster created by the holy stone. Sends enemies to hell by wounding their bodies and spirit."


 * Angel of Death - Used by Zalera. "Immortal messenger who rises above the earth. Deludes the enemys' with 'Fear' leading to eternal sleep."


 * Ghost of Fury - Used by Adramelk. "Emperor of another world who rules with fury. Proud of his magic power that controls absolute spells."


 * Regulator - Used by Hashmalum. "Controls the laws of this world. Controls who can and cannod live on the earth with his powers."


 * Holy Angel - Used by Altima's first form. "Set free by truth, which controls the universe. His deeds rise above good and evil."


 * Arch Angel - Used by Altima's second form. "Ultimate being, status achieved by a holy angel. Brings chaos or order and beginnings or ends to worlds."


 * Serpentarius - Used by Elidibs. "Legendary demon who governs the serpent planet drifting in the sky. Tries to drain the world by spitting a flame of evil."

Enemy-Only Skills
Since you can't see the skills themselves, it stands to reason that you wouldn't be able to see their descriptions, either.


 * Fear:
 * The description of every skill is "Causes abnormal status."


 * Bio:
 * The description of every skill is "Magic damages with filthy, poisonous spirit."


 * Use Hand:
 * Seal - "Turns the target into stone by sealing its spirit."
 * Shadow Stitch - "Stops target's movement by anchoring its shadow to the ground."
 * Stop Bracelet - "Immediately kills the target."
 * Allure - "Charm an enemy, causing them to lose judgement and luring them into becoming an ally."


 * Ja Magic:
 * Toad 2 - "Magic turns enemy into a Frog. If used on a frog, it returns to its original form."
 * Gravi 2 - "Magic damages with the powerful pull of gravity by creating ultra high-density space."
 * Flare 2 - "Magic burns area by converting ultra-energy to heat."
 * Blind 2 - "Magic that blinds the enemy by covering them with darkness, lowering the success of direct attacks."
 * Confuse 2 - "Magic makes enemy lose rationality and act disorderly."
 * Sleep 2 - "Magic puts enemy to sleep making them vulnerable."


 * '''Dimension Magic:
 * Melt - "Magic that transforms entire area into a burning hell."
 * Tornado - "Magic creates a turbulent tornado."
 * Quake - "Magic causes a huge earthquake almost toppling heaven and hell."


 * Altima's Magic:
 * Ultima - "Magic damages with absolute energy."
 * All-ultima - "Magic damages with absolute energy."
 * Grand Cross - "Huge landscape causes various abnormal status."
 * Mute - "Magic that neutralizes magic power and reduces MP to 0."
 * Despair 2 - "Magic that neutralizes magic power and cancels effective status."
 * Return 2 - "Magic distorts time and brings CT count back to 0."


 * Dark Cloud:
 * Snake Carrier - "Attacks with a giant snake."
 * Poison Frog - "Gaze of giant snake turns enemies to frogs."
 * Midgar Swarm - "Attacks enemy by summoning a giant snake."


 * Other:
 * Lifebreak - "Attacks enemy with aftershock of death. The lower your HP, the more damage you can inflict."
 * Dark Holy - "Magic damages by enveloping the enemy with the darkness of space."
 * Giga Flare - "Attacks enemys pouring a high-energy stream over them."
 * Nanoflare - "Attacks enemy with energy emitted by destroying the element."
 * Hurricane - "Damages all enemies with a tornado."
 * Ulmaguest - "Damage enemies with time-space mechanism created by the stars."
 * Blood Suck - "Restores HP by sucking enemy's blood."

Miscellaneous
Other unused text that doesn't fit into any categories.

Nothing else is know about it except that it's the 13th sign

The somewhat mangled description of the Serpentarius zodiac sign. Only Elidibs has this, and as has been mentioned before, his stats can't be viewed.

Unused Songs
There are a surprisingly large number of songs in the game that are not used, but are present in the game:


 * Mr. Bear Goes to the Ball [Kuma-san Butokai he]:

Credited to REZON (Masaharu Iwata). #25 in the sound test; does not appear on the OST. Also known as "To the Ball" in the PSF rip and "Bear to the Ball" in the PSP version. The track title is one of a series referencing a fictional Mr. Bear and has no bearing on its intended use in the game. Composer comments are irrelevant and of no help whatsoever in discerning its purpose.


 * Apoplexy:

This song is technically used, and is present on the OST, but it warrants mention due to some oddities surrounding it. On the OST, this is just one song, but in-game, this song is split into two parts. One is used in random battles, and the other that's used in a few story battles; the entire "combined" song is never played in-game, yet is present in the game's code nevertheless. The combined version does not show up in the sound test.

There are a large number of short fanfares present in the game. Some are used, many are not, and none are on the OST.
 * Fanfares:



A short, dramatic sting. Could have been used for a shocking event.



Similar to the first, but shorter. This one sounds like it would have had some sort of in-battle usage; perhaps for a negative event.



A short flute variation of the victory theme. There isn't anyplace this would particularly fit.



An even shorter flute variation of the victory theme. Could have served as some sort of "level up" cue.



An upbeat little jingle. Possibly related to propositions?

Music Test
There was a music test in the Japanese version that was unfortunately removed from Western releases. It can be accessed by starting a new game and entering your name as BGMききたい. The PSP re-release also includes the music test with (inaccurate) English titles but no commentary, accessible by entering the name PolkaPolka. Once on the sound test menu, you can view commentary for each track by highlighting it and pressing select. The track titles are completely different from those of the OST, often joke titles. The composers are credited under the nicknames 'YmoH.S' (Hitoshi Sakimoto) and 'REZON' (Masaharu Iwata). Commentaries are not particularly insightful. Transcriptions of the sound test and track comments can be found here: http://park3.wakwak.com/~pierrot/fft/oh_bgm.html

Japan-Only Music
With the removal of the Zodiac Brave Story Sound Novel minigame during localization (see below), several pieces of music became unused in the overseas release, but still remained on the disc. These tracks are all numbered 81-96 in the sound test. Tracks 81-91 are credited to 'Mitsui' (Yukiko Mitsui) and 92-96 are credited to 'myu' (Yuuko Miura).

By Mitsui:
 * 81. Battle [Tatakai]
 * 82. Battle Ver.2 [Tatakai Ver.2]
 * 83. Walking Theme [Sampo no Teemu]
 * 84. In the Forest [Mori no Naka]
 * 85. Evil Hormone [Akui Horumon]
 * 86. Revenge [Fukushuu]
 * 87. Yamanaka Lake of Fear (???) [Kyofu no Yamanaka-ko]
 * 88. Love Love Happy [Rabu Rabu Happy]
 * 89. Silence of the Night [Yoru no Shijima]
 * 90. Repose [Ansoku]
 * 91. Sky Travel [Utsu no Tabi]

By myu:
 * 92. Through the Side of Your Brain (???) [Nou wo Yoko Giro Mono]
 * 93. For a Limited Time [Kagirareta Jikan no Naka de]
 * 94. I've Heard That One Before [Nani ka de Kiitayouna]
 * 95. Little Wing [Ritoru Uingu]
 * 96. FearAfter [sic]

Character Oddities
Via hacking, it's possible to put any of the game's many characters, including enemies and characters who don't even fight, in the team. Most of these characters, while working perfectly fine in battle (albeit some non-combatants have missing animations for obvious reasons), don't show up properly on the menu, using the default sprite (Ramza's sprite from Chapter 1) instead. This also applies to a few characters who do join as Guests, but are never present with your team outside of battle, such as Zalbag and Holy Knight Delita. This makes perfect sense: why bother with extra coding if something is never supposed to be seen in-game? However, there are a few notable exceptions to this rule:


 * Olan: Like a number of Guests, he's present only in a single battle, at Goland, and never appears in any others beyond that point. However, he works perfectly on the menu and in battle, suggesting that the developers may have had additional plans for him at one point, which were (rather wisely) scrapped, considering how overpowered his Galaxy Stop skill is.


 * Archaic Demon, Ultima Demon, Apanda: This isn't really all that hard to explain. These creatures are of the "Demon" classification. Such characters are technically monsters, but share a few traits with humans, such as full command sets, and occasional support abilities. Since there are a few Demon-types that are playable (Worker 8 and the Byblos are both of this type), the menu functionality was likely added for the entire classification.


 * Elidibs: As odd as it may sound, the bonus boss works perfectly on the menu, because strangely, he also has the "Demon" classification, unlike the other zodiac bosses, which are of the unique "Lucavi" type. Why this is, however, isn't as clear.


 * Simon: Now we delve into the stranger cases. This is the old priest from Orbonne Monastery who gives you the Germonik Scriptures. At no point does he ever appear in battle, either as an ally or an enemy, yet not only does he, unlike the better majority of NPCs, have a working menu sprite, he also has a full set of battle animations. However, his default job's class, Bishop, is unfinished, having a nameless, blank primary command.


 * Balmafula: The mysterious witch seen in several late game scenes, often alongside Delita or Olan. Like Simon, she's never in battle, but works perfectly on the menu and has all the battle animations. The description of her job claims she "uses the mighty power of darkness", but her primary command is also nameless and empty. Still, this all hints that there may have been early plans for her to be a playable character.


 * Teta: This is probably the strangest case out of all the normally unplayable characters. Teta is technically present in a single battle at the very end of chapter 1, but she's dead, and cannot be revived by any means. Still, actually being in battle in any form seems as though it would elevate her above Simon and Balmafula... And she even has a semi-unique command set that is likewise never used anywhere else in the game, "Magic", although it only contains Cure and Wish. Despite this, Teta is still rather broken. For starters, she's missing several frames of animation for performing certain actions. In addition, if used in her default job, she begins each battle the same way she's seen normally: dead and entirely unable to be revived. This makes enough sense, however, and she can still be used somewhat by changing her job. Strangest of all, however, is that her menu sprite is not actually correct, yet it isn't the default "chapter 1 Ramza", either. It's a sprite that isn't used anywhere else in the game! This sprite only appears on the menu, however; in battle, she reverts to her standard "purple dress" sprite. The sprite comes from an artwork for a different character, that the original designer no longer remembers what her purpose was.

Brave Story Entries
There are three scenes and two Zodiac Stones (as well as a pair of dummied items) that, while normally available, are never seen due to the fact that that the scenes do not play out and the stones are not obtained until after you can no longer view the Brave Story.

Entrance to the other world


This is the cutscene where your party teleports to Murond Death City, and Rofel destroys the gate, preventing anyone from leaving.

Near death, Rofel activated the ancient writing, "Dejeon" part of the "Germonik Scriptures". It transported everyone, including you, from the underground library of the Monastery, to the entrance of Murond Death City and Murond Holy Place. Further, Rofel, with his last strength, destroyed the Magic formation, the only gate to the upper world...

Reunion and beyond


This is the ending scene showing Olan and Balmafula at the graveyard.

The war ended after many casualties. A funeral for Alma Beoulve was held at the graveyard in Igros. The bodies of Alma and her brother were never found, after they disappeared from the underground library in Orbonne. After the people left, Olan and Balmafula appeared in front of Alma's grave...

Things obtained


This is the epilogue sequence showing the fate of Ovelia and Delita.

Several months passed since the end of the Lion War... Delita, who married Queen Ovelia, finally acceded the throne, and the kingdom was finally returned to peace. One day, Delita appeared in front of Ovelia with flowers. It was her birthday.

Leo
One of the twelve Zodiac Stones. Obtained after beating Hashmalum.

"Leo"

One of the 12 Holy Stones. A legendary Zodiac Stone representing the 'Lion'. Acquired after beating Vormav.

Virgo
One of the twelve Zodiac Stones. Obtained after defeating Altima.

One of the 12 Holy Stones. A legendary Zodiac Stone representing the 'Virgin'. Acquired after beating the resurrected St. Ajora (Holy Angel Altima).

Treasure (Pre.)


There are two of these, with the only difference being that one is "Pre. 1" and the other is "Pre. 2". They both look identical to the Germonik Scriptures, and have no description beyond "Dummy Data". What they were intended to be is unknown.

Zodiac Brave Story Sound Novels
Exclusive to the Japanese version were these interactive fiction-style minigames. They were unlocked when the player obtained their corresponding treasures. Their titles:


 * Oeilvert
 * The Tale of Enavia
 * Nanai's Book of Lives
 * The Fantasy Magience Story

Three of them have been translated and are available here: http://www.oocities.com/tuffydabubba/