Final Fantasy Tactics

Final Fantasy Tactics
Developer: Squaresoft Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Platform: Playstation Released in JP: June 20, 1997 Released in US: January 28, 1998 This game has unused areas. This game has unused playable characters. This game has unused graphics. This game has unused abilities. This game has unused music. This game has unused text. This game has debugging material. This game has a hidden sound test. This game has regional differences. This game has a notes page

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.

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

Unused Limberry Gate

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 note the barred gate near the entrance is impassible, lending further credence to the latter theory.

Debug Menu Digit: 15

Hospital in Slums

Looks more like an office.

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: 33

Warjilis Trade City

The lost port 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: 42

Inside Castle Gate at Lesalia

Inside the castle...

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 rotating the camera causes most or all of certain objects to disappear. This angle was the only one not to display any glitches.

Debug Menu Digit: 97

Outside Castle Gate at Lesalia

Outside the castle...

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: 98

Main Street of Lesalia

And the city streets!

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: 99

Unused Command Sets

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.

• 23 - Magic - Cure, Wish; This is technically Teta's command, but as she never appears in battle properly, it is never used.

• 2A - White-Aid - While this command actually is used (by Holy Priest Zalmo), it strangely contains four of Beowulf's "Magic Sword" skills (Sleep, Drain, Silence, Don't Act), which aren't, as Zalmo is never equipped with a sword at any point in which you fight him.

• 86 - (No Name) - Dark Holy, Deathspell 2, Galaxy Stop, Seal, Shadow Stitch, Stop Bracelet, Shock, Difference, Allure, MBarrier. It's possible this was used for testing purposes, and was never intended to be given to anyone.

• 87 - (No Name) - Seal, Chicken Race, Hold Tight, Darkness, Lose Voice, Loss, Spell, Nightmare, Death Cold. In other words, all the 100% effective status ailment attacks used by Lucavi. Another command probably used for testing only.

• 88 - (No Name) - Just a copy of the Apanda's "Bio" command.

• 89 - (No Name) - Melt, Tornado, Quake

• 8A - (No Name) - Toad 2, Gravi 2, Flare 2, Blind 2, Confuse 2, Sleep 2; Duplicate of Zalera's "Ja Magic" command.

• 8B - (No Name) - Ultima (Altima's larger variant), All-ultima, Mute, Despair 2, Return 2. Yet another command most likely intended for testing purposes.

• 8C - (No Name) - Duplicate of the Oracle's "Yin-Yang Magic" command.

• 8D - (No Name) - Duplicate of Reis' "Dragon" command.

(Source: The Final Fantasy Tactics Battle Mechanics Guide)

Unused Supplemental Abilities

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

• Reflect - A reaction ability. This has no effect, though its name suggests that it would probably have granted Reflect status to the user if he/she was hit with magic.

• Non-charge - 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.

• Silent Walk - A movement ability. Like Reflect, this skill is unfinished and has no effect. It's unknown what purpose it would have served.

(Source: The Final Fantasy Tactics Battle Mechanics Guide)

Unused Text

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

Jobs and Descriptions

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."

Unused Music

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.

• Fanfares:

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

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

Notable characters, from left to right: Ramza, Teta, Simon, Olan, Balmafula, Elidibs

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 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 is in no position to fight. 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. The problem is, Teta is only partially coded. If used in her default job, she begins each battle dead and is entirely unable to be revived (as that's how she is normally), which makes enough sense, and she can still be used properly by changing her job. However, she's still not completely functional, having missing frames of animation for certain attacks. 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.

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.

Scenes

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.

Treasures

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/

To do: More info here would be nice.