Square Enix Blog has published a new post discussing the gameplay systems of the upcoming Tactics Ogre: Reborn. Tarot Cards are one of the central determining elements of the experience, as they shape the main character, Denam. His beginning stats will alter depending on the answered questions presented by the Tarot Cards.
Further regarding character creation is the Element system, of which there are eight types: fire, water, wind, earth, darkness, light, lightning, and ice. Players must select an “associated god in the myth of Xytegenia” to embrace a specific Element. Affinities with the Elements also play a role, with weaknesses and resistances.
Each of the eight goddesses is viewable below alongside their correlative profiles.
Xoshonell, Goddess of Fire – Xoshonell is the firstborn child of Bora, the Celestial, and Anem, the Terrestrial. Though this makes her the elder sister of Philaha, Vaseqsa, and the others, she has always remained neutral, siding with none of her siblings.
Even in the war against the forces of darkness, later known as the Ogre Battle, she maintained her neutrality, providing no aid to Philaha. Yet Philaha did not begrudge her this, knowing well that of all the gods and goddesses, none wielded greater power than Xoshonell–not even Philaha himself.
Aware of the supreme power at her command, Xoshonell never sought to cast herself with one side or the other. Rather, she is said to provide whatever aid she can to those who seek her help and truly need it. Though hidden beneath helm and plate, the divine beauty of her countenance – and, indeed, her every feature – is without compare.
Greuza, Goddess of Water – Greuza is the child of Phora, Goddess of Air, and Vaseqsa, God of the Sea.
Like Ishtar, Greuza was born spear in hand and clad in armor, and she commands a divine host five hundred thousand strong in service of Philaha. A dutiful goddess renowned for her jealous nature, she is said to take the form of a dragon and unleash terrible storms whenever her husband Zamunza, God of the Feast, is unfaithful.
Like Hahnela, she has been worshipped in Valeria since antiquity, and followers of the Vasque religion, who hold Greuza foremost among all the gods, revere her as a symbol of vengeance and power.
Hahnela, Goddess of Air – Hahnela is the child of Horup, God of Knowledge, and Phelana, Goddess of Justice. The gods of the Four Winds, including Zephyros and Euros, are said to spring from her footsteps.
As would be expected of an island nation, the people of Valeria have always relied on the bounty of the ocean. This alone explains their reverence for the winds Hahnela breathes into life, but as the patron goddess of the sea, she is doubly honored.
Vaasa, Goddess of Earth – Heaven and earth were cleaved into two by the death of Bora, the Celestial, and Anem, the Terrestrial, giving birth to the world. Vaasa was born from the keening roar as ground and sky were rent apart. She took Anem’s place as steward of the land, and in concert with Philaha, she is said to create life and bring abundance to the earth.
Yet when the lord of the underworld, Demunza, absconded with her daughter Danika, in her grief, Vaasa began to divide this abundance between the world above, and the underworld below. This gave rise to the seasons, and the rhythm of life and death that accompany them.
Vaasa is revered as a goddess of the harvest, yet she is also honored in funerary rites as the one who guides the dead on their journey into the afterlife.
Nestharot, Goddess of Lightning – Nestharot is the child of Aranda, God of Clouds, and Phelana, Goddess of Justice. Also known as the goddess of judgment, Nestharot’s gears are said to symbolize divine order.
Along with Xoshonell, Goddess of Fire, Nestharot remained neutral during the Ogre Battle, and upon the end of that great war, it was her judgment that banished the ogres within the Abyss for tens of millions of years.
In Valeria, the downtrodden have long been Nestharot’s devoted followers, drawn to her impartiality and fairness. Even after the Dynast-King Dorgalua united the isles in the worship of Philaha as the one true god, many still prayed to her in secret.
Lyuneram, Goddess of Ice – Lyuneram sprang forth from the tears shed by Morada, God of the Mountains, upon the death of Anem, the Terrestrial. It is said that as Lyuneram was born, Morada’s tears turned to ice, creating vast tundra and glaciers.
Later, when Philaha become lord of the heavens and did battle with his elder brother Demunza, Lyuneram sided with Demunza against him. Not even Philaha and the blazing light of the sun could pierce Lyuneram’s ramparts of bitter ice, and his forces were brought to a standstill. Seizing this opportunity, Demunza descended into the Abyss, where he became king. Lyuneram could only watch as he left, and in the end surrendered herself to Philaha.
Yet in his boundless compassion, Philaha forgave Lyuneram, and gave her a seat among the gods of the heavens.
Ishtar, Goddess of Light – When the sun god Philaha and his siblings struck down their father, Bora, ruler of the heavens, Ishtar sprang from the blood that flowed from Bora’s dying body. Ishtar was born wielding a silver sword, and wearing gleaming armor and robes of white. With his dying breath, Bora commanded his newborn daughter to slay Philaha. But Ishtar was wise. Filled with shame at the thought of such a wicked act, she joined Philaha’s ranks instead. Philaha gladly welcomed his younger sister, and gave her a place alongside the other gods.
Ishtar’s white garb symbolizes her purity, while her alabaster blade and armor embody victory. She is revered as the goddess of glory and triumph, giving the cause of those who worship her the certitude of justice.
Ashmedai, God of Darkness – Ashmedai marched beneath Demunza’s banner at the head of one hundred eight legions in the Ogre Battle. Though much of Ashmedai’s power was taken from him following his defeat, even in his weakened state, no mortal could hope to challenge him.
Ashmedai is no longer believed to occupy his time plotting great evils, and it is even rumored he aids the mortal realm from time to time. There are many theories as to why this may be, but the common belief is that in the ancient days of Xytegenia, Ashmedai was summoned by the alchemist Gatham, with whom he lost a bet. In payment, Ashmedai was made to assist mortals who sought his help.
None can say for certain whether Ashmedai lends his aid to suit his own whims, or as a result of Gatham’s cunning, but whatever the case, he does not seem to be openly hostile.
Gameplay is tile-based, with units who level up and specialize in particular stats, such as Wizards favoring Intellect and Berserkers embracing Strength. Additionally, combat is not turn-based, instead having units perform based on the RT (Recovery Time) system. As a result, factors such as agility determine overall turn speed. Moreover, the game has various choices that completely change the course of the narrative, offering immense replayablity.
You can view the newly revealed Tactics Ogre: Reborn screenshots via our gallery below:
You can view the whole summation of this information via Square Enix Blog.
Tactics Ogre is a part of the Ogre Battle series that began in 1993 with Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen. However, many fans also remember the second entry, Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, which introduced beloved tactical RPG systems. That entry was also ported to PSP in 2010, but the Ogre Battle series has been pretty quiet since then.
Tactics Ogre: Reborn features updated game design, fully-voiced cutscenes, improved graphics, and sound. Players can immerse themselves in the world and intrigue of Tactics Ogre through this updated adventure.
Tactics Ogre: Reborn is releasing for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on November 11, 2022.
