Final Fantasy Tactics: The War Of The Lions, iPhone & iPod

The Final Fantasy series is the apotheosis of Japanese role-playing games, with androgynous spiky-haired teenagers going on to upgrade their skills enough to save the world. Final Fantasy Tactics, however, is a spinoff that's much more concerned with combat. There's a full plot, but the focus is fighting, which takes place on a cute, 3D plane that you can scroll or spin for a good view of proceedings. Characters take turns to move and act, removing dexterity from the equation and relying on your strategic mastery to win. That involves nurturing and placing your team, as well as equipping them, gaining new skills and making sure you have the right combination for each encounter. As ever, the path of gradual improvement creates a powerful hook, with the incremental development of your party as absorbing as the fights. Almost identical to the PSP version – although lacking multiplayer – The War Of The Lions is deceptively vast and complex.

Square Enix, £10.99

Games news

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