D&D Tactics: Deeper than ToEE?

To anyone who's played both, what do you think? Believe it or not, D&D Tactics is a PSP game, but a surprisingly in depth and complex turn-based CRPG. I got very far in the game but ultimately shelved it because sadly, it was also too easy, with no options to increase the difficulty. It had some really interesting ideas, some choice and consequence, different story based on your main character's alignment and more. I wish they'd port it to PC and add things like difficulty options because believe it or not, the combat options were even deeper than ToEE. It had everything just about from D&D 3.5. Would have been a super gem (still is a gem) had it not been for mostly easy combat encounters.

Anyone here played it or even beat it? I was on the last stages I think before shelving it.

One of the interesting ideas Tactics had was that you could explore some pretty large maps, turn-based style, and even enter secret rooms or areas that took you out of the main map to a new location for a unique encounter. I'd never seen that done in a true turn-based game before, and it was interesting.

 

I'm surprised no one played this. PSP has some good RPGs actually, this being one of them. I was surprised at how deep it was for a handheld RPG, but it's a true CRPG with turn-based tactical combat. Worth a look I'd say. Has more weapon selections as well than any CRPG in awhile, with every exotic weapon you can think of and more. Someone contact the devs who made this and ask them to port it to PC! I tried but I never got a response.

 

It could well be, but the reason I'm on this forum and not a different forum is because I only play PC games. This doesn't come from any sense of masterrace'ness, it's just that PC games are all I need & they more consistently supply the kind of gaming I like. I'm sure you could find the odd console game which satisfies a similar itch here and there but I'm not in the habit for forking out for the cost of a console just to play the odd game when the majority of console games are solely about action/reflexes over thought/statistics. I've had consoles in the past & I tended to get very bored of them very quickly & the cost vs playtime was extortionate compared to buying a PC which does everything else life needs as well.

 

I played D&D Tactics, enjoyed the inclusion of the psionics. Not sure if I beat it though probably did the same as you and shelved it meaning to come back later to it. It was decent for what it was, maps tended to be a bit too linear but what can you expect from a mission structured srpg.

 

I do not believe it.

 

I've tried to draw attention to this game many times over the years (I've beaten it more than once). Yes, it is very good. But, I wouldn't say it's "deeper" than ToEE, especially considering how easy it is. There's nothing in it close to the level of challenge of the Balor fight in ToEE, for example.

The art style is quite nice (although the in game character models are fairly ugly). And there's something about it that makes it feel very "old school", which is part of what makes it so enjoyable, I think.

 

That's reasonable. You could also emulate it though, which is how I played it. It runs quite well upscaled to even 4K resolution in the PPSSPP emulator.

They were a bit linear but a few had branching paths in the maps themselves (some with hidden rooms for unique encounters). Also, the story had branching choices to make, as well as playing out differently based on the alignment of the main character. But yeah, the maps were all mostly typical mission-based SRPG maps.

It's hard to believe but I think it's true. It had more combat options than even ToEE. Five-foot step, Bull Rush, Charge, Power Attack, Cleave and so much more. I wrote a bit about it on the 'Watch before but that post is probably gone now. I also had videos which are also gone. Tried to bring awareness to this one a few times.

Yep, it's definitely old-school too. But by deeper I didn't mean in challenge. ToEE definitely has the better combat encounters, better exploration, more interesting bosses and overall design. But in terms of the basic, bare-bones implementation of 3.5 and what you could do in combat, D&D Tactics had more overall options than ToEE. It has Psionics, Pyschic Warrior classes, more Feats and Skills, more unique exotic weapons and more things you could actively do in combat. At least, in my last comparison attempt I came to these conclusions. It's been years since that though. But in terms of depth of challenge or encounter design, ToEE definitely beats it. The game is very easy unfortunately, which I wish if they'd ever port it to PC it would be a remake with new options. It could be a smash turn-based CRPG on PC with some tweaks IMO.

 

As a side-note, I doubt anyone could create mods for an emulated version of it, huh? Somehow to increase the difficulty or lower the rate of XP gain, because you seem to outlevel everything after a certain point. Note, I did play the game almost to the end, got very far but turned it off due to how easy and dull the maps were increasingly becoming. If someone could mod the game that would be amazing, because I think it would be a heralded classic if the difficulty was a bit higher.

 

you can check the fearless revolution forums to see if any of the prominent Cheat Engine hackers have made a table for the game with the usual modifiers for XP/hit points/level, etc.

Doubtful considering the niche status of the game but you never know.

 

Thanks man! I made a request on the forum there, maybe someone can help. I think reduced XP gain is probably the way to go, not sure how else a cheat engine could manipulate the game to becoming harder. Maybe base attack bonus and AC boost for enemies across the board would help too?

 

Game had potential, but much like Mazes of Fate and Fighting Fantasy DS before them---the pleading with the devs back then(many folks tried) when it critically mattered to pursue a PC port to open the door on the future to no avail sealed their collective fates to be almost wholly forgotten until such a time as perhaps the romhacking scene stumbles onto them and tinkers around.

 

Can I play this on PC?

 

It's a PSP game, emulation have been working well for years. If you can get the game there is no reason why not. Also the OP mentioned that he played via emulation.

 

Oh yes, I missed that post. Thanks for the answer! <3

 

I heard about this game somewhere before but was never interested enough to try. Your advertisement helped so I haven't removed it from inventory. I have a psp emulator set up, the game seems to work flawlessly. And as you said, it seems to be a good adaptation of D&D 3.5 ruleset or the combat part to be precise - as far as computers (or consoles in this case) go. I have one problem though and it's quite substantial. The interface is a huge pain in the ass. Especially managing items and consumables, moving them between characters, etc... is annoying as fuck. It's nothing unusual for a console-made crpg but that knowledge doesn't make the pain to go away. There are some other small annoyances, like 2-handers are not held in two hands by characters (or at least some of them aren't) but that's minor compared to the controls. Thankfully controls in combat seem to be ok, it's mostly the party management part that is painful. Overall, mixed impressions so far but thanks nonetheless for making the thread. It is an interesting game if not for any other reason than because proper adaptations of DnD past second edition - especially turn-based ones, were relatively few.

 

Yeah, there are some quirks, like the UI that has a few extra button presses per person, as well as trading inventory items outside of combat, etc.. But in terms of the bare-bones D&D 3.5 implementation, it's all there and really good. And you actually do get used to moving items as well later on when you've played awhile (you get used to the shittyness of that, to be precise).

I'm more clamoring for a PC port with more difficulty options and a new upgrade for the PC. It's a shame this gem was forgotten about and left in the dust of the PSP era.

 

I've no idea this game existed but my handheld gaming experience capped at the Game Boy Advance. I had a really gay pink one because they ran out and I really wanted to play Circle of the Moon. So there I was, an alleged heterosexual male playing Castlevania on a girly pink Game Boy Advance on the New York City subway. How did I not get the shit kicked out of me.

 

fluent, do you have any opinion on Lord of the Rings Tactics?

 

I didn't play it very long, maybe even just the tutorial fight, but I wasn't that impressed with the gameplay and combat mechanics. I'm sure the story is cool and interesting, but I remember feeling a bit let down by the gameplay itself. Could be wrong as I only played the tutorial just to see what it was like in case I wanted to do an LP of it in the future.