Editing Role-playing video game (section)

===Tactical RPGs===
{{main|Tactical role-playing game}}
[[File:Fire Emblem-like mockup.png|thumb|Tactical role-playing games often involve moving troops turn by turn across a map to defeat foes or capture territory, as depicted similarly in this illustration.]]

This subgenre of turn-based role-playing games principally refers to games which incorporate elements from [[strategy video game|strategy games]] as an alternative to traditional role-playing game (RPG) systems.<ref name="EATRPG">{{cite web | last =Parish | first =Jeremy| title =Lord of the Rings: Tactics| publisher =[[Electronic Arts]]| url =http://www.ea.com/games/lotr-the-battle-for-middle-earth-2| access-date =2010-02-04}}</ref> Tactical RPGs are descendants of traditional strategy games, such as [[chess]],<ref name="Justin Leeper"/> and table-top role-playing and strategic [[Wargaming|war games]], such as ''[[Chainmail (game)|Chainmail]]'', which were mainly tactical in their original form.<ref name="barton_ddesktops_c" /><ref name="1up_atbtys">{{cite web |last=Bailey |first=Kat |title=Active Time Babble XXI: Tactical RPGs & Ys Seven |url=http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9042222 |publisher=IGN Entertainment Games |website=1UP.com |access-date=May 12, 2011 |quote=The roots of tactical RPGs go back to tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons and old-school wargames; in other words, the roots of gaming itself. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808193434/http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9042222 |archive-date=August 8, 2011 }}</ref> The format of a tactical CRPG is also like a traditional RPG in its appearance, pacing and rule structure. Like standard RPGs, the player controls a finite party and battles a similar number of enemies.<ref name="EATRPG"/> And like other RPGs, death is usually temporary, albeit some have permanent death of party members. But this genre incorporates strategic gameplay such as tactical movement on an [[Isometric graphics in video games|isometric grid]].<ref name="EATRPG"/> Tactical RPGs tend not to feature [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] play.

A number of early Western role-playing video games used a highly tactical form of combat, including parts of the ''[[Ultima (series)|Ultima]]'' series, which introduced party-based, tiled combat in ''[[Ultima III: Exodus]]'' (1983).<ref name="barton_3623_04">{{Harvnb|Barton|2007a|p=4|Ref=barton_3623}}</ref> ''Ultima III'' would go on to be ported to many other platforms and influence the development of later titles,<ref name="borlanddd_h">{{Harvnb|King|Borland|2003|Ref=borlanddd}}</ref> as would ''[[Bokosuka Wars]]'' (1983), considered a pioneer in the strategy/simulation RPG genre, according to Nintendo.<ref name=Nintendo>{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_bw/index.html|title=VC ボコスカウォーズ|website=www.nintendo.co.jp}}</ref> Conventionally, however, the term tactical RPG (known as ''simulation RPG'' in Japan) refers to the distinct subgenre that was born in Japan; as the early origins of tactical RPGs are difficult to trace from the American side of the Pacific, where much of the early RPG genre developed.<ref name="barton_ddesktops_c">{{Harvnb|Barton|2008|p=12|Ref=barton_ddesktops}}</ref>

Many tactical RPGs can be both extremely time-consuming and extremely difficult. Hence, the appeal of most tactical RPGs is to the hardcore, not casual, computer and video game player.<ref name="1upkat_strategery">{{cite web |last=Bailey |first=Kat |title=Strategery: Your First Tactical RPG |url=http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8981596&publicUserId=5725436 |publisher=IGN Entertainment Games |website=1UP.com |date=February 19, 2009 |quote=It wasn't too long ago that I mentioned how difficult it is to get into tactical RPGs. It's an intimidating genre, what with all the grids and customization and names like Tactics Ogre. People are worried that they won't understand what's going on. That it'll be hard. That it'll be boring. So if you've made it past all those fears and you're ready to take the plunge, congratulations. You're a lot stronger than I was while contemplating Final Fantasy Tactics a decade ago. But people like you have also been asking me the same question, time and time again—where to start? |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222101523/http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8981596&publicUserId=5725436 |archive-date=December 22, 2015 }}</ref> Traditionally, tactical RPGs have been quite popular in Japan but have not enjoyed the same degree of success in North America and elsewhere.<ref name="cnet_vhearts2">{{cite web |title=Vandal Hearts II (PlayStation) |url=http://reviews.cnet.com/legacy-game-platforms/vandal-hearts-ii-playstation/1707-9882_7-30965757.html#cnetReview |date=January 3, 2000 |website=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=May 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315202916/http://reviews.cnet.com/legacy-game-platforms/vandal-hearts-ii-playstation/1707-9882_7-30965757.html |archive-date=March 15, 2012 |quote=Although the RPG has gained popularity in the US, its tactical offshoot, the strategy-RPG, has had a harder time gaining similar popularity.}}</ref><ref name="mcv_disg3">{{cite web |last1=Parfitt |first1=Ben |title=Disgaea 3 heading to PS3 |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/disgaea-3-heading-to-ps3 |website=MCV |publisher=Newbay Media |access-date=December 19, 2015 |date=July 17, 2007 |quote=The tactical RPG genre may not be a chart-topper in the West, but hardcore followers of Japanese RPG specialists Nippon Ichi will be delighted to hear that the studio is bringing the latest instalment to its critically acclaimed series to PS3 next year.}}</ref> However, the audience for Japanese tactical RPGs has grown substantially since the mid-90s, with [[PlayStation|PS1]] and [[PlayStation 2|PS2]] titles such as ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics]]'', ''[[Suikoden Tactics]]'', ''[[Vanguard Bandits]]'', and ''[[Disgaea]]'' enjoying a surprising measure of popularity, as well as hand-held war games like ''[[Fire Emblem]]''.<ref name="rpgamer_fireemblem">{{cite web |last=Neufeld |first=Anna Marie |title=Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones – Staff Review |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/games/fe/fe9/reviews/fe9strev2.html |website=RPGamer |access-date=May 12, 2011 |quote=As the Tactical RPG genre has grown in recognition and popularity, it was inevitable that a few would manage to make their way to the handheld systems. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314174517/http://www.rpgamer.com/games/fe/fe9/reviews/fe9strev2.html |archive-date=2012-03-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (''Final Fantasy Tactics'' for the PS1 is often considered the breakthrough title outside Japan.<ref name="1up_pstactics">{{cite web |last=Parish |first=Jeremy |title=PlayStation Tactics |url=http://www.1up.com/features/playstation-tactics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604094510/http://www.1up.com/features/playstation-tactics |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |publisher=IGN Entertainment Games |website=1UP.com |access-date=May 12, 2011 |quote=Tactical RPGs have been gaining popularity in the United States since a PS1 game called Final Fantasy Tactics introduced a legion of gamers to its detail-oriented strategy. ... Although FFT is often praised for giving birth to the tactical RPG genre, that PS1 masterpiece would never have existed without this classic pair of Super NES ports. }}</ref><ref name="rpgamer_fftretro">{{cite web |last=Beckett |first=Michael |title=Final Fantasy Tactics – Retroview |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/games/ff/fft/reviews/fftstrev4.html |website=RPGamer |access-date=May 12, 2011 |quote=Final Fantasy Tactics did much the same thing for tactical RPGs that Final Fantasy VII did for the genre as a whole—made it more popular, more accessible, and more visible to the rest of the gaming world. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314124149/http://www.rpgamer.com/games/ff/fft/reviews/fftstrev4.html |archive-date=March 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>) Older TRPGs are also being re-released via [[Emulator|software emulation]]—such as on the [[Wii]] [[Virtual Console]]—and on [[handheld game console]]s, giving games a new lease on life and exposure to new audiences.<ref name="eug_dyntac">{{cite web |last=Bramwell |first=Tom |title=Dynasty Tactics – First Impressions |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/fi_dynastytactics_ps2 |publisher=Gamer Network |website=Eurogamer |access-date=May 12, 2011 |date=October 21, 2002 |quote=Final Fantasy Tactics is being given a new lease of life on Game Boy Advance, and Capcom has plans to release an Onimusha Tactics title in the near future too.}}</ref> Japanese video games such as these are as a result no longer nearly as rare a commodity in North America as they were during the 1990s.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

Western video games have utilized similar mechanics for years, as well, and were largely defined by ''[[X-COM: UFO Defense]]'' (1994) in much the same way as Eastern video games were by ''Fire Emblem''.<ref name="1upkat_xcom">{{cite web |last=Bailey |first=Kat |title=X-COM: Distilling a Classic |url=http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9027138 |publisher=IGN Entertainment Games |website=1UP.com |date=April 14, 2010 |quote=One of the absolute essentials from that era was X-COM: UFO Defense, which defined western tactical RPGs every bit as much as Fire Emblem did for strategy RPGs in the east. ... The crux of the game is efficiently defeating the aliens in turn-based combat, building up various bases, and outfitting soldiers with the latest and greatest equipment. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710231744/http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9027138 |archive-date=July 10, 2012 }}</ref> Titles such as ''X-COM'' have generally allowed greater freedom of movement when interacting with the surrounding environment than their Eastern counterparts.<ref name="1up_daj">{{cite web|last=Bailey |first=Kat |title=Strategery: The Dragon Age Appetizer |publisher=IGN Entertainment Games |website=[[1UP.com]] |date=Oct 23, 2009 |url=http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9007783 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130101180905/http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9007783 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 1, 2013 |access-date=February 4, 2010 |quote=The interesting wrinkle here is that when outside of battle, it's possible to explore the world in the same manner as any other RPG, and that's where Dragon Age Journeys has something in common with western tactical RPGs. The X-Coms of the world have always a great deal more freedom than even Valkyria Chronicles, and Dragon Age takes that one step further by offering actual dungeons to explore, rather than asking players to take on simple missions like 'kill everyone.' }}</ref><ref name="1upkat_valkchro">{{cite web |last=Bailey |first=Kat |title=Strategery: Valkyria Chronicles and X-Com: UFO Defense |url=http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9003286 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709171620/http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9003286 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 9, 2012 |publisher=IGN Entertainment Games |website=1UP.com |access-date=May 15, 2011 |date=September 4, 2009 |quote=For Japan, the Famicom's Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryu to Hikari is the archetype for the whole genre. Over the years, franchises like Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics have offered unique twists and refinements, but the basic conceits have remained the same, with square-based grid being one of the subgenres most recognizable traits. Western SRPGs, however, have generally allowed for a bit more freedom of movement, with some like Freedom Force (and Dawn of War II, if you're willing to call it an SRPG) going real-time. }}</ref> Other similar examples include the ''[[Jagged Alliance (series)|Jagged Alliance]]''<ref name="gamershell_pc">{{cite web |last=S. |first=Dennis |title=Paradise Cracked Review |website=GamersHell |url=http://www.gamershell.com/pc/paradise_cracked/review.html |access-date=November 26, 2007 |quote=The world of Paradise Cracked was largely influenced by such movies as Matrix, Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell, as well as novels of Philip K. Dick and various other cyberpunk writers. It actually has one of the most interesting plots ever—but I won't give it away just yet. The game's genre can be called tactical RPG, drawing some of its best features from such games as X-Com, Jagged Alliance, Incubation and Fallout. |archive-date=November 7, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107191816/http://www.gamershell.com/pc/paradise_cracked/review.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="gamehelper">{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Mike |title=Night Watch |website=Game Helper Magazine |date=June 22, 2006 |url=http://www.gamehelper.com/magazine/previews/night-watch |access-date=2007-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228055845/http://www.gamehelper.com/magazine/previews/night-watch <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = December 28, 2007}}</ref> (1994–2013) and ''[[Silent Storm]]''<ref name="gamehelper"/><ref name="rpgvault_ss">{{cite web |author=Jonric |title=Silent Storm Interview |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |website=[[Vault Network|RPG Vault]] | url=http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/367/367949p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021006023429/http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/367/367949p1.html |archive-date=October 6, 2002 | access-date=November 26, 2007 |url-status=dead |date=August 15, 2002}}</ref> (2003–2005) series. According to a few developers, it became increasingly difficult during the 2000s to develop games of this type for the PC in the West (though several had been developed in Eastern Europe with mixed results);<ref name="rpgv_ja3">{{cite web | author=Jonric |title=Jagged Alliance 3 Interview |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |website=RPG Vault |date=October 16, 2007 |url=http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/827/827659p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018145142/http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/827/827659p1.html |archive-date=October 18, 2007 |access-date=October 19, 2007 | url-status=dead |quote=When choosing a team to develop a project of this type and scale, it was obvious that we needed Russian developers, the same people that created games with similarities to Jagged Alliance 2, both in genre and the time setting. I'm referring to releases like [[Silent Storm]], Night Watch, Brigade E5 and others. Such projects have not been created in Western countries for a long time, which can make development more difficult.}}</ref><ref name="forum_jgollop"/> and even some Japanese console RPG developers began to complain about a bias against turn-based systems.<ref name="escp_dquest"/><ref name="ign_horii"/> Reasons cited include Western publishers' focus on developing real-time and action-oriented games instead.<ref name=forum_jgollop>{{cite web |last=Gollop |first=Julian |title=Comment by Julian Gollop, developer of X-COM and other genre titles |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/putting-the-i-xcom-i-in-i-xcom-i- |date=August 14, 2010 |publisher=UBM Tech |website=Gamasutra |quote=Publishers run a mile from anything with turn-based mechanics—it is regarded as too niche. RTS games pretty much killed off turn-based strategy games in the mid-90s—but now even RTS games are regarded as niche. (...) Thanks to 'Advance Wars', 'Fire Emblem' and 'Final Fantasy Tactics' it seems turn-based games are not totally dead—at least for Nintendo handhelds.}}</ref>

Lastly, there are a number of "full-fledged" CRPGs which could be described as having "tactical combat". Examples from the classic era of CRPGs include parts of the aforementioned ''Ultima'' series;<ref name="nexus_ultima">{{cite web |last=Tie |first=Sing Chie |title=7 Deadly Games |publisher=The Student Publication Board, Multimedia University, Melaka campus |website=neXus Central |date=August 1, 2000 |url=http://clsm.mmu.edu.my/index.php?artid=5&nesect=7&sectid=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218071643/http://clsm.mmu.edu.my/index.php?artid=5&nesect=7&sectid=1 |archive-date=December 18, 2007 |access-date=December 12, 2007}}</ref> SSI's ''[[Wizard's Crown]]'' (1985) and ''[[The Eternal Dagger]]'' (1987);<ref name="bart2007c"/> the ''[[Gold Box]]'' games of the late '80s and early '90s, many of which were later ported to Japanese video game systems;<ref name="bart2007b"/> and the ''[[Realms of Arkania]]'' (1992–1996) series based on the German ''[[The Dark Eye (role-playing game)|The Dark Eye]]'' pen-and-paper system.<ref name="bart2007c"/> More recent examples include ''[[Wasteland 2]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/wasteland-2-trailer-shows-off-first-gameplay-footage-including-tactical-battles-giant-bugs/ |title=Wasteland 2 trailer shows off first gameplay footage, including tactical battles, giant bugs |last1=Sykes |first1=Tom |date=February 9, 2013 |website=PC Gamer |publisher=Future plc |access-date=December 18, 2015}}</ref> ''[[Shadowrun: Dragonfall]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamershell.com/news_168365.html |title=Shadowrun: Dragonfall Director's Cut Dated and Video Released |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=August 30, 2014 |website=GamersHell.com |access-date=December 18, 2015 |archive-date=22 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222151938/http://www.gamershell.com/news_168365.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and ''[[Divinity: Original Sin]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/blackguards-review/ |title=Divinity: Original Sin is an odd mix of old- and new-school RPG design |last1=Kaiser |first1=Rowan |date=July 16, 2014 |website=Ars Technica |publisher=Condé Nast |access-date=December 18, 2015}}</ref>—all released in 2014. Partly due to the release of these games 2014 has been called "the first year of the CRPG renaissance".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Thorman |first1=Peter |title=2014: the first year of the CRPG renaissance |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2014-the-first-year-of-the-crpg-renaissance/ |magazine=PC Gamer |date=31 December 2014 |publisher=[[Future US, Inc.]] |access-date=December 5, 2015}}</ref>