Editing Tactical role-playing game (section)

====16-bit consoles====
During the [[History of video game consoles (fourth generation)|16-bit]] generation, among the first imitators was ''[[Langrisser]]'' by NCS/Masaya, first released for the [[Mega Drive|Mega Drive / Genesis]] in 1991. It was translated for North American release and retitled ''[[Warsong]]''. The ''Langrisser'' series differed from ''Fire Emblem'' in that it used a general-soldier structure instead of controlling main characters. ''Langrisser'', too, spawned many sequels, none of which were brought to North America. ''Langrisser'' set itself apart from other tactical RPGs in its time with larger-scale battles, where the player could control over thirty units at one time and fight against scores of enemies.<ref>Kurt Kalata, [http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/langrisser/langrisser.htm Langrisser] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224071149/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/langrisser/langrisser.htm |date=2011-02-24}}, Hardcore Gaming 101</ref> Since ''[[Langrisser II|Der Langrisser]]'' in 1994, the series offered non-linear branching paths and [[multiple endings]]. The player's choices and actions affected which of four different paths they followed, either [[Alignment (role-playing games)|aligning]] themselves with one of three different factions or fighting against all of them. Each of the four paths leads to a different ending and there are over 75 possible scenarios. ''Langrisser III'' introduced a relationship system similar to [[dating sim]]s. Depending on the player's choices and actions, the feelings of the female allies will change towards the [[player character]], who will end up with the female ally he is closest with.<ref>Kurt Kalata, [http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/langrisser/langrisser2.htm Langrisser (Page 2)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202152035/http://hardcoregaming101.net/langrisser/langrisser2.htm |date=2011-02-02}}, Hardcore Gaming 101</ref>

''[[Master of Monsters (video game)|Master of Monsters]]'' was a unique title by [[SystemSoft Alpha Corporation|SystemSoft]]. Where ''Langrisser'' and ''Fire Emblem'' used a square-based grid, ''Master of Monsters'' used a hexagonal grid. Players could choose one of four different Lords to defend their Towers and areas on the grid by building an army of creatures to destroy the opposing armies. This game had a sequel for the PlayStation called ''Master of Monsters: Disciples of Gaia'', which had limited success and was criticized for its slow gameplay. Both ''Warsong'' and ''Master of Monsters'' were cited as the inspirations behind the 2005 [[turn-based strategy]] computer RPG, ''[[The Battle for Wesnoth]]''.<ref name=MeriStation>[http://www.meristation.com/v3/des_analisis.php?id=cw4600fdf7c1637&idj=cw4600f9efed5b6&pic=GEN The Battle for Wesnoth] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929150116/http://www.meristation.com/v3/des_analisis.php?id=cw4600fdf7c1637&idj=cw4600f9efed5b6&pic=GEN |date=2011-09-29}} ([https://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.meristation.com%2Fv3%2Fdes_analisis.php%3Fid%3Dcw4600fdf7c1637%26idj%3Dcw4600f9efed5b6%26pic%3DGEN&sl=es&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8 Translation]), MeriStation</ref>

The first game in the long-running ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'' series is another early example of the genre, initially released for the Game Boy in 1991.

Another influential early tactical RPG was [[Sega]]'s ''[[Shining Force]]'' for the Sega Genesis, which was released in 1992. ''Shining Force'' used even more console RPG elements than earlier games, allowing the player to walk around towns and talk to people and buy weapons. It spawned sequels, ''[[Shining Force II]]'' for Sega Genesis and ''[[Shining Force CD]]'' for Sega CD, besides the ''Shining Force Gaiden 1, 2 and 3'' for Sega Game Gear and ''Shining Force III'' for Sega Saturn. The game's creator, [[Camelot Software Planning]]'s Hiroyuki Takahashi, cited Kure Software Koubou's 1988 tactical RPG, ''Silver Ghost'', as his inspiration.<ref name=GamesTM/> One game released solely in Japan for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] (SNES), ''[[Bahamut Lagoon]]'', began [[Square (video game company)|Square's]] (now [[Square Enix]]) famous line of tactical RPGs.

Four games from the ''[[Ogre Battle]]'' series have been released in [[North America]]. The first was ''[[Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen]]'' was released for the SNES in 1993 and was more of a real-time strategy RPG in which the player forms character parties that are moved around a [[Overworld|map]] in real-time. When two parties meet, the combat plays out with minimal user interaction. The game is notable for introducing a moral [[Alignment (role-playing games)|alignment]] system that not only affects the gameplay but where tactical and strategic decisions influence the outcome of a non-linear branching storyline, which is affected by factors such as the moral alignments of the troops used to liberate a city, whether to keep certain liberated cities guarded, making popular or unpopular decisions, concentrating power among just a few units, making deals with thieves, and a general sense of justice. These factors lead to one of 13 possible endings, alongside other factors such as how many and which units are used, how battles are fought, the army's reputation, player character's alignment and charisma, and secrets discovered.<ref name=Ogre-Battle>[http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/ogrebattle/Ogre_Battle-4.html Ogre Battle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612215238/http://rpgfan.com/reviews/ogrebattle/Ogre_Battle-4.html |date=2008-06-12}}, RPG Fan</ref><ref name="1upparish"/>

The sequel, ''[[Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together]]'', was originally a 1995 SNES game that was not released outside Japan. It was later ported to the [[PlayStation]], along with ''Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen''. Both of the PlayStation re-releases were marketed in North America by [[Atlus]], as was ''[[Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber]]'' for the [[Nintendo 64]]. ''Tactics Ogre's'' gameplay is more similar to the genre of tactical RPGs that ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics]]'' belongs to (which was developed by former members of [[Quest Corporation|Quest]] and created/written/directed by [[Yasumi Matsuno]]), complete with battles taking place on [[Isometric projection|isometric]] grids.<ref name="1upparish"/> It was also the first to bear the name "Tactics" in the title, a term gamers would come to associate with the genre. Not only are characters moved individually on a grid, but the view is isometric, and the order of combat is calculated for each character individually. The game also expanded the non-linear alignment system of its predecessor, with three types of alignments for each unit: Lawful, Neutral, and Chaos, neither of which are portrayed as necessarily good or bad. The game gives players the freedom to choose their own destiny, with difficult moral decisions, such as whether to follow a Lawful path by upholding the oath of loyalty and slaughter civilian [[non-player character]]s on the leader's command, or follow the chaotic path by following a personal sense of justice and rebelling, or instead follow a more neutral path.<ref name="1upparish"/><ref name=Tactics-Ogre>[http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/tacticsogre/Tactics_Ogre-3.html Tactics Ogre], RPG Fan</ref> Such factors affect the game's ending, which is also affected by decisions such as whether to obtain the most powerful class, which can only be acquired by making a tragic sacrifice. Another feature was "Warren's Report",<ref name=Tactics-Ogre/> a type of [[database]] on the land, people, encounters and races of Valeria (similar to, but much more expansive than, the troves of knowledge in ''[[Mass Effect]]'').<ref name="Temple">{{cite web|title=Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together - Review|publisher=The Gamers' Temple|author=Jason Nimer|url=http://www.gamerstemple.com/vgreview.asp?r=6281|access-date=2011-04-02}}</ref> Although this game defined the genre in many ways, it was not widely recognized by American gamers because it was released to American audiences several years later. ''Final Fantasy Tactics'' shared some staff members with ''Tactics Ogre'' and shares many of its gameplay elements. A prequel to the original ''Tactics Ogre'', ''[[Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis]]'', was later released for the Game Boy Advance. A remake of ''Let Us Cling Together'' was later released for the [[PlayStation Portable|PSP]] in 2011.

In 1996, the tactical role-playing game ''[[Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War]]'' also featured a non-linear branching storyline, but instead of using an alignment system, it used a relationship system resembling dating sims that gave players the ability to affect the relationship points between different units/characters. This in turn affected both the gameplay and storyline, with the different possible relationships in the first generation of the game's plot leading to different units/characters appearing during the second generation, ultimately leading to different possible outcomes to the storyline.<ref name="gtell_bestsnes">{{cite web|title=Important Importables: Best SNES role-playing games|first=Jenni|last=Lada|publisher=Gamer Tell|date=February 1, 2008|url=http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/important-importables-best-snes-rpgs|access-date=2009-09-11|archive-date=2012-07-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730051541/http://www.technologytell.com/gaming/29674/important-importables-best-snes-rpgs/|url-status=dead}}</ref>