I’m rarely subtle about my love for both Final Fantasy Tactics and the tactics genre in general. From the strategy and storytelling to the advanced tactics and gameplay, these games just speak to me. While cruising around Kickstarter, I stumbled upon Unsung Story: Tale of the Guardians, a tactics game with Yasumi Matsuno on staff. Needless to say, it had my full attention immediately. After all, Matsuno had a role in classics such as Ogre Battle: Let Us Cling Together, Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Final Fantasy XII.
In Unsung Story: Tale of the Guardians, you’ll find yourself in a massive 77 year conflict between two powerful nations. When two powerhouses go at it, neighboring countries get sucked into the struggle as well. You’ll be playing as different characters from different nations across different decades throughout the entirety of the game. Your decisions will matter, and all actions have consequences. Do you have what it takes to solve this conflict? To save the world?
I sent the good folk over at Playdek some questions about their game and their chief executive officer, Joel Goodman, got back to me. I strongly, strongly suggest, you take a look at Unsung Story: Tales of the Guardians, check out their Kickstarter page, and take a gander at GameZone’s interview below. This is absolutely the nostalgic tactics game you’ve been waiting for.
What exactly is Unsung Story: Tale of the Guardians?
Joel – It is a story driven tactics RPG, in the classic turn based style of the genre, that brings new game play elements to this widely loved style of game.
Where did the idea for Unsung Story: Tale of the Guardians stem from? How long have you had a project like this in mind?
Joel – The original concept came from Yasumi Matsuno, and we have been discussing this idea with him for a little over a year now. We have always wanted to make RPGs, and are big fans of tactics RPGs, so having the chance to work with the master is a chance of a lifetime.
What games inspired you for this project?
Joel – All of the greats: Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy Tactics, and some of my personal favorites like Jeanne d’Arc and some of the Valkyria Chronicles games.
What can you tell us about the world of Rasfalia?
Joel – The world story is centered around a great conflict between two major empires, that spans 77 years. As in all great conflicts of this nature, there are many smaller countries that are swept up in it as well.
Will certain heroes carry over across certain episodes of the Seventy-Seven Years War?
Joel – Some heroes stories do span many episodes across the conflict, some sequentially while others skip parts of the timeline.
Will players be forced to make decisions that can change the outcome of the game?
Joel – As players go through the various scenarios, they will need to make decisions that affect the outcome of each one.
Can you leak any other classes besides the War Mage, Ballast Knight, Polearm Knight, and Aerolest? Will there be a Dragoon/Lancer/Valkyrie equivalent?
Joel – We will be revealing more classes throughout the Kickstarter campaign.
I see the possibility of PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS in the stretch goals, are other consoles being considered? Steam Greenlight?
Joel – We have announced the PS4 stretch goal, and will most certainly consider Steam.
If co-operative play gets funded, how will that work exactly?
Joel – We will have more details on co-op game play in the future.
If Arena Mode gets funded, how competitive will it be? Do you plan on adding rankings?
Joel – Arena Mode right now is planned to have an online mode, allowing players to have head to head matches. I think that rankings is a great feature for that mode of play.
