At the beginning, you’re given a selection of six questions, based off twelve tarot cards, that help adjust Denam’s stats. One of the highlights of Tactics Ogre is its infusion of 'choice' into the game. I’m not sure if it’s about what occurred during the prequels to the game, but it does provide helpful background information. If you really want to know the background history behind the wars, the countries, and the more nitty-gritty political aspects, you can watch a narrated video from the start menu (by not doing anything) that explains some of the previous events.

Luckily, no previous knowledge is needed to play this game. Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together actually sports the subtitle of 'Episode VII.' It is the third game in the series, with the first two being Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen (Episode V) and Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber (Episode VI). However, paths diverge when the question arises - just how far are you willing to go to fight for your country? For your ideals? Luckily, they meet up with a band of mercenaries who were exiled from the neighboring country of Xenobia, who agree to help them free the Duke of Walister from Galgastan hands. Tactics Ogre starts off with our small group discussing what to do they’re tired of being treated like serfs and they’re planning their own small revolt (yes, just by themselves, the three of them). The protagonist (whose default name is Denam), his sister Catiua, and his best friend Vyce are orphans from Walister, a state that is oppressed by the Galgastan.

Let Us Cling Together’s story is too complex to be described in a short paragraph, but here’s a try. Luckily, my sense of doubt was quickly assuaged when I learnt that 'Let Us Cling Together' is based off one of the titles by the rock band, Queen, and the game quickly grew on me once I began to play it. My first impression of Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Togther led to conflicting feelings - I’d heard that its predecessor, Ogre Battle 64, was one of the best N64 games of its time, yet the subtitle 'Let Us Cling Together' was such an odd translation of a game title that it set me on edge.

Tactics ogre loyalty