Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
| Final Fantasy Tactics Advance | |
 | |
| Developer: | Square-Enix |
| Publisher: | Square-Enix |
| Number of Players: | 1 |
| Release date: | 2003 |
| Genre: | RPG |
| Game modes: | Single player |
| ESRB/ELSPA ratings: | Teen (T) |
| Platform: | Game Boy Advance |
| Media: | |
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is a strategy video game for Nintendo's Game Boy Advance. It is a spin-off of the popular Final Fantasy series, and was produced by Square-Enix.
Overview
Taking place in the magical world of Ivalice, which only appears to share the name of the world of Playstation hit Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is the story of Marche, Mewt and Ritz, three misfit children who live in a small town named Ivalice, but find themselves transported to the realm of the same name after discovering an ancient magical book. This magical realm appears to be a manifestation of the video game "Final Fantasy," which the three children have played. Fans have speculated that this game is actually Final Fantasy XII, and that this is the link between the two games that developers have continually mentioned. Whether this is true or not remains to be seen as of 30/07/04.
Both the gameplay and the story have been simplified in an effort to appeal to a wider audience and enhance the experience on the smaller Game Boy Advance. This gives the game a childish and light-hearted feel to it, although the game is still popular with both children and adults alike.
While many elements of the game play in FFTA are the same as those in its Playstation cousin, this installment sees the introduction of a system of laws, in which your characters can be "carded" by Chocobo riding Judges for doing various things. For example, items may be banned in a battle, but use of certain abilities may be encouraged by the judges. Laws change regularly, and the player must constantly check laws to adjust their strategy accordingly.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is sometimes called Tactics Advance or just Tactics. It is also commonly abbreviated as FFTA.
Races
Tactics Advance introduces a variety of races. Each race can take up certain "jobs," that govern what abilities the character can use.
The races are as follows:
- Humans: Generic well-rounded characters that can take a wide variety of jobs.
- Moogles: As seen in other Final Fantasy games. They specialize in technological jobs and the use of guns.
- Nu Mou: Small creatures with long floppy ears. They specialize in magic.
- Viera: Tall Rabbit-like creatures. They specialize in Fencing and Archery, along with other agility-based jobs.
- Bangaa: Lizard-like creatures with immense strength. They specialize in fighting jobs.
Laws
Some hours into playing the game, you get the ability to add new laws (if the enemy will be affected by this, obviously) and the power to cast "anti-laws", which nullify laws that are detrimental to your party. For example, there are laws that forbid certain weapons, such as rapiers, greatswords, or arrows. Other times, items, certain types of elements, or status changes (such as Sleep, Confusion, or Poison) may be forbidden.
To offset the difficulty of having things forbidden for use, there are certain things that are "Recommended" by the Judge for use, and therefore give you more Judge Points (which enable you to cast spells and use special abilities). Example: Say "Items" are forbidden, but "Poison" is recommended, and you use an ability that changes the status to poison, you receive a Judge Point. You also receive Judge Points when you kill an opponent.
Jobs
There is a much greater range of jobs available in Tactics Advance than the original. Jobs include Soldier, Fighter, Warrior, White Monk, Archer, Sniper, Dragoon, Paladin, Gladiator, Mog Knight, Beastmaster, Animist, Juggler, White Mage, Black Mage, Red Mage, Time Mage, Gunner, and Thief, to name a few. Each job class has a specific type of weapon to be used with that class, and the only way to use and master abilities is to equip a specific weapon. Abilites are mastered by fighting in battles, and every time you complete a battle you receive a specific amount of Ability Points (AP), and when you get the desired amount of AP (anywhere from 100-999) you master that ability and retain that ability as long as you are that job class even if you do not have that weapon equipped anymore. The challenge comes when a weapon is fairly weak, but it has a good ability attached to it. This is when you must balance fighting power with long-term goals for your characters. Later in the game, you may also capture creatures and use them in your party. Usually these monsters are primarily physical-attack based (but with great attack power behind them to offset this) but occasionally will have a magical attack.