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Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift Review
PaperBowser0 | 11:34 AM on 07.18.2008 7 comments


Alright, let me start off by saying that I’m a huge fan of not only the Final Fantasy Tactics series, but I’m also a huge fan of tactics games in general, so I’ll try to give this game a fair review of what it deserves, and not that I just love it. I’m already about 23 hours into the game, completing over 70 missions, so I think I can give it a good, fair review. Oh, and this is the first time I've ever reviewed a game, so don't bash it too much. ;)



So if you’ve played any of the other Final Fantasy Tactics games, like the GBA, PSP, or PS1, you’ll notice right away that the graphical style, and how everything is played out that it is definitely a FFT game. You star off just like the previous Final Fantasy Tactics game on the Gameboy Advance. You start off with the main protagonist (named Luso, but you can change that), and he is a trouble maker in school so on the last day of school, his teacher orders him to help clean up the library (I know, what an ass hole). So while you’re cleaning, you stumble upon a book that, once you write your name in it, it transports you to a different world called Ivalice. You start off with, wait…..not text, but a battle (strange, especially for a Final Fantasy game). You get used to the controls, and by the time you’re done with the battle, you know how to pretty much do everything in battle (especially if you’ve played some of the games before). Then, obviously like every other Final Fantasy Tactics games, you go through some more talking between characters, and you just learn a little more about the characters.



If you’ve played previous games, the graphical style is pretty much the same, but if you’re really looking for a big graphics bump, then you’re going to be really disappointed. It looks pretty much the same as the GBA one, except with a little, and I mean little extra bump here and there. Not to say that the graphics are bad, but they definitely aren’t being utilized as much as I think that they could (although I know the memory storage on a DS cartridge isn’t that big). Then there’s the gameplay, if you’ve played any of the other Final Fantasy Tactics games, you’ll know exactly how to control the characters, and move around without any trouble, and it’s not even that hard to learn, which makes the whole game a little more accessible to people that maybe haven’t played any games in the series, or any tactical games at all.



Like in the GBA Final Fantasy Tactics game, you had a set of three laws, but if you got far enough in the game, you could buy cards to disband those laws. Well, in this game, I’m sorry to say that the law system is back, but it’s not as bad as the GBA game, because you only have one law, but I do not yet know of a way to get rid of it. You also can have a privilege, which you get to choose after putting your characters onto the field. These can include simple ones such as Power up, MP Regain, and Always counter. There’s also no jail when you break a law, so you don’t have to worry about those damn yellow and red cards, and paying a fine if you get too many. Now, the only thing that happens is that the laws are disbanded and so are your privileges, and also if any of your people die in combat, you cannot revive them. Hopefully in the next game in the series there won’t be any of those laws and only privileges (although I don’t think that will be happening soon).



As acclaimed on the box, there are over 300 missions, and the whole game is suppose to last hundreds of hours (although I think I could get it in 150 ). I’d definitely think that this is a must play if you’re a DS owner, and like either Final Fantasy Tactics games, or just tactics games in general, it is a must buy. If you’ve never played tactics games before, then I’d say if you have the spare time and money, you should try it out, because it’s a great game to play whenever, and the story is pretty great.



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7 comments | showing # 1 to 7

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thefil's Destructoid Blog
I actually feel that all the screen real estate could have been better used, and that the menu system is the worst in the series. There's really no way (that I can find) to look at a list of skills a character knows, or the list of skills they are learning. Mind you, I am only two hours in. :P
Origin488's Destructoid Blog
I absolutely loved final fantasy tactics advance for the GBA. so i think im going to pick this up soon.

thanks :)
bhive01's Destructoid Blog
I tried getting into it, but I'm not a big fan of RPGs let alone Tactics RPGs. For me, there's way too much customization and the battles take forever to finish. Some of them took 20+ minutes each. There's no way that I could see to grind a little bit to improve your character and your chances of beating the next "plot battle."

I do like the story so far and the characters, but it takes forever to advance the story IMO. I played for about 10 hours before I gave up and found something better (Loco Roco if you're wondering what).

This games just wasn't for me. That being said, if you like tactics games and Final Fantasy, I've heard nothing but good things from fans.
P3T3Y's Destructoid Blog
I am so sick of whining about the goddamn laws.
Moogles can only perform basic attacks? DON'T USE A MOOGLE
Can't use any long-range attack? USE MELEE CHARACTERS AND MAGES
Obeying the laws isn't terribly complicated. And far from detrimental if you decide to disobey. Of the 110 missions I have completed, I haven't once reset or kicked myself for accidentally breaking a law (usually involving a ban on elemental attacks and a character having an element on a weapon) because the benefits aren't terribly impressive. Sure I might lose my Bonus AP 3 (the only worthwhile Clan Privilege IMO) but there are plenty of missions to make up for it.

Apx 1/4 of your review is your gripes with the negligible law system. FAIL/10
Char Aznable's Destructoid Blog
I'm a huge nerd for tactics games, despite the fact that I haven't yet played the original FFT. I know, shame.

I just started playing FFTA2, and I'm a little disappointed that the graphics weren't completely overhauled. I mean, the sprites look almost the same - at least throw a new outfit on the white mage or something. The magic spells look cooler, at least.

Using the touch screen has been a little hit-or-miss so far, so I might just stick with using the conventional d-pad+buttons setup. Also, the laws are FAR more forgiving this time around, and I can't really complain there.

If it's more of the same, great, because I played the living SHIT out of FFTA. I'm looking forward to getting deeper into it.
Big Z's Destructoid Blog
I found FFTA to be childish and incredibly shallow compared to the original. My favorite part is when the story ends exactly as you think it will, there is not even the most minute of plot twists. Hey, I'm not asking for an M. Night tweest to every game I play, sometimes a sword fight is just a sword fight, but I was really expecting more from a follow-up to one of the deepest games I'd ever played.
PaperBowser0's Destructoid Blog
Well Big Z, I guess it's just how you see and aproach the series. But, I do agree with you that they're aren't a lot of plot twists, and the story CAN get a little boring.


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