Final Fantasy Tactics A2: The Sealed Grimoire . www.covermix.com

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (ファイナルファンタジータクティクス A2 封穴のグリモア Fainaru Fantajī Takutikusu Eitsū Fūketsu no Gurimoa^?, lit. "Final Fantasy Tactics A2: The Grimoire of the Sealed Hole") is a strategy roleplaying game from Square Enix for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It is a sequel to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2 is part of the "Ivalice Alliance", which also includes Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, a direct sequel to Final Fantasy XII for the Nintendo DS, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions an enhanced port of Final Fantasy Tactics for the PlayStation Portable, and Final Fantasy XII International: Zodiac Job System, an international version of Final Fantasy XII for PlayStation 2.

Gameplay

A screenshot of the Japanese version of Final Fantasy Tactics A2, featuring a player unit about to take an action against an enemy unit.

Square Enix further developed the game's grid-based system, and increased the number of character jobs. Some enemies also appear in larger scales, taking up multiple squares on the grid. The world map is also developed to be more in-depth with the introduction of "area maps". The area maps will feature multiple battle locations and a town, which will work similar to its predecessor. It also revealed the existence of enemy clans that will also travel the world map.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2 is compatible with its predecessor, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. If the latter game is inserted into Slot 2 of the Nintendo DS/Lite upon starting a new game of the former, certain gameplay advantages can be gained, such as the automatic acquisition of certain abilities.

Plot

Setting

Like Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, the game takes place in both Ivalice and St. Ivalice. Chronologically, the Ivalice portion of the game is set some time after Final Fantasy XII, while the St. Ivalice portion is set around ten years after Final Fantasy Tactics Advance.

There are seven playable races in the game: Humes, Moogles, Vieras, Bangaas and Nu Mou return from Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, while Seeq, from Final Fantasy XII, are playable for the first time. The Gria are a new race appearing for the first time in Final Fantasy Tactics A2.

The main character, Luso Clemens, is a mischievous boy who lives in the real world until, after being punished for teasing and being late countless times and sent to library clean-up duty right before summer vacation, he finds an old book in the library. The book is full of pictures of swords and wizards, but abruptly becomes blank in the middle. After this, the book commands that the reader should tell/write the person who should fill in this blank (presumably the 'hero' of the story) He then writes his own name on the blank page, "Luso Clemens," after which he is transported into the world of Ivalice. Dropping into the middle of a forest right in front of a large bird called a "Dekatrice" (a play on the Japanese adjective "dekai," huge, and "cockatrice", a recurring monster in the Final Fantasy series), he is told by a warrior named Cid nearby that if he wishes to live, he should join his clan, Clan Gully. Luso excitedly does so, and, in front of a judge, swears into the clan, after which he magically transforms into a soldier, complete with sword and fantasy garb.

Luso tells Cid that he probably should be looking for a way home, because his aunt will be worried about him. Cid agrees to help him find a way home, and Luso agrees to help the clan and see the world of Ivalice until he goes home. This is slightly different from Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, in that he is not overly concerned with getting home, but rather focuses his attention on the opportunity he has been given. Unlike in the previous installment, the main character travels to the real Ivalice, instead of a creation of his friend's imagination; this fact is reinforced by the reappearances of familiar characters such as Vaan and Penelo.

References are made to other games in the Ivalice Alliance: the Khamja criminal organization first appeared in Final Fantasy Tactics in relation to the characters Marach and Rapha Galthena. Montblanc will cry out to Marche Radiuju, the protagonist of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, if he is KO'd in battle, while Mewt Randell, another of the main characters, makes a cameo appearance in the game's prologue as the school librarian. Also, Luso makes an appearance in Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions as an optional playable character.

Characters

The story of Final Fantasy Tactics A2 revolves around the protagonist Luso Clemens, and his exploits in the land of Ivalice. Upon his arrival in Ivalice, Luso is joined by Cid, the leader of a group of hunters known as Clan Gully. His adventures also introduced him to Adelle, the story's silver-haired female protagonist, and Hurdy, a Moogle minstrel.

The plot of the game also involves supporting characters that have been featured in games within the Ivalice universe. Ezel Berbier plays a supporting role, featured in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. Vaan, Penelo and Al-Cid Margrace, a noble from Rozarria, are playable characters that are featured in Final Fantasy XII. Even Montblanc, who appeared in both games, makes an appearance due to being Hurdy's brother. Other characters include antagonists such as Illua and Ewen of a criminal syndicate known as the Khamja, and new characters such as Lezaford and Frimelda.

Development

A screenshot of the Esper Hashmal from Final Fantasy XII was published in Famitsu's April edition. Other Espers featured in Final Fantasy XII have also been revealed in the latest trailers and magazine scans, including Belias, Mateus and Chaos.

The North American and European versions of the game will feature stylus control, unlike the Japanese version.

^{This section requires expansion.}

Audio

The music of Final Fantasy Tactics A2 is composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto and other composers under Basiscape. Several compositions were taken from the scores of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Final Fantasy XII

Final Fantasy Tactics A2 Original Soundtrack is the soundtrack for Final Fantasy Tactics A2. It was released in Japan on Wednesday, 28th November 2007.

Track listing

Disc one

"Main Theme" (メインテーマ, Mein Tēma^?) - 1:49
"Words to Spell" (つづられる言葉, Tsuzurareru Kotoba^?) - 0:54
"Green Wind" (緑の風, Midori no Kaze^?) - 2:54
"Unfold the Map" (地図を広げて, Chizu o Hirogete^?) - 1:41
"Companions who Overcame Their Races (種族をこえた仲間たち, Shuzoku o Koeta Nakama-tachi^?) - 3:25
"At the Pub" (酒場にて, Sakaba nite^?) - 2:39
"Engagement" (エンゲージ, Engēji^?) - 0:09
"An Adventurer's Knowledge" (冒険者の心得, Bōkensha no Kokoroe^?) - 2:24
"Seized Victory" (つかんだ勝利, Tsukanda Shōri^?) - 0:13
"Level Up" (レベルアップ, Reberu Appu^?) - 0:09
"Won Fruit" (勝ち得た果実, Kachieta Kajitsu^?) - 0:14
"Luso" (ルッソ, Russo^?) - 1:50
"Companions that Gather" (あつまる仲間, Atsumaru Nakama^?) - 2:16
"Signpost" (道しるべ, Michishirube^?) - 2:22
"Cid" (シド, Shido^?) - 2:10
"The Strange Shop" (不思議なショップ, Fushigi na Shoppu^?) - 2:08
"Adelle" (アデル, Aderu^?) - 2:21
"Unpreparedness is One's Greatest Enemy" (油断大敵, Yudan Taiteki^?) - 2:50
"Full-Out Dash!" (全力疾走！, Zenryoku Shissō!^?) - 3:07
"Unconcealed Anxiety" (かくせない不安, Kakusenai Fuan^?) - 2:38
"Inside the Illusion" (幻想の中で, Gensō no Naka de^?) - 2:50
"Determination" (決意, Ketsui^?) - 2:24
"Grand Spell" (大いなる呪文, Ōinaru Jumon^?) - 2:44
"Lurking Shadow" (潜む陰, Hisomu Kage^?) - 2:54
"Eternal Time" (悠久の時, Yūkyū no Toki^?) - 3:30
"Across the Wasteland" (荒野のむこう, Kōya no Mukō^?) - 2:38
"Throbbing Heart" (高鳴る心, Takanaru Kokoro^?) - 3:01
"Comparison of Wisdom" (知恵くらべ, Chie Kurabe^?) - 1:42
"Bell of Victory" (勝利の鐘, Shōri no Kane^?) - 0:07

Disc two

"Peaceful Days" (平和な日々, Heiwa na Hibi^?) - 3:54
"Summer Vacation" (夏休み, Natsuyasumi^?) - 1:59
"Bookmark" (ブックマーク, Bukkumāku^?) - 1:54
"Climbing the Hill" (丘をこえて, Oka o Koete^?) - 2:41
"Helter Skelter" (すたこらさっさ, Sutakora Sassa^?) - 2:28
"To the Summit" (頂上へ, Chōjō e^?) - 3:38
"Those Who Block the Way" (立ちはだかるもの, Tachihadakaru Mono^?) - 3:35
"Sorrow" (哀しみ, Kanashimi^?) - 2:27
"Sky Pirates who Came from the East" (東から来た空賊, Higashi kara Kita Kūzoku^?) - 3:08
"Bitter Battle" (苦しい戦い, Kurushii Tatakai^?) - 4:00
"Wounded Companions" (傷つく仲間, Kizutsuku Nakama^?) - 0:09
"Sleep of Defeat (敗北の眠り, Haiboku no Nemuri^?) - 1:35
"Premonition of the Beginning" (はじまりの予感, Hajimari no Yokan^?) - 1:31
"Airport" (エアポート, Eapōto^?) - 3:12
"Abyss" (深淵, Shin'en^?) - 3:35
"Looming Crisis" (迫り来る危機, Semarikuru Kiki^?) - 2:31
"Grave Mistake" (手痛いミス, Teitai Misu^?) - 0:09
"Requiem" (レクイエム, Rekuiemu^?) - 3:09
"Conclusion" (終局, Shūkyoku^?) - 3:02
"Front and Back" (表と裏, Omote to Ura^?) - 4:13
"Resolution" (決着, Ketchaku^?) - 3:03
"Opened Darkness" (開かれる闇, Akareru Yami^?) - 2:33
"The End of the Story" (物語の終わり, Monogatari no Owari^?) - 3:03
"A Poem for the Journey" (旅立ちに贈る詩, Tabidachi ni Okuru Shi^?) - 2:05
"Echoes that Tie Worlds Together" (世界をつなぐひびき, Sekai o Tsunagu Hibiki^?) - 0:43
"Respective Stories" (それぞれの物語, Sorezore no Monogatari^?) - 2:39
"Spelled Words" (つづられた言葉, Tsuzurareta Kotoba^?) - 5:39

Reception

The Japanese version of the game has received a mix of criticism and approval from the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu. Approving an overall score of 34 (out of 40), Famitsu comments on the wide variety of missions, jobs and skills that are available to the player. The magazine also indicated that fans would be pleased on the ability to customize characters. On the downside, Famitsu was not pleased on the camera issue, which retained the Final Fantasy Tactics Advance viewpoint. This hinders the player from tracking down the location of characters during battle, especially when there are a large number of units standing side-by-side in the playfield. Famitsu also criticized the story, which according to the reviewers was poorly developed.

Legacy

Crystal Guardians, a game for mobile phones taking place somewhere in the timeline of Final Fantasy Tactics A2 has been released by Square Enix. Three chapters have been released so far: W1, W2 and W3.

References

^ Hatfield, Daemon (September 20, 2007). TGS 2007: Final Fantasy Tactics A2 Update. Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
^ ^a ^b Square Enix staff (2008-03-19). Dive into the world of Ivalice this summer with Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift. square-enix.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-20.
^ Final Fantasy Republic (2008-05-20). PAL Region Release Date For FF Tactics A2. Retrieved on 2008-05-20.
^ IGN staff (March 29, 2007). First Final Fantasy Tactics Details. IGN.com. Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
^ ^a ^b ^c Gantayat, Anoop (April 04, 2007). Final Fantasy Tactics Update. Retrieved on 2007-04-08.
^ Harris, Craig (May 16, 2007). Interview: Final Fantasy Tactics A2. Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
^ Chen, Charlott (May 22, 2007). Interviews from the Square Enix Party 2007 in Japan. Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
^ KujaFFman (2007-05-09). FFTA2 : Quelques scans (French). Final Fantasy World. Retrieved on 2007-05-09.
^ Morcos, Antoine (April 04, 2007). Final Fantasy Tactics A2 images. Retrieved on 2007-04-05. (French)
^ KujaFFman. FFTA2 : Ce qu'en dit Famitsu (French). Retrieved on 2007-10-19.
^ CRYSTAL GUARDIANS - クリスタルガーディアンズ
^ Final Eclipse << DreizehnteφNichtvorhandensein 『CRYSTAL GUARDIANS W2』:配信開始日決定
^ http://ffkh.onlinfo.net/crystal-guardians/

External links

Official Japanese Website
Official North American Website
Crystal Guardians official Website
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift article at the Final Fantasy Wiki

v • d • e Video games set in Ivalice

Stand-alone titles	Final Fantasy Tactics • Vagrant Story • Final Fantasy Tactics Advance • Final Fantasy XII (characters)

Ivalice Alliance	XII: Revenant Wings • Tactics: The War of the Lions • XII International Zodiac Job System • Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift

Music	Music of the Final Fantasy Tactics series • Music of Final Fantasy XII

v • d • e Final Fantasy series

Main series	Final Fantasy • II • III (DS) • IV (DS & After) • V • VI • VII (Compilation) • VIII • IX • X (X-2) • XI • XII (Ivalice) • XIII (Crystallis)

Other media	Compilations and collections • Sequels and sidestories • Spin-offs • Novels and manga • Films and animation

Battle systems • Common elements • Minigames • Music