Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (2003)

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Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (ファイナルファンタジータクティクスアドバンス, Fainaru Fantajī Takutikusu Adobansu) is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. A spin-off of the Final Fantasy series, the game shares several traits with 1997's Final Fantasy Tactics, although it is not a direct sequel.

Gameplay

The player assembles a clan of characters, and controls their actions over grid-like battlefields. Players are mostly free to decide the classes, abilities, and statistics of their characters.

Plot

The game's story centers on four children; Marche, Mewt, Ritz, and Doned, who live in a small town named St. Ivalice. The children are transported to a realm of the same name as their town, "Ivalice", after discovering an ancient magical book. The story then focuses on the exploits of Marche as he attempts to return to the real world while facing opposition from those around him.

Visuals and other features

Tactics Advance is one of the initial products from the cooperation of Square and Nintendo made for the Game Boy Advance console; it was developed by the team brought over from the game company Quest Corporation. Following its release, Tactics Advance-themed merchandise was introduced. The game was positively received. It has a sequel, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift for the Nintendo DS.
Tactics Advance was re-released for the Nintendo Wii U Virtual Console on January 28, 2016 for Europe, Australia and North America with Japan on March 30, 2016.

Release Date

Feb 14, 2003

Metacritic Score

87

Rating

Play Time

45.5 hours

Games in Series

27

ESRB

Everyone: Alcohol Reference, Mild Violence

Interesting Facts

  • A spin-off of the Final Fantasy series, the game shares several traits with 1997’s Final Fantasy Tactics, although it is not a direct sequel.
  • The game’s story centers on four children; Marche, Mewt, Ritz, and Doned, who live in a small town named St. Ivalice.
  • In Tactics Advance, turn-based tactical battles take place on a three-dimensional isometric field.
  • Missions are tasks undertaken by a clan.
  • There are four types of missions: regular, encounter, dispatch, and area.
  • Tactics Advance also offers multiplayer capability for two players.
  • The world map is initially empty except for the starting location.
  • There are 34 “jobs” in Tactics Advance that govern a character’s stats, equipment, and abilities.
  • Tactics Advance also introduces five playable races: Humans, the small rodentlike Moogles, the strong lizard-like Bangaa, the agile rabbit-like Viera, and the magically-skilled Nu Mou.
  • One arbitrary game mechanic of Tactics Advance is the Laws system.

Mod Support

Yes

Cheats support

Yes

Family/Child Friendly

Yes

Number of maps

1

Platforms

Game Boy Advance

Genres

RPGStrategy

Protagonist sex

Male

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