It's amazing how Square Enix's games fall just short of perfection...
We've all played the original Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced for the GBA, right? We've all fallen in love with the job systems, graphics, races and lovable characters.
Well, lets add two new races and a crap-load of new jobs to the mix.
Sounds like fun, huh?
Your name is Luso Clemens, a "problem child'. Summer vacation is just beginning and you're eager to leave, but your teacher, Mr. Blair, commands you to clean the library for arriving late to class for the umpteenth time. You're suppose to meet the librarian, Mr. Randell(sounds familiar?), but he isn't there. An old book on the table catches your eye and you open it. All of the pages are blank save one that reads: "One is fated to fill these barren pages. Know you his name?". Not being one to pass up the chance to write on school property, you scribble "Luso"
And the adventure begins.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance: Having the game cartridge in when you start a new game on A2 earns you the clan privilege Libra which... casts
libra (duh) at the beginning of a battle.
Adjudged: Clans swear an oath to a Judge and thus, they cannot truly die in battle.
Auction Houses: Remember the turf wars? Well, they've calmed down quite a bit, turning into something a bit tamer. In auction houses, you bid tokens , and whoever has the most tokens at the end of a session, claims owner ship to that area. Three or four areas can be won at each auction house. Of course, once you've gained possessing of all of the areas in a single auction house, items become available.
Bazaar: Trading in materials that you've acquired in battle results in new weapons and armor added to the inventory of stores. Some items stay up for grabs forever whilst others require that you turn in the materials every time you want to buy the piece of equipment.
Clan points: CP weren't really used much in FFTA, but in A2, they're used to buy tokens for bidding in options and for accepting clan trials.
Clan Trials/Titles: There are four skills that a clan possesses, rather than the original eight: Adaptability, Negotiation, Teamwork and Aptitude. Completing clan trials earns you new titles and clan privileges. The former gains points towards the four aforementioned skills and the latter are used in battle.
Clan Privileges: From extra oomph in your attacks to faster movements, clan privileges can only be used by the adjudged.
Laws: Rather than be stuffed into a cramped cell when you break a law, your Judge abandons you and you lose your clan privilege for the remainder of the battle. Unfortunately, the law can be tough and unforgiving.In example, 'Receiving Debuffs'(slow, poison, ect) you can't exactly control the NPC characters...
Scions: I suppose these manifestations of power replace the Totemas. You need an item of power to summon them and said items must be equipped to a unit. Since there are no JP, you can summon a Scion once your Smash Gauge is full.
Smash Gauge: You see that bar on the side of the box that shows your unit's picture, HP, MP, level and such? It tends to fill up with blue-yellow-green energy when you hit people. If the energy is yellow-red, you're ready to summon.
All of your clan info including amount of units in your clan, level of skills, accepted/finished quests, turf and clan title are displayed on the top screen whenever you're on the main map. Unfortunately, there isn't any wifi >_> which seems to be a trend with Square Enix's games as of late. Also, one would expect a great cutscene at the beginning of the game, but it just skips to the main menu O.o
Overlooking those minor flaws, this game is AWESOME and totally worth the $40.