Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is a strategy role-playing game for the Game Boy Advance. Contrary to what its name implies, it is not a remake or a direct sequel to Final Fantasy Tactics, although it does share its setting, Ivalice. The gameplay is similar with a few exceptions. The player is free to put together their own group of fighters known as a "clan", and control their actions over grid-like battlefields. For the most part, players are free to decide the classes, abilities, and statistics of their characters, which grow throughout the game. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance spawned a sequel, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift.

The game begins in a modern world, in a city called St. Ivalice, and in the initial stages controls and actions are explained. The main character, Marche, his brother Doned, their friend Ritz, and fellow classmate Mewt find a strange book which transports them to the world of Ivalice, where the game truly begins.

Gameplay
The player takes the role of Marche, who is accepted into a clan and takes the role of leader, which means he must organize the clan members and take part in various missions to gain experience and status. The missions are offered in pubs scattered around world map, and a fee must be paid to take part in each mission that vary in difficulty; they are essential to advancing the game's story and obtaining valuable items and experience points. Some missions require a special item to accept the mission; this may mean another mission must be done first to acquire it. Others require a certain skill or Job class to take part in them.

Competing against an enemy team of characters, which can consist of monsters, boss characters, or members of each of the five different races present in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, the player takes part in turn-based play guiding the characters' actions across the three-dimensional battlefield.

The four types of missions include regular, encounter, dispatch, and area. Marche's party ventures to a particular location to do battle in the regular missions, and many of these are used to advance the story. In encounter missions Marche's group battles a rival mercenary clan by purchasing a mission or by meeting them while moving about the map. They are represented by a character icon that freely moves about, and sometimes must be pursued to engage in combat with them. Dispatch missions do not involve battle, and the player must temporarily send away one member from the party for a certain amount of time to complete these. Area missions are usually a dispatch mission where Marche's clan can liberate certain regions to obtain bonuses and discounts at shops.

At the game's start, the world map is empty save for the starting location. The map is customized as the player wins "area tokens" after completing certain missions. The tokens are placed in slots on the world map of the player's choice and represent different terrains and settlements, such as plains, mountains, deserts, forests, and towns. Depending on the placement of the tokens, items are rewarded but to get to them the player must travel to the newly placed location and engage in a "treasure hunt". A menu will appear above the location and enable the player to select this option, and the game automatically scans the area for items, which are put into the items menu for future use.

In addition to the main plot, there are two side plots: the Redwing Arc and the Judge Arc. The Redwing Arc centers around the Redwings clan, a foreign crime ring, their subordinate clan Borzoi, and their smuggled foreign monsters. The other is the Judge Arc, unlockable after beating the main three hundred missions. This serves as an alternative ending where Marche stays in Ivalice, overthrows corrupt judges, and becomes next in line for Cid's judge sword.

Multiplayer capability is available for up to two players using a link-cable peripheral, which enables them to battle against each other and to trade items and party members. Additional missions and items are offered when players link.

Job System


There are 25 Job classes in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance that govern a character's stats, equipment, and abilities. Most items that can be equipped have various abilities assigned to them, each available for use by characters of a certain Job while the item is equipped. When a battle is completed, characters will receive Ability Points (AP) distributed over their currently equipped abilities. Once a target amount of AP has been accumulated for a given ability, the character will master it allowing the character to use them at any time, regardless of items equipped and Job chosen. Mastery of abilities in different Jobs will eventually allow the character access to more Jobs.

Units have a primary Job which determines the stat boosts they receive when they level up and the attributes associated with that class. A unit may also have a secondary Job where they can use any abilities of the selected Job, but with the stat profile of the primary Job. For example, an Assassin with a Sniper secondary Job can use abilities from both Jobs, but has the stat profile and appearance of an Assassin, the primary Job.

The Five Races
In addition to Humans (called Humes in later renditions), there are four different character races. Moogles, represented most prominently by Marche Radiuju's best friend in Ivalice, Montblanc, are small and friendly. Their Jobs inflict status effects and have surprisingly high defensive stat growth despite not having a class like the Paladin or the Defender. Nu Mou specialize at magic, and have one melee Job, the Morpher. Bangaa are the most physically tough, specializing in melee. Viera are an entirely female species. They can be ranged, melee, or magic, with all their Jobs speed-based, and are the most versatile race along with Humans. Each race has a certain list of Jobs they can be, many of which (though not all) will be unique to them, and each race has access to its own Totema. Additionally, the shops in various towns will have discounts on items for particular races.

Each race is tied to a Totema, which can be called for an attack, providing the user has defeated the Totema and has ten Judge Points.

The five Totema are:
 * Famfrit, the Totema of the moogles.
 * Ultima, the Totema of the nu mou.
 * Adrammelech, the Totema of the bangaa.
 * Exodus, the Totema of the viera.
 * Mateus, the Totema of the humans.

The Law System
The most prominent difference between Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is the Law System. In a battle, a judge is present on the map who will not fight for either side, but will merely move about, keeping himself out of the way. At times, he will move the unconscious bodies, of enemies and allies alike, from one space to another. Laws are set by judges, invincible arbiters present at each battle, with some exceptions. Laws may forbid the use of certain weapons, items, elemental spells, or status changes. Breaking a law results in punishment by carding, the receipt of a red or yellow card. Imprisonment happens if a character infringes a law twice or knocks out another unit with a forbidden ability or weapon. Jagds have no judges or laws; units knocked out in the jagds will die and permanently leave the clan if they are not revived by the end of the battle.

To offset the difficulty of having things forbidden for use, there are certain things that are recommended by the judges, and therefore grant Judge Points. Judge Points (JP) are used to carry out combos with nearby allies or to summon a Totema. JP are also received upon killing an opponent. Later in the game, the player can add new Laws and cast "Antilaws" to nullify laws that are already in effect.

Law and Antilaw Cards
After Marche rescues Ezel Berbier, he will have access to Law and Antilaw Cards used to change the laws in effect on the battlefield. Law Cards (white) impose new laws, though the maximum number of Laws can never be exceeded. Antilaw Cards (black) nullify laws that are already in effect. These can be used to grant a tactical advantage during battle, as enemies must obey the law or they will suffer the same penalties the heroes do (assuming they are not wearing Hero Medals). On two occasions, cutscenes show characters using special Antilaws to help Marche out: Ezel uses one to avoid capture by Cid, and Cid uses one to nullify Llednar Twem's protective Fortune Law, rendering him vulnerable.

Jagds
Although Laws govern the majority of Ivalice, there are three lawless locations called Jagds, which judges avoid. No actions are forbidden, nor can Judge Points be earned. A character that is KO'd in these locations will, unless revived before the end of the battle, permanently leave the party (and in the case of Marche, a Game Over will occur). This applies to Montblanc and any other "storyline characters", including Ritz Malheur. The Three Jagds are: Jagd Dorsa, Jagd Helje, and Jagd Ahli.

Playable Characters

 * Marche Radiuju - The hero of the story. After the real world changes into Ivalice, he wants to change it back.
 * Ritz Malheur - Marche and Mewt's outspoken friend. In the real world, she had to hide her white hair by dyeing it pink. She is the only human character who obtains the abilities of the Viera race.
 * Montblanc - A young moogle boy who saves Marche right after St. Ivalice's transformation.
 * Shara - A viera and member of Ritz's clan in Ivalice.
 * Babus Swain - Prince Mewt's nu mou caretaker and loyal servant.
 * Ezel Berbier - An eccentric, self-styled nu mou genius and inventor of the Antilaw cards.
 * Cid Randell - Mewt's father. A drunkard in the real world, he is head Judgemaster and the highest authority in Ivalice.

Story
Marche and his sick brother Doned moved into St. Ivalice following their mother who believed a change in environment would be good for Doned's health. The Radiuju family had lived in a hot place where it practically never snowed.

At school, Marche receives the nickname "New Kid" by the bullies Lyle, Colin, and Guinness, and is teased at for being quiet like "a little girl", but he ignores them. He befriends Mewt Randell, and Ritz Malheur, the Class Head.

After school, Marche and his new friends agree to meet at his house to look at Mewt's new book on monsters and magic. At their way to Marche's house, Marche explains about Doned, his little brother who always visits the hospital for his unknown illness.

A little while later, they encounter Mewt Randell's father, Cid. He greets Mewt and asks if he had a nice day. Ritz comments they rarely find a father acting like that. In the Japanese version, Cid appears drunk, while in the English version some citizens are charging him money. Mewt explains that after his mother died his family went into financial trouble. After the conversation between Mewt and Cid, they continue on to Marche's house which is "the house with the yellow roof".

As Marche arrives at his house he encounters with Doned, who sits in a wheelchair. Doned inquires how Marche is doing and after Marche answers he had a snowball fight, Doned teases him that he cannot play sports well.

Ritz and Mewt came to Marche's house and introduce themselves. Mewt opens the old book, which has the illustration of the bangaa, viera, nu mou, human, and moogle. Ritz states the language written on the book looks like Latin, and Mewt reads "Alta Oron Sondus Kameela". The kids think it would be great if a game world like "Final Fantasy" becomes the real world. As the kids sleep St. Ivalice transforms into a dream Ivalice; the snowy landscape changes into a hot climate filled with fantasy creatures.

When Marche wakes up he finds himself stranded in a strange land. Unintentionally offending a bangaa, Marche receives Montblanc's help. Montblanc becomes his guide in the country called Ivalice, and even joins Montblanc's clan, Clan Nutsy. Marche makes it his mission to return the world to normal and to find his friends.

While on the mission "Twisted Flow", Marche is transported into a strange dimension where a crystal is found. Before he can approach it, a being known as Famfrit appears, proclaiming himself a Totema, a defender of the crystal. Marche engages the Totema in battle and is victorious. After Famfrit joins Marche's cause, the crystal shatters and an image of Mewt in pain appears. A voice tells Marche that what he destroyed was one of the world threads, and that if all are destroyed a new world would be born. Taking this as a hint on how to get his world back, Marche resolves to destroy the world threads.

After returning from the strange incident, Marche's next mission introduces him to the famous Ezel Berbier, who is under attack from several warriors aligned with the Judges. After helping Ezel, Marche is shown first hand the power of the Anti-Law cards. From then on, Ezel considers Marche a close friend and valuable customer.

In the mission "Hot Awakening" Marche finds the next world thread. While at Roda Volcano, an earthquake opens up the portal to the crystal. Inside he is confronted by the next Totema, or at least one of its forms, the Ultima Crystals. Upon defeating Ultima and shattering the crystal, another image of Mewt appears, this time demanding to know who is trying to destroy his dream world. When Marche returns to Ivalice, he has second thoughts about going about destroying his friend's world.

During the mission "Pale Company" Marche is ordered to find a ghost. Entering the Nargai Cave, Marche finds a spirit, but is unafraid of it. While following it, he is pulled into a portal and into a crystal chamber. The ghost is here too, but is absorbed by the next Totema, Adrammelech. Adrammelech claims only his master may approach the crystal, so Marche engages him in battle. After defeating him and shattering the crystal, Marche finds himself back in the cave where Babus Swain is waiting for him. Before Babus can do anything, another image of Mewt appears and appears to be in pain. Babus asks Marche that even if the world is fake, is it really worth causing Mewt so much pain to revert it?

Later at Muscadet, Marche finds judges taking away people for questioning, as they look for the people trying to destroy the world. When Marche sees a moogle being mistreated he runs in and claims he is who they are looking for. The judge questions this and sends in some units to see if he truly is who they want. After defeating the units, Judgemaster Cid appears and concludes Marche is the boy they are looking for and takes him in for questioning.

While Cid questions Marche, wanting to know why he is destroying the world threads, another portal opens taking in Marche, Cid, and Babus. Inside the chamber Marche concludes this Totema is severely weakened as the Exodus Fruit can do nothing at all. Babus claims he will not allow anyone to destroy the crystal and tries to defend Exodus. Upon destroying all the fruit and Babus, the crystal shatters, and Marche and Cid are exposed to a scene from their past, causing Cid to regain his memories. Now realizing what Marche is doing is right, Cid allows Marche to leave.

On the mission "Desert Patrol", Marche finds his brother, Doned. Not only is he still alive, he has regained the use of his legs. Instead of being equally happy to see his older brother, Doned runs to the nearest clan group and turns Marche in. Dumbfounded, Marche fights off the group and wonders what is wrong with Doned.

During the mission "Quiet Sands" Marche encounters his biggest threat yet, the mysterious Llednar Twem. Llednar tells Marche to leave the Delia Dunes, and before he can ask why, his question is answered as they are pulled into another crystal chamber. Inside Llednar tries to kill Marche with his ultimate technique, Omega. Just before he can use it though, Cid appears and uses an Anti-Law to disable it. The two engage in battle, but Marche is no match for him. It is only when Llednar breaks a law that Cid red cards him and sends him away.

Proceeding to the crystal chamber, Marche is confronted by the final Totema, Mateus. Mateus tries to trick Marche out of his will to fight, but he has none of it, and engages her in battle. When Mateus is defeated, the crystal shatters, but the world does not change back. Queen Remedi's voice proclaims that even without the crystals, the world will remain as long as someone wants it to remain. Realizing his friends want the world to stay, Marche sets out to convince them to revert the world back.

Marche watches other people having a conversation about giving gifts. Montblanc explains it is because the Audience Day is coming soon. Also known as Gift Day, it is a special day where everyone gives Prince Mewt gifts. Whoever has the best gift gets to meet him.

Knowing it will be a chance for Marche to talk to Mewt, the clan sets out to get a gift, some Materite. In the Materiwoods the clan is ambushed by a group of viera bandits who knew Marche would be there. Upon defeating the bandits, Marche realizes it must have been Doned who told them where to find him. Doned appears and claims he does not want to go back since he has nothing and Marche has everything, shattering the Materite the clan had come to claim. Doned runs off, causing Marche to exclaim Doned did have something he had always wanted.

They make a gift in time to present to Mewt with Nono's invention, the "lugaborg". Marche is worried because Ivalice has a bounty on his head, but Montblanc tries to calm him down. Inside the palace they are ambushed in the waiting room by the castle guards. After dealing with the initial batch, Babus appears to help them, wanting to know more about the other world.

Taking them to the throne room, Marche approaches an angry Mewt and tries to reason with him, but is cut short by Queen Remedi, who teleports Mewt away. Before they can do anything they are confronted by Llednar, who is invincible to anything they throw at him. Cid arrives on the scene causing Llednar to run away. Babus and Cid promise to find where Mewt has gone.

While the others look for Mewt, Marche goes looking for his brother. He goes to a mythril vein and starts digging, which gets Doned's attention. After disposing of his goons, Marche tells Doned he was always jealous of the attention he got and he wishes he was as loved as him. Hearing these words makes Doned realize it is wrong to be selfish and agrees to help Marche revert the world.

After finding Mewt is hiding in Ambervale, Marche starts his trek there. On the mountain path he is confronted by his other friend, Ritz. She wants the world to stay and attacks. Upon her defeat, she accepts her fate and allows Marche's clan through.

At Ambervale, Marche has a final engagement with Llednar, and using Ezel's ultimate Anti-Law dispels his protection, allowing him to defeat Mewt's evil side once and for all. Inside Marche confronts Queen Remedi, and knocks her out. While she is down and out, Marche begins to convince Mewt the world is not good for him and they should go home. Before Mewt can be fully convinced, Queen Remedi reveals her true form, the Li-Grim, the final world thread and the collection of all the world's wishes. Marche fights and defeats her, allowing him to convince Mewt to return them home. Mewt summons the Gran Grimoire and takes them all home.

Back in St. Ivalice, snow is falling and they learn to appreciate their lives outside the realm of fantasy. Ritz accepts her white hair after Shara tells her white hair is considered a blessing by the viera; Cid meets Biggs, his former business subordinate; Marche and Mewt defend themselves against Lyle, Guinness, and Colin. When they call Marche "New Kid", he asks them to call him by his real name. Doned gains will and helps another boy to play Final Fantasy.

Development
Rumors of the game's development began when Square announced its publishing agreement with Nintendo, and it was later confirmed by the producer Yasumi Matsuno. The development team of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance was constructed from employees of Quest Corporation, and work began in February 2002. This comes after Quest announced the handover of its software development team to Square, of which the former is famed for its Tactics Ogre series. Initially thought of as a port of Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance was developed with an entirely new storyline and setting, and received significant changes to make it more user-friendly for the Gameboy Advance handheld console; e.g. a quick-save function.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance uses the gameplay of Final Fantasy Tactics, but introduces certain changes such as a customizable map for the world of Ivalice. While built for the Game Boy Advance, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance's graphics are vibrantly colored and extensively detailed, and though environments and characters are sprite-based, facial expressions are identifiable and many motion frames have been given to create a smooth animation. The game introduces an option to switch between three display modes. Two of the modes are optimized for gameplay on GBA and the new GBA SP, and one mode may display the game into a television screen using certain peripherals.

In Japan, the Final Fantasy Tactics Advance story was expanded and broadcast in Japanese radio stations. The radio drama titled Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Radio Edition was broadcast in four radio stations within Japan from early January 2003 to late March 2003.

Differences Between Gameplay in Japanese and American Version
In the Japanese version, not only can the player not steal boots, but gloves cannot be stolen either. However, the player can steal Blue Mage abilities. The Law system contains only prohibited action. And some of them are JP-only laws, for example "Don't inflict damage above 20 point" or "Don't Cure lower than 50 point." There's no picture graphic to show job-availability for each item. Instead of picture graphics, they show it with abbreviation of each job.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
There is a special feature in Final Fantasy Tactics A2 that only occurs when a Final Fantasy Tactics Advance game card is in the GBA slot of the Nintendo DS while the Final Fantasy Tactics A2 game card is in the DS slot. The setup unlocks the Clan Privilege Libra in Final Fantasy Tactics A2.

Music
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance: Original Soundtrack is composed by Nobuo Uematsu, Hitoshi Sakimoto, Kaori Ohkoshi, and Ayako Saso. It has a remix album named White: Melodies of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, and an Japanese exclusive advertisement song named "Shiroi Hana".

Trivia

 * Marche mentions Final Fantasy is a computer game. Which Final Fantasy he is talking about is unknown.
 * Though developed and published by Square in Japan, the game was released in North America after the company's merger with Enix, and bears the Square Enix brand. It shares this distinction with Final Fantasy X-2, released one month later.
 * The game was released in Japan on Valentine's Day, which might explain the pink calendar that appears on a wall of Marche and Doned's room.
 * Final Fantasy Tactics Advance was the winner of Penny Arcade's 2003 "Just One More Round, Is It Really Four In The Morning?" award.
 * Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and its sequel share many icons with fellow Square Enix tactical Series Tactics Ogre, in particular weapons and armor icons.