Wow.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (FFTA) is quite simply one of the best games I have for my GBA. This game is a deep and thought-provoking experience, with a seemingly endless number of customizable features and statistics.

I never played the original Final Fantasy Tactics for the Playstation, but after playing this sequel I may have to go and track that one down. The story of FFTA centers around a group of kids who are suddenly transported into a Final Fantasy game world, replete with Chocobos, Moogles, and the like. The story is revealed rather slowly, and isn't at the core of the game. This seems strange to me for an RPG, but FFTA more than makes up for any lacking in this area with incredible gameplay.

The player controls a large part of 20-some characters from 5 different races. The races all have different talents, allowing them to have access to different jobs. The job system of FFTA is, from what I have read, not unknown to RPG'dom, but this is the first time I have ever encountered it. Basically, each party member starts off with a basic job such as Soldier. Equipping certain weapons and using them in battle allows the character to learn abilities, which in turn lead to access to more advanced jobs. The job tree has three levels and a number of high-level possibilities, leading to the player experimenting with different combinations of different jobs and skills to produce a powerful combination to send into battle. The job system is easily one of the most interesting aspects of FFTA for me.

The player actually builds the overworld map as he or she goes, placing down icons that represent new locations. This takes some getting used to at first, but it is yet another example of the insane customizability of the game. Missions are the bread and butter of FFTA, and can be contracted at village icons on the overworld map. More difficult missions of course lead to a greater reward if the mission is completed. Once in a mission, the player is confronted with a grid-like game board, and must place his party members on the board and attack the enemy to attain victory. At this point, another one of FFTA's unique features kicks in. Every battle has a judge, which enforces one or more rules upon the participants. If someone breaks a rule, they are severely reprimanded.

The music is very well done, and it actually catches in your memory more than I would have guessed. I also thought the graphics where very nice. Not only are the effects for magic, etc. very colorful, but it is possible to tell the difference between the different weapons used by the characters. Nice!

Word of caution: Pick up  a strategy guide! I usually don't for most of the games I play, but FFTA is so deep and complex that having a hard copy reference guide while playing can be a real lifesaver. I haven't even used mine to beat a mission, but rather I have merely used it to help me understand the battle and job systems. That alone encompasses the first 40 pages of the guide!

Well, this ran a little long for impressions, but suffice to say you like RPG's and Strategy games you can't go wrong by purchasing this game!

Andy Rucker