Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
North American box art
Developer(s)	Square Enix
Publisher(s)	Square Enix
Artist(s)	Ryoma Itō
Composer(s)	Hitoshi Sakimoto
Series	Final Fantasy Ivalice Alliance
Platform(s)	Nintendo DS
Release date(s)	JP October 25, 2007 NA June 24, 2008 PAL June 27, 2008
Genre(s)	Tactical role-playing game
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	CERO: A ESRB: E10+ OFLC: PG PEGI: 12+

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: Grimoire of the Rift") is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix for the Nintendo DS handheld game console.

Grimoire of the Rift is the sequel to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance as well as an iteration in the Ivalice Alliance.

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.

Grimoire of the Rift uses an isometric turn-based tactics battle system. However, Square Enix further developed the game's grid-based system and increased the number of character jobs. Some enemies also appear in larger sizes, taking up multiple squares on the grid. The world map has also developed, with the introduction of "area maps". The area maps feature multiple battle locations and a town, which work similar to its predecessor. Enemy clans also travel the world map.^[1] The game differs from previous Final Fantasy Tactics games because one chooses specific missions from a screen. Some missions are central to the story and can be replayed until successfully completed. There are over 300 other missions in the game that may be replayed in order to level up the player's team. There are also random battles against creatures that occur on the map, which one can choose to fight.

The jobs have been expanded from the first game. Characters learn abilities by equipping job-specific weapons, armour, and items. Clearing battles nets characters Ability Points, which go towards the abilities in whatever items they have equipped. Once they have enough Ability Points, they can use the ability without having the item equipped by Mastering. Eventually, characters can use any abilities they've mastered from two different jobs.

Grimoire of the Rift is compatible with its predecessor, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. With Advance inserted into Slot 2, a player can begin A2 with the Clan Ability "Libra" already known. This ability is also available later through a mission in the game.

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,^[2] while the St. Ivalice portion is set around ten years after Final Fantasy Tactics Advance.

There are seven playable races in the game: Humans, 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 that has been introduced to the world of Ivalice.^[1]

The main character, Luso Clemens, is a boy who is sent to library clean-up duty right before summer vacation by his teacher Mr. Randall. In his cleanup duties, he finds an old book. The book 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. He then writes his own name on the blank page, "Luso Clemens," after which he is transported into the world of Ivalice. After dropping into the middle of a forest right in front of a large Crushatrice called "Klesta", he is told by a warrior named Cid that if he wishes to live he should join his clan. Luso does so, and swears fealty to the clan in front of a judge, after which he magically transforms into a soldier, complete with appropriate clothing.

Luso tells Cid that he probably should be looking for a way home, as his aunt will no doubt be worried about him. Cid agrees to help him find a way home, and Luso agrees to help other people and see the world of Ivalice until he finds a way home. Along his journey he meets Adelle, a thief known as "The Cat" and Hurdy the bard. Together they face off against Khamja, a mysterious organization that specializes in illegal activities and assassinations. They also meet the great mage Lezaford who tells Luso that the book he carries is the key to going back to his world, and that since Luso wrote his name in the book, the book has focused its power upon him. Lezaford then goes on to say that the more Luso experiences and learns, so does the books' power, meaning that if he grows enough, he will be able to go home. However, Lezaford does not tell Luso the whole truth at first and is forced to tell Luso near the end of the game that the book is actually the Grimoire of the Rift, a book that can open "rifts" to other places and inadvertently let things through. This is what the secret organization targets Luso for. Leazaford also tells him that the book can close the rifts too if done correctly. After Luso confronts the organization, and the final enemy that had come through the rift, he finally feels he can go home. Luso bids farewell to Cid, Adelle, Hurdy, and Lezaford before finally returning home. It is then revealed Mr. Randall is Mewt from the first game. This is slightly different from Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, in that Luso is not overly concerned with getting home, but rather focuses his attention on the opportunity he has been given.^[1] Also unlike the previous installment, the main character travels to the real Ivalice, instead of a creation of his and his friends' desires;^[3] this fact is reinforced by the reappearances of familiar characters such as Vaan and Penelo.

Characters

Characters of TA2 (from left): Luso, Adelle and Hurdy, riding a Chocobo.

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 Clan Gully.^[4]

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 as 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.

The three primary characters of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance are also referenced: Montblanc will utter part of Marche Radiuju's name if he is KO'd in battle; Mewt Randell makes a cameo appearance as the school librarian, and Ritz Malheur appears as an illustration at the game's beginning. Also, Luso makes an appearance in Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions as an optional playable character with Khamja being part of the Final Fantasy Tactics story in relation to the characters Marach and Rapha Galthena.

Development

This section requires expansion.

A screenshot of the Esper Hashmal from Final Fantasy XII was published in Famitsu's April edition.^[5] 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 add stylus control, unlike the Japanese version.^[6]

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, 28 November 2007.

Track listing

Reception and legacy

Square Enix reports that as of May 31, 2009, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift has sold 670,000 copies worldwide, with 310,000 copies sold in Japan, 240,000 copies in North America, and 120,000 copies in Europe.^[9]

Granting an overall score of 34 (out of 40), Japanese gaming magazine 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. Famitsu criticized the lack of camera rotation and the shallow story.^[10] The reception for the North American version has generally been positive. IGN called it "just as deep as ever. It's also one of the best looking DS games around."^[11] GameSpot cited the game's presentation, musical score, and deep gameplay as its strengths. Gamespot complained about the game's slow battles, restrictive law system and customization, and steep learning curve.^[12] Game Informer said "When it all clicks, Final Fantasy Tactics A2 is a well-oiled adventure combining good design and fun gameplay that any strategy/RPG fan will appreciate." The Official Nintendo Magazine said "It's a daunting prospect but there are rewards for the brave here. This is a classy, addictive and sophisticated RPG."^[13]

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift was awarded Best Strategy Game for the Nintendo DS by IGN for their 2008 video game awards.^[14]

Crystal Defenders

A spin-off, Crystal Defenders (originally titled Crystal Guardians), is a tower defense game by Square Enix that takes place after the events of Final Fantasy Tactics A2, and uses units from the game. It was originally released in three installments for mobile phones in early 2008 only in Japan, and an iPod and iPhone OS version of the game was released worldwide in late 2008. Crystal Defenders has also been released on PlayStation 3, Xbox Live Arcade, and WiiWare.^[15]

References

External links

• Japanese Official Website
• North American Official Website
• European Official Website
• Crystal Guardians official Website
• Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift article at the Final Fantasy Wiki
• Once Upon a Turn? Review at TechCentral