Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Final Fantasy Tactics A2 retains the series’ trademark grid-based tactical combat, pitting small parties against foes in carefully designed battlefields. Each character takes actions in turn order determined by speed, allowing you to plan movements, attacks, and special abilities with precision. The dual-screen presentation on the Nintendo DS keeps the main battle map on the top screen while you manage commands, character stats, and law bonuses on the touch-sensitive bottom screen.

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The game’s Job and Ability system offers deep customization. You recruit characters of various races—Humes, Viera, Moogles, Nu Mōus, Bangaa, Seeq, and Gria—each with access to unique base classes. Abilities are learned by equipping items in battle and earning Job Points; over time you unlock advanced jobs by mastering prerequisites or completing pub quests. Even characters who sit out of a fight still rack up JP, encouraging you to rotate your squad and experiment with different builds.

A major twist comes in the revamped Law system, which transforms from punishment in Tactics Advance to optional battle bonuses. Before combat, you select a law to win a stat boost—be it increased agility, strength, or magic. Breaking any law costs you that bonus, and fallen teammates can’t be revived until the next battle, adding tactical risk. Beyond the mandatory story missions, dozens of optional skirmishes, deliveries, and pub contracts reward you with gear, gil, and new allies.

Beyond traditional combat, clan politics return in the form of annual auctions rather than territorial warfare. You bid on areas to secure control, but rival clans won’t hesitate to challenge you afterward. Scouting rifts scattered across Ivalice grants fast travel and sometimes unlocks hidden events. This blend of turn-based strategy, light resource management, and exploration ensures that every hour feels fresh and strategically engaging.

Graphics

Despite the DS’s hardware limits, Tactics A2 shines with its vibrant, chibi-style sprite work that captures the whimsy of Ivalice. Characters move with surprising fluidity during battle animations, from casting flamboyant black magic to swinging oversized halberds. Special effects—sparkling meteor showers, crackling lightning bolts, swirling wind blades—pop on the screen without ever feeling cluttered.

Overworld exploration adopts a top-down perspective, with distinct region themes ranging from lush forests and arid deserts to bustling port towns. Each locale is peppered with NPCs, hidden items, and rifts that branch off into secret areas. The bottom screen map helps you track objectives and points of interest, making backtracking less frustrating and more rewarding.

Menus and UI elements are clean and intuitive, leveraging the touchscreen for quick drag-and-drop ability assignments or tapping between inventory and job panels. Portraits of party members during dialogue are expressive, lending personality to even minor characters. Occasional slowdown in large-scale battles is a minor hiccup in an otherwise polished presentation.

Story

One summer afternoon, bookish schoolboy Luso Clemens volunteers to catalog the library’s disorganized shelves. Finding a mysterious grimoire with half-blank pages, he writes his name—and is whisked away to the world of Ivalice. Stranded in this parallel realm, Luso’s journey revolves around uncovering the book’s origins and the reason his story was never completed.

The narrative unfolds through episodic adventures as you fill the grimoire’s empty pages with fresh exploits. Along the way, Luso befriends a colorful cast—from a stoic knight seeking redemption to mischievous Moogles with a penchant for mischief. Their banter and loyalty evolve naturally, making optional side chapters feel as important as core missions.

Though this installment is branded a sequel to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, direct ties to the original plot are minimal. Instead, Tactics A2 focuses on self-contained tales of camaraderie, rivalry, and the meaning of fate. Recurring motifs—scrapbooks, auctions, and the Law system—provide thematic continuity while allowing newcomers to jump in without prior knowledge.

Subplots involving clan rivalries add political intrigue, as annual auctions determine control over Ivalice territories. Refusing to win by force places emphasis on strategy both on and off the battlefield. Ultimately, the story strikes a balance between lighthearted adventuring and moments of genuine emotional weight, delivering a satisfying campaign that can take 40–60 hours to fully complete.

Overall Experience

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift is a standout tactical RPG on the Nintendo DS, offering hours of strategic depth and replayability. The combination of a robust job system, collectible rifts, and optional missions means you can tailor your experience—whether you’re min-maxing stats or simply soaking in the world of Ivalice.

The learning curve is moderate: newcomers to grid-based combat may need time to grasp the nuances of Law bonuses and character synergies, but tutorials and early missions ease you in. For series veterans, the fresh takes on auctions and clan politics breathe new life into familiar mechanics, making each decision feel meaningful.

Audio design complements the gameplay beautifully. Hitoshi Sakimoto’s sweeping score evokes both the epic and the intimate, while sparse voice cues accentuate key moments without overshadowing the text-heavy dialogue. Sound effects—from the clang of steel on steel to the hush before a curse—add tactile satisfaction to every action.

Overall, Tactics A2 delivers a compelling blend of customization, challenge, and charm. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the FFT lineage or a newcomer seeking a rich portable RPG, the Grimoire of the Rift promises a memorable journey through one of Square Enix’s most beloved worlds.

Retro Replay Score

7.9/10