FriskyTanuki
CAGiversary!
- Feedback
- 36 (100%)
Final Fantasy Tactics for the PlayStation Portable has just hit stores in Japan, but it seems all eyes are on the in-development follow-up to the Game Boy Advance design for the Nintendo DS. Final Fantasy Tactics A2 was one of the major focuses of the Square Enix Party 2007 in Japan this weekend where dozens of systems were at the ready with demo versions for attendees to play. Since I was one of the attendees, I played. Even if it was only for a short few minutes.
Just as the name suggests, Final Fantasy Tactics A2 is the sequel to the Game Boy Advance version of the series. On quick screenshot glance it might appear that the Nintendo DS version is merely a dual-screen rendition of the GBA title, but mere seconds into the game it's clear that the visuals have received a major upgrade in the move from the old to the new portable. It's still a strictly 2D affair with sprite-based characters and backgrounds, but it's hard not to see the much sharper and more vibrant visuals in this sequel.
The early and short playtest didn't, however, show how the game's going to play differently compared to the original GBA title. The story still has a lighthearted, cartoony appeal which contrasted more sharply when played just a few feet from the PlayStation Portable Final Fantasy Tactics demo station. The snowball fight tutorial of the first game is gone in the sequel, replaced with a gargantuan bird attack where you'll learn the initial set of commands, moves, and basic nuances to this turn-based strategy game.
Many of the gameplay elements of the Game Boy Advance title -- from the job system to the judge rulings -- are employed in the Nintendo DS game. Players still have a huge assortment of characters with different attacks and abilities, and at the start of the game you'll have to choose which character in your army would be best used in the fight. Some characters have long distance attacks but stink when it comes to face-to-face encounters. And vice versa -- close range soldiers might be a solid addition to the front lines, but they'll need a few turns to get into the fight.
Even though the game sticks to a 2D tile and sprite based engine, that doesn't prevent the developers from wowing the gamers with some rather impressive visuals. Along with some slick fire and lightning effects within the normal viewpoint are some really in your face attacks that do some really crazy "ooh neat" visuals -- a summon spell caused the map to zoom away in order to reveal an incredibly massive 3D beast that rained its havoc upon the battlefield. I guess it wouldn't be a Final Fantasy game without some over-the-top summon spells, and this game did it well. Can't wait to see some of the other attacks in action on the system.
Surprisingly, Final Fantasy Tactics A2 doesn't really use the touch screen for its in-game controls. It's strictly a D-pad and Button affair during the missions -- not that the game doesn't handle the traditional controls well, but it's just strange that a turn-based game like Final Fantasy Tactics wouldn't have a stylus friendly point-and-click interface.
Final Fantasy Tactics A2 is still deep in development; Square Enix isn't ready to announce a release date for the game, but it should hit shelves by the end of 2007. As the game gets further along we'll have more to say about it. Check out the new screens by hitting the links below.
Some other screens:
Logo:
ing maps STILL don't rotate???? Judges are back? The crappy "game within a game" non-story is back???? No touch screen controls? GAH!!! Why didn't they just make this a GBA game? I bet it'll hardly even use the top screen, if only because that would make too much sense -- it'd be perfect for getting some of the text crap off the map. 
enjoi
