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Promotional Consideration: Tactical advertisements



Did you forget that Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift ships in North America this week? We wouldn't be surprised if you did, as, aside from two magazine advertisements, Square Enix hasn't done much to promote the SRPG sequel.

In fact, unless we've missed something, the only two handheld game commercials Square Enix has aired in the U.S. since the GBA were for the Final Fantasy III remake and Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker -- Mario Hoops 3-on-3 doesn't count. That's a shame considering how creative the original Final Fantasy Tactics Advance commercial was!

Bring your mages, ninjas, and gunners past the break for the GBA clip and the two FFTA2 magazine pieces we mentioned above!

Gallery: Final Fantasy Tactics A2

Continue reading Promotional Consideration: Tactical advertisements

2008's Biggest Blips: Final Fantasy Tactics A2



Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Release: TBA

What separates Final Fantasy Tactics Advance from most other handheld SRPGS? Its level of polish. As with the original Final Fantasy Tactics game for the PlayStation, Square Enix put its talents and resources behind FFTA's soundtrack, character designs, and solid mechanics. Even today, five years later, the GBA title's presentation outclasses releases like Hoshigami Remix and Luminous Arc.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift continues that high-budget, high-quality tradition. While Square Enix hasn't yet announced a US release date, and we're disappointed about the the game's lack of both online and offline multiplayer features, we're excited about all the sequel's additions -- 400 missions, Revenant Wings-esque item synthesis, a reworked law system, bigger enemies, an expanded map with distributed "area maps," and a ton of new job classes.

FFTA2 now boasts over 45+ different professions, ranging from Chocobo Knights (Chocobo-riding Moogles) to Bastards (a surly lot). Just as interesting as the vocations included are the ones that were cut from the final release due to time constraints or continuity issues. We came across their design documents while sifting through Square Enix's dumpster for discarded figurines, and we've posted the never-seen-before job classes right here for you!

Chimney Sweep

Action Ability
  • sweeps your chimney
  • walks around covered in soot
Combo Ability
  • after years of choking on grit and dust, dies an early death due to cancer caused by inhaling carcinogenic chemicals in the soot

Real World Roommate


Action Ability
  • accuses you of disrespectin' her
Reaction Ability
  • refuses to accept any apologies or assurances that you had no intention of disrespectin' her
Support Ability
  • tells everyone in the house that you're disrespectin' her

Damn Cargo Shorts-Wearin' Kids

Action Ability
  • wears those damn cargo shorts every day
  • has too many pockets for their own good
Support Ability
  • perpetuates the misbelief that wearing camo anything is acceptable fashion (e.g. camo cargo shorts)

Gangsta Rapper, Circa Early-to-Mid 90s

Action Ability
  • checks himself before he wrecks himself ('cause shotgun bullets are bad for his health)
  • is the capital S oh yes so fresh N double O P -- D O double G Y D O double G, ya see
Reaction Ability
  • calls his crew while you call your crew so you can rendezvous at the bar around two
Combo Ability
  • is better than your favorite rapper

Overbearing Asian Mother


Action Ability
  • belittles any and every measure you take to establish yourself as an individual
Reaction Ability
  • repeatedly insists that you should've become a doctor or a lawyer, like your successful cousins, instead of studying "computer"
Support Ability
  • leaves you with crippling feelings of inadequacy and social ineptitude

Cute Friend Whom You Have a Crush On

Action Ability
  • hair smells of strawberries, sunshine, and summer possibilities
  • is a kindred spirit; totally on the same wavelength as you
Reaction Ability
  • looks at you pityingly when you ask her out
  • just wants to be friends
  • isn't ready to date anyone right now
Combo Ability
  • sleeps with four other dudes -- simultaneously! -- the following week

ALF

Action Ability
  • is back in pog form



Apollo Justice
Back Next, on BSI: Troi

Fans equip FFTA2 editor for translation project



Translating Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift just became serious business, as the GBAtemp community has actually built an application around the project to streamline its script-editing process. With this sort of dedication and this new specialized editor, it won't be long before the team releases an English translation patch for, uh, people with pirated ROMs.

Though an official FFTA2 localization seems certain, Square Enix has yet to announce any plans to bring the SRPG stateside. Why not settle for Front Mission DS in the meantime?

FFTA2 maneuvers to the top of the Japanese charts

Final Fantasy fans seem to be split pretty rigidly into fanbases for the original Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, but that isn't stopping Japanese gamers from gobbling up copies of the newly releases Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift. The title took the top spot this week among Japanese games, with nearly as many sales as the original Tactics Advance in the first week, despite a bevy of games on the shelves. FFTA2 moved 142,000 copies, nearly twice as many as the number two title, Ar Tonelico II for the PS2.

Will you be picking up FFTA2 when it heads to your local retailer? Or are you firmly in the other fanbase and refusing to cross over? Of course, if you're a rabid fan, you might not have to wait long, even if you can't read Japanese.

FFTA2 fan translation project underway



Though Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift doesn't officially hit Japanese stores until tomorrow, forumers at the GBAtemp community have already managed to procure a copy and are working on translating its squiggly words. The motivated group has deciphered an impressive amount of cutscene conversations and menu items, overlaying shots from the SRPG with English text.

Even in its early state, this picture guide will be a huge boon to interested importers without any Japanese reading skills. Considering that Square Enix has yet to announce its plans for bringing Final Fantasy Tactics A2 to the states, this fan-backed effort may be the best way to play the game for a while.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2 advances

With Final Fantasy Tactics A2 hitting Japan this month, FFXII: Revenant Wings out for US gamers next month, and the PSP's Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions out this week, the Ivalice Alliance ... uh, alliance seems to be going strong. Of the set, FFTA2 seems to be the most controversial, with lines drawn between the fans of straight Tactics and Tactics Advance, and fans of both on the sidelines shaking their heads. Reviews on this one should be interesting! In the meantime, you can check out the latest screens in our updated gallery.

Gallery: Final Fantasy Tactics A2

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