Post by dirtydiablo on Jun 7, 2009 17:44:12 GMT -5
Square Enix has really done it again. Another enchanting tale through the world of Ivalice, a world visited a countless number of times in previous games. FFTA2 even invites some familiar faces to the scene including such characters as Balthier and Vaan from FFXII! However, any Final Fantasy tactics game is most certainly different from other Final Fantasy game, and if you haven't been living under a rock for the past 11 or 12 years then you should know what i am talking about. They offer a little bit (understatement) for all those RPG fans, and some for those strategy striving individuals. But I believe Final Fantasy Tactics goes above and beyond your average RPG/strategy genre, and surely FFTA2 is as no exception. With 65 jobs for the 7 races available, the possibilities are endless.
Being a somewhat indirect sequel to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, you would expect some revisions to the game. FFTA2 now has a totally reconstructed law structure. Before each battle a (sometimes) random law is set that if broken certain consequences occur. Originally in FFTA, whichever character broke the law, would be sent to jail instantaneously where you would have to pay or wait for their release. And of course, these laws were governed for both sides, friend and foe. But now in FFTA2, they have changed the punishment. Instead of being sent to jail, your entire team loses the protection of your judge for the rest of battle, meaning that you would no longer receive a bonus at the end of battle (usually an item or two for upholding the law) and you would not be able to revive any of your fallen comrades. Now these laws can present a challenge to player, keeping the player on their toes in battle (which can become quite long and gruesome!). These laws can include "don't do >50 damage" or "don't harm lower level opponents," which equally are frustrating but all in all enables the player to use much more strategy rather than just "run and gun." For some reason however, the enemy team is not affected by these laws, which is a pretty big downside to the game.
Another revision to the game, of which I am pleased with, is the introduction of clan privileges. Along with the laws at the beginning of battle, you get to choose which privilege you would like to use for the entire battle. These include "power +3" or "speed +3" which affect all team mates.
But probably the most important aspect of the game that really is the core of the game is the Bazaar. The only way to learn new abilities and unlock different jobs is through the use of different weapons and equipment. Certain weapons and equipment when equipped let that certain character learn a new ability. Besides winning items from battles, the shop is the only place to purchase new equipment. In order for the shop to receive new equipment however, they need to be created at a Bazaar. The Bazaar is where new equipment can be created through the use of Loot, which can also be won after battles, or with treasure chests. Once certain types of loot are used together, they create new equipment to be sold at the shop. So now instead of just saving up Gil and buying new weapons, those weapons need to be first created at a bazaar then purchased at a shop. With this new integration, players can find themselves hunting for certain types of loot to invent new weapons for new abilities. And with these new abilities come different job classes. For most of the equipment created at the Bazaar, the new equipment can be sold limitless at a shop, but for some equipment it can only be purchased once then you have to make it again at the bazaar in order to purchase another. The Bazaar menu is also incredibly simple to navigate which makes item creation even easier.
As to expect from any Square Enix game, there is a ton of gameplay involved with this game. With over 300 missions to go on, FFTA2 will have you playing for days.
I would give FFTA2 a rating of 8/10
Being a somewhat indirect sequel to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, you would expect some revisions to the game. FFTA2 now has a totally reconstructed law structure. Before each battle a (sometimes) random law is set that if broken certain consequences occur. Originally in FFTA, whichever character broke the law, would be sent to jail instantaneously where you would have to pay or wait for their release. And of course, these laws were governed for both sides, friend and foe. But now in FFTA2, they have changed the punishment. Instead of being sent to jail, your entire team loses the protection of your judge for the rest of battle, meaning that you would no longer receive a bonus at the end of battle (usually an item or two for upholding the law) and you would not be able to revive any of your fallen comrades. Now these laws can present a challenge to player, keeping the player on their toes in battle (which can become quite long and gruesome!). These laws can include "don't do >50 damage" or "don't harm lower level opponents," which equally are frustrating but all in all enables the player to use much more strategy rather than just "run and gun." For some reason however, the enemy team is not affected by these laws, which is a pretty big downside to the game.
Another revision to the game, of which I am pleased with, is the introduction of clan privileges. Along with the laws at the beginning of battle, you get to choose which privilege you would like to use for the entire battle. These include "power +3" or "speed +3" which affect all team mates.
But probably the most important aspect of the game that really is the core of the game is the Bazaar. The only way to learn new abilities and unlock different jobs is through the use of different weapons and equipment. Certain weapons and equipment when equipped let that certain character learn a new ability. Besides winning items from battles, the shop is the only place to purchase new equipment. In order for the shop to receive new equipment however, they need to be created at a Bazaar. The Bazaar is where new equipment can be created through the use of Loot, which can also be won after battles, or with treasure chests. Once certain types of loot are used together, they create new equipment to be sold at the shop. So now instead of just saving up Gil and buying new weapons, those weapons need to be first created at a bazaar then purchased at a shop. With this new integration, players can find themselves hunting for certain types of loot to invent new weapons for new abilities. And with these new abilities come different job classes. For most of the equipment created at the Bazaar, the new equipment can be sold limitless at a shop, but for some equipment it can only be purchased once then you have to make it again at the bazaar in order to purchase another. The Bazaar menu is also incredibly simple to navigate which makes item creation even easier.
As to expect from any Square Enix game, there is a ton of gameplay involved with this game. With over 300 missions to go on, FFTA2 will have you playing for days.
I would give FFTA2 a rating of 8/10
