bit-tech Shopping: Nintendo Final Fantasy Tactics (GBA)

Rating: 10

Time with product:

Strengths: Easy to pick up and playMany Character ClassesTeam combinations are endlessGood StoryMultiple Side Quests

Weaknesses: Tutorial (Snow ball fight) is long and drawn outOnly Two Save Slots

Summary: I never got around to playing Final Fantasy Tactics on PSX, but I wish I did because this sequel is great. The game is so addictive and the story really draws you in. There are many classes of characters, so you can choose to battle the way you like. I have played the story mode multiple times, and highly recommend this GBA game. Definitely one of the top ten GBA games.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Years

Strengths: Lots of replay, link cable 2 player mode

Weaknesses: Menus can be alot to wade though on the small screen

Summary: Final Fantasy Tactics is the first Final Fantasy game on a Nintendo system in almost 10 years, last game being Final Fantasy III (or VI in Japan) on the Super Nintendo. While it's not a traditional adventure type RPG game like most Final Fantasy games it is a spiritual successor to Final Fantasy Tactics on the playstation as it's not just a remake of the same game that was on the Playstation. At the root of it all Final Fantasy Tactics is very much like any SRPG and mostly compareable to Final Fantasy Tactics on the Playstation. You take turns moving characters around on an isometric grid with the goal in most missions to kill all of the guys from the opposing side to win. One of the more interesting little twists added is that you will have a certain rule you will have to follow during battles for example you might not be able to use swords in a certain battle so you won't be able do any sword attacks without being penalized. I would highly recommend Final Fantasy Tactics Advance to fans of SRPGS and would even recommend it to fans of the Final Fantasy games even if they haven't played any SRPGs before has they would most likely enjoy Final Fantasy Tactics Advance also.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 6

Strengths: Hours of gameplay, tons of options and different strategies

Weaknesses: Non-strategy fans might find it tedious or repetitive

Summary: Final Fantasy Tactics: Advance is a game that's ideal for handheld play. Battles can be short or drawn-out, depending on the player, but playing in small bursts in usually easy enough to do. The game is also less story-driven than the original Final Fantasy series, although there is a plot that runs through the game. RPG fans who prefer to dig into a wealth of customization options and get into battles rather than follow a long narrative should check this game out.

Rating: 4

Time with product: 1 Years

Strengths: Many hours of gameplay, Its Final Fantasy Tactics.

Weaknesses: Graphics, sound (due to GBA speaker), and tedious.

Summary: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is a Strategy RPG for Gameboy Advance (Regular, SP, & Micro). The game is jam-packed with lots of level grinder and battles to play out. To some it could turn out to be tedious or others will like the grueling challenge of level grinding in this game. This is the sequel to Final Fantasy Tactics on Playstation and in some ways it improves. Combat for example as been upgraded slightly. But in other areas the game has been downgraded. Sound and Graphics for example. Both being the fault that the GBA doesn't have a great speaker and its underpowered compared to a Playstation. To me it felt like Final Fantasy Tactics version 1.1. If you are a fan of the FFT series get it if not there are much better strategy RPGs for GBA like the two Fire Emblem games. I give the game 2 stars since it didn't improve much on the original and its much more tedious than fun.