Video Game Review: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

After playing this game, one can come to appreciate the Game Boy Advance for the broad horizon of addicting games that have spawned off its existence. I sadly regret, being a lover of Square games, that I must give this game a 7.7 out of 10. Here are my 10 reasons why.

For originality, I must give this game a 6. It carries the style of the unique Final Fantasy Tactics of the PSX; however, it is almost exactly like Tactics Ogre. In fact, at times I would get confused and wonder whether it was a Final Fantasy or Tactics Ogre game.

As for the storyline, I must give this game an 8, I was very impressed because it was an original storyline that was very much similar, but a little different from most Final Fantasy stories. It first starts out that you are a group of kids in modern society, and then they all get pulled into a fantasy world. Kudos for the try at mixing things up.

The third thing I look at a game for is playability. The system is new. However it is very addicting, and some of it copies off of Tactics Ogre which has been around before any Final Fantasy Tactics games. However the game play is still user friendly and easy to understand while becoming addicting. I give it a 9.

Then, of course, there is the question of graphics. For a GBA game I must give it a 9. They are average for the other systems, but very good for GBA.

The fifth thing I would look at is the ending. I haven't beaten the game yet, so I must give it by default a 10. I can't judge something I haven't seen.

The next item would have to be extras. I must give it a 5 for extras. The saves in and out of battle have become the norm. The linking of GBA is a norm. I.e.: Golden Sun, Tactics Ogre, Advance Wars, Zelda, and much more. If they would make it link up to the Game Cube it would have won my little heart. But I have no love for just meeting the standard.

As for innovation, this game features nothing real new. It tries and you can give some an A for effort, but I give it an 8 for all of its effort to make it innovative.

How does the game work? Storyline progression is pretty smooth, it flows. I haven't seen any real glitches. But the laws get annoying, they should have tried something different with the laws, but it was a step in the right direction. I'll give them a 9.

Then of course there is system compatibility. You may ask what does that mean. Well I am going to tell you. Sometimes, you may have a game not meant for a system. I.e. PS II port overs are not always improved for play on the XBOX. For example, Blood Rayne was alright for the PS II, but there was so much they could have done for it when it ported over to the XBOX, and they didn't. Anyway, this game is a good game for the GBA. I would recommend it while also giving it a 10.

Finally, there is a question of replay ability. I am sorry but like others once I beat this game it will go on the shelf with the rest of my Final Fantasy Collection. I might play years down the road, but no time near after it is beaten. I give it a 3 for replay ability.