Final Fantasy Tactics A2

Final Fantasy is, let's face it, an odd name for a series of games — it was confusing enough when there was only a new game every couple of years that just stuck a higher number on the end. These days, when it seems like Square Enix release a new Final Fantasy spin off every other week, it's just plain ridiculous.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (or FFTA2GotR for short) is a turn-based strategy game similar to the arguably better known Advance Wars series. The action takes place on an isometric grid with the player controlling a number of characters in battles against various foes. Each character has a turn with a movement phase and an action phase, before play passes to the next combatant. As a turn-based game, it doesn't matter how long you take planning your next move — all the other fighters sit and patiently wait for you to finish. Most fights continue until all the members of one faction have been wiped out, but some have different victory conditions, helping to keep the gameplay fresh.

Adding a little extra flavour to the proceedings, each battle is overseen by a judge, who imposes restrictions on each fight. Following these rules leads to additional rewards, whereas breaking them forfeits any such items and makes life more difficult as offending players cannot be revived. Certain quests cannot be completed if the rules are broken, which can be occasionally frustrating.

Unlike most other games of this type, FFTA2GotR has enemies that occupy more than a single square on the grid. Whist this makes for more imposing foes, and adds a real flair to some of the encounters, it can also make targeting a slightly more difficult task than before.

In total, there are nearly 400 different quests, ranging from simple monster hunting or item collection missions to plot development missions. Character development follows a job system, allowing a good deal of character customization, with a total of 56 jobs on offer. However, not all jobs are available to all characters.

The one sour note, which sits oddly against the incredible depth of the gameplay, is the rather lightweight story line. The main character is a boy called Luso, who, whilst serving an after school punishment, is magically transported to the land of Ivalice. Rather than being in any way put out by this turn of events, Luso happily joins up with the first group of people he meets and enters blithely into a life of bounty hunting. Pandering to the idea that the handheld market is younger than the home console market, the tale of a petulant schoolboy and his wacky adventures is something of a disappointment for the spiritual successor to arguably the most mature and complex story line ever to grace a video game.

That minor quibble aside, there is much here to enjoy. The graphics are lush and excellently executed, and some of the best on offer for Nintendo's system. The marriage of game and console has frankly seldom been bettered: the turn-based action lends itself beautifully to a mobile platform with the ability to stop and pick up again at will and the dual screen implementation adds real value rather than being merely an after thought as is often, disappointingly, the case.

With depth and content to keep even the most demanding gamer satisfied, and more than a few nods to other Final Fantasy titles thrown in to keep the fanboys happy, this is an excellent addition both the DS's and Square Enix's catalogues.