Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift Play Online

Summary

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (often just called Tactics A2) expands the classic turn‑based grid battles of its predecessor with a deep Clan system that lets you bid for territory, send idle units on training missions, and earn Clan Points for optional handicaps. Over fifty Jobs—ranging from melee Warriors to spell‑casting Summoners—are unlocked by equipping specific gear, and the Law mechanic forces you to obey random battle restrictions for extra rewards. Weather effects, dual‑screen visuals, and the ability to summon cinematic Scions from Final Fantasy XII add a fresh tactical flavor without abandoning the series’ core strategy.

Development shifted from an intended Game Boy Advance launch to the Nintendo DS after the console’s global success, allowing the team to spread menus across two screens and showcase larger summon animations. Director Yuichi Murasawa, artist Ryoma Ito, and composer Hitoshi Sakimoto all returned from Tactics Advance, while the English script was handled by veteran localizers Alexander O. Smith and Joseph Reeder, ensuring the dialogue felt natural for Western players.

The soundtrack, a blend of new light‑hearted pieces and re‑imagined themes from earlier Ivalice titles, was praised for its CD‑quality streaming on the DS. Critics highlighted the game’s strategic depth, abundant content, and striking art, earning it awards such as IGN’s Best Strategy Game for the DS and a nomination at the 2008 NAVGTR awards. Despite some complaints about the Law system’s rigidity, the overall package is remembered as one of the handheld genre’s strongest entries.

Storyline

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift follows Luso Clemens, a teenage troublemaker from St. Ivalice, who writes his name in a half‑empty book during detention and is whisked away to the real world of Ivalice. He lands in the middle of a clash between the tiny Clan Gully and a monstrous creature, where he is rescued by the clan’s leader, Cid, and quickly earns a job to help in the fight. Soon after, Luso meets the thief Adelle—who first steals the clan’s payment before returning to join them—and the moogle minstrel Hurdy, forming the core of his new party.

The group learns that the mysterious book Luso carries is the Grimoire of the Rift, a dangerous artifact capable of opening portals between worlds. Mage Lezaford explains that the Grimoire can summon the fearsome beast Neukhia, and that the rival criminal group Khamja and the enigmatic Illua are both after its power. Throughout a series of quests, Luso acts as Cid’s stand‑in when the leader is wounded, confronts a mind‑controlled Adelle, and ultimately battles Illua as the Neukhia erupts from a portal.

After defeating the Neukhia and sealing the rift, Luso returns to the school library where the librarian Mewt Randell—familiar from Tactics Advance—believes his story and lets him go home. A post‑credits scene shows Luso enjoying his summer break while Cid, Adelle, and Hurdy continue their adventures with Clan Gully.

Edited by Maya Carter