Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Developer: Square Product Development Division 4 Publishers: Square (JP), Nintendo (US/EU) Platform: Game Boy Advance Released in JP: February 14, 2003 Released in US: September 8, 2003, January 28, 2016 (Wii U Virtual Console) Released in EU: October 24, 2003 This game has unused text. This game has regional differences. This game has a Data Crystal page

To do: There was a demo playable / video shown at ECTS in London in August 2003

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is the second in a series of tactics-based Final Fantasy games in which some kids from the "real" world are transported into the game of Final Fantasy via a grimoire found in a public library. There, they experience a world of magic, swordplay, and cute bunny-girls with a penchant for stabbing! What fun!

While a lot of features were stripped down or exchanged from the PlayStation game, this title retains much of what made the original great while improving upon the formula. Not bad for a game system that fits in your pocket, huh?

Unused Dialogue

Under normal circumstances, the player is forced to play through two tutorial missions: a snowball fight in a St. Ivalice school, and a combative engagement in "Final Fantasy" Ivalice. However, if the first battle is failed via patch codes, instead of getting a Game Over the game will treat the loss as an optional one and the game will go right to The Prancing Chocobo in Cyril, the City of Beginnings.

No Rumors Available

Japan	US

Checking the Rumors at the Pub before completing the tutorial engagement in Cyril will reveal this bit of dialogue.

Mission 000

Japan	US

Speaking of, completing that via the world map will give the usual Clan Mission Update text, as well as a name for the mission, "Another World". Doing this, however, still does not add the mission to the Clan Mission Report screen.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Regional Differences

Company Logo

Japan	US/Europe

The company logo was changed for the international releases to reflect the April 2003 merge of Square and Enix.

Title Screen

Japan	US/Europe

The Japanese text reading "Fainaru Fantajī Takutikusu Adobansu" was removed for the international audience and the "Advance" part of the logo was moved down. "Enix" was also added to the copyright information, along with a "Licensed to Nintendo" text to reflect Nintendo's publishing of the game in international territories.

Combat Tutorial

Japan	US/Europe

While the Japanese game puts the player right into the action with a minimal amount of instruction, the international release added a tutorial on how to engage enemy units as told by the homeroom teacher, Mr. Leslaie, and demonstrated by the class head, Ritz.

Opening Cutscene

In the Japanese version Cid is seen sitting alone in the street, clearly drunk. He approaches Mewt and the others as they pass by and tells them the wonders of alcohol before walking back home in a drunken stupor. Meanwhile, in the North American and European releases, Cid is seen apologizing and being reprimanded from someone (his boss?) with no mention of a drinking problem whatsoever. It's likely this scene was so heavily edited in an effort to maintain the game's "E" rating given the stark contrast in acceptable content between the regions.

Ending Cutscene

In the Japanese version two men approach Cid and express surprise that he's not drunk. In the North American and European versions, Cid is approached by a single man, a former co-worker, who has started a company and offers Cid a job.