Compare and contrast...

[Raistlin]

I like stories for my RPGs, but for hand-held games I'm more looking for gameplay to keep me interested. I have more trouble staying focused for portable systems than consoles for some reason, so FFTA had trouble keeping me engaged. If FFTA2 was superior with regards to gameplay perhaps it is worth a try for me. I'll get on that as soon as I play Suikoden Tierkreis.

[Skyblade]

Gameplay-wise, FFTA2 improves a lot on its predecessor, but not in every way. The fact that mages start every fight with zero MP cripples the magic system. Sure, there are ways to plan around it, such as using Ether Cannon or Ethers to boost MP early on, and support abilities or Clan Privileges that boost MP regeneration or reduce MP consumption, but all of those either take extra turns or drastically reduce your versatility. I feel it hurts the magic system as much as the original FFT's Charge times did.

And the story has an even larger problem than the length, and that is that it feels incomplete. As you go, you get the feeling that the main plot is going to be much larger than it actually turns out to be, and there are plenty of elements that are introduced well, but wrapped up quickly and incompletely, leaving me with the impression that the writers had a much larger story planned and were told to cut it.

Examples include:
(SPOILER)The Tramdine Fens treasure and the ghost who plagues Luso's dreams. The treasure is never heard from again after that quest, leaving the mission as a quick run into the ghost, which is poorly executed. The dreams are caused by the ghost, sure, but why? Why is the important vision of Jagd Zellea included amongst all the other visions, which are of Luso's past?

Baron Beltoray. He gets attacked by Khamja, and it looks like we might be heading for missions involving him and his connection to Khamja, but instead we get a three sentence statement from Cid saying "oh, hey, he must have been trying to stop Khamja from using the Rift". No evidence to support these claims, no more explanation, nothing. Just a quick wrap-up to what felt like it would be an important section.

The Whitesilver Magicite. It has a great deal of quest involvement, but, when it comes time to conclude its story, again, it is done unsatisfactorily. The game just gives it to us, with a quick message explaning what it was and why it was so important. Again, explanations, but no support, and no real connection to the player.

Oddly enough, both the Baron Beltoray and Whitesilver Magicite are explained in the same little scene with Lezaford, about 3 missions from the end, and that scene makes me really feel like the story was unfinished. It's a big rush of explanation, as opposed to the discovery and exploration we had for most of the earlier plot elements. It really felt like someone told them "hey, the game's ending in a couple missions, better wrap things up quick".

Those are the biggest, but the plot is full of things like that. It's really a shame, because there is a lot of potential in the story if it was just fully explored.


That said, even with those two flaws, the game is still great. The gameplay is fun, even with the change to the magic system, and the side-quests more than make up for the problems with the main story.

[Wolf Kanno]

I like stories for my RPGs, but for hand-held games I'm more looking for gameplay to keep me interested. I have more trouble staying focused for portable systems than consoles for some reason, so FFTA had trouble keeping me engaged. If FFTA2 was superior with regards to gameplay perhaps it is worth a try for me. I'll get on that as soon as I play Suikoden Tierkreis.

If you are here for gameplay, I'd say rent it just to make sure or buy a ridiculously cheap version somewhere. I have a difficult time recommending a sequel when I know the person didn't care for the original.

There is definetly more variety in what you do in missions and the introduction of true support units allows for more interesting set-ups (I adore my Green Mages) so I feel the repetitiveness is no where near as bad as TA or even FFT. I f you can get your hands on a copy to try it out, I say go for it, just make sure to actually put a bit of time cause as I said, it does take awhile for everything to get started in the game.