Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is a 2003 tactical role-playing game developed by Square for the Game Boy Advance, and published by Square in Japan and Nintendo internationally. A successor to Final Fantasy Tactics (1997), the story follows the trials of some children from the town of St. Ivalice after a magical book transforms their home into a fantasy realm of the same name. Gameplay has player teams fighting in turn-based combat on a grid, with units using a themed Job system. A new feature is a "Law" system, which places random limitations on player action during battles.

Yasumi Matsuno, creator of the original Tactics, had wanted to make a follow-up game but was unable to due to other projects. Production began on Tactics Advance in March 2002, and was handled by former Quest Corporation staff who worked on Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis (2001). Several staff returned from Tactics including Matsuno as producer, Hideo Minaba as art director, and Hitoshi Sakimoto as lead composer. The team's goal was a refinement of the gameplay of Tactics that could be played in short sessions. The story, art design and music were tailored for a younger audience.

Tactics Advance was confirmed shortly after production began in 2002, and formally announced later that year. Its announcement formed part of Square's public reconciliation with Nintendo after a long-standing estrangement. Its Japanese release was one of the last from Square before its merger with Enix. Upon release the game sold over one million copies worldwide, and met with positive reviews. Journalists praised the combat design and graphics, but some faulted the story's lighter tone and several felt the menu design was cluttered. Elements of Tactics Advance were incorporated into Final Fantasy XII (2006), and a sequel Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift was released in 2008 for the Nintendo DS.