Nintendo has released Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, the second installment in the Final Fantasy Tactics series, for the Wii U Virtual Console.
The game, which was originally released for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance back in 2003, follows the adventures of a boy named Marche, his brother Doned and his friends Mewt and Ritz after they open up an ancient magical tome known as the Gran Grimoire that transforms their small town into the kingdom of Ivalice. Players must guide Marche and his comrades against different enemies, with gamers building up their party, mastering summons and abilities and utilizing tactical combat to have the upper hand in battles.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, which has been released to both European and North American markets, is not a direct sequel to the first game in the series, Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions. While the game has its problems, including overly complicated job classes and a much different story compared to War of the Lions, its entry into the Wii U Virtual Console will give gamers a chance to re-evaluate the title and see that it is not one that can simply be dismissed.
The game is listed with a price tag of $7.99 on the official Nintendo website.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance follows Super Mario Advance 4, Zack & Wiki and Metroid: Zero Mission as games that have been released for the Wii U Virtual Console this month. The Wii U Virtual Console is a service that allows gamers to bring classic titles from older gaming consoles such as the NES, Super NES and Game Boy Advance into the Wii U.
While purchasing games for the Wii U Virtual Console will continue as Nintendo releases more games for the service, gamers should be aware that the company's next console, the Nintendo NX, is coming soon. The Nintendo NX could have its own Virtual Console service, and games purchased for the Wii U Virtual Console may not be compatible for the NX Virtual Console.
Rumors surrounding the Nintendo NX include what seems to be a specifications sheet for the console, which states that gameplay will be flowing between the NX console and an NX handheld device. In addition, the NX will utilize the Nintendo Network for gamers to connect with other players around the world, support 4K/60 fps video streaming and allow for graphics of up to 900p/60 fps.
There has also been a report that claimed the Nintendo NX will be compatible with other devices, including PCs, smartphones and even rival consoles such as the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One.
