Final Fantasy Tactics...

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance...

Besides what system/handheld/console you play them on...what are the real differences?

There is one outstanding difference.. that is, that FFT is a good game.

The most noticable would be the storyline I think. FFT had a WAY better storyline that FFT:A, and imho FFT's storyline is the best in any FF I've played.

Also, another difference is the way you gain skills and jobs.. in FFT you get JP (Job Points) with every action or attack you do, JP is used to train new specific skills under that class. You also have Job Levels, as well as regular levels. When your Job levels up, you may be eligible for new jobs. Squires branch off into Archers and Knights which branch off into Ninja, Thief, Monk, Samurai, etc. and on the other hand Chemist brances off into Wizard, Priest, Time Mage, etc. As you level different jobs up, you will become eligble for different, newer jobs. For example, Ninja requires a character to be a level 3 archer, a level 4 thief, and a level 2 geomancer.

It may seem complex at first but it is really easy to get ahang of, and really fun once you get going. Each character of yours can be 2 jobs at once. That is, a main job and a side job. So, I could have the options to use skills of a Samurai and a Ninja at once.

FFT:A, you gain skills through the use of different weapons and armor. One particular blade might give you the Steal Gil ability, and while you have it equiped, your character will gain points for that ability until they learn it for good when the bar fills up. Basically just like FFIX. This isn't my favorite system of learning skills so my preference of FFT over FFT:A is no doubt a very biased one.

Honestly, if you are looking to get into either FFT or FFT:A, most longtime FF fans would reccomend FFT. It is just flat out a more enjoyable game for me, and I also prefer playing something on PS/PS2 rather then handheld.

okay I wouldn't go that far, it's a good game, but it's story line lacks a lot. But thats my opinion.

As for FFTA...I hate the story line, some kid gets sucked into a story...comon, thats really original...not. They should have made the stroy a bit better...okay a lot better. I just hope thats the last time that they have a story like that.

Uh... what ross said. Lol. I wouldn't say it's the best FF storyline, but in my opinion it's right behind FF7, which is. The systems used in FFT are way better than FFTA, and theres more to do. I found FFTA honestly very bland, with not much outside of the main storyline. Or atleast, not much of substance because it was just other boring jobs postings that didn't have any depth to them. In FFT however theres sidequests to get other named characters (including one blonde spiky-haired fiend we all know and love) and to get to different areas to learn new spells and such.

(who would that spikey hair fellow be? jk)

I just hate the fact that no one really dies in FFTA. It's all one big tournament or something...which is kinda stupid.

The atmosphere of the two games is entirely different;
Tactics has a similair air to it as F.F.12 and Vagrant Story with it's political manouverings in the storyline and the rather cold colour pallette used for the presentation.

Tactics Advance has that....."story" which R.D. described: little kids being trapped in a storybook about Ivalice.....

I've yet to play through either right through to the end but from my dabblings I'd say Tactics is the superior installment.

yes final fantasy tactics is by far better than its followup. i loved the story from tactics, the story in advance was jus too iffy for my taste. idk about u but i dont even think theres a solid story in there at all. even tho there were like more classes nd everything, i didn't have the same "feel" playing it. plus the cheesy music in advance got really irritating after a while.

Final Fantasy Tactics > FFTA

Final Fantasy Tactics had a 360 degree camera, better story, more jobs just overall better.

FFTA had a low amount of jobs, mediocre Story and Set Camera >:\
Still a good game though.