This 2007 main entry blends Role-playing (RPG) elements with real-time tactical strategy on the Nintendo DS. You follow Vaan one year after the original story, adventuring through Ivalice's skies to defend the floating continent of Lemurés and its winged Aegyl inhabitants from sky pirates. Gameplay centers on commanding squads in grid-based combat, managing unit positioning and abilities within a real-time flow, emphasizing aerial battlefield control and character progression.
The gameplay structure shifts significantly from its predecessor, focusing on real-time tactical combat played out on grid-based maps. Players command a squad of characters, utilizing their unique abilities and positioning to overcome enemy forces. Movement and action are managed turn-by-turn within the real-time flow of battle, requiring strategic foresight regarding unit placement and ability cooldowns.
A key feature involves managing aerial units and leveraging the verticality of the battlefield environments. Character progression involves leveling up and customizing abilities, ensuring that the strategic depth remains rooted in traditional RPG character development.
The game successfully merges the deep narrative and character focus expected of its roots with a distinct, tactical combat system tailored for the Nintendo DS platform. The setting, focusing on aerial exploration and the introduction of the winged Aegyl race, provides a fresh backdrop for the established world.
As a standalone main game, this title does not feature any downloadable content (DLC) or official expansions released post-launch.
The atmosphere carries forward the high-fantasy, political intrigue elements of the world it follows, but focuses heavily on sky-faring adventure and the discovery of new civilizations. The narrative centers on themes of defense, diplomacy, and the clash between established isolation and encroaching external forces.
Mild violence