Final Fantast Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift opens just as the final school bell is about to ring, signaling the start of summer. Just as Luso Clemens is about to head out the door, his teacher asks him to clean up the library, presumably because he's a bit of a troublemaker. While in the library, Luso finds a dusty book with a cryptic inscription on the first page asking for the name of a champion. Never one to pass up the opportunity to deface school property, Luso writes his name in the book and is magically transported to the world of Ivalice where he becomes involved with a clan that promises to help him find a way back home. Eventually, Luso discovers that the only way home is by filling the book, which makes up the rest of the game's weak premise.
Unlike other games, Grimoire flips the usual relationship between Story and Side Missions by building most of the game around side missions. Of the nearly 400 missions available, which involve everything from simple fetch quests to full-on competitions with other clans, very few have any involvement with the story. While this doesn't make for a great story, it builds in a whole lot of gameplay.
Although the genre has seen a few changes over the last few years, Grimoire ignores these and is a fairly straightforward, grid-based strategy RPG. A few quests require you to simply visit a location, though most usually result in a battle. Missions aren't short, and depending on your party can take upwards of an hour to complete. This works to the game's detriment, especially since few of the missions push the narrative, so at times it can feel like you're just spinning your wheels instead of moving forward.
You're given the option to send a small party to complete some missions. However, these are rarely successful unless you send your "A-Team", leaving you to cope with the "B-Team" until the other guys get back. You can always try and level up the low-rung guys, but by time you assemble a large enough team, it isn't worth it.
Outside of battles, most of your time is spent managing your clan. You begin with a small clan of about six, but as your clan gains prominence, you'll begin to attract new recruits. Your clan can also compete with others clans for control of areas using the Auction House. Once your clan is in control of an area of the world map, they'll earn team bonuses like cheaper quests or bonus items. You can also take on Clan Trials that raise your clan's skills, which unlocks new quests and clan bonuses that are activated during battles.
Square Enix threw in a few surprises for long-time fans. A new clan ability is unlocked if Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (FFTA) is inserted into the DS's GBA slot and three characters from Final Fantasy XII can be unlocked.
