Living

<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) A screen shot from "Final Fantasy Tactics A2."   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, July 7, 2008 BIG GAME HUNTER Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Gamers' delight When "Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions" for the Playstation 2 dropped in 1998 it was like manna from heaven. The turn-based game was, and still is, a classic title that any serious gamer should have in his personal collection. So when the newest installment of the series, "Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift," was released for the Nintendo DS, I had only two words: pure joy. The plot is roughly in the same vein of "Final Fantasy XII," adding and borrowing from several sources of the Final Fantasy universe and depositing them in a neat little bundle in your hands. To those unfamiliar with the mythology of Final Fantasy, it may be confusing on the first pass, but that's OK; gameplay more than makes up for it. Working on a grid utilizing a turn-based system, fights are sorted into encounters that are linear to the story as well as random encounters, just like the original. Unlike the original, the dialogue translation doesn't frustrate you into an apoplectic fit. Stylus control, new classes and perhaps the best graphics for the DS to date make this easily one of the top five games for the platform. Rated: E for Everybody Price: $39.99 for the Nintendo DS Justin Arnold, Big Game Hunter

1. Emory’s owner fears fire was arson 2. Monroe honking case makes it to state Supreme Court 3. Vatican ponders the souls in space 4. 81 veterans' names, 81 meaningful lives honored in Snohomish 5. Hope dims that Olympics will boost region 6. Student hit in crosswalk to return 7. Smokey Point to celebrate end of roadwork 8. Death on Edmonds waterfront ruled a suicide 9. Help for young moms may continue 10. Semifinal slate sealed on ‘Dancing With Stars’ 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Bazaar Fever • Hawks proud of historic season • Olson always put Edmonds first • Honoring student veterans • ‘Wheedle' author comes to Lynnwood bookshop • Mavs build early lead en route to easy win • Prep football games of the week (state playoffs) • Tears of laughter, tears of grief • Death on Edmonds beach likely a suicide • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million