For such an out-of-this world adventure, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance begins in a very down-to-earth setting. The story begins when young Marche Radiuju moves to the quiet country town of St. Ivalice with his family, to get away from the hectic city life. At his new school, Marche befriends two other youngsters who are also regarded as outcasts by their classmates. Mewt Randall is a shy boy who is bullied because he always carries a teddy bear, in memory of his deceased mother. Ritz Malheur is a strong-willed girl whose outspoken views have made her unpopular. But when the three friends find an ancient tome at a used book shop, their lives - and the lives of those around them - are changed forever. They wake the next day to find that they are no longer in St. Ivalice... or are they? Their town has been replaced with a land populated by strange creatures like Moogles, Viera and the lizard-like Bangaa. And they are no longer little kids who get picked on for being different. Marche is now a feared soldier, Ritz is a respected magician, and Mewt is a powerful prince who gets whatever he desires. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance is a role-playing game with the emphasis firmly on fighting. Battles are turn-based, meaning each character in your party takes turns to move and attack with magic or weapons. But battles are not simply free-for-alls. Ivalice is governed by laws which must be adhered to or you will be banished to prison. Each battle is presided over by a judge, so there's little chance to 'get away with it'. Each character is also able to take jobs, in which they can specialise in certain skills and increase their experience. Jobs are dependent on a character's abilities. For instance, the magical Nu Mou people are adept at being White Mages or Beastmasters, while the tough Bangaa make better Warriors. To advance through the plot of the game, you'll need to join a clan and take part in missions. There are a total of 200 missions to complete, so you'll be playing for a long time to come. Can you figure out a way to get Marche, Mewt and Ritz back home? Or will they want to stay? You'll just have to play Final Fantasy Tactics Advance to find out...