Final Fantasy V Advance

About Final Fantasy V Advance (GBA)

Final Fantasy V Advance is a role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix, a handheld version of the 1992 Super Nintendo classic originally released by Square. It follows Bartz, princess Lenna, pirate captain Faris and the mysterious Galuf as crystals shatter and the sealed sorcerer Exdeath threatens two worlds.

With music by Nobuo Uematsu, the game is best known for its flexible Job system, which lets characters master one job and carry its abilities into another. The Advance version adds new jobs, a bonus dungeon and a bestiary, making it the definitive portable edition of a fan-favourite entry.

Detailed Gameplay

Explore towns, dungeons and a world map split across worlds, fighting turn-based battles and mastering jobs to build your ideal party.

Master the Job system

• Start with basic jobs such as Knight, Monk, White Mage and Black Mage.
• Earn ability points in battle to unlock job levels and new abilities.
• Combine jobs, for example a Knight who can cast White Magic or a Monk with dual-wielding.
• Unlock advanced jobs such as Samurai, Dragoon, Summoner and the hidden Mime.

Follow the crystals

• Chase the story through wind, water, fire and earth crystals as each one breaks.
• Cross between worlds as the plot opens new maps, towns and dungeons.
• Recruit the fifth party member later in the story and rebalance jobs around them.
• Watch for the recurring swordsman Gilgamesh, whose battles grow harder each time.

Tackle bonus content

• The Advance version adds new jobs such as Cannoneer, Gladiator, Necromancer and Oracle.
• Explore the bonus Sealed Temple dungeon for rare gear and extra bosses.
• Hunt optional summons and weapons hidden in late-game dungeons.
• Use the bestiary to track enemies you have met and items they drop.

Game Highlights

• The Job system: Mix and match jobs and abilities for endless party builds.
• Two worlds to explore: The story crosses worlds, doubling the map and the dungeons.
• Gilgamesh: A comic rival who keeps returning with bigger weapons and bigger boasts.
• Advance extras: New jobs, a bonus dungeon and a bestiary reward completionists.

Controls

On Game Boy Advance, Final Fantasy V Advance uses the D-Pad for movement and menus, with face buttons for battle commands.

• D-Pad: Move the party and navigate menus and battle commands.
• A Button: Confirm choices, talk and open chests.
• B Button: Cancel a choice or attempt to flee from battle.
• L Button: Switch menu pages or cycle party members in battle.
• R Button: Switch menu pages or cycle targets in battle.
• Start: Open the main menu for jobs, abilities, items and equipment.
• Select: Toggle dash on the field or view extra details on some screens.

Tips and Strategies to Win

Planning jobs early saves a lot of grinding later.

• Master at least one support ability, such as White Magic, on every physical fighter.
• Give the Dual-Wield ability to your strongest attacker for a big damage jump.
• Keep a dedicated healer in tough dungeons, even if it slows your damage slightly.
• Learn Blue Magic from monsters when you see it, since some spells are missable.
• Before the final dungeon, stock Elixirs and Phoenix Downs for long boss fights.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Do I need to play other Final Fantasy games first? A: No. Final Fantasy V is a standalone story with its own world and characters.

Q: What makes the Job system special? A: Characters keep abilities from mastered jobs, so you can combine skills in ways fixed classes never allow.

Q: Can I play Final Fantasy V Advance online for free? A: Yes, you can play Final Fantasy V Advance online for free in your browser on RiveGame, with no download or installation needed.