OVERFinal Fantasy Tactics Advance goes native on Android with FFTARecomp 3.0
FFTARecomp, a native port of Square's 2003 Game Boy Advance tactics RPG Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, reached version 3.0 on October 18, and the big addition is a native Android build. Like other static recompilation projects, it doesn't emulate the GBA. It converts the game's code from your own ROM into a native program, which is why it can offer options an emulator can't.
What's new in 3.0
- Android arm64 build with tap and touch support for menus and the interface. Touch-only mode is still experimental and is turned on under Input > Touchscreen > Touch Controls.
- A much smaller PC install: a compiler switch cuts it from roughly 800MB to about 11MB, and compile time from around two minutes to about four seconds.
- Reworked UI and text bubbles, with adjustable bubble length and size.
- European ROM support, with saves that work across regions.
- Experimental mouse support on PC, a reworked installer and gamepad support, and a dedicated Steam Deck installer.
What it already did
The project offers widescreen from 16:10 up to 32:9, zoom, video and audio options, fast forward with several audio modes and a redesigned menu, and it needs no console BIOS. It's written in Rust, based on JRickey's gba-recomp, and released under the MIT licence. The README says the project includes no game data. The developer lists one known issue: some sprite silhouettes can show for a few seconds in the first level.
A busy weekend for recomps on Android
FFTARecomp wasn't the only one. Lost Odyssey Recomp, an experimental native port of the Xbox 360 RPG, pushed versions 1.0.5 and 1.0.6 with an Android arm64 APK. On Qualcomm devices it opens a Turnip driver page before first launch. Free Riders Recompiled, a recompilation of the Kinect racer Sonic Free Riders, put out several builds that make every race action playable on touch. Gen2Recomped, a native recreation of the Game Boy Color Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal, kept shipping Android APKs. All of them need your own legally obtained game files, and none include game data. We've added them to our Android ports directory.
Why it matters for handheld players
GBA games already emulate well on almost any Android handheld, so the draw here isn't speed. It's native widescreen, a modern menu and per-game options without fiddling with emulator cores. These are early builds: expect bugs, and keep your saves backed up. We don't host or link to ROMs. Dump the cartridge you own.