RPG_Fanatic on 08 October 2008
You have to change to them manually during battle, but they are playable. How else would you have the multi-player battles.
Spoilers:
http://ca.youtube.com/profile_videos?p=r&user=FrankyDThanatos&page=3
Here is someone playing through the entire game. A few weeks back, I skimmed through some of these video and saw the player switch to the old cast during battle. I'm too lazy to search hundreds of videos to find the specific videos that apply.
Also
http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/genmessage.php?board=942210&topic=45809951&page=1
here is a topic on gamefaq giving details about this.
"To love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, for as long you shall be resurrected from death in the church"
