Final Fantasy X-2 (PS2)

Final Fantasy X-2 is the sequel to the best game I have ever played, and is the first ever direct sequel to another Final Fantasy game. Each consecutive Final Fantasy game has been a new world with new characters and storylines, but such was the popularity of the tenth Final Fantasy game that FF X-2 was born. Why was FF X the best game I’ve ever played? Firstly, I was a Final Fantasy virgin at the time, secondly, the graphics, music, amazing story and sheer longevity of the game made it the most value for money I ever spent. With the original being so satisfying, will FF X-2 live up to high expectations?

Story wise FF X-2 begins a short while after the end of FF X. So if you have not played the predecessor I predict you will be very confused. Our main protagonist is now former-summoner Yuna, who after defeating Sin is now roaming the world of Spira looking for missing Spheres to piece together the past of this planet. She is traveling with old friend Rikku and new companion Paine. Finding strange fragments of Spheres containing images of her lost love Tidus, a new desire is put upon Yuna to complete this quest. I’ve played this game for a while, and so far, while slightly intriguing, the story has not grabbed me in the way the first game did. The adult and political nature behind the themes of FF X are yet to appear in FF X-2. With lots of new side characters such storylines are showing glimpses of appearing, but have yet to surface. That said, this game will take me forever to play, and at this time I probably have months of gaming ahead of me, such is the enormity of gameplay Final Fantasy games provide.

It terms of being a sequel to FF X, there are a few minor changes in terms of the world the characters inhabit and a few major changes in terms of how they interact with it. Graphically there is little improvement if any to the environments and the rendering of characters. That said, the graphics are still bloody fantastic for the PS2 with the special effects and in-game graphics being just as beautiful, as are the stunning cgi video sequences. So far there is very little new in terms of the lands you travel since we’ve already seen them in FF X. That was a little disappointing. Story wise, I am yet to discover anything compelling; so far there is no urgency in the story to make me want to go forward, but I still have a long way to go. The music so far hasn’t been as moving; the pop song at the start of the game I found to be really cheesy and disconcerting. There are still lots of side quests and mini games to enhance the variety and longevity of the game, and the voice acting is still as bad as ever.

In terms of gameplay, there are some major changes. Instead of a linear route, FF X-2 is mission based. You can travel to any land in Spira and complete individual missions of your choosing. Some missions are harder than others with star ratings indicating how tough the challenges you face and how tough the monsters you fight are. In terms of the role playing aspect and improving and upgrading your characters, the ability sphere grid from the first game is now replaced by a “dress-sphere” grid where the three characters you control can change costumes, with each costume containing its own unique power, magic and defense abilities. It took me ages to figure out how to navigate the sphere grid in the first game and this game has taken me just as long. When fighting monsters, battles are no longer turn based, they are now time based. This means that you cannot spend an infinite amount of time strategising your attacks, you must act as quickly as possible, making battles that much more difficult. These changes have helped to keep things relatively fresh and will ensure a good longevity for this sequel.