Final Fantasy X-2 Review
By rslgto
Final Fantasy X-2 Review
Square Enix
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- Comments
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Plot Synopsis
Two years after the defeat of Sin, Spira is once again in a state of disarray. Two factions are now vying for control, leaving one scantily clad Yuna in the middle. The former High Summoner has shed her old ways and is off in search of new adventure. Upon finding a video of a certain "you know who," she sets off on a journey to find more clues. With the aid of some old friends and help fom some new allies, she is off to save the world once again!
Credits: kawaiiguy
Story & Playability
The story of Final Fantasy X-2 takes place two years after the fall of Sin in Spira (Final Fantasy X). There has been peace for these last two years, but lately, problems have arisen between the Youth League and New Yevon, the two factions in Spira. Our journey begins with the discovery of a new sphere in Mt. Gagazet by the Ronso Kimari which then hands it over to Yuna. In it, an image of a young warrior resembling Tidus appears and motivates Yuna to travel the world of Spira once again in search for more clues about her lost love. Could it really be him or is the resemblance only skin-deep?
The stroy then unfolds as you take the role of Yuna and travel Spira as a sphere hunter collecting spheres that will reveal a whole lot more about Spira's past than you ever imagined. The story takes many twists and turns as you progress through the game and often times you will find yourself taking on side quests that will contribute tiny bits of information that in the end will come together and will generously reward you with alternate endings and new chapters. Because Spira is in turmoil as the truth about its past in uncovered, you will be traveling all over the world fighting fiends, appeasing the masses, fighting powerful fiends, hunting down spheres, taking sides with and against one of the two factions, finding rare items, rescuing people (Yuna is still Spira's hope), and many other side quests. Final Fantasy X-2 delivers hours on end of gameplay and a very extensive storyline.
- Rating
- 9 (very good)
Graphics
Nowadays, it seems that the way a game looks is more important than actual gameplay. That being said, Final Fantasy X-2 has some of the best graphics and CG movies in today's market. However, though its graphics is one of its fortes, it is not the strongest element of the game. It's gratifying to watch the cutscences and the story unfold via actual gameplay and movie cutscenes as they complement each other. Though not as intriguing and memorable as Final Fantasy X, the visual imagery is top-notch and stands alone in comparison to other RPGs. The character design is quite unique, which is a trademark of the Final Fantasy saga. As in previous Final Fantasy titles, you will find yourself immersed by the vast amount of emotion put into the characters and situations which they are put in. The three main heroines are a bit over the edge when it comes to having fun and dressing accordingly (courtesy of Rikku), but it is interesting to see each of them grow as they journey the vast world of Spira and learn more about its secrets. Along the way you will encounter many other exotic characters that you may or may not particularly care for, but they are there nonetheless and all play a role in the overall experience. Enemies make an encore appearance for this second chapter in Spira's history, so you will recognize most of them. But new ones have been designed and they don't fall short of being fearsome and unique.
All in all, this is an area of the game that most definitely shines bright and will delight those who love cutscenes in an RPG, and those who are familiar with the Final Fantasy series.
- Rating
- 9 (very good)
Sound
The sounds of Final Fantasy have been known for their unsurpassed temperament
and unmatched aesthetic nature. These scores are part of what have made the
Final Fantasy series prominent, widely recognized, and have elevated the
standards of what an RPG gaming experience ought to be like. Composer Nobuo
Uematsu is the alchemist that has created the sounds of Final Fantasy with an
almost magical touch and continues to deliver masterpiece after masterpiece in
every game. New theme songs for the different environments in the game make
traveling to these a whole new experience in itself.
In comparison to its predecessor, Final Fantasy X-2 falls a little short in the
sound department as Final Fantasy X completely changed and delivered, for the
first time, perfection in the musical aspect of RPGs. To this day, I have not
been a witness to a better sound composition in an RPG than that of FFX. Final
Fantasy X-2 though close, is not quite there.
At the same time, FFX-2 borrows elements from the j-pop genre for some of its main themes, but these are very few, and I admit are very catchy. Something "different" from what most gamers are accustomed to and you will either love it or hate, simply put. When it comes to the sound department, I think FFX-2 does a great job of delivering a great music score that matches the aesthetics of the game.
- Rating
- 9 (very good)
Fun
The gameplay is a bit different from Final Fantasy X. The battles now use an Active Time Battle system--instead of turn based--and you also have ability to change dresspheres to your liking during battle. This means that you can change jobs from Warrior to Thief, to Samurai to Healer, to Black Mage to Mascot, to Trainer to Gunner and so on and so forth, while you are engaging in battle. This proves to be very convenient if one is to use different attacks on fiends whose abilities and weakness vary. Also new are the chain attacks: the more consecutive attacks you perform on a fiend, the higher the damage as each hit is multiplied by the order in which it is received. This proves to be vital against powerful fiends or if one wants fast-paced battles that end quickly. Advancement in FFX-2 is different from its predecessor; the more fiends you defeat the more experience points you gain thus increasing your level for a maximum of 99. Overall the gameplay is good, though not much new here, and you will be doing a lot of traveling as you explore each area by foot and are given access to an airship from the very start to get you from one area to the next. You will take on different missions that are simple but necessary in order to advance. Perhaps the most challenging part of the game is the Via Infinito in which you descend 99 levels underground, each one harder than the previous, and have to face the most powerful fiends in the game. This will keep you busy for a while.
All in all, Final Fantasy X-2 is a different final fantasy than what most have seen. Each title keeps evolving but still manages to stay true to the formula and elements that make Final Fantasy: solid plot, extensive character development, engaging battles, gorgeous graphics, a vast world to explore, and outstanding musical score. Final Fantasy X-2 is no exception.
- Rating
- 8 (good)
Final Verdict
8.67 (very good)
Reviewed by rslgto, 2y 42wk ago
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Great review, Final Fantasy X-2 is a great game
it wasnt that great if u asked me...yuna changes so much...she is like another riku...u hav to do so much to get a good percetage...i dont mind the challenge but in the end...yuna only get to see a titus for alil bit...the voice acting and story is ok...they shouldnt made the sequal to X
In my opinion the music were quite even with FF X. But otherwise theres nothing wrong with this review. But maybe you should have told them that the game can be played again, after you have beaten it once, with the same dresspheres, abilities and % cleared of the game. This is a must, since it's impossible to clear it all in just one go.
Great review, good language and flow in it, good scores. Good job!
thanks for your feedback, guys.
But i think is quite ok, mostly the game is great game!
The gaphics can be do more better !
worst ff ever. a complete disappointment and an insult to all rpgs that sold less than this game only because this one is named "final fantasy"
hm i think the previous final fantasy(s) are better.
pretty good graphic wise i'd say. The game play is kinda sketchy and runs away from old ff ways, but it still works. the fact that three girls play in it though may make up for it.....
All in all it's ok. I must've spent the majority of my time though listening to 1000 words.... and watching the sphear change
Bleh, I would say that the storyline deserves much less, no originality in it and all
it certainly doesnt scream FF all over its gameplay if you asked me, worst ff
game ever, try omitting all those fanservice and see whether people still like
it 
Oh, and I don't think the composer for this game is Nobuo
Uematsu sensei ... um, not sure, I may be wrong, but I kinda heard about it ...
*shrugs* oh well, maybe it is him....
And I think the game depends too much on fanservice
to me i think that it allright still though it had yuna pain i think that the way u had only three people was stupid
FF-X2 ROOOOX
yuna gunner is so cute! ñ///ñ
excelent game!
well, it's a great game, but it's a little hard to play than the previous FF series, full of side stories and very difficult to finish it 100%, cant enjoy it that much tho
i am having a hard time adjusting to the new combat system. personaly i would have prefered that they retained the original combat system. well thats my thought on the combat system. the story i think was a bit streched out. the graphics on the other hand were cool.
Not the best ff but you did a great review on it.
what i think is that if we were able to freely travel the world on a flying airship like FF8, it would've been much better than just choosing where we are going to go like a menu. =/ my thoughts on it. what're yall's?
Thanks,
You made me want to get the game and play
Great review. I agree with you pretty much totally. Couldn't have said it better myself.
Is their will be another Final Fantasy X?
Final Fantasy X-2 is a great game. I like the graphics there is not much change in them from the first game. If you get the game guide its really helpful. But before the actual game was made, there was a 30min movie that was supposed to show what happened after the first game and its the key to the begining of the second game so its the bridge from the first game to the second. If you haven't seen it I recomend that you do. Anyway X-2 is great for both Male and Female auidences.