Final Fantasy X-2

Final Fantasy X-2 Review

Final Fantasy X-2, the first direct sequel to any Final Fantasy, resumes its ancestor’s storyline focusing on a radically-changed Yuna, once a pristine summoner and now a pop singer, and two companions, Yuna’s former bodyguard Rikku, and a newcomer, the staid and stolid Paine. Final Fantasy X-2 introduces an impressive number of firsts for the series: first sequel, first female lead, first all-female party, first Final Fantasy based on open-ended missions, first Final Fantasy allowing class changes in combat, and many new character classes for the Final Fantasy series.

This game returns the player to world of Spira, now very different following the climactic battle and events ending Final Fantasy X. With a spoiler-free bent, let me simply reveal that what happened in Final Fantasy X influences and impacts this sequel’s ongoing story.

Story

The Final Fantasy X ending brought peace and harmony to Spira called The Calm. But, wouldn’t you know, something has disturbed this tranquility and evil fiends are infesting the land. This is part of a monstrous plot to sink Spira once more into anarchy and ruin. Much of what happens is caused by a rift between two political factions. (Is this a precursor to this year’s presidential election?) The female protagonists, part of a squad of sphere hunters, roam all over the extensive world that is Spira, revisiting many of the locations of Final Fantasy X. (Though this might subject the game to criticism, some the revisited locations are fairly changed in appearance and denizens.) Be prepared for the re-emergence of many old friends and enemies, including the Dark Aeons, plus new characters. There are startling events galore as the prime plot unfolds.

As mentioned above, for the first time in Final Fantasy history, every member of the party is feminine. (Since men reportedly comprise 80% of video game players, they should be prepared to tap into their womanly sides that great psychologists say all men possess.) In a wild change of look and attitude, Yuna and her cohorts prance around in rather skimpy outfits. Some might criticize this as exploitive of women. I expect most women would concentrate on the pluckiness and proficiency of the game’s heroines. (Then again, my ability to predict what women think ranks right below my ability to explain Einstein’s theory of relativity.)

The principal plot, divided into chapters, is driven by the game’s constantly indicating what locations are the current “hotspots” to be explored next. A host of side quests or missions are also available for the player to complete. Even better, this freedom to move around Spira tackling non-plot missions can be enjoyed right from the get-go. Many of these contain very powerful things to find and exploit. In another approach, the party can pretty much go anywhere it wants, and spend many hours just tackling the different monsters throughout Spira, leveling their brains away. This is as open-ended as I can ever remember a Final Fantasy being.

Features

The player will experience little down or slow time, given all the things to be done in X-2. The twisting and turning main plot, feeding off of Final Fantasy X, literally sucks the player into doing just one more hotspot before hitting the sack. Then, there are the plentiful, pleasurable side missions, some downright comical. How bad could this game be with the return of the Chocobo, shamefully absent from X? Minigames appeal to you? There are several here, including one plot-important back massage that has to be seen and heard to be believed. Finally, anticipate one tough, multi-multi-multi-level dungeon to tackle.

Gameplay

Forget scoring a nifty, new, more powerful weapon or piece of armor as the result of combats, exploration, and shopping; forget normal RPG worry regarding what character class to choose for your party members to elevate and advance. That’s all out the window as X-2 introduces a totally unique system for enhancing and strengthening your characters. While normal leveling increases basic stats, like Strength and Defense, only game progress, the undertaking and solving of quests, lets the player obtain and bring into play, even during combat, completely different identities. Welcome to the Final Fantasy X-2 world of Garment Grids and Dresspheres.

Garment Grids are for equipping by the characters, once found during your adventures, the better ones only after solving the tougher quests. There are 60 different Grids, and each grants the equipper certain unique effects. Three examples would be Healing Wind, Protection Halo, and Samurai’s Honor; the unique effects obvious from the Grids’ names.

Grids house Dresspheres, essentially character classes with differing sets of abilities. Each Dressphere has several abilities applicable to that class that can be learned, used, and eventually mastered with battle experience. A few examples are Warrior, Black Mage, and Gunner. The Dresspheres are inserted onto the currently-equipped Grid into Nodes. Each Garment Grid has between 2 and 6 Nodes. On most Garment Grids, the Dressphere Nodes are separated by colored Gates. Even more enhanced abilities attach to the player when passing from one Dressphere Node to another though a Gate. Special Dresspheres usable only by one of the characters can also be found and utilized. All this gives incredible flexibility in instilling the heroines with great and versatile powers

The characters can equip and de-equip Grids, Dresspheres, and Accessories to their hearts’ content at anytime outside of battle. Incredibly, in battle, a player can change Dresspheres on the equipped Garment Grid on each turn, if so desired. A character could attack on round one as a mighty Warrior or Samurai, turn into a White Mage for healing on round two, convert to a punishing Gunner on round three, and cast a devastating Black Mage spell on round four. The graphic animation that accompanies these Dressphere battle changes is truly remarkable to watch. Because of this, I never shortened or turned off the Dressphere change animations that can be done on the Configuration screen.

This system brings a fresh and entertaining approach to this Final Fantasy installment’s gameplay. Though, at first blush, it may appear intimidating, I found the learning curve to be short. Ingame help blurbs at the top of the screen accompany every possible action taken, and other help methods make everything clear as a bell.

Moving the party around Spira is normal for a Final Fantasy, but this time some platform skills have been inserted. At various game junctions, the party has to jump and climb to various destinations. Despite the fact that I am arcade-challenged, I never found the platforming difficult.

Battle System

This game features a ton of monsters, many the toughest ever found in a Final Fantasy. Boss encounters are frequent and demand concentration and strategy by the player. Fortunately, a save game facility is located conveniently just before any boss battle.

Final Fantasy X-2 returns to the familiar Active Time Battle System (ATB) used in Final Fantasy’s VII and VIII, if memory serves. “Active” combat is practically in real time. Stop during combat to take a bite from a sandwich, and the monsters are likely to bring on the “GAME OVER” screen rather quickly. Time passes even when scouring the inventory for just the right item. Onscreen meters display the “charge time” required before the character can take another turn.

From the Configuration Screen, you may select “Wait” combat, so that time stops when you’re searching for an item or viewing any submenu. With the Active mode set for combat, digesting all the effects of combat blows becomes rather disconcerting at times.

In both modes, the combat moves right along with character attacks occurring almost simultaneously, depending on how quick you are on the console-button trigger. There is a nifty chain effect causing added damage if more than one character’s action occurs close to another’s. This does not require pinpoint timing to achieve a chain like in prior RPG’s. Vagrant Story comes to mind. Rather, an effective chain requires speed, speed, speed.

Stealing, using the Thief Dressphere, can score many terrific items. For some unknown reason, Ethers that replenish magic points are tough to find, so a Black Mage needs to cast Magic Point Absorb often. Environmental contradictions (fire vs. water, for example) are present as in all the prior Final Fantasy’s.

Graphics, Music, Sound, and Voice

I have always felt that these topics bear no weight on my enjoyment of a game. An RPG’s story, character development, and gameplay system are the important aspects of a game. However, given the “event” the release of a Final Fantasy is, I’ll comment briefly on these matters.

Final Fantasy X-2’s graphics are similar to its groundbreaking graphical predecessor. Slight improvements in character and spell effect animations are noticeable right away. Thankfully gone are the unbearably lengthy lavish CG story cutscenes from Final Fantasy X. Most cutscenes are quick and to the point.

The music is excellent. I had to get used to the pop music during certain game sequences. However, when soaring anthems were called for, the creators of the game delivered big-time. Voice acting is terrific. Some of the voices are distinctive and memorable. Sounds and sound effects were typically terrific for a Final Fantasy.

Bottom Line

Final Fantasy X-2 was a complete blast to play, and provided almost 50 hours of pure RPG gaming goodness. Neither a yawn nor a frown crossed my visage during the entire time. The new ATB battle system and the class costume changes on the fly were fascinating new toys with which to play. As mentioned, Final Fantasy X’s unbearably lengthy cutscenes are happily gone. (You can tell how much this annoyed me by my multiple mentions in this review.) This feature of Final Fantasy X caused that game to be the only Final Fantasy I failed to finish, ever!

Finally, replay value is immense, given the hefty number of side missions and trying out the different classes. The player might run through the game first concentrating on the plot and visiting only hotspots. Perhaps the second time through, the player might want to sniff out all the side missions and discover the many secrets not part of the main plot.

Knowledge of what occurred in Final Fantasy X is essential to understanding what’s going on in X-2. Whether that knowledge is gained from actually playing the predecessor or just checking out the storyline from the many available online and offline resources makes no difference. Either way, X-2 is a far more enjoyable and interesting experience for those acquainted with the goings-on in X.

Lastly, I hope Square will consider more sequels to its Final Fantasy games, particularly Final Fantasy VII.

Final Grade: 95%

Final Fantasy X-2 Screenshots

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Final Fantasy X-2 Videos

Final Fantasy X-2 Guides / Links

Final Fantasy X-2 Wikipedia Entry

FAQ/Walkthrough