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My thoughts on Final Fantasy X-2
7 years ago
General
I've played this game several times and have finally decided to review it to you folks.
Gameplay- the gameplay is the sole redeeming factor and true replay value of the game. Similar in vein to FFV, it allowed you to change your class whenever you needed, and even in the midst of combat. The combat felt balanced most of the time, and gave me a fair challenge. But back to the classes, or dresspheres as they were called, each was unique and had abilities you can unlock the more you used each dressphere.
Story- here's where FFX-2 falls flat on its face. Before I say anything, I haven't played all of FFX (the disc I had was in poor quality due to its previous owner) and I only know that Tidus was a dream or dreaming and was really dead the entire time. X-2's "good" ending completely spits on that. Granted, I haven't completed 100% of the story to see it, but I have watched it on youtube (I only have 98% complete of the full story). Regardless, bringing Tidus back in that ending felt like extreme fan-service. On top of that, the entire game was built around Yuna looking for him or a way to bring him back. The "false" ending you get where the Gullwings fly off into the sunset felt more like a true ending to me. For me, it showed that Yuna had accepted the fact that Tidus was a dream and wasn't coming back, regardless of her actions. It showed that she HAD MOVED ON from him. The "good" ending, however, had a sickly-sweet Disney-esque ending that pandered to TidusxYuna fans in ways unimaginable.
Character Models- Sure, the game introduced new models for Yuna and Rikku, but for returning FFX characters? NOPE. Here's what I mean: In the sequel, Wakka is supposed to have put on some weight (Rikku points out his obvious beer belly, the "good ending" only shows that his hair has started to turn gray) and Lulu was 9 months pregnant... yet, they BOTH reused the same models they had in the original. This factor made it pretty obvious that the modelers were too lazy to make new models for them... that or Nomura felt that fans of Lulu (those who consider her a waifu) and Wakka would be shocked to see either of them with distended abdomens or signs of aging. On top of that, many other characters, such as Kimahri, also reuse their FFX models. And from what I hear, the remaster STILL uses these models.... time might have been a factor, but they could have at least tried...
Spherebreak- In my opinion, this was the MOST unnecessary feature in the whole game. Unfortunately, this is the only way to get the Lady Luck dressphere... however, you have to beat that little brat Shinra to get it. Worse yet, you only have 2 chances to get it. And getting coins for spherebreak is a nightmare in itself, as most can only be gotten from desert excavations. Seriously, was Spherebreak REALLY necessary?
Annoying Characters and their voices- another stain on an otherwise enjoyable game. For me, the three characters that I found to be a nuisance were Brother, Shinra and the Kinderguardians. Brother came off as being incestuous with his crush on Yuna, who HAPPENS TO BE HIS COUSIN! Seriously! HIS FUCKING COUSIN! And his eccentric behavior was just TOO MUCH. As for that punk Shinra... there are many things to hate about him...
1. His voice: He has the most annoying LISP I've ever heard...it's like a young Spencer Breslin but 100 times worse.
2. His personality: He's an obnoxious know-it-all and a stingy brat. The stingy part comes if he wins the first Spherebreak tournament and refuses to give it to you, saying it's his dressphere... WHAT THE FUCK IS HE GONNA USE IT FOR?? Then he goads you into challenging him for it, but the second chance is harder than the first...
There are more things to hate about Shinra but I'm sure most of you would just say "he's just a kid"...
And finally...
The Kinderguardians- An unnecessary character trio addition. One of them is a recurring character (the others may be too, but I'm not sure) and they are looking for spheres. Their name is ridiculous, they have the most obnoxious voices (they seem to be voiced by the same actors who voiced the Rugrats...ugh) and as I've stated, seem totally unnecessary.
Enough of annoying characters though, let's move onto to the good stuff. Admittingly, there are some funny moments in FFX-2, like giving Leblanc a massage which she will either orgasm to or chide you for, and the random events of the hot spring sphere com in Chapter 4. My favorite questline though is the Crimson Sphere Quest.... it gives a much needed dark twist to the game's story.
So there you have it, my thoughts of Final Fantast X-2.
Gameplay- the gameplay is the sole redeeming factor and true replay value of the game. Similar in vein to FFV, it allowed you to change your class whenever you needed, and even in the midst of combat. The combat felt balanced most of the time, and gave me a fair challenge. But back to the classes, or dresspheres as they were called, each was unique and had abilities you can unlock the more you used each dressphere.
Story- here's where FFX-2 falls flat on its face. Before I say anything, I haven't played all of FFX (the disc I had was in poor quality due to its previous owner) and I only know that Tidus was a dream or dreaming and was really dead the entire time. X-2's "good" ending completely spits on that. Granted, I haven't completed 100% of the story to see it, but I have watched it on youtube (I only have 98% complete of the full story). Regardless, bringing Tidus back in that ending felt like extreme fan-service. On top of that, the entire game was built around Yuna looking for him or a way to bring him back. The "false" ending you get where the Gullwings fly off into the sunset felt more like a true ending to me. For me, it showed that Yuna had accepted the fact that Tidus was a dream and wasn't coming back, regardless of her actions. It showed that she HAD MOVED ON from him. The "good" ending, however, had a sickly-sweet Disney-esque ending that pandered to TidusxYuna fans in ways unimaginable.
Character Models- Sure, the game introduced new models for Yuna and Rikku, but for returning FFX characters? NOPE. Here's what I mean: In the sequel, Wakka is supposed to have put on some weight (Rikku points out his obvious beer belly, the "good ending" only shows that his hair has started to turn gray) and Lulu was 9 months pregnant... yet, they BOTH reused the same models they had in the original. This factor made it pretty obvious that the modelers were too lazy to make new models for them... that or Nomura felt that fans of Lulu (those who consider her a waifu) and Wakka would be shocked to see either of them with distended abdomens or signs of aging. On top of that, many other characters, such as Kimahri, also reuse their FFX models. And from what I hear, the remaster STILL uses these models.... time might have been a factor, but they could have at least tried...
Spherebreak- In my opinion, this was the MOST unnecessary feature in the whole game. Unfortunately, this is the only way to get the Lady Luck dressphere... however, you have to beat that little brat Shinra to get it. Worse yet, you only have 2 chances to get it. And getting coins for spherebreak is a nightmare in itself, as most can only be gotten from desert excavations. Seriously, was Spherebreak REALLY necessary?
Annoying Characters and their voices- another stain on an otherwise enjoyable game. For me, the three characters that I found to be a nuisance were Brother, Shinra and the Kinderguardians. Brother came off as being incestuous with his crush on Yuna, who HAPPENS TO BE HIS COUSIN! Seriously! HIS FUCKING COUSIN! And his eccentric behavior was just TOO MUCH. As for that punk Shinra... there are many things to hate about him...
1. His voice: He has the most annoying LISP I've ever heard...it's like a young Spencer Breslin but 100 times worse.
2. His personality: He's an obnoxious know-it-all and a stingy brat. The stingy part comes if he wins the first Spherebreak tournament and refuses to give it to you, saying it's his dressphere... WHAT THE FUCK IS HE GONNA USE IT FOR?? Then he goads you into challenging him for it, but the second chance is harder than the first...
There are more things to hate about Shinra but I'm sure most of you would just say "he's just a kid"...
And finally...
The Kinderguardians- An unnecessary character trio addition. One of them is a recurring character (the others may be too, but I'm not sure) and they are looking for spheres. Their name is ridiculous, they have the most obnoxious voices (they seem to be voiced by the same actors who voiced the Rugrats...ugh) and as I've stated, seem totally unnecessary.
Enough of annoying characters though, let's move onto to the good stuff. Admittingly, there are some funny moments in FFX-2, like giving Leblanc a massage which she will either orgasm to or chide you for, and the random events of the hot spring sphere com in Chapter 4. My favorite questline though is the Crimson Sphere Quest.... it gives a much needed dark twist to the game's story.
So there you have it, my thoughts of Final Fantast X-2.
