Final Fantasy X-2

[Shadow Fire]

<div align="center"><img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/FFX-2.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /></div><br /><br /><b>Director:</b> Motomu Toriyama<br /><br /><b>Producers:</b> Yoshinori Kitase, Hideki Imaizumi<br /><br /><b>Music:</b> Noriko Matsueda, Takahito Eguchi<br /><br /><b>Starring:</b> Hedy Burress, Tara Strong, Gwendoline Yeo<br /><br /><b>Rating:</b> <img src="http://core.the-gcn.com/reviews/rating/4-5stars.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /><br /><br /><br /><u><b>Plot</b></u><br /><br />The Eternal Calm... eternity without Sin. It seemed like only yesterday that Yuna and her guardians vanquished Sin, putting an end to his destruction forever. However, there was a price to be paid. <i>He</i> disappeared. Tidus, Yuna's first love, merely a dream of the fayth, disappeared, having fulfilled his promise to the fayth. Two years pass, and Yuna is still hoping to find him. However, one day, Rikku visits Besaid Island with a sphere that Kimahri found on Mount Gagazet. Upon watching the sphere, Yuna's eyes widen in surprise. It appears to be Tidus. Curious, Yuna joins Rikku and sets off to search for more spheres. Joining a group of sphere hunters known as the Gullwings, Yuna sets off to add more chapters to her story.<br /><br /><br /><u><b>Review</b></u><br /><br />I first played this game when my brother got it for Christmas a couple of years ago. It seemed like a rather interesting game. The very first Final Fantasy sequel saw Yuna's struggle to keep the Eternal Calm free of conflict, while saving it once more from an apparition of a dead guy from 1000 years ago, as well as wishing for her love to come back to her.<br /><br />

The battle system has changed back to Active Time Battle, but with a twist. Instead of the battle system used in Final Fantasy IX and earlier, Final Fantasy X-2 utilises a Real Time ATB system. For example, say a fiend appears. The characters' ATB gauges fill. Characters input their commands, but all can attack together, creating chain attacks, instead of one character attacking at a time. It confused the hell out of me at first, but I quickly adapted to it, and it's my favourite style of ATB. The character advancement system has reverted to basic levelling, and integration of the Job System attempts to make it easier to use for the beginner player. Battle transitions are similar to Final Fantasy X, but instead of a shattering effect, the screen looks like it had been slashed several times at once, before the pieces are ripped away, falling forward, before the battle field is shown.<br /><br />

Graphics aren't that much different from Final Fantasy X, making this game lose a mark. However, a plus is that YRP (Yuna, Rikku and Paine) can jump, something that couldn't be done in Final Fantasy X (without being automated). Another negative though, is that Yuna can't swim, unless playing blitzball, another system which has been butchered since Final Fantasy X. One big difference between this game and its predecessor is the ability to skip cutscenes (non-CGI) by pausing and then pressing the Square button on the controller. However, by doing this, you may lose your chance at attaining 100% completion.<br /><br />

Music is a touchy subject with many people, this game being one of the first that didn't have Nobuo Uematsu's legendary music. Noriko Matsueda and Takahito Eguchi tried their best to follow in Uematsu's footsteps, meeting mixed results. Some of their tracks are awesome, while others leave much to be desired. It took me a while, but I warmed to their music. After all, I feel that a couple of the tracks in this game are better than the Final Fantasy X alternative. The integration of Yuna singing in this game was quite intriguing as well. Jade from Sweetbox has an amazing voice, and 1000 Words almost brought tears to my eyes. I say almost, because my brother ruined the moment. =P<br /><br />

Another feature which I adore is New Game Plus. One thing that infuriated me about Final Fantasy X, was that once you finished the game, that was it, there was no saving. However, in Final Fantasy X-2, after you beat the game, you get the option to start New Game Plus, which allows you to play the game from the very beginning, while retaining all the equipment, dresspheres, Garment Grids, perishable items, gil, and Al Bhed Primers from your previous save. In fact, my save file was about the fourth or fifth playthrough before attaining 100%.<br /><br />

Final Fantasy X-2 has multiple endings, depending on what requirements have been fulfilled. The normal ending will always be viewed. The sad ending can be attained by not fulfilling certain tasks, the good ending can be attained by fulfilling the required tasks, and the perfect ending can be attained by having 100%, AND fulfilling the tasks to get the good ending. However, I feel that the perfect ending is rather disappointing, as it isn't CGI, only a normal cutscene that lasts for almost 2 minutes. Wooooow. Another point loss.<br /><br /><br /><u><b>Overall</b></u><br /><br />Final Fantasy X-2 is a good game, and I would recommend playing it only if you're not overly concerned about the girlishness that emanates from it... but then again, Final Fantasy games can still be girly, and still be great.