Final Fantasy X-2 Review

What can I do for you? What can I do for you? What can I do for you? I can't hear you!

Welcome to Review Friday! It's finally April, the sun is shining when it's not raining and it seems to be the perfect time to talk about one of the most controversial Final Fantasy games out there. At least for the time. Final Fantasy X-2 came out in 2004, becoming the first ever direct sequel for a Final Fantasy day, unleashing prequels and sequels for Final Fantasy VII, as well as sequels for FFIV, FFXII and FFXIII.

However, to many Final Fantasy fans it was deemed as the worst Final Fantasy. However, I have a different opinion of the game. Without further ado, let's dive in.

Story

The game takes place two years after Yuna's pilgrimage to defeat Sin where she becomes the first ever living High Summoner. One day Rikku comes to Besaid with a sphere with a familiar face. Shedding her Summoner robes, she decides to take up the role of a Sphere Hunter together with Rikku, Paine and the rest of the Gullwings, they go on a quest to find out more about Spira's hidden secrets and how it relates to him.

The story takes place on a lighter note than the original. Spira is trying to rebuild itself after Sin's rampant destruction over the years in what seems to be the Eternal Calm. An eternal session of peace. Though there's tensions rising between two rival factions: The Youth League and New Yevon, with the Machine Faction staying out of it. Though something else lurks in the depths of Spira.

The story alone was enticing to me. Final Fantasy X was my favorite Final Fantasy game and definitely one that I would talk endlessly about.

Gameplay

Courtesy of Square Enix

The gameplay unlike the original is an ATB or an Action Time Battle. Basically you can choose between active and wait, the difference being that with active you have to think of strategies on your feet whereas with wait you have time before the bar fills up to plan out your battle.

There's the inclusion of the dresspheres which allow Yuna, Rikku and Paine to do little magical girl esque transformations into those specific dressspheres. Many people complained because they either showed too much skin for the cast (We're just going to ignore how Yunalesca walked around in a bikini and how most of Spira also had barely any clothing on. Or being able to see Gatta's ass. But that's for another post.), or how it didn't make sense. Though the reality of it was just an homage to Final Fantasy III and V which utilized the job class system.

I personally liked the dresspheres, though Lady Luck will forever elude me. (Mainly because I'm bad at mental math.)