Final Fantasy X

This entry into the Final Fantasy series came as the last entry in an incredible run of games in a very short span of time. In 1997 Final Fantasy VII would erupt onto the scene, in 1998 no FF, but we got Xenogears. In 1999, Final Fantasy VIII, 2000 Final Fantasy IX and then this one was released in 2001. Then we would enter the dark ages when they would release fewer games and they would not be as good as these four of the ones released on the SNES. Sure, I sort of liked Final Fantasy X-2, but it seemed some of the things they did in that game were kind of lazy such as not changing the appearances of some of the characters and not really adding a few more locations to explore in Spira. Still, I found that game more enjoyable than Final Fantasy XII (never played XI) which had a combat system I did not care for at all and characters that seemed like rehashes of characters in this particular game. This game is the first entry of a FF game for the PS2 and it was a great entry in my mind. That being said, it was not quite as enjoyable to me as part IX, but that FF game still ranks as my favorite game in the series because it has the look and feel of the old SNES ones, but has a wonderful 3D world crafted around it. This one takes a bit more realistic approach as far as character design, but it works and this one also features actual voices for the characters during cut scenes and all through the adventure.

The story has a young man named Tidus who is the son of a man who was a star blitz ball player (the popular sport of this world). He lives in a city called Zanarkand and his father is missing. He too, has become a star blitz ball player and he is doing his thing when the city comes under assault from this creature called 'Sin'. A man named Auron assists Tidus battle monsters that emerge from Sin and soon the young man is transported away from his home. He awakens in a cold and old abandoned temple where he meets these people who speak a different language and he assists them and soon finds himself washed away again to a small village that is home to a person called a summoner. Soon Tidus joins this girl and her guardians as they go on a quest to Zanarkand to defeat the all powerful Sin as the summoner must go to various temples to gain the power to summon the final Aeon.

This game does a couple of things differently than other FF games as there are several playable characters and like most FF games only a certain number can be in the battle, in this case three. However, what it does differently is that you can switch out characters so that every character can be instrumental in defeating the enemy. This comes in handy as this helps you level up everyone in the party. That is another difference as it incorporates something called a sphere grid as opposed to the normal experience points and level ups. In this one, you traverse a grid to gain more strength, hit points, magic etc. It's great and you can have all your characters powered up to the extreme and using magic. They still retain differences and are unique as each of them uses a different weapon and armor piece. They also have different special attacks called limits so all the heroes are distinct in this one.

So, I enjoyed this Final Fantasy game quite a lot. A lot of people these days like to crap on the character of Tidus, but I thought he was a rather good hero. The main reason for the hate is that stupid laughing scene, which does not encompass but a small fragment of the game. My favorite character though is Auron as he is so mysterious, so cool and so powerful! The villain in this one is a bit different in that it is almost a mindless creature (Sin); however, like many Final Fantasy games a true enemy will be revealed at the end and there is another villain named Seymour who just oozes bad guy from the moment you see him. This game could be considered linear in nature to an extent, but nothing like XIII. Here you actually stop in towns and interact with townsfolk and such, but there is a lot of journeying through different areas. The scenery is nice so I actually liked the way it played out. They remastered the game and I guess it looks better, but it was not as if this one really needed that major of an upgrade as far as graphics. Honestly, the PS2's graphics hold up well as the newer systems simply add more details such as better sweat or stuff like that rather than character models. So, this one would be a great addition to the FF series, too bad it hasn't been as good since it debuted, but FFXV was pretty awesome.

Probably half of the people complaining here never made it past the first ten hours, which are, undoubtedly, as slow as can be. Out of that ten hours, it feels like you fight ridiculously easy battles for maybe an hour of it, walk for two hours of it, and sit through cinematics for the other seven hours. I don't know if that is completely accurate, but that is what it feels like.

But if you can survive past that, the game becomes more engrossing. The game doesn't stop as often and you fight far more regularly. You have to, otherwise you won't be powerful enough to move forward. I don't know why people complain about the Sphere Grid. Sure, you may no longer have hit points, but the Sphere Grid has its own unique challenges. And the weapons and armor? Again, it is no longer as easy as to look at your menu and see numbers rise just to know that your weapons / armor are better. You are just forced to plan better.

All in all, I would not complain at all about this game, except for that very tedious first 10 hours, but, considering it took me 60 hours to finish the game--including the main quest and all side quests--you definitely won't feel like your experience is cut short, as a result.

It's rare to hear a video game being compared to a piece of literature, but Final Fantasy X reminds me of nothing so much as Chaucer's THE CANTERBURY TALES. (Perhaps it more accurately compares to Dan Simmons HYPERION, but since HYPERION was loosely based on Chaucer, well...)

A summoner and her six guardians embark on a holy pilgrimage whose lofty goal is to save the world from suffering, if only for a short while. The closer they get to their destination, the more treacherous the way becomes as forces gather to divert or destroy them before they can achieve their goal.

Along the way, the stories of the seven are shared: where they came from, how they became a part of this journey. We watch as their individual stories combine into an epic tale of love, camaraderie, sorrow, sacrifice, and triumph.

In a business filled with shoot-em-ups and car crashes, it's wonderful to see a series that tries to stretch the form in ways that resemble art and literature, truly exploring the possibility of video game as an art form.

As to the voice work that so many people complain of, I can only believe that these people were looking for big-name Hollywood stars to provide the voices of the characters--take a look at the resumes of the actors who provide voices for FFX and you'll find a history of American animation for the last 10 years. Check your own expectations before you criticize and you may find, as Shakespeare said, that "the fault lies not in our stars, but in ourselves."

Final Fantasy is easily one of the most celebrated game franchises in history, and the way Square Enix develop their games are almost suspiciously in the order of story first and game play second. To me, Final Fantasy, what I've played of it that is, has always had a staple of story telling that severely lacked in many of the video games I have played before, and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that the creators of these games are telling stories about people, rather than caricatures.

Final Fantasy X was my introduction to the series, and it was an experience that has stuck with me since the day it was released. I have played and beat the game a bit over 10 times through out my years of gaming, and it remains my top favorite game after all of these years. The success of this game, however, was not in the way it played, but in the way it played out. My addiction came from my love for the characters, and my ability to empathize with them. The love story between Yuna and Tidus, for video game characters, was true to the point of physical pain. These two characters were more than just creations for entertainment, but they were living, breathing human beings.

This holds true for every single character through out the game. Here we have seven characters spread out, and nearly three days (collectively) to discover who they are, and discover their passion. This is made possible through the way the story is told, and how relevant the story is in actual life. By utilizing actions familiar through organizations like churches and corporations, it is easier to see the manipulation of these characters, and it is easy to find common ground with them. As a citizen of the world, it is easy to identify with these characters.

Still, there is something else about this game that got to me, and that was it's relentless political commentary. It didn't take issue with a specific church (though Roman Catholicism is most certainly an inspiration) but more took issue with Organized Religion itself. The Church of Yevon is nothing less than an empire run by a handful of crooks and fear mongers. Even these characters we can identify with because we recognize them in our churches and our governments. We recognize the fact that they know they have power and are able to use the vulnerability of their believers to keep the population under control.

It shows bigotry practiced through the church, all of which our heroes become subjected to. Rikku being the prime example of constant persecution by Wakka. Rikku, an Al-Bhed, does not believe in the church, and actually represents a small population that stretches across the world of non-religious believers. Wakka is a devout Yevon(ite?) and can not find common ground with those who act against the beliefs of the church. He uses words like 'traitor' and 'heathen' to describe the Al-Bhed, almost in the same way a Christian might describe a homosexual, or a Scientologist might describe a Suppressive Person.

Through the actions of these characters, we discover that there is so much more than what meets the eye, and through thoughtful speculation we discover that Final Fantasy X is much, much more than a mere video game, and much more than an artful masterpiece. Final Fantasy X is an observation on the fundamental insanity of the human race. It is an observation on how we let our superstitions and beliefs allow us to be controlled, and what dangers are most imminent when we allow ourselves to be subjected to submission.

All in all, this game is a must-play. It is easily the most thoughtful and introspective game I have ever played, and it remains to this day the most daring commentary on human nature ever seen in a piece of art, let alone a video game. If not? Look at the movies you watch or the books you read that are made for entertainment? How many of them are willing to look an enormous part of the human collective and say 'you are wrong?'

There are some ... but not many. This game is one of the select few that dares.

FFX is my favorite Final Fantasy and my favorite game of all time. I've been playing video games ever since the NES and I still play this game almost every year, it simply holds up well.

The graphics were a leap forward for its time and the HD versions still look surprisingly good in 2021 for a game that is 20 years old. The voice acting is also solid though some recording issues (sped up dialogue) creep through during multiple scenes - what can I say? They were still figuring out voice acting with games back then. The turn-based combat is fun, strategic and holds it's own candle to the traditional ATB style. Spira is vibrant, colorful and unique - wonderful artwork and concepts.

However, what really makes this game unique to me is the story. Themes of religion, change, individual thinking and forging one's own path are heavy topics for a popular video game and are handled very elegantly. The story is captivating, unique, and full of twists. I will say the whole idea behind the Fayth's dreaming and how reality intersects with it can be a little convoluted and contradictory at times but I try not to take it too seriously.

Overall, this is a wonderful game that ages well, is fun to play, and has an engaging story with themes I have grown to appreciate more and more as I grow older.