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A fate worse than recycling

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: January 05, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I was very interested in this game before it was released, I created a website for it, and was very much involved in it's online community. My worst fear was that it would just be a quick rehash of FFX with few original elements. I couldn't have been less justified in this fear. The game is so different from FFX it makes me want to take a shower. FFX was not an amazing game, my main complaint about it being the idiocy of its main character. I was quite happy to hear that he would be out of the picture in this game. But apparently the developers decided that they couldn't do without SOME annoying character to fill his place. So they tossed us three of them.

Yuna and Rikku, returning from FFX both dropped in maturity level. If Rikku annoyed you in FFX, stop reading this and drop your consideration of purchasing this game. The whole game will annoy you. I even thought Rikku was interesting in FFX, and I was still struck by the disinterest and disgust which this game's characters caused me to feel. The girls are giggly, immature, and not quite interesting. Yuna runs like, well, no, that would be a rude thing to say. But, regardless, the dialogue will make you embarrassed for your self if anyone should walk into the room while you are playing. Paine, who seems like a wonderful, cool character if you read her little character summary somewhere, ends up being quite cliché and primarily a grab-bag full of one-liners. The characterization ends up more like "my friends are less mature than I am which makes them a target for my bad jokes and general lack of interesting qualities." The entire dialogue of the game sounds like it was written by sixth-grade girls with no grasp of reality. Or male developers inspired by said girls.

The gameplay also diverges rather a lot from FFX. The battle system is a fast stream of trying to think of something to do, and wishing you could time things correctly. It takes either a lot of luck or massive amounts of skill to attack at the right time in order to cause reasonable damage. I do like that it is more realistic than many FF games in that if you are hit several times, you are probably dead. However, it does make the whole system bothersome. You don't have time to think because you just have to keep attacking if you don't want to die. I disliked FFX's system which seemed more than ever like just taking turns, but this system does not lend itself to strategy. Just to frustration.

I have no complaints about the fact that the Job System is now the "Dress-up System", or that the girls wear skimpy outfits, except that their personailties have been altered to match this.

So why does this game get three stars and not one? Well, a few reasons. A: it makes me laugh. Most of the time it makes me gag, but on occassion, it has made me laugh. B: It is not FFX. Silly reason you might think, but FFX had a good many flaws, and FFX-2 has its own set of them, but they are different. The gameplay of this game is not linear like FFX's. It makes sense that you should be able to just explore and help people out. The whole game feels a bit like FFVI in this sense. Even though the path is planned out for you, you can still gain things by heading off the main path and looking around. In FFX, you felt trapped by an overabundance of cutscenes. Unfortunately, this game ends up, despite it's rejection of FFX's linearity, to fall into a pattern of dialog->mission->boss->prize->more dialog->repeat. and the final reason C: It's fun. I don't know why, but I keep coming back to it and trying to build my characters.

Should you buy it? I wouldn't buy it again myself, given the chance, but I'm going to play through it anyway, so maybe it was worth it. And you never know, it might strike you as just different enough to be good fun.

On a Grand Scale

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 13
Date: December 03, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I decided to wait a bit before reviewing this game For one thing, when reflecting on a game right after 80 hours of concentrated play, it is often the faults that stay in mind rather than the excellences. This is simply because any concentrated effort to play 'all' of an RPG that is so large it is almost unwieldy surfaces all the little irritating quirks that almost have to be there in a game of that genre. Secondly, I wasn't sure whether I would immediately replay it or not.

FFX-2 is a derivative of FFX, both taking place in the same world, with many of the characters that FFX made famous. Kimahri discovers an ancient holographic sphere on the heights of Mt. Gagazet. In it Yuna sees the face of someone she thought was gone forever - Tidus - appears in an artifact that is centuries old. This awakens Yuna from inactivity, and she joins Rikku and a new friend, Paine, to become sphere hunters. They seek both treasure and knowledge.

From these beginnings a massive tale begins to spring. Sphere hunters compete, opposed factions on a Spira move towards war, and a tormented spirit from the far past threatens to completely undo what Tidus and Yuna sacrificed so much for. And I do mean massive. You will ride the good airship (kind of a giant flying Harley) on quest after quest. The world shares topography with the Spira of old, but it ranges far deeper. And countless side quests fill out your journey.

If it is really that good, why did I hesitate? Mostly because the game comes impossibly close to being too big. Nothing is impossible with sufficient leveling up, but the price of leveling up is having to endure some player control features that can irritate after a time. A huge number of side quests mean too many senior moments when you discover you forgot to do something important.

But the truth is that this is certainly the best RPG of 2003, and could very well simply the best game for the year. Artwork and cut scenes are wonderful, the changing costumes that reflect the powers that the Yuna and the other Seagulls, and the creatures - friendly, boss, and otherwise - all this contributes to the final effect. A touching and human story and magnificent music complete the grand scheme. Square Enix felt they had to outdo all their previous efforts, and they did exactly that.

If you haven't played FFX you will find that this game is completely playable without it. The story stands on its own. Of course, if you have played FFX, you have some idea of what is coming. Overall this gets top grades, and will have a share of the crown for some time to come.

A refreshing spin-off for an epic series!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: November 25, 2003
Author: Amazon User

OK, first off, this is NOT your typical FF game. Those looking for a hardcore RPG with a deep storyline along the lines of FF7 - FF10 will be sorely disappointed. This game is simply a bunch of missions, kinda like sidequests if you will, where you control Yuna and Rikku (from FFX) plus the new character Paine.

This game, however, is loads of fun! While it's definitely not up to par with previous FF games, it adds that SquareEnix zing to the mission-based RPG. The campy storyline is very reminiscent of Charlie's Angels, except they're called the Gullwings. The most fun aspect of it is the dress spheres. SquareEnix took the famous job system from FF5 and FF Tactics and incorporated it here in the most ingenious, if not laughable, way. Your characters can change their outfits during battle, which gives them the powers associated with their outfit. The more you wear each outfit, the more powerful it becomes until you master that job. Then, there are special dress spheres that are equivalent to the Aeons of the original FFX.

The storyline itself is fairly good. While it's not the main focus, I personally can't wait to see whether Yuna reunites with Tidus (mysteriously referred to as "he" or "him" by the characters). The graphics are top-notch, as usual. The sound is great, but the 5.1 dolby digital mix is phenomenal! For those who don't know, you can buy FMV sequences in Luca like you did in FFX, and when you play them back you can select 5.1 digital. All in all, this is one of the most fun games I've ever played. Any Final Fantasy fan should own this. But don't compare it to other FF games, enjoy this one for what it is.

meh.....

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 8 / 10
Date: March 20, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I really enjoyed FFX and I hoped that I would enjoy FFX-2 just as much. I was wrong. Personally, I don't like having to change clothes in battle just to get different abilities. I actually kind of miss the sphere grid from FFX.

One of my my major pet peeves is the way Yuna flings her arms around when she runs. I know it's something dumb to get annoyed at, but it gets on my nerves.

Also, it would probably be nearly impossible to get one of the good endings for this game without some sort of guide. You lose completion % if you don't talk to certain people!

Finally, I don't know what the deal is with the skimpy clothes in the game. Maybe this game was aimed at guys or something. Overall, I just don't think that FFX-2 lives up to its predecessor. Not one of the worst games I've played, but definitely not the best either.

"Great in its own right; mediocre as a Final Fantasy"

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 8 / 10
Date: June 20, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Borrowed the title for this from another review for the same game that I found elsewhere on the Net.

Let me be frank: If you're looking for a light, fluffy game that isn't too heavy or serious, then FFX-2 is for you. If you're a teenage fangirl or a Yuna or Rikku fanboy, so much the better. But if you're looking for a deep, intelligent game, avoid buying this. Don't say no one warned you.

FFX-2 has a fun, engaging battle system that'll keep you on your toes and lots of little mini-games to pass the time. As a result it also has a high replay value, as another reviewer mentioned (another thing: it has a total of four different endings). But as a result of having so many sidequests, the main storyline is very weak. Some things aren't properly explained, or aren't explained at all (i.e. how and why Yuna became interested in the pop music scene).

Another downside: The game is almost overloaded with comedy relief characters, and many of them aren't so much funny as they are teeth-grindingly irritating. Particularly the character named Leblanc. By the end of Chapter Two, I wanted someone in the Gullwings to put that thing out of her misery.

Character development only exists for Yuna, Paine, and Nooj. Everyone else is one-dimensional and doesn't really grow or change. But given that you deal mostly with YRP, this isn't too big of a problem.

The music isn't as bad as some people claim. In fact, some of the tracks are nearly or just as good as anything Nobuo Uematsu would have composed (most especially "Eternity: Memory of Lightwaves"). Of course some of it is chintzy, but given the kind of game this is, that's to be expected.

For any serious gamers who get this, I recommend really delving into the deal with Paine's past. It's the deepest part of this game by far.

Fans of the previous Final Fantasy games may find themselves coming up with little to like about this game, unless they're very open-minded and know what to expect. From an honest perspective, from someone who's been playing these games for years, FFX-2 does not live up to its predecessor, FFX. It is a step down of sorts.

But in and of itself it's not bad at all. Just remember, if you buy it, don't take it too seriously. Just sit back and have a good time.

Final Fantasy X-2

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 13 / 22
Date: April 17, 2003
Author: Amazon User

From what I've seen and heard, FFX-2 is going to be a blast. The graphics are as great as FFX, and the job system is what has me cyked. From what I've heard, the job system is MUCH like that from FFV (As seen in Final Fantasy Chronicles). Any character can be any job (or class if you prefer, for D&D people). If you remember Yuna from FFX as being the weak spellcaster (physically weak, that is) and you didn't like it, then heck..change her to a warrior class and she's as bad as Auron up close and personal. Want Rikki to cast spells instead of thieving? Change her to a Black or White Mage class (or Red if it's available) and there you go. That's what's so sweet about the job system, anyone can be any class. At least from FFV, that's how I remember it. So this is one game I won't miss out on and can't wait for.

Hoo-hah! Final Fantasy X-2 Rules!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 11
Date: May 07, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Being the first direct sequel in the entire Final Fantasy oeuvre (now at 15+ games and counting, with the launch of Final Fantasy XI in America and the upcoming release of Final Fantasy XII), FFX2 was bound to attract controversy. Being one of the people who loved Final Fantasy X, which for my money is the best RPG ever, I was understandably wary of the sequel. How wrong I was.

When I first played the game, of course, with its pop concert opening sequence, I was understandably dismayed. Where was the dark, dismal, apocalyptic plot? The dragging seriousness? The tragic love story? (Like many people, I cried at the end of FFX.) After a few hours of gameplay, however, I realized that we didn't need them after all. FFX2 is unmistakably a lot more light-hearted than FFX, or perhaps than any other SquareEnix game, but that's a good thing! It's amazingly fun, and the girls are great characters. Yuna, whom I consider one of the best female characters in all of video games, does a great job of narrating the story, which begins with her searching for Tidus and quickly morphs into her realizing that she can't reject her own nature and working to save Spira once again.

Japanese culture has long been noted for its synthesis of what Americans consider 'high' and 'low' elements, and FFX2 is a premier example of that ethic. One minute you have to massage a sphere hunter to steal her goons' clothes, the next you're trying to save the world, and the next you're trying to capture talking cactuses (cacti?). It's great fun. Even better is the English version's many nods to recent pop culture events in America, such as Charlie's Angels.

Bottom line: THIS GAME ROCKS! Don't be so stuck up that you miss out on an awesome experience.

Some final notes:

THE BATTLE SYSTEM has been revamped so that it now features real-time combat. I was nervous about this at first, but after a few shaky starts I adapted quickly. In some ways it's better than FFX's battle system, though overall I like that one better.

THE DRESS-SPHERES are a great way to change jobs in battle. Each DP has its own strengths and weaknesses, and leveling them up becomes addictive in its own right. Plus, each spherechange is straight out of magical-girl anime (i.e. Sailor Moon), which is just amusing.

Finally, THE ENDING, or rather, the multiplicity thereof. FFX2 features a 'completion gauge' which determines how Yuna's quest ends--good, better, or best. In order to get full completion, one must do basically everything in the game, which has the wonderful effect of forcing players to play all the side quests in the game. Previously the SquareEnix games' side quests were optional; now that they're mandatory, one sees how fun they really are. Plus, for those that don't get full completion the first time around (which is virtually everyone), FFX2 lets you start a new game with the majority of your old data intact, offering you a leg up. You'll need it.

one for the ladies

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: December 14, 2005
Author: Amazon User

this game was obviously designed with the female gamer in mind. it features three, unique, female main characters (a first for the final fantasy series) who change their abilities by changing their outfits, or "dress-spheres," to use the game's lingo. the ladies' abilities include old final fantasy stand-bys, such as thief, black mage, and warrior, but also some exciting new ones, including samurai, berserker, and songstress. each character also has a "special dress-sphere" to be discovered, substituting for the old trance ability in former final fantasy games, which enables her to really kick butt in a pinch. the player can further enhance the characters' abilities by placing dress-spheres on different garment grids that amplify certain powers.
with the inclusion of dress-spheres and garment grids, the battle dynamic has changed significantly from former square enix products. battles can be viewed from multiple angles, and are generally faster paced. with so many different abilities to learn, the player is encouraged to seek out battles. the game's plot and visuals hold up fairly well to what players have come to expect from final fantasy games.
while the game is a sequel to final fantasy x, it can still be enjoyed without ever playing its predecessor (which i would personally recommend, as i hated final fantasy x, which includes exaggeratedly slow gameplay due to the fact that the character is often immersed in water). unfortunately, perhaps due to x2's status as a mere sequel, the time it takes to complete the game's plot is relatively short (although, as always, there are lots of little bonus tidbits to be discovered, side games to be won, and puzzles to be solved). the game is also the first to feature the "new game plus," in which the player can begin the game anew with most abilities gained during initial gameplay still intact. however, the game's climatic moments are ultimately disappointing, as it is incredibly easy for well-trained characters to defeat the final foe. it is, however, a testament to how enjoyable the game is that its abrupt conclusion leaves the player wanting much, much more.

Expansion packs are supposed to be $20

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: January 09, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This game is an expansion pack of FFX. 90% same characters, 90% same maps, the graphics are the same, it just has a new story.

One of the main changes is that you are given only 3 characters, for the entire game. You can change their 'job' mid-fight, which gives you a set of different abilities. This gives you almost the same variability as the last game, even more if you can find the hidden jobs (in 'dress sphere' items you can find in the game).

All the main characters are teenage girls, and conversation often devolves into something akin to 12 year old girls pretending to be Charlie's Angels. Plot is decent, but seems patched together and suffers from the same 'girl power' problems (one of the Chapters is preparing for a concert that will 'bring the world together with the beauty of my song').

Graphics are awesome, but the same as FFX. Lips still don't quite sync properly, but it's a bit better. Music is just downright annoying, though there is another majestic music scene in the middle of the game.

The fighting needs a little getting used to, but is more action oriented. Return to the 'active battle' FF style (enemies attack while you're making your decision on what to do next), but there is the neat bonus of linking attacks and even attacking while an enemy is attacking, which can produce a few nailbiting moments.

What does set this apart from FFX is the open-endedness. There are reportedly 10 different endings, and there are a lot of one-shot challenges and hidden items, and if you miss them once, they're gone. This, combined with different strategies of customizing your characters through different 'jobs', gives you ample reason to play it through a second time.

I'm torn, I kinda like it (but I've liked all the Final Fantasies, and probably like this one the least), but there are definately better ways to spend your gaming cash.

Offbeat, Silly, But Rewarding

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: February 25, 2004
Author: Amazon User

As the first true sequel to any Final Fantasy game, FFX-2 is groundbreaking. I hope Square-Enix continues with this lucrative trend. To fully appreciate FFX-2 you must be familiar with FFX.

Any good RPG has compelling characters. FFX-2's cast is...to put it mildly, odd. Their antics range from absurdly stupid to very cool. Overall the dialogue and voice-overs are done well. Voices for the recurring characters sound the same as they did in FFX, which pleased me greatly.

Depending on how quick you want to get through the game, completion time can take anywhere from 10-150 hours! Most areas in FFX-2 are completely optional. Replaying a second time is necessary to see everything, just be sure to choose new options within the story. Luckily the function of continuing a new game with almost everything acquired in the first game makes such re-exploration painless. More RPGs need this feature!

A revamped battle system makes gameplay more fun than in most other Final Fantasy releases. It takes the best aspects of FFVII and FF Tactics' combat and adds a faster pace. I love it. Utilizing the wide variety of Garment Grids, Dresspheres and accessories available never became tiresome for me.

The visuals aren't anything special; pretty much unchanged from FFX. The same can be said for the sound effects. FFX-2's music is a mixed bag, though. The title theme features one of the most enchanting pieces of music I've ever heard in a game. A few other samples are also impressive, matching the onscreen events admirably. But I found the rest of the soundtrack to be unimpressive.

The lack of new environments and enemies is a tad disappointing. 75% of everything you encounter has been seen already in FFX in some form or another.

As you're probably heard, the females in FFX-2 appear to be immodest where clothing is concerned. Rikku's standard 'uniform' consists of little more than a thong bikini! Obviously the developers thought that forcing some sexuality into the all-female main cast would keep male players interested. Sad.

Fortunately there is some real substance under the pop-singing and temporary silliness. Those who take their time uncovering all the game has to offer will be treated to a rewarding Final Fantasy experience. The COMPLETE ending, should the proper prerequisites be fulfilled, is especially satisfying.

For FFX fans, this is a MUST BUY.

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