Final Fantasy X-2

"Three girls, a guy and an Airship... time to get busy then!"

With Sin gone, the people of Spira were no longer bound by an oppressive religion. They were free to do whatever they pleased. However, without all the action-packed disasters and traumatising events to mourn for, many Spirans soon got bored. Yuna (the summoner who defeated Sin) was one of these people. Without the need to whoop some ass with her past abilities, she turned to sphere-hunting. It was all the rage - finding hidden treasures that recorded important events in Spira's history. One day, Yuna and her ever-sexy cousin, Rikku (wearing even less than before), discover such a sphere which shows a man trapped in an oversized bird's cage. The prisoner looks like Yuna's lost love, Tidus. Sensing that there is a chance to reunite with her sweetheart, Yuna and Rikku join up with another hottie named Paine and together they board good old Brother's airship - the search for the truth begins!

This is totally not what I'd expect out of a Final Fantasy game. It's like "what happens after the nameless hero defeats all the monsters in the world?" Go invade another game? Well, it seems Yuna has decided to distance herself from the conventional RPG formula in Final Fantasy X-2 - the direct sequel to the epic Final Fantasy X. Spira is much different now; things have changed since the incredible grey hulk, Sin, was a thorn in the planet's butt. Previously decimated villages have been restored and various religious temples have been turned into minigame houses – oh joy! It's a pleasure to revisit the same locales now refurbished with a more lively vibe. And this time, you can travel between them at your own leisure right from the get-go; the airship that's accessible to you as soon as you begin defines this remarkable non-linear adventure.

Yeah, no more trekking across a huge uncovered map! Whereas Final Fantasy X was painfully linear (for story purposes), Final Fantasy X-2 is the direct opposite. The game is broken down into five lengthy chapters and you can fly over to virtually every single hotspot during any one of them. Different events occur in each chapter (which represent different time periods) and you'll be in for a long ride if you hope to see through all of them and attain that coveted 100% bragging right. You don't have to view everything, of course. Important locations that are pertinent and integral for story progression are usually highlighted. If not, you can tease hints about where to go next out of the many Spirans you'll meet. There's a mystery to solve involving someone who looks like Yuna's boyfriend, three sharply-dressed (by J-RPG standards) effeminate dudes, and a very big mech called Vegnagun. Despite the absurdity the story falls into towards the end, it's still a pleasure to play through its entirety and it's the ”take it all at your own pace” structure which makes it so damn beautiful. You find out early on that Wakka banged Lulu and that they're going to have a baby. If you'd like to delay saving the world and would like to check out how pimp their bundle of joy looks, you're totally free to do so.

Final Fantasy X-2 does have something in common with traditional Final Fantasy games, though. Guess what it is? "WHOOSH!" Bingo. Random battles, yet again. As opposed to Final Fantasy X's turn-based battle system, Final Fantasy X-2 brings back the famous Active Time Battle system and it's arguably the best incarnation ever. Again, once the ATB gauge is filled up you can give your three leading ladies the usual attack, magic, item or special commands. It's now more dynamic than before. Hit an enemy while they are preparing for an attack and you can delay their actions. Likewise, if they hit you, you'll have to suffer a brief stun period. Also, you can now chain combos together, and they don't just fill the screen with some rad numbers - they progressively increase your damage dealt. For example, instead of having Paine slash your opponent and Yuna following up some time later, time it right and you can have Yuna unleash some rapid-fire hell with her twin handguns (low damage, but steadily racking up the combo meter) and have Paine end the flurry with an incredibly err, painful chop to the noggin (big damage since its attack power is now multiplied greatly). This is as close to an action-RPG as Final Fantasy has ever gotten and it is clearly the future for this long-standing franchise. (Well it seems I was wrong with Final Fantasy XII...)

New style, new stories, semi-new battle system - just how much more different could it get? Well, it is still an RPG. Sure, Yuna can do a bit of jumping around the environment pretending to be a platforming mascot, but it's all very minimal. The focus still adheres to the basic RPG framework. Sidequests? Dozens of them. Hunt out elusive dresspheres that will enhance your characters with a wealth of specialist job skills. Survive 100 floors of super-powered enemies and bosses in Bevelle's secret dungeon. Go gawk at Lulu and Wakka's by-product of late night shenanigans. Minigames? Play through a highly-addictive gunning obstacle course. Roam about the all-new Calm Lands carnival. Play a logic-based card- um, sphere game. Dodge 200 lightning bolts - haha! Nah, just kidding! Still, there are plenty of deviations to take. The main game clocks in at something over twenty five hours on a first try, but that's with skipping all the optional stuff - some of which are better than the compulsory ones! 100% will take in excess of double that time. The story may not be much of a big deal this time around, but the game is still one big effing monster!

Final Fantasy X-2 received a very mixed reception. Gamers were either the adaptive sort or those that suffered from some sort of RPG spasm. Three hot chicks taking a high-flying tour of a world gone hip? What blasphemy is this?! Final Fantasy X-2 doesn't take itself seriously and neither should you. Story-wise, that is. The core gameplay mechanics are still what Final Fantasy games are all about: loads of depth and loads of random battles. The more actioney fighting is brilliant fun and the freedom to go wherever you want whenever you please brings a whole new twist to the classic formula - be honest, it was getting kind of stale. Graphically it's not dissimilar to Final Fantasy X (same engine), but that's not a bad thing. Nobuo isn't providing the music here, though. Instead of emotionally moving melodies, it's now mostly upbeat jazz. Don't try to compare them. The new soundtrack is most fitting. I love it. (Do check out the Final Fantasy X-2 Piano Collections - now that's really something!) It's not quite the follow-up that many were hoping for and it sure surprised the hell out of me too. What's even more surprising, though, is that on a purely gameplay standpoint, Final Fantasy X-2 is miles superior and infinitely more enjoyable than its already spectacular prequel. Forget Charlie's Angels – please welcome Tidus's Beeyatches!

VERDICT - 9.0/10 Wakka, Wakka, Wakka... why didn't you name your kid "Pac-Man"??? XD

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/16/07

Game Release: Final Fantasy X-2 (US, 11/18/03)