Final Fantasy X is the first Final Fantasy game to hit the Playstation 2. The hype that has been built around Final Fantasy X is amazing, but is it really good? When I booted up the game disc which I rented from Microplay, I was excited and curious to what this game was going to be like. The opening credits came on the screen and I started the game...
Appearance No complaints here. Final Fantasy X has some of the most luscious graphics to ever grace the Playstation 2. I was astounded by some of the CG scenes and most of the time, I had my jaw dropping in awe. The non CG scenes were just as pretty too, full of colors and brightness. I was really impressed with all of the work Squaresoft did to make this game so nice looking, which is a BIG plus. The characters are so full of life, and the water looks so crisp and clear. There were a couple of slowdown spots contained in the game but that's unavoidable for a game of this multitude. |
9.5 |
Story This is the aspect Final Fantasy is known for. The story. Players will not be disappointed with this story. I laughed, I was sad, I was happy, I was disappointed, I was everything. Without giving too much away, Final Fantasy X is about a boy by the name of Tidus. He plays a sport called Blitzball which is the sport of choice. An evil force known by Sin, is terrorizing cities and towns and Tidus is there to stop it, with the help of Yuna who is a summoner. What journey awaits these young heros? You'll have to play to find out. I was really impressed with the story contained in Final Fantasy X. A couple of times I found the story to be very slow, sometimes lifeless, but that all pays off with the amazing ending. Good stuff. |
9.0 |
Music There is very good sound quality in the game. The voices of each character are very nicely done, and they are all clear and fluid. There was very good expression used, but I sometimes found Tidus to sound like a baby which kind of turned me off of him, but that's just a minor flaw. The in-game sounds are very good too. Birds heard off in the distance, waves crashing against the sand - it just sounds so nice. Squaresoft can always improve their sound, but I was happy enough with the sound contained in the game. Kudos to Squaresoft for making excellent character voices, especially the sound of Wakka, whom I was very impressed with. |
8.5 |
Gameplay Final Fantasy X has a "Conditional Turn Based" battle system, which is very nice. Basically, you don't have the time slot which tells you that you have the option of attacking or defending against the enemy. This is a refreshing change, but I really thought some of the battles were cluttered. It's a personal preference if you would like the ATB system - any Final Fantasy fan will feel warm, but cautious while playing. Another new addition Squaresoft has done is the "Sphere Grid" system which brings a whole new form of strategy into the game. You want Wakka to be a healer? You got it. You want Tidus to be a powerhouse? You got it. The Sphere Grid system lets you customize your characters which is a really nice addition. People new to the Sphere Grid will have some trouble in getting used to it, as I did. Otherwise, the Sphere Grid is the best new addition to the Final Fantasy series. I really enjoyed the gameplay in Final Fantasy X, but some old school gamers may not feel totally comfortable with the new features. The only thing that was really disappointing was the fact that Squaresoft didn't include the rotating camera, which would of been a REALLY nice feature for the game. I didn't have much problems with the camera but a couple of times I got ticked off. |
8.5 |
Overall I was very impressed with this game. I thought the new gameplay features were very satisfying and the story was captivating, setting a new stage in the Final Fantasy series. I was let down with the Blitzball mini game but there is still a degree of fun that goes along with it. Any Final Fantasy fan will love this game and even most newcomers will like this game, but there is a steep learning curve, especially with the Sphere Grid System which is sure to confuse you quite a bit while playing this amazing game. |
8.8 |