WK Plays FFX

[Wolf Kanno]

Update Time!

A lot to cover because I'm on my way to Mt. Gagazet but detouring a bit to collect monsters, levels, and screw around on the Calm Lands. I will say, we've pretty much hit the point where FFX pretty much loses me on the story front. Like there are some neat ideas here, but some of the execution just doesn't do it for me. On the other hand, I can see more clearly now how this game was the brainchild of the same team that worked on FFVIII as the summon system especially feels like an evolution of the Guardian Forces. I can also say that the jump to the Calm Lands from the rest of the game's linear nature works better than FFXIII.


Pros:

• I find it hilarious that Rikku has you follow her through Bikanel's desert despite it not being difficult to figure out where Home is from using the mini-map.
• I remembered to get the Al Bhed Book in Bevelle, so I won't be locked out of learning the whole language. Though I do feel it's weird this game let's you transfer this data to a new file but there is no NG+.
• Though it having to be spelled out to you is not my style, I do like the Spiral of Death theme and the revelations about Maester Mika. I am curious to know what Mika's lingering attachment to the world was?
• I have to laugh now because Tidus and Yuna's water makeout sessions is basically the modern equivalent to Maduin and Madonna getting it on in FFVI. Made funnier when it's heavily implied Kimarhi watched, the cheeky devil.
• I will give credit where credit is due, I will commend the team for doing a great job selling me Tidus and Yuna's love story. It will be interesting to compare to Zidane X Garnet and Squall X Rinoa because I know a lot of fans like to argue which one of these is the best.
• I managed to get Tidus' Sun Sigil in Chocobo Catcher!
• I also got my Cloudy Mirror and turned it into the Celestial Mirror, then backtracked to pick up Kimarhi's Celestial Weapon. I also picked up Yuna and Tidus, but I won't have all the pieces to unlock anything until after Zanarkand.
• YOJIMBO!!!!
• Nice to give Lulu some more backstory. I think it's interesting that she has more of a real backstory than say Wakka and Rikku. I wished the game explored Lulu's backstory a bit more, but beggars can't be choosers.
• Tonberry's and Malboros Oh MY!
• Triple Foul is such a game breaker for Wakka.
• Finally got my -aga spells, and while they are tame in design compared to earlier installments, I still feel accomplished.
• We have officially reached the point in the game where the devs finally kick the difficulty level. Enemies are spamming so much instant death magic and multiple debilitating status effects you would think we were playing FFI or III.

Cons:

• For the life of me, I feel like the devs switches Yuna and Lulu's Sphere Grids in all versions. Yuna get ways more Magic boosts, despite being a White Mage, while Lulu gets all the defensive Magic Defense and Evasion nodes. I really feel like this should be reversed because Lulu just feels underpowered for a Black Mage. Not helped that her Overdrive is useless.
• I know the revelation for Tidus about the true finale of the Pilgrimage is supposed to be a big bombshell revelation, but I find this scene funny, because I felt the game telegraphed this so hard. So for me, the scene sort of just shows how much of a cluless dolt Tidus is while simultaneously kind of making the rest of the party look like jerks. Speaking of...
• I find it amusing that people call out Citan from Xenogears for being a jackass who knows way more than he's telling and just purposely letting the cast stumble into the truth, yet no one calls out Auron for the same bulltrout.
• The whole wedding sequence is pure cringe for me. Like I know part of this is supposed to be a power moment for Yuna, but I honestly think her scene questioning the Maesters was more powerful for her character. It just felt a bit contrived and why I've heard some fans loving the scene where she jumps and summons Valefore, I really don't count this scene as a highlight for her.
• Yuna, bro killed his own father, which is how this whole mess got started. What made you think he would keep his word?
• The dungeons in Bevelle are terrible in terms of making you believe anyone would actually die here. Yuna's dungeon is a few twisty rooms, but you can essentially just walk out of it. Meanwhile, Tidus' dungeon is only a threat because a fiend version of the dragon you killed shows up. I mean even realistically, Yuna is goddamn summoner, she could just summon Bahamut and bust her way out of Bevelle.
• I don't understand why Yuna doesn't try to send Seymour after our second battle with him? You beat him and then we just fade to black out and say we escaped Bevelle. Like I imagine they had to escape quickly, but you would think we would try to send him after the battle. I guess I was expecting a scene where she tries and then the Bevelle guards catch up and they have to flee.
• I don't really get why Seymour killed Kinoc, like I get the guy didn't trust him, but he's so power hungry, someone like Seymour should have find it easy to play him. Likewise, I don't understand why Maester Mika does trust Seymour? Not sure if it's just Unsent code of honor or what.
• I don't really understand why Yuna is so crucial to Seymour's plan. Much like a few other FF villains we'll get to eventually, I feel his obsession with her ultimately doomed his plan. This guy could have just as easily ditched her and teamed up with any other Summoner and likely completed his plan, especially once he becomes an Unsent. I mean his plan is dumb anyway up until Yuna and the party kill Yunalesca. Still, he could literally watch his end goal unfold by just enjoying his Unsent life as a Maester and keeping the system going.
• Chocobo Catcher is a bitch. In the end it really does come down to some RNG shenanigans.