History of Final Fantasy: Wasted Potential (Final Fantasy X-2) - Article
by Taneli Palola , posted on 18 January 2017 / 13,468 Views
When Final Fantasy X came out on the PS2 in 2001 it became an immediate critical and commercial success, eventually becoming the 2nd best-selling title in the entire series. Up to that point in time direct sequels to Final Fantasy games didn't really happen. Every new game in the series was always its own creation, with a new set of characters, world, and story that were created as stand-alone experiences. However, this was about to change, and the massive success of FF X would fuel the idea of a direct sequel.
Still, it wasn't until Square released the warmly-received Eternal Calm cut scene sequel - which gave fans a glimpse of the world of Spira and Yuna's life two years after Sin's defeat - that a sequel was greenlit. As a result, Final Fantasy X-2 was born; it would feature the same world and many of the same characters first introduced in X, and so would effectively become the first direct video game sequel in the long-running franchise.
Dressing Up: Final Fantasy X-2
Final Fantasy X-2 began development in late 2001, following a strong fan reaction to the aforementioned Eternal Calm video which was included in the Japanese release of Final Fantasy X International. It quickly became a highly anticipated title among series fans, with many clamoring for an opportunity to go back to the world of Spira. However, X-2 didn't follow the style and atmosphere of the first game and instead was a much more light-hearted affair compared to the often gloomy and pessimistic Final Fantasy X.
This was an intentional decision by the development team, which wanted to create a game with a very different feel to its predecessor. As such, very little of Final Fantasy X's sorrowful atmosphere remains in X-2; it was replaced in large part by a distinctly upbeat and positive tone that permeates nearly every aspect of the game, from its story and characters, to its music and even the gameplay.
X-2's development team was significantly smaller than X's and this was made possible by the fact that the developers could make use of a lot of the original title's assets, including locations and character and enemy designs. The original game's engine was also reused in X-2's development. This all lent itself to X-2 having a much shorter development time than usual for a Final Fantasy game.
Still, quite a few of the people who had worked on the original game returned for the sequel, despite some of them having misgivings. Specifically and crucially, the writer of Final Fantasy X, Kazushige Nojima, was skeptical about developing X-2, as he felt it would go against the spirit of the original ending.
Yoshinori Kitase returned as producer, but his directing duties were taken over by Motomy Toriyama. The main characters were once again designed by Tetsuya Nomura. One notable person who did not return to the sequel was the original game's main composer, Nobuo Uematsu. Instead, the soundtrack was created by Noriko Matsueda and Takahito Eguchi, who had previously worked together on the games Racing Lagoon and The Bouncer.
The music has a very different style compared to X, where the title's Asian influences were immediately recognisable. X-2 in contrast takes a lot of its musical style from contemporary Japanese pop music, something that becomes clear pretty much from the moment the game begins. Naturally there are a number of other styles that feature in the soundtrack as well, but the J-pop influences can be heard throughout.
In terms of graphics Final Fantasy X-2 is pretty much on the same level as X, although some minor upgrades can be seen in character facial animations, for example. Stylistically it also looks very similar to its predecessor, although the new influences also make their presence clear, perhaps most notably in the designs of the three main characters.
Because the game takes place in the same world as Final Fantasy X, the team had to come up with new ways of differentiating this entry from its immediate predecessor. This effort can be seen in the new battle system, some of the redesigned towns, and the exclusion of summons as a battle element. In addition, the entire atmosphere of the game was intentionally intended as a stark contrast to the original game, with elements of J-pop and magical girl anime being integral to its style.
In terms of gameplay, the most notable change were the dressspheres, which are basically an updated version of the classic job systems found in FF III, V, and Tactics. Essentially, each character can start out with a specific character class, and throughout the game the player discovers more of them. Each dressphere gives access to a unique set of skills that the characters can use during battle.
In battle, character classes can be changed through the use of a garment grid, onto which the player can equip up to six different dresspheres, depending on the grid a character is using. The ability to switch classes during battle essentially replaces summons. They both generally provided the visual highlights in combat, and each character has a special dressphere that, when used, replaces the two other characters with controllable support units, similar to how the Aeons in FF X replaced the party when summoned.
The battle system also once again makes use of the ATB system, which had been replaced in FF X with a new battle system. The system was naturally updated, and was the fastest the series had seen up to this point. Together with the ability to chain together attacks to increase damage done to enemies, the battle system in X-2 is exceptionally fluid and well designed. It feels like a logical step forward for the traditional ATB system, providing the player with numerous hectic battles where the focus is on quick reactions and decision making.
Final Fantasy X-2 also differs from its prequel through the freedom it allows the player from the very beginning of the game. Almost every location is available for exploration almost immediately, explained in game by the characters having an airship of their own. It also introduces a few new elements to field exploration, such as the ability to jump at designated points.
The mini-games also return en masse, to an almost overwhelming degree at times. Blitzball is back, just worse than before. Sphere Break is the new main mini-game, although I could never really get into it. The rest of the mini-games mostly range from dull to annoying, with such “stand-outs” as monkey match-making and excavating in the desert.
Final Fantasy X-2's story picks up roughly two years after the original, with Sin been defeated for good and the Eternal Calm now giving the people of Spira some much needed peace. Of course, things can't stay perfect forever, otherwise we wouldn't have a game to play. After the fall of the Church of Yevon at the end of FF X, several new factions have risen up to try and fill the power vacuum left behind by Yevon's downfall.
The most notable of these are New Yevon, the Youth League, and the Machine Faction, each with their own goals and ways to achieve them. The game opens with New Yevon and the Youth League on the verge of open conflict, with Yuna being forced into the middle of the hostilities as both groups seek the support of the last High Summoner. Prompted by a discovery of a sphere containing a video of a man that looks just like Tidus, she instead decides to join one of the many sphere hunter groups with Rikku to find a way of bringing him back.
Numerous familiar characters from Final Fantasy X return in X-2, most notably Yuna and Rikku as the two of the three playable characters. In addition, Lulu, Wakka, and Kimahri take on roles as supporting characters, while numerous minor characters from X also return. New additions include Paine, the third main character, and Nooj, Baralai, and Gibbal, who each lead one of the three powerful factions in Spira.
Another new face is the leader of a rival sphere hunter group, Leblanc, and her two henchmen, Ormi and Logos, who serve as minor villains throughout. As was the case with FF X, all of the major characters are voiced, with most of the cast from the original returning to play the same parts.
The tonal shift between the two games can be seen in almost every single aspect of Final Fantasy X-2. The music, character designs and personalities, and many other elements which often had a quiet, almost reserved quality to them in FF X, are now much more upbeat and lighthearted. That's not to say there aren't darker moments in X-2, but due to the game's overall tone they tend to feel slightly out-of-place.
Final Fantasy X-2 released on March 13, 2003, in Japan, and within 12 months in the rest of the world, less than two years after the release of FF X. Although it wasn't as well received critically or commercially as its predecessor, it did still receive a lot of positive feedback at the time of release, and ultimately went on to sell over 5 million copies worldwide.
The Best Part
The battle system, without question. It's easily among the best in the entire series, and by far X-2's most enjoyable and well designed aspect. It's fast-paced, almost overwhelmingly so during some of the more challenging fights, and the dresspheres are to-date the best iteration of the classic job system, with the ability to change jobs on the fly during battle being one of the best ideas the series has ever featured.
If there's something to complain about regarding the battle system then it's the fact that Square has failed to make use of it in later games. Some elements of it have formed a part of the battle systems in subsequent games, but not in this specific form, which is a huge shame.
The Worst Part
The unfocused storyline. Following up on one of the best endings in series history meant this sequel had a lot to live up to, and unfortunately it wasn't able to do so. The game's open nature causes the main story to disappear beneath the countless pointless detours, and the new planet-destroying threat that replaces Sin comes out of nowhere and feels forced. The sad part is, there was a lot of potential in the story. The basic premise of X-2 is legitimately interesting, but unfortunately the game wastes most of this potential by focusing in large part on silly character antics.
Does Final Fantasy X-2 Still Hold Up?
As much as I'd like to say otherwise, no it doesn't. There are a lot of interesting ideas and concepts in X-2 which if handled slightly differently could have resulted in an excellent game, but alas it wasn't to be.
On the positive side of things, the battle system is excellent, and is something I would love to see return in another Final Fantasy title at some point. The job system has always been great, and this iteration of it is quite possibly the best it has ever been. It's a wonderfully fluid and fast-paced system that is a joy to play. If only the rest of the game was as good.
Visually it certainly holds up, although the improvements on Final Fantasy X were marginal at best. It isn't quite as strong in terms of visual design as its predecessor, as the mix of styles between the old look from X and the new elements introduced in X-2 don't always mix very well, but it still looks good, especially if you play the remastered version.
The soundtrack is a mixed affair to say the least. While there are some great pieces of music sprinkled here and there, for the most part the score ranges from the forgettable to the downright grating. At least the music fits the tone and nature of the game very well, but that doesn't exactly mean it's good. Uematsu's absence is very noticeable, and not in a positive way.
Apart from a handful of tracks I can never remember any of the music unless I'm actually playing the game. The score also features what I consider the worst vocal theme in the history of the franchise in “Real Emotion”, which plays during the opening cut scene. Fortunately, the other vocal theme, “1000 Words”, is vastly superior.
The story is another aspect that had a lot of potential that just never materialized. The idea of going back to a world that was already “saved” in the previous game is interesting, as is the concept of numerous different groups trying to fill the power vacuum now found in Spira. It shows that everything doesn't end up happily ever after just because the main villain is defeated and the marks of the 1000 years of Yevon's rule don't disappear overnight. There is an interesting story waiting to be told in there, but Final Fantasy X-2 just isn't able to deliver one.
Another problem the story has is its pacing, which suffers a lot due to the game's open nature. For long periods of time the main story gets lost in the shuffle as the player has near complete freedom to travel to any location in the world from the very start. Essentially, the story lacks a driving force to keep it moving forwards on a consistent basis. Instead it simply disappears for extended periods of time. This makes it very difficult to be invested in the crisis that is supposedly engulfing the world.
The characters are similarly flawed. Quite a few character elements, especially surrounding Yuna's change as a character, feel unnatural. I understand what they were going for, with Yuna wanting to enjoy her freedom after basically avoiding certain death in Final Fantasy X, but the change comes off as too sudden. Rikku is another character that becomes worse between games, as her sillier character traits are accentuated even further than they were in FF X, while those aspects of her character that made her still feel strong as a person, such as when she confronted Wakka about Yevon's teachings, are largely absent in the sequel.
Paine on the other hand comes off as a very stereotypical tough-girl archetype. She does have a fairly interesting backstory, but the game doesn't really show her grow as a person because most of her story arc is relegated to an optional side quest. The rest of the characters are hit and miss. Some are genuinely interesting and well written, while others end up feeling pointless or just plain annoying.
In many way these issues with the characters are very similar to the problems with the story; there are a lot of genuinely interesting details and elements that had the potential to deliver a number of interesting scenarios if handled correctly, but the game just never takes full advantage of them.
However, I must commend the voice actors, who do a very good job with the less than stellar material they were given to work with. All of them come across like they are trying their hardest to make the script sound natural and believable, and sometimes they even make it work.
Final Fantasy X-2 is a frustrating game to talk about. It has some genuinely excellent features, such as the battle system and the best version of the job system in the series thus far, but for everything that the game does really well there are several elements that fall far short of the bar set by its predecessor. To make things worse, there was also a vast amount of potential in the story and characters, but that potential was mostly wasted.
This is a case where the developers should have just let the story end with Final Fantasy X. The follow-up fails to live up to expectations on almost all accounts, with the battle system being the title's only real redeeming quality that can be argued as being better than the original. So, despite the excellent battle system, I cannot fully recommend the game. It has its moments here and there, but as a whole Final Fantasy X-2 just doesn't make for an engaging or even a fun experience.
I originally got the game when it came out on the PS2 in 2004 in Europe, but never actually finished it. It wasn't until the remastered version on PS3 that I finally completed it over ten years later. For comparison, I had absolutely no issues finishing Final Fantasy XIII or any of its sequels, but X-2 just lost me near the end, to the point that I had no desire to play it anymore.
The remastered version is readily available on multiple platforms, and comes bundled with the far superior original, so since you'll have X-2 then anyway, you might as well get through it. As a standalone title, I probably wouldn't recommend it.
Fun Fact
The official guidebooks to both Final Fantasy VII and X-2 suggest that the character of Shinra from X-2 has a connection to the Shinra Company from VII. It is stated that Shinra's research on the Farplane after the events of X-2 would ultimately lead to the technology used in VII to draw Mako energy from the planet.
Additional sources:
- Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega
- Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania
- Wikia
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I love FF X-2. It was a good game, different from some other sequels...
Final Fantasy X-2 should have been a fucking prequel where we played as Jecht, Braska and Auron. I have no idea why this wasn't even on the table. The Crisis Core of FFX. A legendary tale that we hear of but barely see. Instead we got this shit.
More like there should have been a Final Fantasy X-0. I like the idea but it's a bit unimaginative.
I can't even remember if I have finished it... I should have but my memory of the game is very vague to say the least. Another excellent article though, enjoyed reading it.
There were some nice concepts in here, it's a shame the j-pop style, cringe moments and a poor story hurt it. Great combat for an FF game, shame about the rest.
I remember being thrown off by the switch in tone in this game but once I tuned out the fact that I was playing dress-up with my characters I really got into the gameplay.
The battle system for me is the worst part, it's a chaotic mess, while I'm deciding what to do next people are beating each other up on screen
They just butchered the characters. Despite being two years older in the game, it's as it they've lost at least two years, probably more. They're ridiculously immature in the game, to an extent where it's just not believable at all. This is also reflected in some story elements (an awkward singing scene says hello!).
It's not exactly a great game otherwise either, but the characters really killed it for me. I have no idea how anyone could greenlight the idea.
Still remember playing the game, and i still know that the beginning of story starts very interesting (seeing tidus in the video) but sadly i can't say it for the whole game
Final Fantasy X-2 should have been a fucking prequel where we played as Jecht, Braska and Auron. I have no idea why this wasn't even on the table. The Crisis Core of FFX. A legendary tale that we hear of but barely see. Instead we got this shit.
My mothers neighbour is working part time and averaging $9000 a month. I'm a single mum and just got my first paycheck for $6546! I still can't believe it. I tried it out cause I got really desperate and now I couldn't be happier. Heres what I do,
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