IN DEFENCE OF FINAL FANTASY X-2
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inal Fantasy X-2 has been much maligned since its release in 2003. Despite decent scores from critics, the fan community has largely turned its back on the series’ first direct sequel, a return to the world of Spira after Sin was defeated. Was it just a bit too ‘Charlie’s Angels’? Or was it a glorious return to one of FF’s most inspired worlds? One point that cannot be contested is that FFX2 has one of the best battle systems the series has to offer. There’s frantic turn based action mixed in with the best representation of the job system I’ve encountered so far. Being able to change to almost any job in the game as long as it’s on your garment grid makes for a lot of fun, but mastering one takes a lot of dedication. Given the fast paced nature of the storyline, and fewer party characters, it was an inspired and necessary decision to speed up battles from FFX’s slower paced combat. The range of jobs was amazing too – inspired both by modern and traditional Japanese culture, it was perfect for the Japanophile in all of us. Granted, the costumes were a little on the racy side, but suited Japanese cosplay culture to a tee. The gameplay is usually accepted as great, but the story often gets trashed by fans. All the main protagonists are girls? The main plot has a singer and her lost love as its impetus? And, uh... politics? I know - it sounds rough. But these are all things that make FFX2 great! Lenne and Shuyin’s tragic love story is utterly moving, mirroring Yuna’s own perfectly. Seeing Yuna overcome her sorrow to take charge and fight Shuyin’s despair, giving a concert on top of the airship, is one of the most powerful moments in the entire series.
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Originally Released: March 13 2003 Available On: PS2 Key Staff: Motomu Toriyama, Yoshinori Kitase, Tetsuya Nomura, Shintaro Takai, Kazushige Nojima, Daisuke Watanabe, Noriko Matsueda, Takahito Eguchi Article by: Robyn Hardman