Fainaru fantajî X

In a line of distinguished video games such as Final Fantasythere are bound to be games that set a new standard for the series. Final Fantasy X does just thatbecoming possibly the best game in the series since Final Fantasy VI.

Final Fantasy X brings the game series into a lot of new territory. It being the first FF game for the Playstation 2 consolethe graphics are even more incredible than those in any game before it. It's also the first game in the series to use spoken dialogue. Each of the main characters has a distinctive voice. While the acting isn't top notchit's easy to listen to most of the time and the voices fit the characters well. For a first attemptSquare did a fantastic job.

Changes to the way the game works came as well. Rather than a normal leveling systemin which characters become stronger in every category by gaining X amount of experience pointsthe stats of each character are improved through use of the new Sphere Grid system. Characters earn points to move around the grid and use spheres to activate pointsallowing them to boost individual statisticssuch as maximum hit points or magic defenseas well as learn new spells and abilities.

The player also has the option to switch characters in and out of battle at will. A welcome additionnow every character can get in on a fight and gain points to use on the Sphere Grid.

Last but not leastthe storyline of Final Fantasy X is wonderful. The characters have definite personalityand the protagonistTidusis a great character. Unlike past Final Fantasy heroes like Squall and CloudTidus isn't a broodingstoic person lacking in the emotional department. He's outgoingadventuroushumorous and has a full range of emotionsmaking him feel more like the average guy rather than yet another tragic hero.

In shortFinal Fantasy X is an excellent game and shouldn't be missed. Even if you've never played a role playing game beforeit's easy to pick up and learn. Years from nowfans of the series will have many fond memories of this game.

When it comes to franchises I'm a bit of a what would be known as "Fanboy" when it comes to Final Fantasy. I grew up with them and therefore I have a real soft spot for them.

Make no mistake that is not me saying that they're all flawlessor even good for that matter but they do have that magic and that charm I can't dispute.

Final Fantasy 10 following 78 and 9 had huge boots to fill but it not only filled them but knocked the bootsthe foot and the entire damn leg right out of the park.

It tells the story of young Tidusa Blitzball player who during a horrific attack on his home city of Zanarkand by a mysterious creature bumps into an old friend of his long absent father. Before he knows it he has been transported elsewheresafe but confused about what had taken place. This begins the most epic adventure I have ever been fortunate enough to be a part of.

Final Fantasy X IS a flawless gamefrom the visualscut scenesoutstanding scoreexcellent voice actingcombat systems and story this is the pinnacle of RPG's and remains my favourite game of all time even 17yrs after its release.

This is one of those titles I could rant about at lengthI truly adore it. So many memorable momentsa heartbreaking finalean addictive side game and SO much to it's credit.

I'll resist the urge to fawn over FFX anymore and merely say that for me it had never been betterhas never been better and I can't wait until something beats it because that'll have to be something out of this world.

Flawlessmasterpiece.

The Good:

Incredible story

Looks amazing especially the cutscenes

Wonderful score

Solid voice acting

The Bad:

Blitzball could have been a tad better

Things I Learnt From This Game:

I can fall in love with a video game character

It just doesn't get any better than this

In Spirahugging a living cactus is perfectly normal

Final Fantasyconsidered by many to be the greatest video game RPG series everhell even having been one of the first and defining onesmakes the jump to the Playstation 2 with it's God-Knows-How-Many bits of power. Video game RPGs were once known for sacrificing graphics in favor of a lenghtly story and intricate combat system; howeverthe final fantasy series has been gradually defeating that steriotype with each new game. And nowthe tenth installment of the series succeeds in creating a long and engrossing gameplay experience while producing some of the finest graphics seen to-date. Not only thatbut the design of these graphics are nothing short of beautiful (Although at times in odd taste. I meanjust look at Tidus' outfit!)

Graphics asideFinal Fantasy X dwelves into new territory previously unseen in any FF game: Voice acting! While this may frighten puristsyou will be glad to hear that the voice acting in this game is very good for the most part. The principal characters are all handled quite proffessionalyespecially Wakkaas performed by John Di Maggio.

The story of final fantasy is also quite complex and engrossingas Tidusthe cheery Blitzball player of the futuristic fantasy land of Zanarkand is transported a thousand years into the future by an entity called "Sin." He finds himself in a quasi-medieval world of Spirawhere machinery is outlawed by the religion of Yevonand the land is ravaged by Sin as a punishment for mankind's missdeeds of the past. The only means of defeating Sin is for a Summonera person who can summon montrous spirits of the dead called "Aeons"to embark on a pilgrimage to the ruins of Zanarkand to receive the "Final Aeon". With the Final Aeona summoner can defeat Sin and Spira will be at peace for a few years before Sin rises again. Wanting to see his homeland of ZanarkandTidus joins Summoner Yunathe daughter of a summoner who defeated Sin ten years agoalong with her guardians to defeat Sin. Howeveras Tidus travels forthhe discovers that there is much more to SpiraZanarkandYevonSin and even his own purpose for being there than he initially finds.

Gameplay-wiseit's roughly the same menu battle system as in previous gamesexcept that a chart shows you who's turn it's going to be next and the others after that. (Of coursedepending on the choices in battlethat chart could mutateso it's not too simple or easy.) Leveling up is also much different than in previous games. In battlecharacters earn "AP" which gives them "Moves" on the sphere grid. The Shere grid is like a board game. As a character moves alonghe can activate "nodes"which boost different abilitiesusing spheres earned in battle.

OverallFinal Fantasy X is a big change from previous FF gameswhile also retaining familiar aspects enough to be a FF game. In spite of the changesor perhaps even because of themFFX is probably the best RPG available on the PS2 at the momentand will follow the suit of previous FF games as "Classics."

Probably half of the people complaining here never made it past the first ten hourswhich areundoubtedlyas slow as can be. Out of that ten hoursit feels like you fight ridiculously easy battles for maybe an hour of itwalk for two hours of itand sit through cinematics for the other seven hours. I don't know if that is completely accuratebut that is what it feels like.

But if you can survive past thatthe game becomes more engrossing. The game doesn't stop as often and you fight far more regularly. You have tootherwise you won't be powerful enough to move forward. I don't know why people complain about the Sphere Grid. Sureyou may no longer have hit pointsbut the Sphere Grid has its own unique challenges. And the weapons and armor? Againit is no longer as easy as to look at your menu and see numbers rise just to know that your weapons / armor are better. You are just forced to plan better.

All in allI would not complain at all about this gameexcept for that very tedious first 10 hoursbutconsidering it took me 60 hours to finish the game--including the main quest and all side quests--you definitely won't feel like your experience is cut shortas a result.

Final Fantasy is easily one of the most celebrated game franchises in historyand the way Square Enix develop their games are almost suspiciously in the order of story first and game play second. To meFinal Fantasywhat I've played of it that ishas always had a staple of story telling that severely lacked in many of the video games I have played beforeand I think it has a lot to do with the fact that the creators of these games are telling stories about peoplerather than caricatures.

Final Fantasy X was my introduction to the seriesand it was an experience that has stuck with me since the day it was released. I have played and beat the game a bit over 10 times through out my years of gamingand it remains my top favorite game after all of these years. The success of this gamehoweverwas not in the way it playedbut in the way it played out. My addiction came from my love for the charactersand my ability to empathize with them. The love story between Yuna and Tidusfor video game characterswas true to the point of physical pain. These two characters were more than just creations for entertainmentbut they were livingbreathing human beings.

This holds true for every single character through out the game. Here we have seven characters spread outand nearly three days (collectively) to discover who they areand discover their passion. This is made possible through the way the story is toldand how relevant the story is in actual life. By utilizing actions familiar through organizations like churches and corporationsit is easier to see the manipulation of these charactersand it is easy to find common ground with them. As a citizen of the worldit is easy to identify with these characters.

Stillthere is something else about this game that got to meand that was it's relentless political commentary. It didn't take issue with a specific church (though Roman Catholicism is most certainly an inspiration) but more took issue with Organized Religion itself. The Church of Yevon is nothing less than an empire run by a handful of crooks and fear mongers. Even these characters we can identify with because we recognize them in our churches and our governments. We recognize the fact that they know they have power and are able to use the vulnerability of their believers to keep the population under control.

It shows bigotry practiced through the churchall of which our heroes become subjected to. Rikku being the prime example of constant persecution by Wakka. Rikkuan Al-Bheddoes not believe in the churchand actually represents a small population that stretches across the world of non-religious believers. Wakka is a devout Yevon(ite?) and can not find common ground with those who act against the beliefs of the church. He uses words like 'traitor' and 'heathen' to describe the Al-Bhedalmost in the same way a Christian might describe a homosexualor a Scientologist might describe a Suppressive Person.

Through the actions of these characterswe discover that there is so much more than what meets the eyeand through thoughtful speculation we discover that Final Fantasy X is muchmuch more than a mere video gameand much more than an artful masterpiece. Final Fantasy X is an observation on the fundamental insanity of the human race. It is an observation on how we let our superstitions and beliefs allow us to be controlledand what dangers are most imminent when we allow ourselves to be subjected to submission.

All in allthis game is a must-play. It is easily the most thoughtful and introspective game I have ever playedand it remains to this day the most daring commentary on human nature ever seen in a piece of artlet alone a video game. If not? Look at the movies you watch or the books you read that are made for entertainment? How many of them are willing to look an enormous part of the human collective and say 'you are wrong?'

There are some ... but not many. This game is one of the select few that dares.