Final Fantasy X-2 (PlayStation 2) Review

Final Fantasy has typically been very linear and rarely allows for any actual role-playing. As Yuna in Final Fantasy X-2, players can make the choices she would be given that would affect the plot and would take the story in radical directions. This was also the first time a Final Fantasy had New Game Plus, which only increased replay value and would encourage users to explore the alternate story paths, leading to six endings. It is a huge shame that Final Fantasy X-2 is one of two entries in the franchise that made such a committed attempt to give players so much choice and options for role-playing.

Final Fantasy X-2 was not only a very robust adventure that manages to explore both sides of conflicting factions, but it also gives Yuna a huge amount of growth as a character. Most people wrongfully assume that this game was pure fan service (it did have its share), but giving it a fair look will find that this entry has some of the more nuanced character writing for a protagonist.

Yuna began as a reserved naïve girl who was almost like a nun and a bit of a doormat... Then grew into a sky pirate and had the most beautiful scenes to ever depict a moment of self-realization and how full of regret she is, just because people died for her when she was a summoner. They are by far the most poignant scenes in the franchise as a whole, and ranks as one of the most tear-jerking finales in a Final Fantasy. This was one of the few entries that bothered to have a shade of grey and not to depict the antagonists as complete monsters, and the fact that the gameplay allows Yuna to explore the multiple facets only enriches the experience.

The job system from previous Final Fantasy games is back, and in a big way, since now characters can basically choose a loadout of specific jobs to take with them into battle. As far as strategy goes, Final Fantasy X-2 has it in spades and holds up well today. Sure, some people may be put off by the sensual, Sailor Moon-like transformations, but it is all in good fun! The actual balancing and amount of planning users have to put into the battles in this game are some of the best the entire franchise has ever had. Since the party was now able to switch job classes on the fly, encounters would become more varied, and gameplay was just much smoother than what was seen before in other Final Fantasy games with job class systems. Combat was so much more flexible than it had ever been.

FFX-2 is an entry in the series to be adored, but it does carry some issues as a result of being made up of assets from its predecessor, such as how the world and environments are disjointed between load screens. Paine is also worthless as a character, where it is painfully obvious that she is a Lulu understudy, and the method for achieving 100% completion is downright cruel.