My Gamer Perspective on Final Fantasy X-2
A cross between Sailor Moon, Charlie's Angels, and Pokémon.
"You want a Final Fantasy? Close your eyes and imagine yourself flying across a freakin' video store 'cause that's what's about to happen." - Charlie Harper, Two and a Half Men
If, like me, you've never played a Final Fantasy game before, and are looking for a shorter, easier, and less complex entry point into the series, look no further than 2003's Final Fantasy X-2, originally released on the PlayStation 2 and now available on all modern consoles via the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster (review based on the Switch port). In what I'd describe as a cross between Sailor Moon, Charlie's Angels, and Pokémon, Final Fantasy X-2 is a lighthearted role-playing video game (RPG) that follows the wacky misadventures of Yuna, Rikku, and Paine, a trio of teenaged treasure hunters, who journey across their steampunk-inspired fantasy world aboard a giant airship. This aerial mode of transportation allows the girls, and by extension the player, to freely choose their destinations from the get-go, a la Mega Man or DuckTales. However, be warned that this deviation from the linearity of most other RPGs could be a double-edged sword, as the road not taken may result in permanently missable content.
Another deviation from the established RPG formula is the exclusion of recruitable travelling companions with unique abilities, such as wizards and warriors. Yuna, Rikku, and Paine prefer travelling alone, but just because wizards and warriors aren't invited to the party doesn't mean their powers can't join in the fun. The girls seek out a plethora of flamboyant clothing that imbues them with the same unique abilities as wizards and warriors, as well as thieves, knights, theme park mascots, and even the personification of Luck, herself. At any point during battle, the girls can magically change their clothes by undergoing cool Sailor Moon-style transformation sequences that bestow them with all sorts of "fabulous secret powers", as He-Man would say.
ProTip: Sometimes, the clothes really do make the person. For example, transforming Yuna, here, into the Thief allows her to steal health, money, and items from enemies; while transforming her into Lady Luck doubles the amount of experience points, money, and items she receives from winning battles. Pretty cool, huh?
Speaking of battles, Final Fantasy X-2's combat system is yet another deviation from traditional turn-based RPG mechanics, as Yuna, Rikku, Paine, and their adversaries can continually attack each other, even when it normally wouldn't be their turn to do so. This makes battles exciting or nerve-wracking, depending on who's on the offensive. Unfortunately, some enemies and bosses can instantly nuke all three girls in one shot, regardless of their clothes, accessories, stats, health, or level, with cheap and unavoidable one-hit kills or near-fatal attacks that leave them "knock-knock-knocking on Heaven's door", as Bob Dylan would put it. Imagine having a level 100 Blastoise in Pokémon that can be instantly nuked in the outskirts of Pallet Town by a level 1 Pidgey with an extremely cheap nuclear blast attack and you get the idea. Speaking of which, Final Fantasy X-2 allows you to catch lots of Pokém--...err, "creatures", that can then fight in an arena or alongside/in place of the girls, depending on the creature's size.
ProTip: If you're struggling against bullies with cheap instakill attacks, catch and sic an Adamantortoise on 'em. This tough tortoise is built like a tank and makes mincemeat of those cheaters. Cowabunga!
In terms of audiovisual quality, the game's PlayStation 2-era graphics are now a bit dated, as to be expected with early 3D video games. The voice acting is akin to what you'll hear in any English-dubbed anime production, and the frequent banter between the girls is quite funny. The musical score fits the mood of the current location or situation, running the gamut from cheerful to goofy or sombre, and anything else. The game's fixed camera angles are reminiscent of the original Resident Evil titles from the 1990s. While this provides a cinematic flourish to the gameplay, such angles only really work when paired with tank-controls, which ensure your character always moves in the desired direction (e.g. pressing up on the D-pad or analog stick always moves the character forward, regardless of viewpoint). As Final Fantasy X-2 lacks the precision of tank-controls, moving Yuna around the environments becomes disorienting whenever the viewpoint shifts, as she'll return the way she came if you fail to readjust the direction of the analog stick.
So, despite having a few flaws, Final Fantasy X-2 remains an enjoyable and accessible introduction to the world of Final Fantasy and/or turn-based RPGs in general. The three protagonists, Yuna, Rikku, and Paine, are equal parts cool, badass, and funny. The game's learning curve, length, and difficulty aren't overly complex. Seeking out the girls' various clothes and experiencing their powers is highly addictive. In closing, I would certainly recommend Final Fantasy X-2. Thanks for reading and Happy New Year! It feels great to finally be producing new content again! Do you have any thoughts on this post? If so, feel free to reach out by leaving a comment, dropping me a line, or signing my guestbook to share your opinions on this or any other topic. Also, feel free to press the "like" button if you enjoyed this post, as "likes" help me gauge audience interest in the content I post. After all, I don't want to bore anyone, ha-ha. Until next time, love, peace, and chicken grease!
Posted in "Nerd Alert" on Friday, January 3, 2025.