Final Fantasy X, being the first Final Fantasy title on the PS2, was a big step forward for my RPG consumption as a kid. The game introduced a whole new tier of detail to its smooth-faced, androgynously pretty protagonists as well as the long-anticipated addition of voice acting. This was one of the first games that I played that took on voice acting on such a large scale, a milestone in the evolution of the series. On top of this, Final Fantasy X-2 was the first true sequel in the flagship series’ history, another milestone moment. Whislt this did unfortunately set the precedent for games like Lightning Returns to exist, X-2 itself was a fun, more lighthearted take on a story set AFTER the world’s great catastrophe was resolved. Given the historic nature of both these games, Square Enix felt it was a great time for us to revisit them both in Final Fantasy X|X-2 HD Remaster.
In addition, the remasters are based on the games’ International editions – in the case of Final Fantasy X this means very little difference for Australian players, as this was the version of the game released here originally. X-2’s International version is new to our region however, and adds extra dresspheres (or job classes) and the Creature Creator metagame. The latter allows players to recruit select NPCs and monsters to fight alongside their party, adding an extra dimension to the sequel’s fast-paced combat system. On top of all this the game also features Final Fantasy X‘s “Eternal Calm” (a cinematic cutscene that bridges the gap between the two games) and Final Fantasy X-2‘s “Last Mission” (an extra dungeon set after the main story, with unique gameplay mechanics) and an audio drama set after the events of X-2 that expands on the ongoing story of the world of Spira.
The transition to HD is not without its flaws. Certain issues carry over from the original games, such as clothing clipping through character models and slight mismatch when two characters are trying to interact with each other. Blitzball continues to be confusing, awkward and largely ridiculous. The more detailed face models bring the scenes to life much more effectively, but are occasionally negated by jarring character animations. The most obvious of these is the lack of a ‘transition’ animation between standing still and walking and running animations, meaning you’ll often see Tidus pivot on the spot and suddenly burst into a run during cutscenes. Whilst these are not deal breakers for the game as a whole, they do somewhat break the illusion cast by the game’s refined look.
The good
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The bad
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Final Fantasy X & X-2 Remaster was reviewed using a promotional code on PS Vita, as provided by the publisher. Click here to learn more about Stevivor’s scoring scale.
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