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Final Fantasy X-2 - Travesty Or Welcome Change?
Thanks to GameSpot for their hands-on preview of the English-language Final Fantasy X-2, ahead of the RPG's release on PS2 in early December. Early buzz on the title was mixed for fans of the normally staid Final Fantasy series, when "...rejoicing changed to bewilderment as more information and assets appeared - assets that had Yuna kickin' it in a pair of hot pants and packin' a pair of pistols." But the article suggests that mixing things up may be a good idea after all: "While we thought Final Fantasy X-2 would end up being viewed as an aberration in the Final Fantasy franchise, we're not so sure anymore. The localized story stays true to a lot of the classic themes the Final Fantasy games are known for, silliness notwithstanding."
A lot of people had similar reactions when Final Fantasy 7 was released. Though 7 had much more groundbreaking additions to bring to the RPG scene, there were a lot of mixed reviews because it changed the formula that the series had held for several generations of products.
FFX-2 can be seen in a similar light, though I don't think anyone can argue it's brining anything new to the scene at all, in fact it has a good amount of backwards momentum for some existing Final Fantasy mechanics; the class change system existing in X-2 is severly crippled when compared to FF 5 or FF Tactics.
However this iteration just goes to show that Square does not fear change to their flagship product. Personaly I'm not going to touch this game with a 100-foot-pole, I think it's horrible as far as my tastes are concerned, but I have to give them respect for not falling into a repetitious churning of the "what works" formula(examples to this would be EASports and Disney entertainment), and continuing to experiment in the medium.
You have to have a lot of balls to display such extreme experimentation with your multi-million selling franchise as square has in recent years.
That's right, Bah! I say. They really didn't need to do X-2. One thing I've loved about the series, is in each incarnation, there's always something new/different to learn.
FF2 had a different way of increasing stats.
FF4 introduced summons
FF5 had the job system
FF6 had the equipping of Espers to learn magic
FF7 had materia and materia linking
FF8 had the equipping of certain items to learn certain spells
FF9 had a similar system, but introduced special abilities in to the mix as well.
FFX had the sphere system which was an interesting take on the job system
(I haven't played FF3 yet.) From what I understand FFX-2 uses near the same sphere system as before, and I can't help but feel the story is going to be a let down. After a big epic clash in FFX, it's gonna be real difficult for FFX-2 to live up to that.
Of course that's just my opinion, I could be right.
Square has always changed things for each FF game. They've always created good games. Some stories are weaker than others, but the gameplay's been rock solid.
One of the biggest complaints in FFX was how linear it was. It felt like watching a movie rather than playing a game. So in addition to the normal Square gameplay changes, they addressed this key complaint.
It's about as non-linear as it could be. Almost like it's a collection of side quests. The changes in jobs/classes may seem strange but Square's done well in the past with those changes so I'd expect it not to hurt the gameplay. It's been pretty successful in Japan so I'll have to pick it up and try it when it comes out here.
POLL: What was your favorite FF game of all time? And please be sure you mention which numbering system you are using ( for example FF3 US is FF6 JAP).
I would have to say my favorite is the one I just mentioned. FF3/6 may have been the easiest of the games, but it was still enjoyable. It pushed the SNES graphics at the time, and had an excellent story with memorable characters.
So, what do the rest of you think?
"To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit." -Stephen Hawking
The game's structure may initially appear to be much more linear than FFX, due to a pretty standard mission-based structure.
MORE linear? How?!
Attention deficit disorder is a complicated issue, spanning several major... HEY LET'S GO RIDE BIKES!
.. the more games made of this franchise, the more 'defined' the unwritten rules of making a Final Fantasy game becomes. I'm not up to speed with Square as of late (stopped watching around FF7), but I can tell you I'm not surprised at some of the concern over the game. It kind of reminds me of Enterprise. I frequent a site that's populated by Trek fans, and their biggest bitch about that whole show is... the theme song. "WTF are they thinking? The show is supposed to have an orchestrated song! Those idiots! I could make the show better simply by choosing a different song!" heh.
Oh well. It's to be expected.
I think that this whole "X-2" thing is a sellout. There was clamor from fans a little while back asking for a remake/direct sequel of FF7, at which time Square said they would NEVER do a remake/direct sequel of a Final Fantasy game (i.e. same story, etc).
However, then came the FF movie... and a HUGE loss for Square. They're still recovering. They must have said, "Hmmm, how can we make $$ from diehard fans?"
Anyway, any FF fan knows that it shoulda been FF7 that got the sequel.
Good points, all, neostorm. Although I'd suggest that for Square, Kingdom Hearts represented the about shift that you refer to, not FFX-2 (although, to be fair, I haven't played FFX-2)
Yes you have a good point with Kingdom Hearts. I didn't even bother to pick that game up because I had that exact impression of it. I don't know if it's entirely formulaic because I hear they did try to innovate in some departments (like the gummy ship and what-not), but the Token(tm) Game(R) Characters(tm) every five seconds kept me away.
I dont get this. Is this game meant to be the 12th final fantasy, or does the X-2 mean that its the second 10 game? If thats so doesnt it go against final fantasy tradition where each game is unrelated to the last? Unless you believe that 9 is a sequel to 1 of course
FFX already had the engine, models, structure, etc. ready on the same platform.
For an FF7 (or 8 or 9) sequel on the PS2, in order to get up to snuff quality-wise, they'd need to practically rewrite the entire thing - all the models/texturing would need to be redone, music possibly rescored, graphics engine rewritten (maybe not too bad if they could gut the FFX engine, but still).
Everyone who is supporting FFX-2 is saying 'They are trying something different. Kudos to them'. I couldnt disagree more.
Final Fantasy is the ridiculously popular franchise that it is because, for the longest time, it offered the best Fantasy themed adventures on any console. Square has, for the most part, continued this trend. Offering fairly mature story lines (at least to the teenage level), that have to some extent become a staple of the series. At least they have for me. So... why change *that*? I dont fear change from square. They did Kingdom hearts. that was experimenting with more child-themed games. I played kingdom hearts. It was fun. horrible horrible level design, but fun. They tried Xenogears, a more mature game, and my favorite RPG. Both these games did fairly well, and sequels are being made for both (officialy or otherwise). Square DOES try new things. But FFX2, hot pants and all, is kind of like Anthony Hopkins playing a starring role in a teen comedy. How many people would defend his urge to try new things?
There are, after all, only 11 Final Fantasy games. They are essentialy treated like thier own specific genre. Last I checked, most genres have a few thousand titles, and no one complains about how 'Dramas' are the same thing over and over.
Anyplace I can download this video without having to go through Gamespot's spyware?
They specifically mention FF5 and Tactics in the review, why did they think the characters putting on funky costumes is so strange? FF5 certainly had some very odd looks when certain characters equiped certain jobs, so it's not really anything new.
I'm glad that the review says that "new skills and abilities that can be earned and mastered," although I'm unsure how any skills you learn will be worked in given the "change job class on the fly" system. I'd really like to see a full fledged job class system in the mainline FF series again though.
This Space Intentionally Left Blank
Go rent Kingdom Hearts, or pick up a used copy. It's not formulaic at all. The familiar settings and characters help the game and add charm to a game that would have worked if cut from whole cloth and released as FF XI. The Gummy ship works like the airship in FF X2, and you can customize them with stuff you find or buy. The TGCs all work very well in the story. The cheese level is amazingly low. It's a fairly straightforward "kid from nowhere saves the universe and the girl" story, but not offensively so. Given the intensity the themes of despair, doubt and loneliness are presented with this is not a "kid game".
Adventuring with Donald and Goofy was actually pretty cool. And useful in combat, they're very good about hitting you with potions and saving your butt. The other characters you run into, some of whom you can bring into your party, are interesting. Well, Merlin and the Fairy Godmother got old fast, but the main story characters worked well. The Beast played in very well. And he kicks ass.
The original material in this is very good. The Heartless make a great enemy, there's enough whimsy in the character design that they aren't creepy, just scary 'cause you know their tough. The environments at the end stages are fantastic, rivaling or exceeding anything in FF X. The big bad boss you fight several times at the end bears a striking resemblance to Seymour. The stages of his transformation into progressively more dangerous forms is, however, executed much better. The sense that FF X was the rough draft of the design for KH is never more present than in how much more polished the Big Baddie is in KH.
Gameplay is just like FF X, except except for, well everything. KH plays like a 3D platformer, and a good one. Plus it has an RPG side that's nearly as deep as FFX. Most of the simplification is in the experience system, and in the fact that you only have one PC. It's an outstanding blend of RPG and platformer, in no way did it feel as if one element was tacked-on to the other.
I played KH before FF X (gonna defeat Sin this weekend !) and the renowned FF X looked much less sophisticated at first. The interaction with the environment in FF X just wasn't that great. Just walking around could be frustrating because there are places in the scene that look like you can jump up on easily, and they just aren't available. In KH you're fully in the environment, just as much as in Ratchet & Clank or Sly Cooper.
Puzzles are more varied in KH, which balances the more repetitive enemy selection. Boss battles in KH rule. Pretty much all the bosses are tough, and fun to beat. The Wicked Witch has a dragon form that is simply gorgeous. I walked into that fight with an odd spell selection loaded ("Stop" I consider to be a specialized spell). She looked at me with one head, open her mouth to breath fire, and I said "Stop !" *wham*wham*wham*. Put her down fast, taking very little damage. Others were brutal killing matches against enemiesI know I can beat, but can't pull off the timing the firs (several) tries.
Best of all, KH has no situations whatsoever in which you view a cutscene, return to gameplay and walk forward two steps to the next cutscene. Number two on my list of reasons to try it if you liked FF X is the ability to save anywhere. Except in between a series of three tough boss fights about 90% of the way through. What a pisser that was. I *knew* I was on the final track and could taste the end, but I had to break off and finish the Hades Cup to level my party just a bit.
Veteran, Bermuda Triangle Expeditionary Force, 1992-1951
That's a fantastic review. You write very objectively and well, so I may actually check this out. The thing that's kept me from doing so for so long, and what will probably (sadly) keep me from ever really liking this game, are the characters. I really just cannot see all the square characters in a game with all the Disney characters, *despite* how many times I hear how well they pulled it off. I hear that from a lot of people and I wouldn't put it past square to pull something that tricky off as well as they usually do. But I look at this game and from my perspective all I can see are Disney characters matched up with Square characters. The perfect mish-mash of franchises custom-tailored to rake in the dough.
I will try it out though because you make a fantastic argument, especially since I hate to put down games when I haven't even played them really, but I really can't get past that first part. It's my own problem, really, but I'm way to paranoid of feeling like a suckered consumer.
Either way, thanks for the great description!
Frankly, I don't see how this could be a bad thing (excluding the very real possibility that Square doesn't make funny games because nobody there has a sense of humor). Some of the best games you'll ever play are full of self-referential humor: Grand Theft Auto, Serious Sam, Super Mario Bros. (if you can't see all the drug references in that series you're deluding yourself), and pretty much every adventure game ever made by LucasArts.
Really, the game is just meant to be more fun and lighthearted than the previous games in the series. I don't know why this disturbs people. Bunch of angsty humorless teenagers, I guess.
Anything you might ever need to say about anything has already been said better by Penny Arcade.
They have a new system where you have to dress-up to get some special abilities and stats (seriously!). You have to change clothes in teh middle of the battle to exploit them, and some of the previews say that this makes it very tactical. So, it is not the same system
"There is no teacher but the enemy."-Mazer Rackham