Final Fantasy X-2 North American Preview

Majestic Mog writes "FiringSquad somehow managed to score an advance copy of the English version of Final Fantasy X-2, the first REAL sequel in the long-running RPG series. They cover changes in the game over the first FFX, the English voice actors, and something about girls wearing short shorts." It looks like they took the best of FFX and combined it with the best of DoA Volleyball. In other words, this might be the perfect video game. I just wish it would come out before december since I just finished KotoR and need a new game.

Comments

Dont like this trend

[stratjakt]

After X comes XI, not X 2.

You start doing sequels in Final Fantasy, you blow the whole thing. Now you have to worry about continuity and whether it fits in character and whatnot. Blah.

I liked new, completely independant stories. I like that they could completely revamp the game engine, completely change the concept of "magic spells" and whatnot... Truly produce a brand new game that could be enjoyed on its own.

I could play FF8 without playing FF7, it didnt make a difference.

Oh well, as long as the carcass hasnt completely rotted, that horse is going to get beaten.

Re:Dont like this trend

[alexmogil]

But this is really test, isn't it? I mean how many people have wanted to have Cloud, Sephiroth, Aerith, Cid, Cid, Squall, Cid, Cid, Cid or Cid in a game again (aside from Kindom Hearts... ick)?

Well, here's Square's offering to do just that with arguably some of the most popular characters in the franchise. Maybe they'll do this again, maybe they won't, but at least they're giving people the opportunity.

Re:Dont like this trend

[OblvnDrgn]

From what I've heard, there was a huge clamor for a sequel to FFX. So they made one. FF XI is still coming out in America.. eventually, and they're working on XII right now. XII is actually a proper FF too, none of this sequel or MMORPG business. It's not really changing anything, it's just making a couple extra games along the way.

Old news

[FzBravozF]

Gamespot and IGN both have had previews out for the US version of FFX-2 for weeks.

Not the first Square sequel period though...

[Zergwyn]

Though Square is best know for Final Fantasy, and I will admit a certain special fondness for FF6 in particular as it was the first realy RPG I ever played through and what got me hooked on the genre (for better or worse), they have made a lot of other terrific games as well. In particular, I am thinking of Chrono Trigger, which was one of the last games they came out with on the SNES and also one of the best. That one actually got a sequel, or perhaps a side story at any rate, called Chrono Cross for the Playstation. These games were both interesting, and especially Chrono Trigger at the time, because they did away with the whole 'Random Encounters on World Map' thing that virtually every other RPG I can think of up until that time had. This made it a lot more fun to just explore around, as there wasn't any annoyance or penalty for doing so.

I personally have mixed feelings about the latest, FFX. It certainly has fantastic graphics, and I have really found myself getting into it at times. I have had a bunch of fun in many pieces, which I guess is the ultimate test for any game. But, I personally find some of the voices somewhat gag inducing or just jarring to the experience at points. I know people complain about too much angst or whatever, but personally I kind of like having my main character be a bit of a bad-ass, someone who at least at first isn't super interested in running out and saving the world, who has emotional conflicts and doesn't have an easy time dealing with it. In FF7, for instance, I liked Cloud's opening attitude, though I may be one of the few if FFX fans are to be believed. And I really _liked_ the first opening city, which is where the game starts right off (not really a spoiler to talk about it, but stop reading if you don't want some suspense taken out of your first 5 minutes of the game). It is really cool looking and well designed, and, well, if I lived in a place like that and it, and all my friends, was blown up, I would be really f@&^!ng pissed. Instead, we get a quick "oh well, it's all good." *Shrug*. Harder to get into the a character (ie, to role-play, to feel and empathize with) who sounds just like a California surfer stereotype, and I certainly found myself rolling my eyes or thinking 'stop being such a whiny loser and get fighting already,' during some of the drawn out dialog. Given these things are on DVDs, would it kill them to include the original japanese sound track as well?

Re:Three words:

[syle]

Maybe instead of posting a kneejerk reaction, you could read the reviews of people who have played the US localized version of it. They're almost entirely reviewers who expected to hate it, but ended up being won over.

An excerpt from the GameSpy review: "Although I was greatly looking forward to Final Fantasy X-2, I held a certain amount of apprehension because of all the changes Square was making to the game. After playing it for a spell, I needn't have worried..."

Don't like them? How about an IGN review: "Caveats aside, if Final Fantasy X-2 can manage to provide the same action, drama, and depth in its final four chapters that it did in the first, RPG nuts shouldn't have much to worry about come December..."

Still not good enough? Maybe the Gamespot review: "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."

Really, calm down. After all, you haven't actually played the game. Are ALL the reviewers wrong?