Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster - Reviews

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23.6.2016

This collection features two games both previously released on the playstation 2, Final Fantasy X originally released in the UK in 2002 and it's sequel Final Fantasy X-2 which was originally released in 2004. These games have been remastered with improved visuals at a higher resolution and full trophy support for both titles. In addition the majority of Final Fantasy X's music has been rearranged and both versions of the games are the international versions. (For the UK it means we get an additional gameplay mode for FFX-2 called Last Mission as well as some mini games for it).Collection contents:FFXFFX: The Eternal CalmFFX-2FFX-2: The Last MissionHere's my breakdown of both games:Final Fantasy X.Square Soft's (Now Square Enix)first Final Fantasy game on the Playstation 2, the first game in the series to be full 3D with no prerendered back drops and also the first game in the series to use voice acting. Though a little linear and with occasional awkward dialogue Final Fantasy X is an otherwise gorgeous and engrossing game.The lead character is a man named Tidus, he is a star blitzball player for a team called the Zanarkand Abes. One day after a game the city of Zanarkand is attacked by a city sized monster called Sin, Tidus is drawn into it during it's attack and wakes up to a world he does not recognise. Lost and extremely confused Tidus ends up helping a local summoner called Yuna and her guardians on their pillgrimage to defeat Sin while trying to find his way home. It's quite a nice little story with some really nice emotional payoffs as the narrative unfolds.Where Final Fantasy X shines though is the gameplay. It's a traditional turn based Japanese role playing game so as you travel from place to place you will get into random battles. During each battle you can use three characters to fight with, but, and this is what makes FFX stand out, you can swap any of them out with the other four characters on their turn meaning you can change tactics depending on what enemies you face. This is especially important early on in the game as certain enemies are weaker to certain attacks such as magic or piercing weapons etc so taking advantage of this will help you through battles as each character specialises in certain things at first. As you level up from fighting monsters your characters gain higher stats and new skills using a large sphere grid. Each character starts on a different part of the board and by leveling up you can travel around it unlocking new spheres with the upgrades. Eventually if you unlock the whole board every character will have equal stats and skills but that takes quite a long time.The graphics to Final Fantasy X still look really superb, colourful and detailed. The new resolution and enhancements make everything seem really crisp visually and for such an old game it really holds up against some modern releases surprisingly. The voice acting was always something that impressed me originally and it's still pretty solid going back to it, there are some cringe inducing moments here and there (Tidus's laugh, i'm looking at you) but all in all the values are still impressive. The big difference between the original and the remastered release production wise is the music. While exactly the same tracks they have been rearranged with fresh versions and slight differences. I have seen mixed opinions on this but I thought the new versions of the tracks were excellent and Final Fantasy X always had good music anyway.Depending on how you play Final Fantasy X can take between 30-60 hours. It's a very linear game where you go from place to place however there are a lot of minigames, hidden collectables and things to do anyway. If you are going for the platinum trophy you have to do almost everything including all Dark Aeon hidden boss fights so you are looking at over 100 hours.In addition this collection also has a very short epilogue movie called The Eternal Calm. It doesn't add a lot but it's certainly worth the watch if you're a fan of the game.Final Fantasy X-2Final Fantasy X-2 was the first ever direct sequel to a Final Fantasy game. It's generally got pretty mixed feedback. I personally really enjoyed it due to it's excellent battle system and upbeat music. It's not without flaws though as it has very few new areas, pretty much the entire game is in the exact same locations as X and you visit them multiple times. It's also unbearabley cheesey at times, like vomit inducing, but if you can ignore that then you should very much enjoy FF X-2.Final Fantasy X-2 takes place after Final Fantasy X but this time focuses on Yuna. No longer a summoner Yuna has joined with her cousin Rikku and another woman named Paine in a group called the Gullwings. They are sphere hunters, they look for ancient spheres to try and unlock Spira's past and are rivals with the Leblanc Syndicate, another sphere hunting faction. The tone of the second game is a lot different to the fist, a lot more upbeat though it certainly can have emotional moments as Yuna tries to find herself.The battle and level system has been completely overhauled from Final Fantasy X. The battle system is based on some of the older games in the series that had a job system. Each character uses "dresses" which totally change how the characters fight and how they look. Change into a warrior dress sphere, hit things hard, change from that into a white mage and you can heal. Each character gains experience with each dress unlocking new attacks and abilities as they use them more and can be changed on the fly so some fights are surprisingly tactical. It's a great system with a good dozen dresses to get, some of which are quite well hidden and possible to miss. As this is the international version, Yuna Rikku and Paine are no longer the only characters you can use as you can capture fiends as well as some other NPC characters who you can then use in battle should you wish. (Not something I really dabbled in).The game plays over several chapters where the Gullwings will keep revisiting the same areas on missions and seeing cutscenes showing how much Spira has changed. Each action you do increases the percentage bar of the game. Reach 100 % and there is a chance for the true ending but it is very hard to do. Much like X this game is a good 30 hours with over 100 if you are going for all the trophies (took me 116).The music to FFX-2 takes an almost Jazz type beat to it during battles and scenes, it has some poignant moments though, I especially love the song played on the title screen Eternity: Memory of Lightwaves. A fantastic piano piece. To my knowledge, X-2's music has not been rearranged and is identical to it's original release. The visuals are much the same as X's, colourful, crisp and brought up to more modern standards.The biggest addition though to this version is "The Last Mission". It takes place three months after the end of FFX-2 (It also assumes I might add that you got the 100% ending, I have warned you) This is a completely new game in itself and is a grid based roguelike where you pick between Yuna, Rikku and Paine and explore an 80 floor tower. This is, imo, really quite hard. You start off with just one dress spehere and have to explore each floor for more as well as items. Dress spheres have their own hit points and act as shields for your health, if they break, you lose them completely (though they can be found again.) As you progress, you can combine spheres of the same type to increase their hit points. Depending on which combination of spheres you equip, you get different skills and abilities which make a big difference because if you die, you go back to the start.It's a really challenging mode at first though once you experiment with spheres and abilities you can find strong set ups to progress. It took me a good 15 hours to finish though. It was fun and added some insight to the girls lives after FFX-2. The original english voice actors have also returned to reprise their roles which was nice.In summary this is a great collection. I've always been a Final Fantasy fan so to have these remastered to look their best, include all content for both games previously not released outside of Japan and with two full trophy sets was fantastic. Well worth the price.+ Upgraded visuals and resolution look gorgeous.+ Great value collection with two big RPGs and Last Mission.+ Both games are fantastic fun with excellent battle sytems.- FFX-2 can be too cheesey and retreads too many of X's locations.

13.2.2016

No game evokes emotion in me like Final Fantasy X. I still clearly remember sitting through an exam at college on the day of its release, counting down the boring, silent hours until I could go and purchase it in town. I can also remember finishing the game and shedding a few tears at the ending which is really quite sad (both the crying and the ending itself). I've replayed the game on numerous occasions since and everything from the music to the set pieces fill me with nostalgia and a little bit of longing for a youth that has long since passed. This game is important to me in many ways and is rich in memories and when I heard of the release of the HD remaster I of course had to have it.The remaster hasn't really changed that much from the PS2 release.Some areas of the game have received the inevitable graphical improvements but for the most part things have been left as they were. It seems strange at first to see a HD quality playable character conversing with a blocky 12 year old NPC design but once you are immersed in the story you'll barely notice. One thing that did irritate me a tad was the reworking of the music within the games. There are some tunes that have had tweaks that do absolutely nothing to improve the music and instead damage it - it is very noticeable when one of your favourite ever gaming tracks has needlessly had a number of Japanese string instruments added to it. Thankfully you can switch back to the original soundtrack but it begs the question: if it isn't broke, why fix it? There is a boatload of other additional content included on the disc including videos and mini-games that you might never have seen before if you haven't hunted abroad for them. Whether some of these additions add to or harm the experience is up to you to decide.The story for FFX is one of my favourite of any video game title. You are in control of Tidus, a star blitzball player (think underwater football) from a technologically advanced city called Zanarkand. During an important match his city is attacked by a colossal creature named Sin. With the help of Auron, a friend of Tidus's father, you manage to escape certain death but inexplicably find yourself thrust a thousand years into the future. Eventually you are rescued from an abandoned ruin and find yourself joining up with a group of unlikely allies as they escort Yuna, a beautiful young summoner, on a complicated religious pilgrimage. From then on you are in for an emotional roller-coaster as relationships between the characters are developed and destroyed and you are hit with twists, turns and intrigue at every corner.Final Fantasy X was the last of the traditional turn based RPG Final Fantasy titles. From here onwards Final Fantasy games have changed massively, their quality has declined and they have never really attained the same clout as their earlier releases. Essentially your characters and the enemy are glued to the spot and take turns to attack each other in a tactical battle to see who comes out on top. There are a number of characters at your disposal, each with a different set of talents to help you come out on top in these tussles. Yuna is the white mage who can summon powerful Aeons and cast healing spells, Auron is your powerhouse character using brute force to crush armoured enemies, Lulu is your black mage, casting devastating offensive spells such as Fira, Ultima and so on. Unlike other Final Fantasy games, your characters can be cycled in and out of battle at any time so if you find yourself in a dire situation you can call in someone who might help turn the tides of the fight.In a change from the traditional level system we are introduced to the sphere grid. When a character is victorious in battle they earn AP which can be used to move around a large maze-like grid filled with nodes that enhance your character's stats. Each unused node requires a different kind of sphere in order to activate and these can be found in chests, stolen from enemies or given as rewards at the end of successful battles. I really like the sphere grid personally, although it can be frustrating early in the game when you don't have sufficient spheres to unlock new abilities or upgrades. Overall, it allows for greater player choice and customisation of your characters later on in the game - if you want to have Auron as your healer and Yuna as your devastating attacker you can!Final Fantasy titles are famous for having at least one deep mini-game within every release. FFX is no different with its inclusion of the blitzball arena. You control a team of six players in an underwater pitch with the aims and rules being very close to football (or soccer if you happen to be American): tackle the ball, play it up the field and score more goals than the opposition. Personally I find this to be the very best mini-game Square ever created. You can pour hours upon hours into blitzball, levelling up your characters, wheeling and dealing in players and free agents and winning prizes available nowhere else in the game. It is great fun and squeezes even more time out of an already content filled title.The game boasts a challenging trophy list for the completionists out there. Some of the requirements are very time-consuming (filling in every sphere grid node for every single character - crikey!) and some are very difficult (defeating super bosses such as Penance and Nemesis) but again they will keep you playing the game and help you get roughly 140+ hours or so for your monetary outlay - not bad considering most returning FFX players will love every minute of the task.FFX2 is also bundled with the original game. While adding even more value to the recommended retail price, in my opinion the sequel doesn't live up to the quality of the first release. While the mechanics are quite similar, they don't work quite as well as in the first. You have control over only three characters throughout the entire game - Rikku, Yuna and Paine - and in order to perform certain actions the player must swap the character's outfit using 'dress spheres'. Attacks can be chained for additional damage and characters are allowed a little movement around the battle area. This all sounds great apart from the fact that you can pretty much mash the X button once you have fully upgraded a warrior style outfit and defeat all enemies with relative ease - with the odd exception.The story is not a patch on the first either, leaning towards the more clichéd and muddled stylings of other lesser JRPGs. In fact I would go as far as saying that the release of the sequel has a detrimental effect on the story of the original game. There are facets of the original story that were left to a certain extent unfinished, allowing the player to use their imagination to draw together all the threads at the conclusion of FFX. Many of those conclusions are undone by this game. From unlikely alliances and romantic couplings, to a complete and utter reimagining of Yuna, the game does little in the way of subtly preserving the ideas and themes of FFX. Remember that scene at the very end of the credits in the first FFX? Well that was pretty much ruined by the release of FFX-2 which is a real shame.The trophy list for this title is much more annoying than the requirements from the first game too. You will definitely need to use a guide in order to unlock the 100% completion trophy as some of the things you need to do in order to attain it are so obscure they defy belief. You are also required to play through a roguelike mini-game that is very different from the other FFX titles and which I found slow, repetitive and rather boring.To summarise, if, like me, you are returning to FFX with fond memories, knowing that the game will always hold a place in your heart then this purchase is a no brainer. Gamers who are new to RPGs would also be recommended to give the game a go to see what joys a traditional turn based RPG can bring. For your outlay you can get anywhere between 100 to 200+ hours out of the two titles and their additional bonuses. Final Fantasy X will always be an important RPG title and is well worth owning if you like the genre. It also gives you another reason to dust off your PS4 controller as, for me, there haven't been that many titles worth booting it up for recently!

3.1.2015

No game evokes emotion in me like Final Fantasy X. I still clearly remember sitting through an exam at college on the day of its release, counting down the boring, silent hours until I could go and purchase it in town. I can also remember finishing the game and shedding a few tears at the ending which is really quite sad (both the crying and the ending itself). I've replayed the game on numerous occasions since and everything from the music to the set pieces fill me with nostalgia and a little bit of longing for a youth that has long since passed. This game is important to me in many ways and is rich in memories and when I heard of the release of the HD remaster I of course had to have it.The remaster hasn't really changed that much from the PS2 release.Some areas of the game have received the inevitable graphical improvements but for the most part things have been left as they were. It seems strange at first to see a HD quality playable character conversing with a blocky 12 year old NPC design but once you are immersed in the story you'll barely notice. One thing that did irritate me a tad was the reworking of the music within the games. There are some tunes that have had tweaks that do absolutely nothing to improve the music and instead damage it - it is very noticeable when one of your favourite ever gaming tracks has needlessly had a number of Japanese string instruments added to it. If it isn't broke, why fix it? There is a boatload of additional content included on the cartridge (and in the download for the sequel), however, including videos and mini-games that you might never have seen before if you haven't hunted abroad for them. Whether some of these additions add to or harm the experience is up to you to decide.The story for FFX is one of my favourite of any video game title. You are in control of Tidus, a star blitzball player (think underwater football) from a technologically advanced city called Zanarkand. During an important match his city is attacked by a colossal creature named Sin. With the help of Auron, a friend of Tidus's father, you manage to escape certain death but inexplicably find yourself thrust a thousand years into the future. Eventually you are rescued from an abandoned ruin and find yourself joining up with a group of unlikely allies as they escort Yuna, a beautiful young summoner, on a complicated religious pilgrimage. From then on you are in for an emotional roller-coaster as relationships between the characters are developed and destroyed and you are hit with twists, turns and intrigue at every corner.Final Fantasy X was the last of the traditional turn based RPG Final Fantasy titles. From here onwards Final Fantasy games have changed massively, their quality has declined and they have never really attained the same clout as their earlier releases. Essentially your characters and the enemy are glued to the spot and take turns to attack each other in a tactical battle to see who comes out on top. There are a number of characters at your disposal, each with a different set of talents to help you come out on top in these tussles. Yuna is the white mage who can summon powerful Aeons and cast healing spells, Auron is your powerhouse character using brute force to crush armoured enemies, Lulu is your black mage, casting devastating offensive spells such as Fira, Ultima and so on. Unlike other Final Fantasy games, your characters can be cycled in and out of battle at any time so if you find yourself in a dire situation you can call in someone who might help turn the tides of the fight.In a change from the traditional level system we are introduced to the sphere grid. When a character is victorious in battle they earn AP which can be used to move around a large maze-like grid filled with nodes that enhance your character's stats. Each unused node requires a different kind of sphere in order to activate and these can be found in chests, stolen from enemies or given as rewards at the end of successful battles. I really like the sphere grid personally, although it can be frustrating early in the game when you don't have sufficient spheres to unlock new abilities or upgrades. Overall, it allows for greater player choice and customisation of your characters later on in the game - if you want to have Auron as your healer and Yuna as your devastating attacker you can!Final Fantasy titles are famous for having at least one deep mini-game within every release. FFX is no different with its inclusion of the blitzball arena. You control a team of six players in an underwater pitch with the aims and rules being very close to football (or soccer if you happen to be American): tackle the ball, play it up the field and score more goals than the opposition. Personally I find this to be the very best mini-game Square ever created. You can pour hours upon hours into blitzball, levelling up your characters, wheeling and dealing in players and free agents and winning prizes available nowhere else in the game. It is great fun and squeezes even more time out of an already content filled title.The game boasts a challenging trophy list for the completionists out there. Some of the requirements are very time-consuming (filling in every sphere grid node for every single character - crikey!) and some are very difficult (defeating super bosses such as Penance and Nemesis) but again they will keep you playing the game and help you get roughly 140+ hours or so for your monetary outlay - not bad considering most returning FFX players will love every minute of the task.You are also given a download code for FFX-2 within the case. While adding even more value to the recommended retail price, this sequel to the original game doesn't live up to the quality of the first release. While the mechanics are quite similar, they don't work quite as well as in the first. You have control over only three characters in all - Rikku, Yuna and Paine - and in order to perform certain actions the player must swap the character's outfit using 'dress spheres'. Attacks can be chained for additional damage and characters are allowed a little movement around the battle area. This all sounds great apart from the fact that you can pretty much mash the X button once you have fully upgraded a warrior style outfit and defeat all enemies with relative ease - with the odd exception.The story is not a patch on the first either, leaning towards the more clichéd and muddled stylings of other lesser JRPGs. In fact I would go as far as saying that the release of the sequel has a detrimental effect on the story of the original game. There are facets of the original story that were left to a certain extent unfinished, allowing the player to use their imagination to draw together all the threads at the conclusion of FFX. Many of those conclusions are undone by this game. From unlikely alliances and romantic couplings, to a complete and utter reimagining of Yuna, the game does little in the way of subtly preserving the ideas and themes of FFX. Remember that scene at the very end of the credits in the first FFX? Well that was pretty much ruined by the release of FFX-2 which is a real shame.The trophy list for this title is much more annoying than the requirements from the first game too. You will definitely need to use a guide in order to unlock the 100% completion trophy as some of the things you need to do in order to attain it are so obscure they defy belief. You are also required to play through a roguelike mini-game that is very different from the other FFX titles and which I found slow, repetitive and rather boring.To summarise, if, like me, you are returning to FFX with fond memories, knowing that the game will always hold a place in your heart then this purchase is a no brainer. Gamers who are new to RPGs would also be recommended to give the game a go to see what joys a traditional turn based RPG can bring. For your outlay you can get anywhere between 100 to 200+ hours out of the two titles and their additional bonuses. Final Fantasy X will always be an important RPG title and is well worth owning if you like the genre. It also gives you another reason to dust off your Vita!

7.11.2016

My nostalgia goggles got a little worn out. I appear to be a grown up adult now. My Profile picture is almost 9 years old and back then I was full of beans and nonsense. I was young and the characters in this game are all under 20 somethings with white people problems I don't care to get into. That being said along with the white people problems the incredible thematic Asian themes found in the series are underwhelmed when Dawson's creek kicks in and you're forced to listen to the worlds worst crotch spit Tidus. Let me run down the characters in their legitimate hierarchy.Top - Auron - This is how you stumble with style.On the path to redemption this man travels time and stays loyal top his friends when facing any adversity even fighting dragons and gods armed with a giant sword a jug of booze. He saves the game in every way possible.Yuna - Her trial and courage to change to world using her maidens will and knowledge of magic to fulfil a dark and difficult pilgrimage is the main reason I hate the game. Because her story is compelling. It is the main character forced to sit on the side and become the "Love interest" can you really love a sunflower with a Korean boys face? That's the story arc apparently. Ridiculous.Khimari - Actions speak louder than words. That is this character. He just personifies a calm approach. He barely speaks yet his arc is deep and full of awesome. A true hero with a protective nature. Guards Yuna with his life. Fights under a strong code of honour and ethics. Huge respect for this guy right here.Rikku - Shes a daft wee teenager who has more spirit and backbone than any amount of Tidus impossible summersaults could ever release. She will straight up show no fear or distance with anyone. Despite her race being demonised she still gets out of bed and puts on a bloody gauntlet and punches her way through her problems despite being 15 and only 5 foot 4 inches high.Wakka - He's just an okay fellow. He's not whining, but he's a zealot and a bigot. But he at least grows as a character as has an arc. No tears from this fellow he protects his adopted daughter on a suicide quest. Like a true hero.Lulu - She has understandable reasons for her pessimism. She has gigantic heaving weights on her shoulders that keep her from living life to the fullest. Her two big round problems make it difficult for her to let the past go. When you see her carrying those big round, sopping, plump, juicy problems you just wanna bury your face in her problems. Get right in there. Motorboat those problems till theyre sopping wet.....Ehem! Lulu is better than Tidus... She's just so wonderful...Jecht - He is a flawed but sympathetic man who made a lot of mistakes. I think the first one was buying condoms at a truck stop garage instead of a proper pharmacist. He is likable, strong and ends up being the true hero of the story. He has an arc and changes to form to a new character than despite how difficult his life is he rarely complains.Seymour - Follows a principle of absolution. If all life ends. All suffering ends. Look he had a rough ego driven existence yet his fall from grace is downright Shakespearean. If only the canon was not so literal.The Dirt - The Dirt plays a vital role in this series. Unlike Tidus who plays a vital role in my hangover.Sin - He is the embodiment of human sin. He can defy gravity, shoot atmospheric depressing bolts of pure energy. He has a great story arc. The fish demon god has a great story arc. He has a complete human storyline that ends as they ocerarc a face of challenges that results in a happy ending...the giant fish god. I might actually like this game...4 stars!Tidus - There is no hierarchy lower without mentioning everyone in Spira. So the bottom line really is that Tidus is just the worst. Okay look this world is fascinating but I may have outgrown it. When I see this world I see something only a teenager could have enjoyed. Which is great since I was the target demographic. Japanese marketing must be doing well. But Tidus grates on me. His existence is not so intangible that it gives his prescience absolutely no weight, he would die and nothing would change. Instead his existence is just to cause trouble, abuse emotions, throw tantrums and look foolish while doing it. I don't like his sword, his stance or his attitude at all. Everyone has flaws but I see nothing on this arrogant little daffodil that is likable. If I were Jecht I would fed him the kitchen cleaner right away! He's not someone I like. If you have a deep love for whiny babys dressed as yellow plants then great this is your perfect FINAL FANTASY experience brought to life.Characters aside the game lost a lot of spark for me. I could recall every conversation, every action and every moment but that's my own personal bias. Is the game good?Good? It's great! Christ is the pinnacle of JRPG goodness. As far gameplay goes it is perfection. Zero flaws for a great mix of strategy and fast paced improvised thinking. A game that is jammed with content that you could easily sink hundreds of hours into. It is a game that can only be stopped when you feel you have had enough and oh my you are spoiled for choice. The storyline is not that bad but it's childish on that note and the voice acting only makes the game seem even younger and more naïve.As far as graphics go this game aged splendidly! Still the remixed music? Doesn't seem called. That's another half a star lost the other half Tidus used to form his ridiculous yellow hair. The music did not need a really need a remix it was gorgeous and again aged perfectly. Still can't complain as the graphical update was a welcome improvement. The additional update does not change the game but for the tiny amount of money this game gives you all the bang for your buck you could need.The best feature is that these were originally two games. Two full games that feature if combined and done quickly could consume 300+ hours of your life. But don't let that happen you have children to think about. Best feature yet is that X-2 contains very little Tidus even replaces him with a cooler more likable Tidus with a much deeper and richer story line. He goes through self sacrifice, suffering, immortaility, redemption all for love. At least it's better than I was a dream and now I am in the love *poof* I vanished because of PLOT DEVICE you are now the tears.In the sequel Yuna becomes a hottie that carries two guns. EVERYONE has an arc. Everyone in this world is given a great arc. Tidus has none. He cries and decides he hates dad enough to love him...then dies. BoooooO!A short summary is that X-2 is a revamp of the same game but with a few twists on the gameplay. You will be treated to a faster turn based system that has you switching job roles to fulfil a strategic purpose. Very cool and fast paced but the game has stepped away to simply being about three adventuring female honies on a quest of things that give them super powers. It's camp and not in any way a perfect sequel but a way more enjoyable one. Plus with this version you have access to features only found in the Japanese release. Talk about a money saver.Lulu's heaving problems still keep me coming back for more. What a compelling story arc she has so full of substance. Despite that feeling warm and cosy. God I love Lulu's problems I can really get into them.4/5 would play once maybe when I am 40 then I feel even more displeased by how little I can relate to the series. Final fantasy XXX-2 : Two girls one Mangina with girls face Total Revengeance.

25.3.2015

PreludeI can still remember my first engagement and impressions with the original Final Fantasy X, released way back in.. 2001?! Wow, that went quick! Ok so I was definitely a good 3 or 4 years late to the party, only acquiring it from a fellow school chum in art graphics class - he insisted I play it. I had previously been playing through FFVIII, annoyed by FFIXs childishness (which I later played and loved) and it's initial appeal was damped when I saw the strange new outfits and change from text based dialogue to full voice acting. Like most Final Fantasy's, X was just as difficult to get engrossed in - it's seemingly outlandish, main character Tidus was loud and overbearing,the tutorial was dull and depressing, the list goes on. However, the fantastically soulful soundtrack, stunning FMV's and addictive levelling system, slowly paved the way for the story and had me hooked throughout the year and even neglecting a good few summer days in favour of staying indoors and playing the minigames - Blitzball! I could even tell you the bands that I was into at the time (Coheed & Cambria and Angels & Airwaves) as they are engraining in my memory thinking back. Nearly 13 years later and the title gets a surprising High Definition Remaster. Not exactly what the fans wanted (they want older titles getting the visual treatment) but certainly not unwelcome by any stretch of the imagination."This is your Story" (Plot)As the star player of a metropolis' cities premier sports team, you (Tidus) are forever in the shadow of your estranged father Jecht, a legend in the sport. During a game of Blitz, the city crumbles under the attack of a gigantic gelatinous looking behemoth that somehow creates some sort of vacuum or warp-hole or whatever, that 'teleports' you a thousand years into the future - only by name, as the world is not exactly futuristic. The land of Spira has become a ritualistic, religious place where the monster 'Sin' wreaks havoc every ten years or so. This is when a summoner arises, acquires all the Aeons, scattered around the world, travelling on a pilgrimage to test their resolve and confront/defeat Sin. Sounds pretty out there and it is. However, it is this massive reality check that lets you get well and truly lost in the story, as the main characters transition is just as insane as yours. Tidus joins a pretty young summoner called Yuna, who has her own rag-tag team of curious looking buddies dubbed 'guardians'. So really on this journey of epic proportions, you're just a tag-along!...And as for Final Fantasy X-2... - Yuna wants to find Tidus with her crew of feminine fashionistas, The End.GameplayUnchanged from the original, you take control of Tidus, casually taking long strides across linked locations (no world map for the first time in an FF game). You can still find chests with goods in, walk to admire the moving scenery, ride chocobos, dodge lightning... Battles thankfully are true to the series - turn based with a handy system that shows who's going to attack next (which alters depending on circumstances like death, haste, slow and stop etc). Being a role playing game, there is a lot of text to scroll through (and or speech) with the odd chance of selecting a specific conversational option, for example, choosing which girl you're into when asked by the lovely Lulu. Only Yuna can summon the mighty Aons which is different from the more modern FF's and you get to take control them with their varying abilities and magics (and thanks to some rifling around with others summoners) you can improve your monsters with items and such.What's ImprovedObviously the graphics have taken a kick up the arse. The whole point of a HD Remaster though, is not technically about improving the graphics but merely sharpening them for a HD image. So seeing as the graphics actually have gotten better, the game gets a much needed push towards those who never touched the original. So not only have Square-Enix appeased many fans but they've offered newcomers the chance to experience something that could have been lost to time and the archaic Playstation 2. PS3 Trophies have been included - which makes dodging lightning 200 times a bit more rewarding (and showing others how pathetic you are) it also can be a bit of an incentive to get everything done like you may or may not have done previously - a badge of honour even. I love game art books in general, so when I heard these games were accompanied by some beautiful hi-res illustrations in a hardback book for the Limited Edition - I was quite more than happy to fork over £40 (although I'm sure I paid less at the time..)What's WorsenedFirst thing? The Soundtrack, which has certainly divided the opinions of critics and fans alike. Instead of some fancy orchestral versions that lose some of the synthesiser wizardry, most got highjacked with newer sounding digital instruments. Ordinarily this wouldn't be a problem, but when the 'newer' songs sound flat and lifeless, you could almost think they were imitations or covers. Yes they sound clearer and are probably better served, pumped out of a surround sound system with a beastly subwoofer - but that's besides the point. That being said, for newbies, it'll probably be just as memorable. I still have next to no intentions of playing the second game! I dabbled in it when I got a copy on the cheap and still felt silly getting the walkthrough like a right little fanboy. Hardline: you still change outfits mid-battle like some kind of fashion show, only now in HD - pass. I absolutely HATE that FF13's heroine 'Lightning' is on the box! After 3 shoddy games milked for all their worth, I've had enough of the cow. So now she's appearing on the cover of one of MY favourite games, stealing Yuna's outfit.. well it just makes my blood boil - and she's not actually in the game. I'm nitpicking now.RemasteredThe enhancement of the graphics isn't necessarily massive - but it does make the game more playable and approachable to newer, younger gamers who may have been dissuaded from playing the original because of times ageing or put off by PS2's capacities. It's all very nicely packaged together (games included) alongside a very pretty art-book.. well specific editions are. Anyway, perhaps this is one small step in the right direction for Square-Enix, finally caving in to the customers demands.. (although I'm not sure who actually asked for this) Then again, maybe SE are out of ideas and are milking a dead cow for every last drop of credibility and moolah.

29.12.2014

This will be a review for both games, but as you can't separate the ratings for FFX and FFX-2, I'll explain the five stars as I go along.Final Fantasy X, for me, was my favourite and most loved Playstation game ever, and that's across all platforms. The story line was immense and emotional, the characters were fully fleshed and relatable with back stories that only added to their appeal. The game play (in my view) was excellent. I was a huge fan of the Sphere Grid leveling up system. It gave the player total control on the direction of the character's progression. You could have the main character Tidus become a White Mage if you truly wanted to.On to the game itself. The story is set in the land of Spira,as most of you will know. Spira is a world short on technology and high on the faith and religion of Yevon. The reason for this is because of an entity known as 'Sin' who is of such catastrophic power that it ravages and destroys civilizations throughout the entire continent. It is violence incarnate.You are Tidus, a happy-go-lucky man who plays the national sport of Blitzball (underwater basketball/handball) in the city of Zanarkand. When Sin attacks the city and destroys it, you are transported 1000 years into the future to the world that Spira has become. Where Summoners go on a pilgrimage to destroy Sin by calling forth powerful beings known as Aeons.The game itself starts off quite linear and you are restricted in where you can go till around half way through.Yet this never feels forced, as you are immersed in the gripping storyline, learning about the world you've come to inhabit and bonding with the various different characters that Tidus joins with upon his journey.Speaking of the characters, I found them all to be engaging and useful to the game itself. Auron and Lulu in particular were two of my favourites. Yuna - the parties' resident Summoner - provides and excellent counter-point to the 'out there' main character Tidus.The graphics have of course been given a huge boost by the HD Remaster and it is a joy to all these old favourites given a 'face lift' for the PS3. The music is some of the best I have ever had the pleasure to listen to and has been given a tweak in some areas. It rivals Ocarina of Time and the original Golden Sun for its dramatic musical score, and I thought those were two of the best ever. The boss fights are challenging and inventive, and you don't feel like you can just breeze your way through the game - you have to dedicate hours to training your characters and some trial and error is to be expected for first time players. I've given this game alone Five Stars because it is just that good. There are easily 70+ hours of gameplay here and enough twists and turns in the story line to keep you hooked. Well recommended.On to FFX-2. When I first heard there was a true sequel years ago to my favourite Final Fantasy, I of course got quite excited. The story of Tidus and Yuna alone inspired me to purchase the game. I was however left with the feeling of disappointment upon loading the game up and getting stuck in. Let down could be a better choice of words, also.The story is set 2 years after the previous game and Yuna is now the main character on a quest to discover what happened to Tidus after she finds a sphere supposedly showing him. Yuna is joined by Rikku again, yet this is where the comparisons end for me. A third character (Paine, who is basically Auron and Lulu rolled into one, but without the character progression and depth) completes the trio known as The Gullwings. They are Sphere Hunters, which I found to be a bit of a bizarre job and premise for the most famous person in Spira to be doing after defeating Sin two years previously. The trio - who strongly remind me of Charlie's Angels - travel all over Spira searching for these Spheres.I'm reminded of a saying of " If it isn't broke, do not fix it " yet SquareEnix seem to have ignored that as they merrily went on their mission to dismantle everything that made FFX great. In my eyes, if you are going to do a direct sequel to a game, you take what was good from that game - keep it - and improve on other aspects, surely? For me the Sphere Grid leveling system was excellent, yet here it has been cast aside for the 'Dress Sphere' system, which really doesn't work as well, owing to having to change class in-game at times. The outfits and costumes that come with these class changes are actually fairly ridiculous too and completely unsuitable for combat. The story line itself was also something I considered an extremely strong point in FFX, and on the box it certainly indicates that it is 'more of the same'. Instead, we get a 1000 year old copy of Tidus and Yuna and I feel the game suffers because of it.Also gone is the linear aspect of the game and instead you can now travel to any place in Spira almost straight from the off. I'll agree with another reviewer on here who commented that in FFX Zanarkand was considered a mysterious and holy city, tinged with fear and awe. When you first arrive there in FFX and the cut-scene " A City dead for a 1000 years" kicks in, you certainly feel that. In X-2, you can travel to Zanarkand within 30 minutes of loading the game up. And it has become a tourist attraction which I found to be completely jarring and also unbelievable. No Sin or not, Zanarkand would still hold that certain awe and fear even two years later.Also gone are the amazing villain characters like Seymour in FFX. Instead, you get three absolutely irritating idiots who do nothing but follow you around and provide literally zero drama or suspense levels. Characters like Sephiroth and Seymour added to the overall game experience, whereas these Team Rocket cast offs just detract from the already limited enjoyment.Even with all this, I would probably give the game around Three Stars. It isn't very long and you can complete the main story in around 12 hours if you really go for it, which I did when it first came out all those years ago. (there are alternate endings that can make the game longer if you have the patience for it) It does have some redeeming features such as the graphics and the mini games which add an element of fun to the whole game itself. Yet really, it truly lets you down when it comes to the battle style and story line. It's worth buying for those want to find out the end to the story, but certainly not if you're expecting more of the same.

10.6.2014

Having played the Final Fantasy series on PS2 I was very delighted to find that they had remastered Final Fantasy X and X-2 for PS3!!For my son's eighth birthday I purchased this game as he was getting to the point where the children smash and grab styled games were becoming boring and monotonous. He was looking for something that was a bit more challenging and I knew that the storyline associated with the Final Fantasy games not only would inspire him but also tap into the fantasy & magic genre that he enjoyed so much like.I did purchase the strategy guide to go with the game and it was great fun playing along with him. I was the navigator (reading through the book)and he was the pilot controlling the characters and exploring the game.In Final Fantasy X, we were immediately struck at how wonderful the graphics and the music were. The storyline and progress is quite simple to follow but the strategy guide from the web or bookstore is very useful if you want to find hidden items, which could become relevant later in the game.The story is based around a young lad called Tidus and a magical character called Yuna and her friends or guardians who move through Spira on pilgrimage to defeat the fiend ‘Sin’ who causes destruction in this small world. Their quest brings these strangers together in a journey that will change their lives and the future of Spira forever, bringing the eternal calm after Sin is defeated. As their individual stories unfold you grow to understand their abilities, weaknesses and strengths, their past and what brought them together and what will ultimately be their future.There are around five puzzle rooms within temples which are quite tricky and on one occasion we needed to consult YouTube as we couldn't visualise it clearly. Luckily there is tons of material online to help if you do get stuck. Otherwise, I would say gameplay was relatively straightforward and the challenge came in the strategy not the ability. By that I mean it was possible for my son to follow easily and you did not need super PS3 skills or fast fingers to complete the game.The game also has a number of mini games like catching butterflies, dodging lightning and racing chocobos which are crucial if you want to acquire the optional characters celestial weapons towards the end of the game. You do have an opportunity to go back and play them at any time once you have your airship so there's no need to hold progress in the story. We did struggle here and whilst we got 4 of the 7 weapons we crafted our own version of the rest using items we had collected. They were identical and we thought that was pretty cool. My son laughed that Mum had crafted fake ‘knock-off’ weapons in his game!During the fiend encounters characters build experience points, which enable you to move through a grid like system to advance the characters abilities and skills. Skipping these battles will only give you problems further down the line so take on every challenge and throw in a few extra as well because the more experience went to have the easier it is towards the end of the game.The Sphere Grid used to advance characters skills is pretty simple once you get the hang of it and it's very hard to go the wrong way so characters can progress within their own area easily.The story is wonderful. We really became involved in each characters tale and shared the joys, triumphs and tears. We certainly finish the game feeling as though we have been on an epic journey ourselves through Spira. It took us around six weeks to finish the game playing 120 hours. Towards the end we felt quite addicted and the story compelled us to explore more areas, take on more side challenges and develop our characters so we could fight the final bosses.We have thoroughly enjoyed playing this game together and I would certainly recommend it to anybody. We particularly liked the fact that turn-based combat system allowed us to look up fiends in our strategy guide to establish what their HP and elemental weaknesses were before we took on the challenge. This also helped to feel a little bit more in control of the combat system and it felt non-aggressive and non-urgent. It was more about thought, planning and strategy than bash and crash.We started Final Fantasy X-2 the very next day and found the transition between the two games quite difficult. X-2 has changed the game mode & play, although we were pleased to see on the configuration menu you could reinstate the turn based battle system to an extent. FFX’s grid system has been replaced by uniforms and when the character is wearing the clothes of a pop star she uses dance moves in combat. When she is wearing warriors close her actions are of a warrier. We've only really just started playing and things are starting to come together already and we are confident that we're going to enjoy this story just as much as the last. In fact because FFX ended on such a cliffhanger, it feels as though a continuation of the same game. Most of the maps, items, potions and some of the characters are the same and the story refers back to the first game for continuity. It does however provide new challenges, experiences and issues to overcome.I only hope that the publishers and game makers will consider releasing other fantastic Final Fantasy stories (FF VIII!!!) on PS3 and PS4 because playing the game again has not only reawakened a fond memory in my heart but also brought it to the next generation and seeing my son enjoy it so much has been wonderful.I hope you do buy and enjoy this game as much as we did...

17.4.2014

Final Fantasy X was the last game to be developed by Squaresoft before they got swallowed up by Enix (forming Square Enix (or if you prefer; Squeenix)), and as such has earned the title of `The Last Great RPG' by some.The comforting thing when you first start to play this re-mastered edition is that you immediately remember why. The mechanics feel like home straight away - although Tidus is far `clunkier' than the original, and the now-almost-defunct ATB battle system instantly clicks. Without sounding daft, it `feels' like a game; rather than the fetch-template-insert-Hollywood-style-scenario mechanic that governs a lot of today's offerings.Final Fantasy X-2: the game's direct sequel (and the first Final Fantasy sequel ever),is also a great game, but it marked the transition to the new company and as such was not as well received as its predecessor.This time around we're given the option of selecting either of the games from the main menu and separately, the option to select both titles' additional content (previously unavailable outside Japan). They are Final Fantasy X: Eternal Calm and Final Fantasy X-2: Last Mission. Presumably these are epilogue add-ons for each game, but I haven't played them yet.Everything is there out of the box then, and in terms of the content and presentation etc, this re-master has succeeded. The in-game graphics as you'd expect have been updated significantly, and are befitting of the current generation - although not to a fully uniformed standard - some models are far better than others. In fact on first glance I thought that some of the backgrounds and peripheral details had in fact remained untouched; but after loading up my PS2 original I realised that everything has received a significant overhaul. The re-master is incredibly bright though and some of the colours look like neon signs; whereas the original is far muddier and palatable (I actually prefer this older look, but that's just me). I also can't help but think that FFX-2 looks noticeably better than FFX; but my mind may be playing tricks. Either way the graphics do look much better and crisper as a whole. It's just a matter of taste as to what `sheen' you prefer.Some of the musical scores have also been re-recorded. Some are better; some are not, to be honest, but it's only a minor note. `To Zanarkand' in particular sounds almost piercing in its clarity and is almost jarring compared to the solemn original. But that's nitpicking to an extreme level.Unfortunately there is also very noticeable flaw, which are the glaring sound synching problems. Several of the in-game-engine cutscenes and even some of the FMV cut-scenes in FFX are hideously out of sync - to the point where some sequences actually finish before the audio gets blurted out in a compressed muddle. It's not game breaking, but it definitely detracts from the experience. Although from what I've seen so far the problem seems to be completely random, and affects FFX more than FFX-2.That aside though both games appear to be exactly as you remember them, and are of course a joy to play without exception. The gameplay feels spot on and my minor point's aside, these are still classic games that sit proudly in the upper echelons of the genre. Whether FFX is the last great RPG or not, this is a great collection for anybody that remembers the traditional RPG; or indeed anyone who wants to find out what they used to be like.It's fitting then, that the PS3's generation should come to a close with the game that bridges the gap between the two generations that precede it.8.5/10.

21.3.2014

The game itself is fully deserving of five stars, and there is plenty of documentation on the high quality remaster on display here. Notably it is far better than "PS2 emulator running at 1080p" and Squenix have put the hours in with this one. It sounds funny, however Wakka's character model has really stood out during my first couple of hours in the game, really excellent job with his.Obviously I have yet to complete the remaster, however thus far everything seems to be in place. My only issue with the remaster, and it is a small one that I'm sure I'll get used to, is the standard battle music. In my opinion they've overworked one of my favourite standard battle themes from the series.The boss battle music was in far greater need of improvement, and they didn't really touch it. However despite the fact I'll be listening to this theme hundreds of times, it is still more than good enough.I watched "The Eternal Calm" - and other than the trophy, it really was 'meh'. Low production value, and although I'm glad they attempted to bridge the games - it felt rather contrived. I understand that they couldn't create us a couple of new FMVs, or anything of actual expense, but what played out felt more like a polished Gary's Mod effort. "Watch it" straight away, and then get a brew on for the epic tale ahead of you.I haven't touched the X-2 Last Mission stuff yet, or indeed X-2, and I aim to update this with anything notable, but as aforementioned, this is a remaster of a couple of excellent RPGs. No need for me to go into story or detail when there are countless other reviews that'll show just that.The Limited edition package includes:[] Limited Edition External Box[] Art Book[] Game case and disc[] 3 case inserts, Product Reg Card, 'wafer' manual, and some Lightning Returns code that I will probably redeem in a years time when LR is cheap enough to justify going into the collection.Packaging is nice, similar to the Dark Souls styled boxes. I was expecting the book to be the case (Kingdom Hearts 1.5 style) - but having a separate case is easier really. It's a shame, but no surprise that the manual has nout in it, but alas that is the nature of the beast.However, the art book, while looking nice externally and having decent quality prints inside, felt like it would tear if I actually gave it a prolonged read - sound of creasing and all. I question the actual picture choices as well, and compared to the KH 1.5 I was disappointed - only 2 character prints (Tidus/Yuna FFX) and none of the weapons etc. Lots of Blitzball logos if that is your thing. So unfortunately a bit of a stinker in my honest opinion.However despite the majority of this review being negative, the game is an obvious classic, fully deserving of five stars. If you've yet to play this, drop everything and buy this now. FF/Square fans will buy this Limited edition version anyway, however for non fans, there isn't really much here to justify paying anything extra.As always, any questions - please ask!

5.4.2014

So over the years, there have been countless numbers of games. Many - if we are honest....most - were of their time and today would be nearly unplayable, however this isn't the case for all of them.Few should want to move a small blue blob pretending to be a hedgehog around a fuzzy basic landscape anymore, and we've all fallen asleep rescuing the princess by bouncing on mushrooms far too many times.There are however some games, especially perhaps ones with strong stories, which richly deserve a re-release on current generation. A big problem with last generation is that it's almost incompatible with HD tv's, so it's not even as if we could just buy an old PS2 and hook it up,unless we had an old CRT tv in the loft.This is where a HD re-release comes in, and the excitement upon finding FFX was due for release can't be understated. Maybe not least because FF15 doesn't have a definite release yet and will be on PS4 (Which is very early days and a bit niche still).So about the game, well the restoration is a curious thing. Parts, especially the textures wouldn't be out of place in current generation, they're that good.A problem with old PS2 games, is that they had that "PS2 SD look" about them. Hard to describe, but a bit washed out, slightly sepia and a bit smeared. This has resolved every bit of that. The colours jump out at you (cliche I know), the world is sharp and vivid, and I can vouch from a 55" screen there just aren't any faults at all.Some characters - minor ones - have been hardly touched up, and their faces look like painted-on inflated paper bags with no depth or texture, but it's just the age of the game and doesn't "really" detract. Similarly movement is a tad basic, but hey. Oh and yes, the characters clothes look like cardboard cutouts, and a bit silly tbh, but again, it's a remaster not a remake.Strangely enough perhaps, the best graphics are "in game", and not the cut scenes. Yes hair for example is a bit stiffer than very modern games, but not always, it still flows on occasion. Frankly a lot of care and work has been put into this, and compared to say Dragon Age PS3, this is very advanced.The battle system yes is turn based, which some thing is a bit old hat, however I can see this coming back in some games. Unlike active battle, there's no chance of just spamming the x button (I'm looking at you FF13 lol), you are forced to have a strategy and have the time to work out your best approach.Simply, this isn't an old game at all. If this was released for the first time today, eyebrows would be raised at some parts, but others would say it's reviving some old school classic techniques, and it's all the good for this.If anyone has any doubts whether or not to buy, don't doubt, give it a go. Just never mind it's age, it still feels as fresh as a new release, and for the price, it's a complete bargain.Besides, buy this and it might help other well deserving games to be upgraded

25.3.2014

FF10 is up there with the greats of FF6-9 of the PS1 era, and the first thing that came to my mind after beginning this HD remaster was; holy cow this is a ps2 game!!!!! It puts most ps3, and even games like CoD on PS4 to shame it truly looks that good.13 years ago I completed this game 100% and yet having started this again on my ps3 all the magic, excitement and jaw driopping moments are happening again as if it were new to me. You see straight away the difference between Squaresoft (the company that developed FF up until this, their final game) and Square Enix (the company whose first game was FF10-2 which was shambolic, and long has that continued with the ff13 fiasco)

27.3.2014

I may a bit too biased to write a review on FF X. It was the first game I ever played in the FF series, so for me it's like this is FF I... I loved it then and remember every detail of my first ever time touching the controller for this game, it was at a friends house, he was stuck on a boss fight for 6 months, I completed the boss on the 2nd try. After moving away from the boss the game crashed, we tried it several more times after that, with the same result... I went on to buy 4 new copies of the game 1 of which was the Collector's Edition. I have bought Collector's Editions of every Final Fantasy since then.This game is 10 years old. It looks 10 years old. It feels 10 years old.

22.3.2014

In short: you buy this just for Final Fantasy X.I've played most Final Fantasy games but X one was always something different. IX, VII and VI were all brilliant but FFX was always the true adventure game. It was the series Super Mario 64 or Zelda: Ocarina of Time moment. Sadly FFX was the last great Final Fantasy game - epitomised by the fact it was the first (and only barring XIII-2) to spawn its own sequel due to its success. The quality of FF games in recent years has really waned and gone downhill. But FFX this is the perfect entry level game for any newcomer to the series.The original soundtrack is one of the best in a video game - in fact it is probably the best It is up there with Okami,

25.3.2014

Ive literally been waiting years for the chance to play this game again, since selling my ps2 to afford my ps3..... and WOW it was worth the wait!The HD in this game looks absolutely amazing, even after all these years I can see the difference, when Wakka hands Tidus his brothers sword the effects on the sword are amazing.Admittedly Ive only just reached Kilika after the sin attack but im massively enjoying the game so far, you have no idea the relief when I heard Besaids music after battling my way through Zanarkand and the ruins, this for me is the most tedious part of the game due to the amount of cut scenes and tutorials, once you leave Besaid though the adventure truly begins!

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