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PlayStation (Games) Role Playing (Games) Entertainment Games

Final Fantasy X-2 - Travesty Or Welcome Change? 57

Posted by simoniker from the diehard-fanboys-still-weeping dept.
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."
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Final Fantasy X-2 - Travesty Or Welcome Change? More

Final Fantasy X-2 - Travesty Or Welcome Change?

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  • Evolution of a franchise (Score:5, Interesting)

    by neostorm ( 462848 ) on Friday September 12, 2003 @03:58PM (#6947359)
    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.
    • Thats whats missing in Modern Gaming Companies nowadays, no other company is willing to take a risk on anything to intruduce new and unique gameplay enhancements. even to their B titles, thats whay there are so many clones out there.

      for example, Rockstar took a risk and introduced a whole new gameplay enviroment to the world and it took off, now what are we seeing? GTA Clone upon GTA Clone. Why is this happening? Profit, thats all, take a great idea and run with it and you'll make money, even if the game

    • 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.
        • 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.

    • Re:Evolution of a franchise (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward
      Sorry but you have it backwards. People are not pissed because Square is messing with the series it is because they aren't. Every new FF games is just that a new game with a change in the system storyline, ect. With a mkaeing a follow up game Square is actually being less innovative rather than more so as you imply.

  • Bah! (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward
    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

    • Re:Bah! (Score:2, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward
      "FF8 had the equipping of certain items to learn certain spells"

      In FF8 you drew the spells out of the enemies you fought, you didn't gain them from items.
    • I know that you said that you haven't played it, but FF3 introduced summons.
    • Also, FF7 introduced Limit Breaks as a reliable gameplay mechanic (technically they were in FF6, but they required extremely-near-death circumstances, were totally random, and even given the proper situation were extremely rare).

    • Re:Bah! (Score:2, Interesting)

      by Wildfire Darkstar ( 208356 )
      You've got your progression a little off there....

      FF2 was the first mainstream console RPG to eliminate traditional experience-based level building. It's difficult to describe in one sentence, but the basic premise was that stats increased as you made use of them: your HP went up if, after a battle, your HP had been rendered critical. Your weapon proficiency went up when you used a particular weapon type a specific number of times. This system was essentially adopted by Square's other major franchise, the
    • 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

  • Proven success (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 12, 2003 @04:12PM (#6947553)
    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.

    • Re:Proven success (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Ondo ( 187980 )
      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.

      I disagree. I think the gameplay has been between bad and mediocre, but the stories are rock solid. However, they certaintly are a proven success.
  • How about a look at the past so as to better understand the future? OK, let's try this...

    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 th

    • Re:Welcome change? (Score:3, Interesting)

      by neostorm ( 462848 )
      Probably Final Fantasy 6 as well. I have great memories of all three 16-bit Final Fantasies and have had a hard time chosing a favorite.
      FF4 had a great story and characters (albeit cliche in many areas), FF5 had some incredible gameplay with the job system and there was a fantastic amount of exploration in the later parts. Final Fantasy 6 is the one that jumps to mind when I think of my favorite though. I guess I'd have to go with 6. So long, so much backstory for all the characters, so many sidequests
    • I was a little torn between VI and VII for a while (mostly VI), but now it's IX hands-down.
    • (All versions Japanese)

      I think the one I enjoyed the most at the time I played it was Final Fantasy IV, although the story and game were neutered in the US version. It was the first for the SNES, and the sound/graphics were fantastic compared to Final Fantasy I.

      If I had to pick from all of them today, it'd be Final Fantasy V. The job system added a great deal to the gameplay, although the story could have been better. Then again, aren't they all essentially the same story with different chrome, gibbe

    • ObPollAnswer: I don't play Final Fantasy, you insensitive clod!

    • Re:Welcome change? (Score:3, Interesting)

      by LordLucless ( 582312 )
      Using the Japanese System:

      VI: Comes in at the all-round favorite. It totally trumped all previous NES/SNES titles. Graphics were as good as they got, the story was incredibly large in scope, the characters were well developed, distinct and likable. I also love fantasy and post-apocalyptic stuff. Here I get the best of both :)

      VIII: I know everyone hates 8, and for many good reasons, but I just had to stick it in here. I loved the fact that the driving force behind the story was the romance. The weapon sy
    • 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 liked the final one.
    • My favorite is Final Fantasy Tactics. :-P

      But if you're gonna be picky and stick with the main series, then I'd have to go with Final Fantasy VIII. I thought the junctioning system was a welcome change from your console RPG standards, and I found the characters to be the best developed, personality wise, of the entire series, even if the story itself had some questionable moments.

      After that, I'd go with Final Fantasy III, the original Japanese game, not FF6/3. A game that, despite its technical inferiority

  • More linear?! (Score:5, Funny)

    by Palshife ( 60519 ) on Friday September 12, 2003 @04:28PM (#6947725) Homepage
    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?!
  • .. 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 i

    • Re:Sadly... (Score:3, Insightful)

      by sweetooth ( 21075 ) *
      While I'm not a huge star trek fan by any stretch I have to admit the theme song for the new tv series was absolutely horrible. The show wasn't much better the couple of times I watched it, but I don't think the best theme song in the world would have changed that ;)

      Final Fantasy on the other hand is something I'm a pretty big fan of. The main concern I have with the most recent FF games is the feeling that they have added more cut scenes that cause the game to feel linear more like a movie than a game. Ot
  • Anyplace I can download this video without having to go through Gamespot's spyware?

  • Confused by change of costumes? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Daetrin ( 576516 ) on Friday September 12, 2003 @08:07PM (#6949325)
    "...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."

    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.

  • I think the thing about this game a lot of people seem to be having trouble with is the fact that FFX-2 doesn't take itself at all seriously. The first fifteen minutes of the game alone contain more smarm and self-referencial humor that most Final Fantasies have in their entire sixty hours.

    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

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