RPGamers Network > Reviews > Game Reviews > Final Fantasy X

Game Stats
Genre RPG
Platform PlayStation 2
Format DVD
# of Players 1
Released Jap 07.19.2001
Released US 12.17.2001
Released EU 05.24.2002
Aprox. Length 70-80 hrs.
Reviewer Rankings
Battle System 9.0
Gameplay 9.0
Music 9.0
Originality 7.0
Plot 8.0
Replay Value 8.0
Sound 8.0
Visuals 10.0
Difficulty Medium
Overall
8.5

Final Fantasy X

By: Squaresoft

Reviewed By: Riptor

Battle System:
The Battle System in Final Fantasy X carries the tradition turn based style that Squaresoft uses in most of their RPG's but this one brings a few new tweaks. You will be able to command a huge array of attacks and statuses. There's always the ever popular elemental values. Fire <-> Ice Water <-> Electric. Whats nice about this game is that it explains the battle system. Sometimes in a battle physical attacks will do less damage on an enemy than elemental attacks and also some enemies have hard skins and shells that only weapons that can pierce through will have the most effectiveness. As you progress you can call upon these creatures known as Aeons. It then goes into like a pokemon type battle where a creature does the fighting for you. While you only have one monster, its can deal out a lot more damage than normal party members as their stats are higher. There are all kinds of different options to do while fighting like trigger commands which will do certain things in certain battles and overdrives which are special attacks that will deal out more than 3 times the damage of a normal attack and some overdrive tech's hit all enemies. There are so many different weapons and armors in this installment and most of them are customizable. Sometimes sheer power wont win a rather using tactics and thinking

Gameplay:
This is similar to most RPG games where the hero explores many different lands and villages, towns, cities, etc. You can talk to different people and sometimes get critical items from them. There's a red arrow indicator which points out the right way to the your destination. Leveling up is completely different in FFX. Its not just improving your stats in a battle. Its similar to chrono cross. I think Square is sticking with this idea. You have whats called a sphere grid. Characters start out in different positions on the sphere grid which will pertain to that character's stat development. For Example Titus will have a lot of Speed sphere power ups and your Black Mage, Lulu, will have a lot of Magic and MP power up sphere's. 255 is the highest number of stat you can get too but thats plenty strong! Any sphere can be activated by every character once, unless you get a special item that can reactivate it again. You accumulate AP (Ability Points) after battles which will give you sphere level ups. Then you can use those levels to move on the sphere grid and get stronger!

Originality:
While playing the game you will probably notice some kind of character similarities to previous Final Fantasy Characters. However not everything is the same Square keeps introducing new smile

Plot:
The plot of the game will keep you guessing sometimes but it doesn't go off to where you'll be saying "huh?" Its not to hard and not too shallow just right smack in the middle. We have our heroes who embark on a pilgrimage to defeat an evil entity known as Sin. You get to find out about Past present and future about the quest.

Replay Value:
There are many things beside the story to keep you entertained. For example there's an underwater type soccer sport called Blitzball where you have a team of 5 fielders and 1 goley. The aim of the game is to get the ball to the other side of the arena and make your shot while enduring encounters and their techniques. There's a place where you can go fight monsters for a price for sort of like a training session. The are conquest monsters are possibly the hardest bosses you will fight in your RPG career! There's also secret things that you can uncover that will give you great advantages in battle like Secret Aeons, legendary weapons, etc. I'm up to 140hrs so far!

Sounds:
Square did a good job on the sound effects in the game. Sometimes the characters add in their 'adlib's in battles and the voice acting was done well. The Soundtrack of the game ranges from nice and relaxing to vicious.

Visuals:
The rendered characters are detailed very nicely while they keep a good resemblance to reality which is good. A lot of the summons have simply marvelous special effects. The FMV sequences scores the big 10 here. Its simply beautiful to look at. The FMV's here are simply the best the Console market offers today.

ESRB Rating

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