Final Fantasy X

Not the best of the Final Fantasy series, but definitely a fun play. The voice acting is irritating at first, but it gets better. The sphere grid system can be a bit slow, but is the most fun addition 2 the game. Also enjoyable is being able 2 swap your party members mid-battle, this leads 2 more strategic battles.

How can they call this a "game"? it's basically just a long cartoon which never lets you play! I can't believe there are so many good reviews 4 a game which has no challenge or fun value. You might as well just watch a japanese cartoon on TV because that's all this is.

This game wasn't a horrific, disgusting waste of money, but compared with others in the series, I am a little put off by how many people think it is unquestionably the best.

As someone who plays RPGs primarily 4 their fantastic, better-than-Hollywood stories, I was left feeling devoid & empty after conquering FF9, hands-down the most loose-end-resolving game I have EVER played, in any series, period. Not wanting 2 replay any others at the time, I decided, against someone close's advice, 2 pop in FF10 & give it a shot. And, after I passed the point where certain characters boarded a ship & left the first village, I was glad I did.

For one thing, the voice acting alone was particularly exciting--I had always dreamed of the day when someone would convert treasures like FF6 & FF4 into full-blown movies, & this was the closest thing so far. I was a little concerned about the cheesiness in certain places (mostly the beginning or involving Rikku, who I did find very useful in battle), & the fact that Yuna sounded completely bored about everything you talked 2 her about; but 4 the most part the verbage & dialect of each character was consistent, & the cheesiness was allocated 2 the more light-hearted characters, who either became endearing, too powerful in battle 2 dislike, or both. Even Tidus's jocky character, which still gave impressions of cool shallowness rigbt through 2 the end, was anchored substantially by his intermittent pensive, almost nostalgic narrations. Complete with many musical tracks that blurred emotional lines at exactly the appropriate moments, & overlooking the fact that some of the music was mastered too loudly 4 the dialogue, I would give this game 5 stars if it were based only on the graphics & cinematic quality, which are just short of fantastic.

The fighting system, as well, is actually one of the most entertaining I've ever experienced in a FF. I'll admit it--I'm the person who just attacks everything with physical weapons as fast as possible just 2 get through the random battles as fast as possible (I almost never "Escape" because I end up leveling up a little ahead of where I should be when I just stick it out), but this game has probably broken me of that lazy, anti-strategist habit forever. The ability 2 switch out & use every character in battle not only (for me, anyway) kept the lead characters adequately leveled up (they're never my favorites, 4 some reason), but also was a great exercise in strategy, even though some characters ended up with odd attributes in the Sphere Grid later on in the game (Lulu was the last 2 learn "Ultima", & Kimahri became a skilled white wizard). Even though the sphere grid was a little frustrating at times (spending hours trying 2 get Lv. 4 spheres, 4 instance), it was exciting 2 see character's attributes going up when they were already kicking [...]. Customizing your own weapons, too, was probably one of the most satisfying features ever 2 be included in a linear RPG, & it was great, 4 example, 2 just buy up a bunch of Shimmering Blades & then make Auron one of everything (I could just see him perusing his supplies & casually selecting how he wanted 2 kill something--poison? stone? zombification?). The possibilities are numerous, if not endless, though the process of obtaining the ingredients took about as many hours as all the other parts of the game put together (I finally just gave up on getting 32 Hypello Potions 4 everyone, & Farplane Winds, forget it.).
So the fighting system, in sum, also gets a 5.

The reason I absolutely had 2 give this game a 4, & actually the reason why I had 2 say something after reading several negative comments by halfway-throughers, is the ending. Maybe it's because I had just come out of playing FF9, where everyone & his dog has a complete, satisfying happy (or not-so-happy) ever after, but even compared with Young Merlin, where you have little characters jumping up & down & mumbling at each other & which is not even an RPG, this ending SUCKS. Not because of the main thing that happens, which everyone who has played through 2 the very end knows what I'm talking about & which probably inspired a lot of the FF10 AMVs on YouTube, but because they, 2 put it appropriately, completely dropped the blitzball on everything else. Not that the main thing was done very well either--the male character involved was much too complacent with the truth when he found it out, & unfortunately this carried over 2 everything else--but I'm sure I'm not alone in my absolute hatred of game endings where you've become completely attached 2 the characters & then after the big buildup & the final boss they say a maximum of two words & then the credits come. What the living **** is the point of creating interest in the characters (and this can be applied 2 any medium--books, movies, etc.--it even happened with a certain series about a British boy wizard) & then not taking two extra seconds 2 make up a satisfying, complete-feeling ending 4 them? More pointedly, what is the point of creating non-lead characters at all when they're just going 2 be ignored later & given no future? Barrett in FF7, Setzer in FF6, Rydia in FF4--I even liked Steiner as one of the best in FF9--what if they had all been blown by the wayside at the end of those games? I would have thrown something, along with millions of other people, I'm sure. Fortunately my favorite guy in FF10 had a decent resolution, but even that was blown off by the other characters themselves, & there were four characters--four, out of seven, who I don't think even got 2 speak after the final battle. The final battle itself wasn't too pretty either--that handy limit-break on the Masamune led me 2 kill the final boss with one 99999 hit, after Seymour (aka Sephiroth) killed me at least 5 times on Mt. Gagazet, resulting in 5 of the 7 game overs I got during the whole game. Sorry, but when I got beat the [...] out of in the Omega Dungeon & barely escaped with my life, I expected the final battle 2 be a little more challenging. I must say, though, that the one salvation of the end (something that happened before the final battle) was absolutely beautiful, & I actually teared up at that point, where I didn't even have time 2 be sad about anything else later on because it was over so quickly. The whole father-son relationship, & the part of the story concerning everyone involved with the Jecht spheres, was the true heart of this story in my book, & its playing-out was a triumph.

All in all, my best advice would be 2 stick with this game. Even if it seems a bit cheesy from the offset, it gets better; & even if the ending doesn't satisfy you either, the story itself before that is worth playing though, & you can always make up your own ending in your head if it bothers you enough.

This game is worth ever penny. It has everything an rpg lover likes, great story, charcters with thier own personalities, & fun attacks & enemies. With that said, does anyone know where I can purchase an international version of this game?

This game is the best game that I have personally ever played & I still play it now 7 years after release, & im not a Final Fantasy fanboy, this is the only Final Fantasy game that I have liked (only played 4 of them ). The story is the best I have seen in a game, & there are plenty of extra things 4 you 2 do throughout the game. The level-up system is very original & adds a ton of replayability 2 it.

Final Fantasy X takes you into the world of Zamarkand, where you must face down the dark force called Sin 2 save the world!

Each installment of the Final Fantasy series has featured strong storytelling, characterization, & strategic combat, fun minigames, & hours upon hours of captivating gameplay. The 10th title in the series is no exception. This is the first time a Final Fantasy game has appeared on the PlayStation2, & it takes full advantage of the increased technical capabilities.

The story this time concerns Tidus, a blond-haired star of a sport called Blitzball. While he is playing in a match, Tidus's city is attacked by an evil force called Sin, & everything is destroyed save Tidus & his guardian Auran. The adventure begins as the pair are somehow transported 2 another world. From here on, it's standard Final Fantasy gameplay: fight battles, manage experience points, learn new powers, & recruit a motley crew of nonplayer characters 2 join your quest.

The graphics, however, take things 2 a new level. They are amazing not only 4 their realism, but also 4 their imaginative art design. The world these heroes inhabit is breathtakingly beautiful, flowing, & full of inventive surprises. You haven't lived until you've surfed cables high in the air, or ridden a graceful airship through the clouds. The stunning effects are on display when you use magic in combat, summon gigantic monsters, & use fire columns 2 devastate your foes.

One new element is voice acting. The innovation yields predictably mixed results: it's wonderful 2 hear spoken dialogue rather than read subtitles, but as with most games translated from Japanese, the acting is mediocre & sometimes unintentionally hilarious.

Still, the game's new graphics engine & solid gameplay are sure 2 please fans of the series waiting 2 see what Square has in store 4 them. While Final Fantasy X doesn't offer much innovation, it also doesn't disappoint. And fortunately, with Final Fantasy XI already in development, the title is still a misnomer. --Andrew S. Bub

Pros:

• Gorgeous graphics
• Epic story line
• Voice acting

Cons:

• Little innovation
• The voice acting is sometimes laughable

Final Fantasy X is the first title in this landmark RPG series 2 be released 4 the PlayStation2. The main characters are Tidus, a star of blitzball (a hugely popular sport in the Final Fantasy universe), & Yuna, who has learned the art of summoning & controlling aeons, powerful spirits of yore. These two people of different backgrounds must work together as they journey through the world of Spira. This installment of Final Fantasy has a distinctly Asian influence, bringing a fresh feel 2 the characters, music, settings, & story.

Features include voice-overs 4 the first time in the series (utilizing the Facial Motion System), high-polygon, motion-captured player characters designed by Tetsuya Nomura, & a camera that automatically adjusts its perspective 2 correspond with the movements of the characters--a feature now possible because the game is largely polygonal.