Final Fantasy X-2 Preview
Developer: Square
Publisher: Square
Genre: RPG
Platform: PS2
Sources: Famitsu Magazine, IGN PS2 media
Square is a company that knows when it has something good. Final Fantasy X shipped a near 3,000,000+ copies world wide and is still selling quite strong. With the addition of the epilogue movie included in Final Fantasy X International in Japan, people began to wonder whether Square would go where they had never gone before; develop the first true sequel to a Final Fantasy game. And surely enough, they are, Final Fantasy X-2.
2 years after the conclusion of FFX, the former summoner and defeater of Sin, Yuna, has started out on her own journey. Equipped with a pair of machina guns, and some new (perhaps uncalled for) scantily clad clothing. Much debate has come up over whether Yuna’s new threads are too non-Yuna-esque, that the Yuna we all grew to know would never be caught wearing short shorts, high black boots, and a much revealing tank top. Although, Square has assured us that Yuna has not lost her personality, rather the new clothing was designed in mind of a more active Yuna. Jumping gaps, scaling mountains, hanging on edges, etc. these are some of the new game play additions Square has put into FFX-2. By no means has this game become a platformer, but rather these new aspects will provide a more interesting and altogether fun way of exploration.
Apparently, although not quite certain yet, much of the world is open for the player to explore right from the start of them game. Those worried about FFX-2 using the same linear aspects as FFX can rest easy, as FFX-2 will be almost the opposite. FFX-2 will use Mission Select and Active Link systems, which are the base of the game’s non-linearity. The Mission Select allows players to travel to the various areas of Spira and play out different episodes (missions) which go along with the story. Players will have full control of where they want to go and when they want to go there. The time and order of which they complete missions will determine which episodes will appear. For example: going to an abandon look-out tower to search for Spheres instead of helping out a city fight a large scale battle may result in the city losing the battle and thus creating a different mission when upon you decide to go there. The Active Link system will show the different ways of which the story will change depending on the actions you have taken.
In terms of story, much has changed in Spira over the 2 years since the conclusion of FFX. The once worshiped Yevon religion has fallen, resulting in the increase of machina technology (once forbidden by Yevon). Yuna’s handguns, airships, robots, hover-bikes, and even new cities are all signs of a new era of Spira. As some of you FFX fans have already guessed, Yuna no longer has her summoning abilities. Since the defeat of Sin and Yu Yevon, the Aeons have departed, and only time will tell to whether she will gain her abilities back at some point in the game. As seen in the epilogue included with FFX International, Yuna sets out to find Tidus after viewing a Sphere depicting him locked in some kind of prison. Kimahri, the now chief of the Ronso clan, found the Sphere in the deep dark caves of the Gagazet Mountains. After allowing Rikku to view the Sphere, she immediately left on a ship to Besaid island to tell Yuna of its contents. Much of the former main characters, such as Wakka who is now the father of Lulu’s unborn baby, will make reappearances in FFX-2, whether they will play a major role in the story or be playable is unknown as of yet.
Yuna and Rikku become Sphere Hunters and set out on an adventure to find Spheres. Spheres contain the visual recordings of Spira’s history, Sphere Hunters collect these to discover the true nature of Spira. There are 2 Sphere Hunter clans that we know of so far, Kamome (the clan of which Yuna and Rikku belong to), and Le Blanc, the rival to Yuna’s clan and named after its female leader, Le Blanc. Also in the Le Blanc gang: the tall gun wielding Sano, and the short, fat Uno.
The staff positions for this game will be changed somewhat. Yoshinori Kitase will remain the producer as he was for FFX. Motomo Toriyama will now be the director whereas he was the Event Director in FFX. Unforunately, Nobou Uematsu will not be working on the game’s soundtrack and will hand over the role to Noriko Matsueda and Takehito Eguchi (both last worked on the soundtrack for The Bouncer).
The third main character who was mysteriously shown in various pictures and posters released by Square, has now been confirmed as a new character named Paine (previously thought to be Lulu). As Famitsu magazine describes, Paine is a member of the Kamome clan, she is 18 years old, has somewhat of a bad attitude, and fluently speaks the Al Bhed language. Apparently, she has a secret past shrouded in a dark mystery.
The battle system this time around appears to be a return of an old favorite, with new a twist. The Active Time Battle system will be used in FFX-2, with a more action oriented setting and incorporating many new battle tactics. To use an action in battle (attack, magic, item, etc), a portion of the ATB bar will be used up. The type of action you use depends on how much of the bar you use up (and hence how long it will take to fill up again). Example: using a standard attack may take up 3/4 of the bar, whereas using a strong magic attack may take up the whole bar. Also, the CTB (count time battle) system from FFX (where the order of your party and their actions determines their strategy) has returned. New interesting features such as the ACS (attack chain system) have been added, where a character may preform multiple attacks for less damage, but receive greater damage from enemies.
The Job System used in previous FF games has returned. Each character starts off at their own job class (Yuna: Gunner, Rikku: Thief, Paine: Knight). By pressing L1 during battle, you can choose from a selection of Dress Spheres (obtained from enemies, dungeons, shops, etc). Simply pick the Sphere you want for that character and they will (after a brief video) transform into their new job class and acquire not only a new look, but also new abilities (each class contains different abilities, obviously).
As far as graphics go, they are said to be more detailed and less jaggy than in FFX, but don’t expect any major improvements (hey, FFX’s graphics were good enough to begin with, right?).
Final Fantasy X-2 is scheduled to be released in Japan by March 2003. A North American release has not been made yet (but we all know it’s coming eventually).
--DarkMaster
GT Exclusive: Final Fantasy X-2 Preview
It does look interesting. I thought it was just some modifications and extras, but it looks to be a whole new game.
Hybrid Mode
