Mangybeard rates this game: 4/5Final Fantasy X-2 is the direct sequel to Final Fantasy X, taking place approximately 2 years after the events of the first X. Having seen a sphere (basically a recording) featuring a man who looks strikingly like her lost love, Tidus, former summoner Yuna gathers a crew and becomes a sphere hunter, hoping to find out more about the man in the sphere...
Here's why you want to play this: the Spherechange system makes combat a bit more fun. To explain: Final Fantasy X-2 has different classes a character can be, like Thief or Black Mage. You can switch classes in the middle of the fight! Furthermore, each party member has a special class just for them, and they are awesome. When you use it, they get super-powerful and become a 3-part party on their own. By default, they have the ability to break the health and damage caps, and can be immune to status effects. They also can learn extremely powerful exclusive abilities. In short, Final Fantasy X-2 lets you be a boss fight!
This game is definitely more silly than the previous title, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Definitely worth a try, but be ready for weird.
LeftyGuitar rates this game: 3/5Final Fantasy X-2 is the direct sequel to Final Fantasy X. Gone is the serious tone FF X had. FF X-2 has a more upbeat tone. In FF X-2, Yuna, Rikku and Paine are sphere hunters who hunt spheres to study the history of Spira. FF X-2 no longer features the CTB system, now it is back to a ATB system, but a lot faster. Battles are still-turned pace, but they run at a fast pace. You will be able to use dress-spheres to alter your stats, gain and or use new abilities. Although FF X-2 has some linear paths, it isn't as linear as FF X, you also select the area you want to explore from the air-ship. While the story and the way FF X-2 presents itself is odd, it is still an enjoyable game with good gameplay. I'd reccommend it for die-hard FF fans.
James rates this game: 5/5Final Fantasy X-2 is the first direct sequel in the renowned RPG series. X-2 highlights a cast of returning characters and features mission-based gameplay, an all-female lead cast, unique job classes and a dynamic battle system. The story takes place two years after Yuna defeated Sin in Final Fantasy X, and follows Yuna's journey to find her lost love. Scattered all across the dangerous lands are spheres which show visual recordings of historical events or open up different types of job classes to use in battle.
WoAh rates this game: 3/5While Final Fantasy X-2 is an original idea, feeling exactly like it came out of a super cheesy 90s film - it's flaws with story and character can be somewhat jarring, particularly if you are invested in its predecessor.
There are many instances where characters will do the most utterly stupid and nonsensical things, framed in them jumping around and giggling. Fanservice is abound, and at times it can get overbearing.
Some interesting new characters are introduced, but we, sadly, don't learn much about them.
However, gameplay wise it is a fairly solid and unique.
Era Scarecrow rates this game: 3/5 You begin with only a few dress-spheres, gunner, warrior, theif and the songstress. There are something like 30 dress-spheres in the game, each one with their own quirks. For the most part the dress-spheres are separate from eachother although a few do cross over a bit; There are however three special dress-spheres which only one of your party can use (one of yuna, rikku & paine). Changing between them feels similar to sailor moon when she transforms.
Equipment is non-existant (being only accessories), everything else is determined by the active dress-sphere plus a minor boost from the sphere-grid being used.
The whole world is pretty much accessible to you right away, and the entire world's encounter difficulty is determined by the current chapter. Side quests & mini-quests litter the game that are a good break from constant battle; They also are a source of some spheres. If you fail to get a dress-sphere, you can get it on the next run through with newgame+ (And there are a few where you can only have one or the other).
Newgame plus not only starts you over, but you lose all your levels. You keep your items, spheres and accessories from the previous time.
The only real difficulties I had were unexpected harder monsters after the chapters (if you do it too soon), and going underground under level 45.
The plot, ending, and current life of the previous group (you played) feels a little off. Might be a spoiler, but you won't find/get tidus, you won't obtain any fayth, and the Leblanc Syndicate are all idiots (although not really bad guys).