After picking up a bit of FFX-2 lovin' I've been trying to bundle my way through the game a bit recently (don't worry, I played all the way through FFIX in Japanese without understanding a word so I'm used to this sort of stuff now) and must confess to really enjoying myself with the title. It breathes a fresh new lease of life into a series that I didn't really expect but have found myself absolutely captivated in.
Initial perceptions of the series cheapening itself in order to pander to popular consumer tastes swiftly give way as a whole new way of looking at the Final Fantasy series prevails.
first of all I must say, X-2 is slick. Very slick. Whilst the restrained actions of most of the character's expressions remain in some instances, the range of emotions conveyed in cutscenes where the facial models are more detailed are absolutely wonderful. Rikku, in particular, looks fabulous, particularly when yelling after people in only the way Rikku can. Loading times feel quicker, split screen and in-screen sections where the main screen gives way to menus such as the dress change screen just give X-2 such a polished finish.
But the real point that makes X-2 so fascinating, to me, is how the game just seems to set a tone that no other FF game has really achieved before, nor have any of them really tried until now (particularly in the opening stages of the game). J-pop concerts and cutting edge dress designs turn out not to be efforts to just reach out to a wider, possibly more female audience. they are all factors which lead X-2 to have such a bright atmosphere. Unlike most other RPGs, X-2 doesn't tend to take itself too seriously. I think the reintroduction of known characters helps this no end - Paine keeps things fresh to some extent but time need not be wasted setting out an intricate plotline of a protagonist struck with memory-loss or placed out of his/her ordinary world.
The real heartening point to take away is how these references to popular modern culture don't really cheapen the FF experience. Rather, they build on it in many ways. Directing is now much more vivid and oozes personality - split screen shots and colourful camera angles in cut scenes indicate a large influence from television and movie direction that will no doubt appeal to many.
X-2 is fresh. It is new. And it is the shake-up that the RPG genre has been looking for. The pace slows quickly after the breakneck pacing of the opening chapter but the title promises much. It's chapter-based architecture may displease fans of open-ended adventure but the whole world is still avaliable for exploration at any time. It basically has core FF elements that are tackled in a new light - jumping sections aren't made to frustrate, for they are relatively simple. They simply act to make the scenery more exciting to traverse and break some elements of previously stiff scenery design in previous FFs. Combat, again, brings back the semi-realytime ATB structure that gives fights a sense of urgency and action, yet the strict placement of characters on a battlefield is lost in favour of characters being able to place themselves where they please and attack un unison, rather than one at a time. Small changes, but all of these just gradually break down the strict rules and formulae that RPGs have so often been built on resulting in a more organic, free-flowing experience. No single element revolutionises, but they compound to creat something never seen before for the series.
I think Ten-Two is great, and I'm just wondering if anyone thinks the same or whether anyone disagrees with me. I haven't gotten too far into the game, which does appear to lose its early pace once you get further into it, but it is such a fresh take on the franchise that I can't help but be excited at how the rest of the game may turn out (particularly when I get my hands on a copy that I can understand)
Initial perceptions of the series cheapening itself in order to pander to popular consumer tastes swiftly give way as a whole new way of looking at the Final Fantasy series prevails.
first of all I must say, X-2 is slick. Very slick. Whilst the restrained actions of most of the character's expressions remain in some instances, the range of emotions conveyed in cutscenes where the facial models are more detailed are absolutely wonderful. Rikku, in particular, looks fabulous, particularly when yelling after people in only the way Rikku can. Loading times feel quicker, split screen and in-screen sections where the main screen gives way to menus such as the dress change screen just give X-2 such a polished finish.
But the real point that makes X-2 so fascinating, to me, is how the game just seems to set a tone that no other FF game has really achieved before, nor have any of them really tried until now (particularly in the opening stages of the game). J-pop concerts and cutting edge dress designs turn out not to be efforts to just reach out to a wider, possibly more female audience. they are all factors which lead X-2 to have such a bright atmosphere. Unlike most other RPGs, X-2 doesn't tend to take itself too seriously. I think the reintroduction of known characters helps this no end - Paine keeps things fresh to some extent but time need not be wasted setting out an intricate plotline of a protagonist struck with memory-loss or placed out of his/her ordinary world.
The real heartening point to take away is how these references to popular modern culture don't really cheapen the FF experience. Rather, they build on it in many ways. Directing is now much more vivid and oozes personality - split screen shots and colourful camera angles in cut scenes indicate a large influence from television and movie direction that will no doubt appeal to many.
X-2 is fresh. It is new. And it is the shake-up that the RPG genre has been looking for. The pace slows quickly after the breakneck pacing of the opening chapter but the title promises much. It's chapter-based architecture may displease fans of open-ended adventure but the whole world is still avaliable for exploration at any time. It basically has core FF elements that are tackled in a new light - jumping sections aren't made to frustrate, for they are relatively simple. They simply act to make the scenery more exciting to traverse and break some elements of previously stiff scenery design in previous FFs. Combat, again, brings back the semi-realytime ATB structure that gives fights a sense of urgency and action, yet the strict placement of characters on a battlefield is lost in favour of characters being able to place themselves where they please and attack un unison, rather than one at a time. Small changes, but all of these just gradually break down the strict rules and formulae that RPGs have so often been built on resulting in a more organic, free-flowing experience. No single element revolutionises, but they compound to creat something never seen before for the series.
I think Ten-Two is great, and I'm just wondering if anyone thinks the same or whether anyone disagrees with me. I haven't gotten too far into the game, which does appear to lose its early pace once you get further into it, but it is such a fresh take on the franchise that I can't help but be excited at how the rest of the game may turn out (particularly when I get my hands on a copy that I can understand)
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