FFX was a good sequel. Not a great sequel, but a good one. It was the best PS2 launch title and must-own if you enjoyed JRPGs, and the FF series in particular. I'm not sure I would recommend it to anyone fourteen years later, but it served its purpose and I can't find major fault with it.
That's pretty much the case with X-2, as well. There's your litmus. If you enjoyed X, you'll enjoy this one, probably......even with the New Game + the ease of beating it discourages many replays. There aren't any Self Imposed Challenges; the thing plays itself. I did enjoy the job system immensely, but the jobs have no bearing on how battles play out.
This is a peppy sort of game. Yuna's character development is already half-over when the game begins; Paine is a lot of fun, but lacks depth beyond her "aloof goth girl" attitude. Rikku has no business being here at all! The most interesting thing to happen to her was Home being blown up, and that didn't affect her in the slightest! She has the personality of Zooey Deschenel, she dresses like a dime-store Xena villainess, and talks like one of those jive-talking animals from Disney films. The girls are only here to swap banter, look good, make innuendos and kick ass. And they do all those things wonderfully.
If anything, X-2's plot is a bit too interesting, especially given its payoff — or lack thereof. We learn that each of Spira's bigwigs share some sort of murky history. Why did Nooj betray his unit? Is he living or unsent? Is everyone dead, including one of the main party members?? The explanation behind the Crimson Squad and Vegnagun is pretty bad — it's easier to set up mysteries than to resolve them. The big revelation surrounding the new character, Paine, is similarly flaccid.
Only J-pop can save us now
FFX was a good sequel. Not a great sequel, but a good one. It was the best PS2 launch title and must-own if you enjoyed JRPGs, and the FF series in particular. I'm not sure I would recommend it to anyone fourteen years later, but it served its purpose and I can't find major fault with it.
That's pretty much the case with X-2, as well. There's your litmus. If you enjoyed X, you'll enjoy this one, probably......even with the New Game + the ease of beating it discourages many replays. There aren't any Self Imposed Challenges; the thing plays itself. I did enjoy the job system immensely, but the jobs have no bearing on how battles play out.
This is a peppy sort of game. Yuna's character development is already half-over when the game begins; Paine is a lot of fun, but lacks depth beyond her "aloof goth girl" attitude. Rikku has no business being here at all! The most interesting thing to happen to her was Home being blown up, and that didn't affect her in the slightest! She has the personality of Zooey Deschenel, she dresses like a dime-store Xena villainess, and talks like one of those jive-talking animals from Disney films. The girls are only here to swap banter, look good, make innuendos and kick ass. And they do all those things wonderfully.
If anything, X-2's plot is a bit too interesting, especially given its payoff — or lack thereof. We learn that each of Spira's bigwigs share some sort of murky history. Why did Nooj betray his unit? Is he living or unsent? Is everyone dead, including one of the main party members?? The explanation behind the Crimson Squad and Vegnagun is pretty bad — it's easier to set up mysteries than to resolve them. The big revelation surrounding the new character, Paine, is similarly flaccid.