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Final Fantasy X
by Jolex Del Pilar
Sunday, December 9 2001
The last single player Final Fantasy, say it isn't so!
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Title:
Final Fantasy X
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Platform:
PS2
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Publisher:
Squaresoft |
Developer:
Squaresoft |
#
of Players: 1 |
Genre:
RPG
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Origin:
Japan
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Expected
Release:
December 26, 2001 |
Grapevine:
This games release date has been moved forward (yes I said forward) to December 26th from it's earlier release date of January 2002. For those who are planning to spend all out after Christmas, put FFX on that list. |
The Final Fantasy series, what more can one say? In excess of 85 million software sales, even more millions of hardcore fans, a feature film, and a valuable product line. Plain and simple it sells. Whether the current incarnation is subpar (FF8), or excellent (FF9), the series can sell like no other license can, Zelda and Mario included.
Final Fantasy X is back to where it was in FF8. By that I mean, the game has gone back to it's neo-technological art direction rather than it's old school FF9 look. That's okay, however we'll miss Vivi and his deformed, super-sized head.
The main narrative of Final Fantasy X is interesting in it's own right however. The game begins with Tidus, world-famous athlete, signing autographs before a big blitzball game (Blitzball is one of the many mini-games playable in the game). Blitzball is an extreme, zero-gravity sport played in a sphere of gravitationally suspended water. As the city watches the game, a giant sphere of energy called "Sin" moves toward the stadium. Sin is a montage of many bad things, including a tidal wave, evil monsters, and a monster headache. Suffice to say, it is some very bad stuff. Contrary to the traditional Final Fantasy villian, Sin is ineffable, and without identity. A unique twist to the Kefkas, and Sepheroths of the previous games of the series.
In one of the most amazing cinemas of the game, Sin destroys the city, the Blitzball stadium and completely kills of most of the crowd watching. Tidus barely escapes, but by his pure athelticism is able to escape the Sin long enough until he meets a friend, Auron. It is here that Auron and Tidus must fight to escape Sin.
The graphics of the game are perhaps the most advanced of the system yet. The modeling is most impressive in that the transition between 3D CGI animations, and real-time redered graphics is almost seamless. That's testament to the system itself.
The controls remain familiar to fans of the series, and it works well. If isn't broken, don't tinker with it and break it. Right?
This games release date has been moved forward (yes I said forward) to December 26th from it's earlier release date of January 2002. For those who are planning to spend all out after Christmas, put FFX on that list. It's sure to blow a few minds after the Christmas excitement.
--- Jolex Del Pilar, VGLN PS2
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