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Final Fantasy X-2
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[P]erhaps the most detailed sub-game in Final Fantasy X-2 is the newly formed "Sphere Break" (which is to X-2 what Blitzball was to X). Grid-based with a very distant relationship to dominoes, Sphere Break asks players to match numbers and form combinations with a base set of 12 unique coins; Use the correct quota of coins before the turn limit is over, and you can win prizes, money, and more coins. It's pretty much as simple as that. And while this particular mini-game is moderately entertaining the first few times you play it, it just isn't as deep or involving as Blitzball, Tetra Master, or Triple Traid. Particularly bothersome is the fact that you can't look at what kinds of coins you have until you actually start an exhibition-- only then may you see what kind of inventory you have to work with. It's a pretty sloppy setup in that regard, but the majority of X-2's remaining mini-games make up for it.
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Final Fantasy X-2 is the first-ever direct sequel to appear in Square's legendary Final Fantasy series of role-playing adventure games. Here the emphasis is placed squarely on the all-female trio of adventurers who make up the player's role-playing team. At the forefront is Yuna, of Final Fantasy X, who makes a heroic return just in time for another wild adventure. What's more, these girls have more about them than most all-girl manufactured pop groups; then, too, they remain at the cutting edge of fashion throughout the game, thanks to a system of costume changes.
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Though a direct sequel to Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2 does not duplicate its predecessor's gameplay; instead, it innovates on traditional elements. Like pre-Final Fantasy X installments, characters "level up" after a certain number of battles, by gaining pre-determined stat bonuses. The Conditional Turn-Based Battle system in Final Fantasy X has been replaced by a faster-paced variation of the Final Fantasy series' traditional Active Time Battle (ATB) system, which was originally designed by Hiroyuki Ito and first featured in Final Fantasy IV. Whenever a random enemy is encountered, the ATB system is used. Under this enhanced version of the ATB, playable characters may interrupt an enemy while they are preparing to take action, in lieu of waiting for an enemy's turn to finish before attacking. Furthermore, it is possible for both characters and enemies to chain attacks together for greater damage.
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The first official sequel to an existing Final Fantasy game, Final Fantasy X-2 continues the story of Yuna as she and two female companions set off on a combat-filled adventure to rescue hero Tidus from captivity. Taking place two years after Yuna's epic battle with Sin, the game ... stars Riku and a new character named Paine. Once again actresses Hedy Burress and Tara Strong reprise their roles as Yuna and Riku, respectively, and are joined by Gwendoline Yeo as the voice of Paine. While many of the settings will be familiar to Final Fantasy X players, albeit expanded upon in certain areas, a number of changes have been made to the core game engine.
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Probably the single most interesting thing about Final Fantasy X-2's gameplay is the decidedly un-RPG-like way that it unfolds. You start out aboard the Celsius, the Gullwings' airship, and you're immediately given access to just about every area in the game (most of which will be familiar to FFX fans). The game is broken into five chapters, and every area contains at least one interesting task or story piece to experience per chapter. FFX-2 is sort of a make-your-own-RPG in that you can go just about anywhere in any order you wish. You only have to complete a handful of missions to advance to the next chapter, and the areas with relevant story goals are denoted by a "hotspot" label on the area select screen. This setup effectively makes the majority of FFX-2's content optional, although to ignore the side missions is to miss out on a lot of items and some rather significant pieces of the storyline.
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FINAL FANTASY X-2 was ... a finalist in Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction and Console Role Playing Game of the Year categories. The title was released in November 2003 in North America for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and has sold more than one million units to date.
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Final Fantasy X-2