Exclusive to Sony Playstation, Final Fantasy X and its direct sequel X-2 received its HD Remaster last year and came in a single package called Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster for Playstation3 and with its more polished characters, enhanced music and bonus content there couldn’t by anything more you could’ve asked for but with the Playstation4 already around, Square Enix found there’s still some space to squeeze in another Remaster. Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD Remaster carries over the International version of both games, which was originally exclusive only for Asia and Europe. The International version of FFX and FFX-2 feature more content name Dark Aeons, the Expert Grid and an in-game movie that ties in FFX and FFX-2. For FFX- International, we get the Psychic and Festivalist dresspheres, Creature Creator and Fiend Arena tournaments as well as the bonus quest which closes out the ending.
For those who have not experienced Final Fantasy X and X-2 yet, let’s break down the games first. Final Fantasy X is arguably one of the most memorable games entering the new millennium with its strong story-telling, vibrant setting, diverse and likable cast and a polished combat system ties everything down making Final Fantasy X simply a must-play title if you’re a JRPG fan. Moving on to FFX-2, we have what’s pretty much just a cash-in on the Final Fantasy X hype train taking Yuna from timid to action-star, allowing players to play dress-up with the characters which what we feel just amounts to fan service. Don’t get us wrong, it’s enjoyable to an extent, but simply doesn’t hold a candle to what Final Fantasy X delivers on the larger scale of things especially plot.
Still, both games still stick to the tried and tested JRPG formula and fans of the genre will feel right at home with both series with each game presenting their own personal touch to the fighting system, Final Fantasy X being the more traditional of the two with regards to the Final Fantasy franchise. That said, its a timeless piece of work and is downright solid. Regardless of the age of the game, its an excellent gaming experience.
Ultimately its the graphics that’s really the focal point here with both Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 receiving fairly extensive cosmetic surgery here, remodeling the PS2-era characters into their modern day next-gen counterpart. While it may not be CG-quality, textures and models have definitely improves. It’s still not to the same detail as say Final Fantasy XIII, but there’s sufficiently enough eye candy to notice that even those who have played the game as kids would notice the difference. The audio department also receives some enhancement with the game BGM remastered in HD also. Final Fantasy X may not be the first to use a vocal theme song (like Final Fantasy VIII’s Eyes on Me) but Final Fantasy X’s Suteki Da Ne is one of the most exquisitely apt BGM to have ever adorned a video game CG scene that FFXIII’s attempt at simulating it pales so much in comparison. Add to that the Jpop helping of Final Fantasy X-2 with Koda Kumi providing singing vocals for FFX-2’s Real Emotion and 1000 Words BGMs with its English counter-part doing a good performance equivalent. All in all, Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster lives up to its name, delivering an excellent visual and audio recreation of the timeless classic that is Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2.
Final Fantasy X is still one of the best titles in the Final Fantasy franchise and if you haven’t experienced it yet, this is the best way to do it. While Final Fantasy X-2 will always serve as a bonus game rather than a real sequel to FFX, having them both in the same bundle gives us an excellent package. Final Fantasy X is a game worth playing with one of the finest stories ever told.
