Review: Final Fantasy X/X-2 Remaster

I’ve been subject to something of a crash course in Final Fantasy as of late, and I can say without hesitation that I’m quite pleased. First I enjoyed Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII which spurred me to read up on the first two XIII games. From there I took Final Fantasy XII for a spin before watching the entire story of VII on YouTube. I’m only partway through my comprehensive Final Fantasy journey, but I feel a break is in order; what better way to spend it than revisiting two beloved classics I did originally play, one of which is considered by some to be the last great Final Fantasy? I certainly can’t think of any.

If there’s anything the Fabula Nova Crystallis (basically, Final Fantasy XIII) series has taught us, it’s that not all direct follow-ups are created equal. This holds true for Final Fantasy X as well. Unlike its successors, though, here it’s less about deeming one objectively better than the other, and more a matter of taste — do you get your kicks from heartwarming narrative, or tongue-in-cheek, outré whimsy? Everyone has their preferred Final Fantasy flavor, and it’s probably why the label “best in series” is eternally in contention. Luckily, when it comes to this remaster, you can forget all that. Both games have been adapted beautifully, and appreciating the care and attention Square has put into this modern makeover is nearly as enjoyable as playing the games themselves.

At their core, both games remain largely the same, and that’s by no means a bad thing. The unique battle systems of each respective title are still fun, and I was surprised by how well they hold up. In fact, had I not experienced these games before, there would be little to give away their age when it comes to pure inventiveness of RPG throwdown. Though both have their advantages, I’ve always been partial to X-2’s awesomely quirky outfit-swapping combat, where various dresspheres are applied to Garment Grids in an effort to achieve the most statistically beneficial combinations. Dresspheres can be hot-swapped on the fly (not terribly unlike Schemata from Lightning Returns, actually), and the goofy animations that come along with them are half the fun.

Final Fantasy X’s combat, on the other hand, is equally heavy on the strategy (if not more so), but is a bit more traditional-leaning. You can swap party members, which is the main gimmick, but even so, it all feels just a bit more JRPG 101. That’s not to say it doesn’t have tremendous depth, as it most certainly does, it’s just that it’s not terribly creative by today’s standards. Some would call it timeless (hence Bravely Default’s success and wide acclaim), though I’m more inclined to call it slightly outdated but still worthwhile. Regardless, you’ll come to your play-style preference eventually. That’s why it’s so great that Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster includes both games.

The real meat of an HD remaster (as opposed to a remake) typically comes in the form of overhauled visuals, and all-in-all, Square’s end result with Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 is abundantly impressive. The first thing you’ll notice are the brand new character models. All main characters have been built from scratch, and this alone does wonders bringing the game up to modern specifications. From faces to hair and even outfits, Spira’s chosen heroes look truly splendid, and the fact that Tidus’s hair shimmers or that Yuna’s top no longer looks painted on goes farther than you’d think in making a return visit to the game’s world a pleasant one. The remaster essentially projects how these games look in your memories onto the TV screen — which may not sound all that impressive, until you actually look at the PS2 originals.

Despite the many fruits of Square’s labor, Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is unabashedly just that. As a result its extreme makeover feels a hair less glorious than something like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD. Despite the revamped protagonists, NPCs can look pretty rough, and while important background set pieces have been redone to a respectable degree, others remain trapped in their PS2 wrappings. Additionally, animations have not been received the same level of care, and while hardly a problem during gameplay, stiff character movements sully what are otherwise fantastically improved in-engine cutscenes. Square Enix has done an excellent job buffing the hell out of an old jalopy, but no matter how hard you press, you won’t get new-car sheen without fresh paint. Considering the Remaster moniker, I’d say they’ve done excellent work, and niggles aside, Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 are at times truly dazzling. The thought of younger generations being able to play these classics in such fine form is a wonderful one. Square should be all set on Karma points for a while.

There is a dash of new content thrown it, but technically it already existed in the International Editions of the game released previously. With Final Fantasy X you’ll gain access to challenging Super Bosses, while Final Fantasy X-2 introduces the far more interesting Creature Creator, which allows you to tame not only beasts and animals but actual NPCs. The results can be pretty amusing, and it’s the most fun I had with any of the “new” content. There’s also the Last Mission rogue-like minigame and a cutscene-turned-short called “Eternal Calm”, but your mileage will most certainly vary when it comes to those. I appreciate the inclusion, but they didn’t hold my attention for very long.

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What does that leave? Not a whole lot. You know what you’re getting with story if you played the originals, and despite incessant (and perhaps unfair) mocking of Final Fantasy X’s infamous “laughing scene”, its story is probably the better of the pair. Whether first-timers can look past its Chester Cheetah-approved exterior remains to be seen, though, and for them the sheer amusement and entertainment value provided by Final Fantasy X-2 may end up being the better fit. It terms of fun, I’ll admit I enjoyed revisiting Final Fantasy X-2 far more than I thought I would, which by itself makes it much easier to recommend Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster as a whole. It’s funny the tricks time can play on games as they age.

In the end, you really can’t go wrong with this package, and unless you possess some kind of contempt for the original games, you’ll want to grab this if you can justify designating the cash. It even has cross saving for Vita and PS3 enabled, so buying both versions will let you take Spira on the go if you’re someone who wants that. Regardless, Final Fantasy X/X-2 Remaster is the definitive edition of two very important JRPGs that leave a lasting impression, and for that alone you ought to be keeping an eye on it. If you don’t want it for yourself, then gift it to someone else — keeping classics alive is no simple task, but what Square has done makes it markedly less difficult.