The walkthrough and strategy guide for Final Fantasy X (FFX) by Jegged.com provides a comprehensive list of abilities, including Auto-Abilities, Magic Spells, Specials, and Skills. These abilities are divided into different categories, such as commands used by characters and Auto-Abilities that can be equipped to them through the game.
In FFX, exploiting enemy elemental weakness is a significant part of battle, which can be hindered by foes that do not have a particular aversion or can absorb them. The Aeons in the game Final Fantasy X (FFX, FF10) are also discussed.
The -aja suffix indicates that the spell affects targets within an AoE instantaneously, increasing in potency with each turn. For example, Firaja is a spell used exclusively by Belias during his boss battle, causing Fire damage and Oil status to the whole party.
The -ara, -aga, and -aja suffixes are nonsense in Final Fantasy X, as they do not mean anything, even in Japan. The “ra, ga, ja” suffix spells are actually what they are called by in the Japanese version of the games. Based on information in this link, the -a, -ga, -ja, etc. endings for spells appear to be a naming convention Square decided on.
Spells are a staple Final Fantasy feature that makes use of elements to deal damage, or other types for healing and preventative measures. The -aga spells are unlocked right after Guadosalam in the lighting place, making it a little on the easy side for a FF player.
📹 THE Best Game of All Time |FFX Ultimate Analysis and Review In 2021
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📹 FINAL FANTASY X | A Complete Retrospective and Story Analysis
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One thing I appreciate as an adult that I recognized as a kid but couldn’t articulate was Tidus and his different tone when narrating versus how he talks every other time. He lacks any of his usually higher octaves and optimism and as you play the game he slowly matches that more cynical tone he has when he’s in narrator mode
I appreciate how the story went from everyone but Tidus originally knew that Yuna would’ve died at the end of the pilgrimage, but once she is saved, it’s Tidus that takes her place. He doesn’t burden anyone with that knowledge so no one will hesitate to see it through to the end. Protect the summoner even at the cost of one’s life. The code of the guardian.
To all those that have come here, those that played this game back when we were kids on the ps2. This game is special and still holds such a deep place inside all of our hearts for very good reasons. The story was both intimate and epic. The love story was heartbreaking. The score was incredible and the world was so beautiful. But this game was greater than the sum of its parts and has brought us all here for a reason. I still ache for this game from time to time. I will never get lost in a game like this again. There was just something magical about this game and I’m so happy we all got to experience it.
I never even thought of Tidus as immature or annoying. I’m 26 and honestly his “wtf is going on and why?” Reactions make sense to me. He wants answers and clarity. As anyone in his position would. He NEVER came off as too much or annoying to me. A guy thrown into a situation he knows nothing about and makes the best of it. In fact for a 17 year old….compared to others I know. Tidus may be the most mature 17 year old to ever live lol
I was in my late teens when I was playing this game and got up to Yuna’s wedding scene when due to unforeseen circumstances, I left my home and my family and this would be the last game I ever played. Looking back at this brings a conclusion to a story that remained unresolved in my mind for 20 years. Your narration and pacing was seamless and felt like part of the game itself. Thank you for devoting the time to make this 4.5 hour epic.
An interesting play on their names: I heard that “Yuna” means “Moon”, and “Tida” means “Sun”. It is said in the game that Yuna “walks in the darkness but shines her light around”, just like the Moon does. While Tidus both shines and walks in the light (believing everything to be good and optimistic) – he shines and he is in the light, too, like the Sun. But the Sun must eventually set – it’s no coincidence that “listen to my story” cutscene happens at the sunset, and in the darkness Sun can go no more. Still, the Sun – well, it “still shines as it sinks into the sea”, or so the song goes. The funny thing about Jecht, by the way, is that Auron was wrong about him. Jecht said he’ll cook up something to stop Sin for good, but Auron then narrated that “yet Jecht managed to do nothing in the end, and the cycle continued”. But, on the contrary – Jecht delivered his son into Spira! A son as stoic and stubborn as he himself was! And this very act of bringing Tidus to Spira was the end of Sin ultimately!
It blew my mind when you spoke about each Aeon singing their own Hym of the faith. Its such a small detail, but shows how much love went into creating this game. Its truly a masterpiece in everyday. I must have bought it 3 times and finished it at least 4. I first picked it up on ps2 becauss I thought the cover looked good and it was the 10th game! I might buy it again on the switch to support the team. Maybe one day we can get a prequel with Jeckt, Auron and Yunas Dad.
A detail I noticed on a recent playthrough that I didn’t see you touch on in this article. When Tidus is distraught when he learns that Yuna will die he begins hitting Valefor, but she covers him with her wings, like a mother hen protecting her chick, almost like she’s trying to comfort him, letting him release his frustration. Ever time I play through this game I see other little details that I missed and I love the game that much more. Everything, EVERYTHING, in this game is intentional and it’s why this is my favorite game.
This is in my opinion the greatest game of all time, no game has touched my soul in a similar manner. The story has been etched into my memories as though I had lived every moment in real life, I remember all the characters like old friends, the laughter the saddness, the romance and especially every victory along the way, a game that spirits you away into another world and back, a true master piece ❤😢
The fact that Tidus embraces that he is not real with joy rather than concern made me appreciate him a lot. He keeps this to himself even when the Fayths warn him he will disappear. The fact that he forgives his abusive father like nothing is quite a nice take of unconditional love. Many say Yuna is supposed to the MC, but Tidus is really the Sun that shines in the dark game.
This game was a formative experience for me. It kept me going during a huge shift in my life and cracked my emotional brain open like an egg. It’s so sad at times. Yuna’s resignation to dying and wanting to experience a happy final journey is so powerful. And coming to realise that’s it’s all a sham. And that’s ignoring the love story. I absolutely love it.
The intro is just so iconic, epic and special. When you are walking over the bridge and the radio host is talking about running away from home and how the disappearance of Jeht brought him and his dad closer together…. perfect. They dont make games like that anymore. So much love and passion put into a work of art.
This game is so much deeper and spiritual than any other FF-game by far. While many are futuristic and military-focused, this one is personal and epic. A true hero’s journey. Yeah, it is the best Final Fantasy game, no doubt. While the voice actor of Tidus wouldn’t be my first… or second… or whatever choice, and it may be too easy overall (even without ever using a Aeon) this game is near perfection in every other sense. At least, to me. I’ve played many RPGs, since the mid 90ies. This one I can play over and over again and it never bores me. I didn’t need to see more of spira, for this game is not about a world alone. It’s a personal story full of self-sacrifice and believe. Also, I really love the character of Jekkt. He grows so much. A prequel is all I pray for. Imagine this game with Unreal Engine 5.
It’s extra sad when at the end of the laughing scene she says “I want my journey to be full of laughter” when you consider what she believed that journey’s end would be. I’m not done with the article yet, but I want to say props to you for reviving my feelings for this game. I was obsessed with it when I played it when I was younger, but with time I thought that was just me being a kid. perusal this, I’m struck that no, it really was special and worthy of that.
And here I am 180 minutes in with not a chance of not finishing. You reminded me why this game was the first piece of art that I played. This game changed my life. It instilled empathy, looking past what’s right in front of you, and duty to be above yourself. This is the greatest game I’ve ever played and I owe my own development to this game. Thanks for the 4 hour article 🤩
Wow, that was really beautiful. It’s been so long since I completed FFX, so it was really nostalgic to relive the journey like this. I definitely remember the different story beats better than I do for almost any game I haven’t played in that long, which really speaks to how memorable the game is, but there were also fascinating details I had forgotten. I am, for instance, fairly sure I made the exact same mistake back then of thinking Lulu’s flare was some kind of teleportation spell, not just a signal to Wakka. Strange! Another thing I had forgotten was that Auron was killed by Yunalesca, which raises the question, if he died back then,why did he seemingly continue to age? Also got a renewed appreciation for how hard Auron’s theme hits every time it plays in the actual story. A great theme on its own, but they use it for several of the most unforgettable moments. Must have been a massive amount of work to put this together, but time really flew by perusal it Amazing work!
It is a beautiful game. The pacing, the drama, the characters, the soundtrack, the atmosphere and world-building, the technical skill involved in weaving a compelling game experience with minor loading. The developers had spend years honing their craft and ability, to create a strong narrative and technical execution of these types of RPG. One of the strongest titles ever – and something a whole generation of gamers remember.
I’m about over an hour into this review and I’m crying. You understand exactly how I feel about FFX. And even FFX-2. You literally nailed this review and I’m happy so so happy someone else adores this game as much as I do. It’s been my favorite since I was a child. Even when 7 was my first FF game. Nothing compared to X. Thank you for this Gem. I plan to share this. You reached my heart and it means everything to me. Thank you so much you earned a sub.
No wonder FF12 had a hard time living up to FFX’s expectations in terms of how deep, long and well developed the story of FFX was. I am inspired to get back to this game as I last played it back in the ps2 era. I hope you make a follow up for FFX-2 on how it has supplemented or unnecessary at all depending on your take why they had to make a “true ending” for FFX.
Top tier article celebrating a top tier game. It is amazing to me how much more I appreciate this game as the years pass. When it came out I was 13, and while I enjoyed the gameplay, the story did not resonate with me. Now, having adulted for a while now including raising a 9 year old little guy, this story wrecks me. Things such as Wakka bringing joy to people by winning as a way to distract from the harsh reality of life, or the relationship between Tidus and Jecht, or taking a deep look at your beliefs and religion in order to get past inherited biases – they all strike a deep connection now. It is a masterpiece that I just wasnt ready for at 13.
The first time you play you are Tidus, exploring a new world and experiencing everything as he does. All future plays its like Yuna, enjoying the journey to tragedy you know is waiting. I do wish I could experience the game for the first time again, since it feels so different on subsequent playthroughs.
Mate. First of all thank you for putting in all the work into creating this masterpiece. You talked about so much stuff I’ve never noticed or really thought about while playing the game years ago. You really made me fall in love with the game again and you made me appreciate the story so much more. Secondly I started to download the game again yesterday with the intention to replay the story myself and grind the expletive out of it. Much love ❤
I love how, if you play X first then follow that up with XIII-2 you can see how SE tried to show you a similar story only taken from the perspective of the other end. Caius Ballad is doing everything he can to save Yeul from a similar fate (but in doing so becomes the bad guy) and it really accentuates the “final” in the fantasy. It likewise has similar motives with throwing the player in at the end of the story (Tidus’ monologue in Zanarkand and the battle on the shores of Valhalla in FFXIII-2) and covers similar storybeats (people fighting against destiny) and have similar ends; Tidus’ vanishes, Yeul and Sarah die but likewise also make great points along the way. SE has the great distinction of being good in writing stories about the duality of life; how great moments can be great tragedies at the same time and that we usually celebrate the good things only when they’ve already ended. They’re also good at writing that (love)spark with the interaction between Tidus and Yuna, Fraan and Balthier, Nanamo and Raubahn (FFXIV); they’re really good at highlighting those emotions in characters without going over the top. It’s a great franchise but I can also understand that BECAUSE of this; it’s definitely not for everyone. As for my own experience….I bought FFX 5 times in total… 2x extra on PS2 because I played it SO much the discs simply gave out…another time as a steelbox set (simply for the collection), and finally on Steam so I could play it over and over and over again and then.
I loved this review, I recently beat the game and it’s one of the best stories I’ve encountered in any media and I wondered why wasn’t popular o well known for addressing the mature topics that most games would shy away from touching nowadays..all the reviews I saw prior playing the game were talking about as if it was just another average game..calling villains like seymour your tipical bad guy but he’s far from that I mean this game is underrated imo but you did justice to it and I’m sure that I’ll come back to this review just to remember how awesome it was
Its refreshing to see such an indepth review of my favorite FF game. I think you hit on all the important pieces of the story, and you have alot of the same views that i have regarding the games story and characters. When i first played this game a child, alot of the story went over my head. Scenes that either didnt understand due to poor language knownledge, or just not enough life experience get a whole other meaning when rewatched as an adult. I wish i had someone to share this story with, someone i know would apreciate it and understand why i like it so much. In the end, i just want to say thank you for making this article.
I almost never leave comments (might be the first and last time this year), but you deserve so much praise! Thank you so much for helping me experience this game again. I was a child when it came out and used to watch my big brother play. I’ve never even tried it but I remember going through the official guide everyday for hours. I would use the solution as a basis to write a novel-like version of the story. I would redraw the characters (I realized just now how tremendous their designs are, among the best ever), I would lose myself in the bestiary, I would look at the Aeons in total awe (how infinitely talented you need to be to design them as well ?!) Forever THE game I’ll link to these precious moments spent with my brother. It gave food to my imagination in ways I had not really thought. Thanks again
Man, this game have the power of making me feel very sad and emotional. I was 15 the first time i played it, i remember it was 23:30 PM and the next morning i had a test of biology but i didn’t give a damn about that, FFX was more important. I end the game at 00:15 AM and i was really bad, i was connected to Yuna because like her i like helping people, both have a gigantic sense of duty and Tidus is a fine guy. After 3 days of feeling bad, i restart the game for 2 things 1: i wanted to do the journey again 2: i didn’t grab the item of Cadalbog (or Ultima Weapon in Spanish, my Language) in Yunalesca’s room and i didn’t want to fight Dark Bahamut.
I’ve watched many ffx retrospectives over the last few months, and this is the best one on Youtube, in my opinion. You do a great job capturing the little details and generally what makes this game so great. Your commentary is pleasant and well delivered. Thank you for allowing me to relive a game that meant so much to me, with putting the feeling into words I could never come up with myself. Cheers
Thank you so much for this article! I was curious about the story of FFX, and this was a perfect way to learn about it (since I don’t currently have the time to play the game). You definitely succeed in breaking the story and characters down in an understandable way that got me attached to them. I actually paused the article when you got to it and went to go watch the final cutscene for myself, and it was enough to bring me to tears.
FFX will forever be my favourite game. First FF I completed, and since then I’ve completed it on PS2, PS3 and PS4 including Penance all times. Loved the atmosphere, the music, the battle system, the colours, the fact that it truly felt like a fantasy game, and above all: the story. Haven’t finished the article yet, but I’m just a few minutes in and can already tell this will be a great article. FFXII comes second, feels like an overlooked game sometimes, but it’s really good too.
There’s something special and more real about Titus’s courage, it feels bigger for how much he isn’t a badass. It feels pure. There’s also something sweet about the narrative juxtaposition… Titus spends the first 3/4ths of the game with everyone understanding what’s happening better than he does, but then spends that last part of the journey as the only one who really understands the true scope of events and that has a complete picture. This is something few games manage to pull off, but it’s awesome in FFX. It makes the ultimate sad victory feel well earned. Edit: also I’m not sure if FFX is the best article game story (FF: Tactics is the game that competes most fiercely for affection) but, it is my favorite and is personally the most meaningful story to me.
One of the things that I find so fascinating about Yuna is that she isn’t actually optimistic until very late in the game; she’s a realist with a lot of resolve. Since Titus is the narrator, we never see her breakdowns. She goes to great lengths to hide that, and it’s frequently implied that she has times where she isn’t great and Titus doesn’t usually recognize the subtext. Yuna is also able to understand a person’s nature quickly unless there is incredibly skilled deceit at play. Her initial reactions to Seymore seem genuinely fearful, but her religion kept her from telling that to anyone. I think it’s because of her realism about how effed up their world is, and her empathy, that she initially believes Titus about Zanarkand. Like, monsters roam the world and I have to conjure basically dead monster people after entreating them in rituals in order to finally die at the end. What? Someone has arrived under mysterious circumstances claiming to be from the dead city? meets him nah, this is legit.
This may sound silly to some, but this game is what made me start to doubt my religious beliefs. The idea that religion can be used for the benefit of those in power to control people. This game taught me to stop praying in vain for hardship to end and instead make my own story. Favorite game of all time for this
I just finished perusal this and the 4.5 hours I’ve spent on it (or more since I’m sure I’ll rewatch this again in the future) is absolutely worth it. I can’t thank you enough for doing this of a retelling masterpiece, it’s truly the ultimate analysis article. I’m confident that I could just show this to anyone even those that never played FFX and they would still understand and love the story of FFX thanks to you. I hope to see more like this from your website.
I can’t even describe in words how incredible this article is and how much it meant to me. I cried so many times. You perfectly encapsulated why this is my favorite game not just in the Final Fantasy series but just as a whole. It’s truly such a beautiful, incredible, fantastic game and it deserves so much love. Thank you for all the time you took making it and sharing it with us. It’s a masterpiece in article game analysis. ❤️
X and XII are my favorites. Yes I was 10 when 10 came out and 16 when XII came out so there is some nostalgia at play but I just enjoyed them more than any of the others. X is better than XII in the story department but they were both magical to me. I do believe X was the peak of the series. Released at the perfect time in our world. We had some technology so it was possible to look up help with the game but it wasn’t easy. A lot of homes still didn’t even have internet, let alone the smart phones we all have now. Sheeeeiit I had a gaming magazine with my subscription to game stop/electronics boutique that had a huge boss guide feature when it came out. I donno, life was just more magical and mysterious before I could goggle anything I wanted in 2 seconds at all times. It was an incredible journey, and 23 years later Wandering Flame hits me like drug
A small detail I would like to point out is that @2:13:13 After perusal the cutscenes with Wakka talking to Chappu, Brotherhood, the sword Tidus got from Wakka upgrades and gets additional abilities, making it one of Tidus’s best weapons particularly with the Thunder Plains coming up and a lot of enemies weak to water.
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There is a short list of games that left an impact on me and this of course is one of them. Growing up always sharing a console is fine but the ps2 was the first console that was truly my own and my first time with this game was truly amazing. The characters, story, music are still fantastic to this day. I even got all the unique weapons for every character, that Chocobo race was brutal. I hesitated at first when I saw this article was 4 hours long but once I started I couldn’t stop. Fantastic job
The second time you see the intro sequence is such a powerful scene, because all this time you were in a story reminiscing, and once you arrive there you realize, there is no story anymore, we’re in the present and we still have no clue how to save yuna, there is no guaranteed happy ending, we’re in uncharted territory. This is a brilliant narrative decision, cause often when a story is told through the perspective of a character you know things are going to be ok eventually, you know they’re there to tell the story therefore they’ve lived to tell the tale, but what happens when the story’s over and nothing is resolved? the unknown, it’s scary. And that all ties very well with the themes of the game and the next part around abandoning dogma. It would be much easier to fight yunalesca if it was still part of the story, it’s a decision that was already made, it’s just how things have been. But no defying her, breaking the whole cycle, it’s a true jump into the unknown, a decision that we don’t know the outcome of. This game is great.
Amazing article, I played it during my whole day at work. I found myself smiling while you commented on stuff, thinking “yes my exact same thoughts” (when you said the turnbased combat rules I was so happy because YES it is tactical and exhiting) this whole article is a masterpiece and you truly honour my favorite game with it
Really wish I had the attention span to finish this game as a kid. Me and my brother got pretty far, but the concepts of grinding, and leveling characters strategically were beyond me at that point. And it wasn’t a game play style I was used to. Sadly I was never able to come to back to it. Thank you for this article though. I was raised very Catholic so this story speaks to me on such a deep level I can’t really put it into words. I distanced myself awhile ago from church and practicing the faith. But the lessons I learned I still carry with me. Thank you again for this great article, and I can confidently say after perusal it, FFX might just have the greatest story ever told in a article game.
I’m not even halfway through the article, but I can honestly say this is the best all in-composing take that i’ve ever heard about this game. Nothing is brushed aside and it’s almost like reliving the first play through i’ve had. Really well done, from the editing, to highlighting the important points, and to exposing the game’s main themes.
I’m nowhere near done perusal but seeing the scene in Luca with Auron and Tidus made me super nostalgic and I have to comment on it. It’s probably one of my favorite character exploration scenes in all of article games, because not only does it feel incredibly real and human, it’s also a turning point for our perception of both of the present characters, and Sin (and Jecht) as a whole. Tidus, after previously only screaming out his anger in a way less serious scene in front of Kilika temple, finally explodes with all the things he’s mad about, and his projection of blame onto Auron also develops and showcases their relationship, as Tidus is usually quick to blame Jecht for everything, making it the first time where we truly see Tidus act towards Auron like the father-figure he has been for him in those ten years, and, as a result, also getting a semi-comforting kind of response (especially considering how dry Auron acts towards others’ complaints, like Wakka not wanting to be in an Al Bhed Inn, or Rikku being scared of the Thunder Plains.) And of course, all that is combined with Tidus realizing that his father is not only not dead, and not only has somehow become Sin, but has been fighting for Spira, as opposed to Tidus’ image of him, the narcissistic Blitzball ace that does nothing if not for his own profit and fame. I could babble about how much I love that scene for a decade, but either way, thank you so much for this article. I’m having a blast, while simultaneously replaying the game, as per personal tradition once a year.
i finally finished this article. i would play it every night as I fell asleep in parts. ive never played the game, only watched “movies” of the cutscenes. but still. this piece of art holds a special place in my heart. it fills me with life as much as it breaks my soul. thank you for allowing me to relive it ( without committing to a 12 hour article haha ). i got to relive all the key moments and share thoughts and ideas and reasons as to why it is so special – even learning things from you i had not realized before. i cried to different parts that didnt hit me the first time. i just want to thank you so much for this. ill come back to this article whenever i need to visit Spira again.
I’ve only seen clips from the game before and never really understood what the story was, but this article had me hooked and I ended up perusal all of it, choking back my tears at the end. You blended scenes from the game and your analysis so well that, as a newcomer, I could still feel the intensity of emotions and understand the craft behind the story despite never having played the game before. Thanks to you, I have a better understanding of FFX and I hope to one day get the game for myself. You’ve worked hard on this article, and by gosh did it pay off!
So glad I found this. I am also with the same opinion that it’s the Greatest Game Of All Time. I played it in my late 20s, so it fascinates me that younger gamers can be such big fans. I love that. It really proves that great games are timeless, and so are the people who play them. 15, 25 or 50yrs old doesn’t matter, we are all one in the same when it comes to enjoying a masterpiece like FFX. And the game goes by those same rules!
In 2002 my cousin my best friend and I stayed up all night playing FFX… it was my second major game to play as a kid OOT being the second on the N64, from the summer of 2002 to the summer of 2007 was the best times in my life from junior high to getting a job. My cousin moved away and my best friend hasn’t been kept up with me in years. But those were tell some of the best times in my life I wish I could go back to 2001-2002… goddamn I miss those days…..
The laughing scene made sense to me at first. But then I can understand the naysayers saying its “cringe” but it was a real and genuine part of the story. If you force yourself to do something you loathe doing you end up doing it kind of thing. Its funny Yuna and Tidus found a way to get over their problems even if temporary.
Dude this is one of the best full reviews of this game on YouTube. This is my first rpg i played when i was 10 in 2003 and the first game i got emotionally attached to the characters and world and music and story. And also the first game that made me cry . I hold it close to my heart . Thanks for this man. As i got older tidus is the most relatable character in the entire final fantasy series.
FFVII was my first final fantasy game, but I played FFX when it released my freshman year of college. First game that ever made me cry. First game I ever bought the OST for. First game that I accomplished EVERYTHING within because I just didn’t want to leave that world and end the story. It has been really hard to pick up another game, especially a Final Fantasy game, and hope to come close to that level of true emotional buy in. So thank you, so much, for making this amazing tribute to a story that continues to draw my attention year after year.
I really like how, in the ending scene, the way that each character has talked about grief reflects in the way they hold themselves when Tidus is leaving them – Rikku’s happy waving him goodbye, Wakka’s desperate fidgeting, like he needs to find some way to fix it, Lulu’s acceptance, Yuna’s quiet stillness, and Kimahri’s simple observance of it. It shows just how much thought they put into the characterisation of everyone. This is my second time perusal this article. The first time, it really hit me just how much religious connotation was there. Not only that, but the amount of things they call back to and set up in the beginning of the narrative. Final Fantasy X was my first ever Final Fantasy, and I loved it so much. I still play it to this day. I remember how, when I first played it, getting to Mt. Gagazet had me in tears. Kimahri’s battle with Biran and Yenke with Servants of the Mountain playing in the background was emotional enough, but finding out that, hours of being on the mountain later, (because it took that long the first time, lol) Seymour had killed every single one…man, those scenes really got me, and it sucks seeing other reviewers of the game calling Kimahri a useless character. Even though he doesn’t say much, he has so much emotional weight to him, and even in the sphere of Yuna’s, where she tells the story of how she begged him not to go, and he stayed, it shows just how caring he is. I just love Kimahri so much and I wish he was real so I could give him a big hug.
I love this article, love everything about it. I’m so glad there are others out there that share my extreme love and fanaticism for this game. I’ve written college papers analyzing the symbolism and motifs behind FFX and yet somehow, I had never even considered the analog between Yuna’s walking on water and Jesus! Kudos to you on this article, its excellent 🙂
Every time I revisit this game, my heart is so heavy. We will likely never see it’s like again. 22 years I’ve been searching for something that will have an impact like this and I haven’t even come close. Thousands upon thousands of hours in games, books, film, music and there’s just nothing that compares. AAA developers have no incentive to make things with the heart to match it. Indie developers try so hard to re-capture the magic, but it’s like your first high; every time after that just feels hollow. It hurts a little more every time I go back to it, but it was nice hearing your thoughts and feelings laid out like this. It’s comforting to know that I’m not alone in my grief.
Ffx was one of the first jrpgs i ever beat next for ffxii. As a dude with adhd it’s really hard for me to finish them due to their length. But I loved this game so much I stuck through to the end. Took me like 5 tries but I did it. Glad to see other people love this game as much as I do, and it’s one of the major inspirations for me to want to become a writer because the writing in this game is so crisp and clean 9/10 times. A little side note. There’s a podcast called state of the arc (resonant arc) on yt and they do a sort of article game book club. They go super in detail of symbolism and story structure of classic jrpgs and other stuff. You should check them out! They’re covering ffx right now 🙂 Great article you earned a sub
Thank you so much for making this – a love letter to Final Fantasy X. It reminded me of why this story and world remain so impactful. For a while, I was really “hurt” by the remaster- how the faces of the models were no longer as expressive, and looked more like dolls. But I think I can look past that now. The journey still has that emotion. The characters have so much love and heart. And I have always loved that Tidus is a vehicle for us to feel the emotion and pain and love one would feel taking a journey like this. I would love a prequel that takes us through Braska’s journey with Jecht & Auron. I’d love to see Jecht’s transformation from cocky drunk jerk to someone who values others. It’d be incredible to visit the world of Spira again and feel that sense of wonder.
I still think the best detail in the game is that after Sin appears outside the Zanarkand Dome and turns to leave, the screaming and wailing coming from it follows the cadence and tempo of the Hymn of the Fayth. Same thing is heard when you go inside Sin. EDIT: After a year and another playthrough of FFX HD Remaster, I had to come back and point out that Tidus actually remembers the girls from the very start of the game when he was signing Blitzballs. They tell him they’re sitting in “East Block, in the front row” and “Fifth from the right!” Then when Tidus is talking to Yuna at the first Rin wayhouse, he mentions that Blitz players can’t let themselves be distracted by that “cute girl in the fifth seat from the right”. God, there’s just so much really incredible detail in this game.
I’m only an hour and seventeen minutes into this article but I love how people are finally giving this game the credit it deserves; I feel that thanks to bad faith critics like Spoony, games like this were mocked, criticized, and overly dissected in trying to hyper focus on the flaws. But now I see people praising the game for how ahead of its time it was, how emotionally impactful it still is, and how even with Final Fantasy VII still being seen as the definitive Final Fantasy game, FFX has a great presence of its own. I remember playing this when it was brand new and was a first year college student; the music, the battles, the characters and more just griped me in a manner no other game since Ocarina of Time had in 1998. The fact that its over 20 years old and still holds up is a testament to the talent, hard-work, and dedication the team put into making this a masterpiece of a game.
Absolutely love this beautiful tale and no other game has managed to tug at my heartstrings so hard as this one. I cried multiple times with my brother playing this game as a kid and hearing the different aeons sing the hymm in this article created a gaping hole in my heart with eyes welling up. A lot of FF games felt like corrider simulator but this game did really well at world building, interacting with the people in them and fighting through an arduous pilgrimage. I really appreciate the time and effort put into making this article. It was a pleasure to watch it all over again, I’m going to replay it now.
Absolutely spectacular article. This is hands down the best retrospective of any final fantasy game I have ever seen. You took us, the viewers, through such an amazing journey. This game is truly one of the greatest stories ever told, and this article shows that off to an extraordinary level. Amazing work mate!
I have a few issues with the game’s mechanics, but no real argument with the story. Mechanically, only giving experience to party members who take a turn in combat makes grinding more of a chore – you end up doubling or tripling the duration of routine combats in order to cycle through the entire party before going for the kill. And the sphere grid has a couple of issues – there’s no support for forward planning, so, particularly if you spend levels as fast as you get them, you end up having to replot each character’s path every time they gain a level (unless you can remember seven planned routes across hours of gameplay). And the spheres you need in order to activate the various nodes tend to only be available in specific regions, so if you try grinding in one place, you’ll get bottlenecked by spheres that are only available elsewhere. I’ve not tried the HD remaster yet, so I don’t know how far (if at all) it smooths over those mechanical niggles.
I remember spending so much time playing Blitzball that I actually had the players at level 90+ and Tidus knew every technique. At that point, it was absurdly easy to score, even from one end of the map to the other. If course, this, from a player who leveled up the characters so much, they routinely hit for max damage. As a teenager, I spent hundreds of hours playing this game multiple times. For me too, this is a story I will never forget.
I watched this from start to end and I think I had tears well up at least 5 times. This game has always been my favorite and I realized I needed something while perusal. I want a lamp that is one of the FFX Spheres. lil switch, set it on the table, a soft blue light around the room Anyways, great work perfectly encapsulating my thoughts of this game as well, the beauty of every lil detail and also explaining that the laughing scene wasnt “bad voice acting” it was actually kinda the opposite.
Just finished this beast and it was everything I wanted it to be. Just another fellow FFX loving Chad talking fondly of the game that stuck with so many of us. Forever my favorite final fantasy and easily in my top 5 favorite games. Sure, a big part of that is nostalgia. But I’ve never felt anything but love for it since playing it so many years back and I can’t wait to continue doing it for years to come.
wow, just wow, this article is a masterpiece. Calling this game my favourite would be an understatement, i have more than a thousand hours on this game, i always come back to it, i always will. I never though i could watch a article this long, didnt think it would be about this game, the game i have grown up with, its unbelievable to think that i have played this the first time when i was 5, its unbelievable how big of an impact this game had on my life, i really dont know what to say except congrats, this article on its own, is legendary.
Only 25 mins in, I’d like to note how well the game introduces its characters, from a writing perspective (and design too). As soon as you meet Tidus you know what he’s about: he’s a cool energetic dude that despite being a star is still a very nice guy. Similar with Waka: tough leader who really cares. And Yuna… as soon as she appears you want to protect her. She looks SO feminine, exhausted after doing something difficult (like child-birth) yet so important that she would’ve died doing it if needed. That seems simple or obvious but it isn’t so easy to achieve.
I feel like this was the last Final Fantasy that really eased you in with the world building. It doesn’t try and throw a ton concepts and words you don’t understand at you but instead slowly allows the player to discover how things work in the world at the same pace that Tidus does. It’s totally the opposite of XIII, XV and to a lesser extent XII. All those games expect you to already understand terms and abbrieviations that relate to the game world without telling you anything about the world before hand.
This is the single greatest FFX review on youtube period. Not only do I love this game, i love how detailed it is. I understand it mustve took months to edit this and i congradulate your hard work for this excellent article. Thanks, now i gotta play a fresh new game of ffx as its my 2nd favorite ff game of all time
I am in a similar boat as you, albeit two years older if I calculated correctly. FFX was my first RPG, and basically the fist game I actually spent good portions of my life in. All in all, I had about 550 hours on the PS2 by the time I managed to do everything in this game and put it to rest. I think it;s one of the best games ever, and certainly the best FF.
Final Fantasy 1 was my first intro… my entire party was MAULED TO DEATH by a pack of wolves… Consequently i didn’t play another FF game until 7, when i was old enough to understand what the heck HP meant. 🤗 10 is a masterpiece. I played and beat it idk how many times but i still lament the fact that it was more linear and lacked a world map. The first of the FF games to ditch a mechanic i always loved. Sure we were guided to the main story, but we had more options to roam around more. Either way, it’s still one of my favorites and the story is still my favorite despite how impactful losing Aeris/Aerith was in VII. Somehow this game managed to be even more impactful, the ending was the definition of perfection. Then they brought out that awful sequel!!!!! Alright it was… ok i guess 😝
Thank you for reminding me of how spectacular of an experience this was. To just call it a “game” is almost an insult. FFX is a magnificent, ineffably beautiful masterpiece of creation. It is a precious Fabricé Egg. I thank everyone who took part in making it, for the world to enjoy. I knew it was great, but after perusal your article, and thinking about it as an adult, I can’t believe the depth of the story… Tidus is the deepest, most human protagonist in any game I can think of. The amount of dialogue really develops the characters. Tidus’s relationship with his father. The love story truly IS the best. The beauty of the scene in Macalania lake is unmatched. Wakka’s struggle with his faith, and the whole religious aspect of the story is such profound storytelling territory. The setting. The vibrant colors of the world make it this undefinable new oasis of beauty. Almost every area leaves a distinct taste in your mouth. You remember them always.. And that ending.. I cried as a kid. I almost cried just remembering it. What a journey. Although, I do wish you’d mentioned that post-credits scene where Tidus awakens (after the end of X-2) haha. Your hard work on this article is appreciated, good sir 🙏 Thank you.
Still some of the best cinematics ever created in a article game. Maybe not the best graphics as of 2022, but i put the cinematics in my top 3 games of all time. Probably number 1 tbh. Back in the day when the PS2 first came out and this hit literally the same month, this was THE BEST graphics anyone had ever seen. It was almost unimaginable. I used to replay the first part to see Sin attack Zanarkand and the blitz ball cinematic over and over and over again. All of them were literally the most amazing thing I had ever seen. And then Tidus and Yuna kissing looked so fucking real and emotional. Just a little kid falling in love with them.
I LOVE this game! It’s a great love story with great characters, situations and world. As a person who adores character design, I love Yuna and Tidus and all the people in it. Not only did I find out a few years ago that rikku was played by TARA FUCKING STRONG and that YUNA and rikku were cousins, that’s just what final fantasy X brought to the table. Knowing about these characters and their struggles. It always had me on the edge of my seat, making me want Tidus and Yuna to be together, WANTING TO KILL SEYMOUR BUT THAT MF WPULDNT D I E. Ffx was my introduction to Final Fantasy and I hold it close to my heart. If you ask me what my favorite game is I’d say Ffx. No hesitation. No regrets. The whole series opened my eyes to how beautiful world building can be. And I absolutely owe it to this game for helping me become an artist. Beautiful Game.
I’ve played the game numerous times on different consoles, but my love for this game never wavered. From the first time I laid eyes on it when my aunt played it on her PS2, to now when I’m nearing the end on my nth playthrough on the PC. I’m so thankful for this article, and for the work you’ve put into this. Amazing.
FFX might read like a love story at its core sometimes but it’s not. FFX is a story about death, loss and grief. Love is apart of all of those but so is death. This game never fails to make me think of those who I love who I’ve lost. They’re memories now. The process of grief at first is to deny and refuse to accept. The pain is just too great – much like the summoners of Zanarkand must’ve felt knowing their fate as Bevelle loomed ahead in that war. The whole story feels like an allegory for the process of grief and how to contend with the inevitability of death. Sin isn’t death then, but rather an impenetrable wall of denial. And it took some creative maneuvering to get through it – but the party did. Tidus almost feels like a daydream or a fantasy then. Like an anti-Sin. Something you held onto while in your darkest moment but it was just a dream too, and in order to move on completely he must also go. The ending is bittersweet because that’s what the end result of processing death is like. You have to move on, even with your memories, but it still hurts.
Around 1:05 you talk about Yuna’s kidnapping in Luca and how it was a weak plot point. I’m not so sure that it is. It foreshadows one of the Al Bhed’s main goals – to stop the pilgrimages. Much later in the game, they’re revealed to be kidnapping many summoners for that purpose. As far as Wakka risking Yuna to win a bliztball game, I’m not sure if I’m misremembering or maybe I assumed, but my assumption was that Wakka was staying behind to keep up appearances. As in, if he didn’t show up to the game, the Al Bhed would know he was rescuing Yuna so they would relocate her. Wakka stayed behind to pretend like he was throwing the game. It was only after he got the signal flare from Lulu that he started playing for real.
This article is in my top ten long form article analysis on this platform. This is as much a masterpiece as the game, and that’s saying A LOT. Absolutely beautiful work, and this is a game deserving of such a treatment: an absolute classic. I actually only got to play this once it came out for Switch, yeah, I was late to the party 😂 but holy sheeesh…I was blown away by the superior storytelling and magnificent game design. The party and skill systems are so intricate and rewarding to players, and a tried and true way to prove that battles rock? When grinding is FUN as HELL 😆 THAT is a hell of a battle system
A lot of people give this game a hard time. I don’t but I think it’s like an 8 out of 10. It’s not even the best FF let alone best game of all time. That said I have seen a lot of people argue far worse games as best of all time so I will 110% let you have your opinion well I don’t have to let you because it is your opinion so I’m dumb for how I said that. 8/10 is still a high rating so I like this game. I think I like FF6,7,9 a lot more. This game absolutely crushes FF13. Probably beats FF15 and it does beat FF8. I do place FF7 the original in my top 3 or 5 best games of all time. The remake was great but probably only about 8/10. This is just my opinion. Also for those of you who really hate on this game I kind of take your side as well. Spoonys classic review of it was good.
FFX was no game. It was a transcendental experience. I played it for at LEAST 500 hours, maxed every attribute/stat that can be maxed, and just overall couldn’t stop thinking about the game and especially the ending for months. Then years. It’s more like an interactive movie, but a SPECTACULAR one. People complain about linear games, but FFX is so amazing, anything else would dilute the story because the nuances of the plot could be more easily forgotten. Then there are the graphics; even NON FMV was really polished. The FMV rivals or bests what we see in 2023. 22 years later. Add the intricate, fascinating plot, and you get a true masterpiece that has yet to be equaled in any art medium anywhere in the world.
The beginning reminds me of the misdirection of FFX. Spoliers for people who people who haven’t played the game for some reason. The fact and you go in thinking Tidus traveled in time was a rather nice story twist when you find out that he wasn’t even really real. Just a dream brought to life. That was an interest reveal that somehow worked very well in this game. No wonder he was so dreamy. Beside being slightly annoying and incredibly dense (maybe even a bit dumb, but probably more spolied by stardom), Tidus was the perfect guy or dream guy. While not the best game of all time. It is up there in my book. The blitz ball and characterize of some characters take it out of the running for that title, but that me being super nitpicky when calling something the best.
My favourite game ever made and its not even close amazing article! I have the Jecht symbol, the Yevon logo and anima tattooed on me. Especially the Anima Tattoo. My mother died when I was 15 years old and i have Italian lineage in my family which Anima means soul in Italian. I got this anima tattoo because I used my mothers passing to strengthen my mental fortitude and always saw it as when Seymour’s mother sacrificed herself to make him stronger in battle and to defeat sin. (Also my mothers name was Anne=Anima) quite close. Never thought id share this online but with this article being so great thought I would throw this here 🙂
FF10’s biggest points that make it stand out are its story and characters, and in that sense it’s like many visual novels that I’ve read, especially due to Tidus’ narrations and inner monologues. I didn’t cry during FF10 like I did during my favorite visual novels, but I could feel it coming. Also, Yuna is the best FF character of all time, bar none, THIS is how you write a story female character.
The main thing I love about FFX is that it’s low key a commentary on how faith-based systems can be corrupt, use people who long for peace and prosperity to aid in their selfish goals of power and intense influence within a group. The narrative tells us that it’s OK to question not just our faith but the people who claim to be one with it. The part of summoners needing to die to kill Sin for a brief moment of Calm sounds a lot like how many are willing to die if it means that their souls and the souls of the world can live at peace and be one with the Holy Entity. And yet, the narrative is not atheist nor does it promote going against faith; it says that faith, hope, spirituality and more still matter but we have the control as to how we view it and use it to make the world a better place. I say this as someone of a Christian background so I could see the metaphors and parallels from far away; the way they see the Al Bhed as being blasphemous and be of sin is similar to how many religions with shun upon other faiths or marginalized communities and how if you take away your biases you see they are people also looking for hope in a hopeless place. Wakka is that of a fanatical person of faith that learns the reality of the situation and becomes accepting. It’s like how Final Fantasy VII talks about how we can’t take our planet for granted and not let it die at the hands of corporations draining it’s resources, and uses the belief of the planet being alive and with a spirit that binds us all.
This game holds such a special spot in my heart. You know how it goes with games like that, it was the perfect kind of game for me at the right age and interests. I do hope we get a modernized turn based combat again in a future FF game This game holds up beautifully now. Hell, even the graphics aren’t impressive in themselves, the general art direction, clothing, scenery, etc is absolutely top tier. No surprise in that degree with the pedigree of the series. Damn, I’m going to have to do a replay of this, and I know I’ll get sucked back in. I think 10 was my first real attempt to finish a FF game, so I’m wondering how the ports of 8 and 9 play out, cause I haven’t played those for so long I remember not a single thing about them. 10 and 12 was a close second. 12 really was a great direction for the series to go into a more modern gaming environment while retaining that traditional FF feel, at the time of course. So nostalgic.
Awesome Review, would love to see you break down more ff games. This came out my senior year of hs, I had played and loved ff7 as my first ever rpg, and I fell in love with it, 8 was cool but riding off the wave of 7, I didn’t like 9 at all..for me it was too old fashioned felt it was going backwards and corny.. but 10 I loved and still do I prefer it over 7 tbh
Thank you for making this! The writing of the whole game is excellent!!! The laughing scene didn’t bother me. I think it’s only because people didn’t expect it, and because it was intentionally forced that they think it was bad acting but I totally see what they were doing and in context it makes tons of sense.
I am playing this game now. It’s my first ff game and first rpg game ever. I always liked the way the game looked when seeing footage of it. I’m not very far yet. Right before the Blitz Ball tourney. But wow this game is really good so far. I’m not used to slower paced RPGs with a lot of cutscenes or turn based style games but it really makes me slow down and feel the game more. Like there are moments when the music is just playing and I’m standing there on the boat looking at the stars and I almost wanna cry. I feel I connect with Tidus in certain areas. I might be having to move countries because my wife is unhappy here in america. So we will move to her country (South Korea). By doing this I will literally be thrown into a different world just like Tidus. I like my life now. Just like Tidus seemed to enjoy his life. And suddenly it’s shifted and totally different. Although he tries to maintain a positive attitude and not show people his more somber thoughts…I can tell it’s maybe eating at him. Hopefully as the story goes on he can face those inner feelings and embrace them. Hopefully he will be truly ok. Hopefully I will be truly ok and can remain positive in adversity
I always assumed that the “girls chat” was just an excuse Lulu, Yuna, and Rikku came up with on the fly to have a conversation away from Wakka. Like you said, it’s likely they discussed Yuna and Rikku’s connection – but I also imagine they also wanted to clear up what exactly the Al Bhed’s intentions were and ensure Rikku meant to real harm before allowing her to join as a guardian.