Final Fantasy X was an important game for the series. It was so successful that it saved Square from total destruction. Of course, the company wanted to use that goodwill, and decided to focus efforts on a direct sequel. It was the first time that the series history would expand upon an existing world in a sequel, rather than creating a fresh experience. Final Fantasy X-2 was a safe bet, all things considered.
However, fans don't necessarily look upon FFX-2 with adoration. Time has been kinder to the game, but initial reception from fans was mixed. Western audiences were turned off by the J-Pop aesthetic and a story without serious stakes. Despite that, there are a few things the sequel does better than the original.
10 Lighthearted Story
While a criticism at the time, the reality is that FFX-2 doesn't have a bad story, just one with a different tone. The original touched upon themes such as life and death, fate, and cycles of destruction in the world. The sequel, on the other hand, doesn't get nearly as serious. Instead, it focuses on a series of loosely connected episodes that tie into a tragic romance plot.
The writing in the sequel also has a lighter tone. The original had a number of funny lines and moments, but the sequel focuses on the comedic beats. It gets a little tropey at times, but the stakes are lower and the world is happier. There's still a looming, cataclysmic threat, but that's just a given for the genre.
9 A Focus On Non-linearity
The most obvious flaw in the original FFX is in the linearity of the world of Spira. It makes sense for Yuna's pilgrimage to stay on a singular path, but that doesn't lead to an immersive experience. The areas feel like theme park attractions rather than a connected, coherent world. Once the player gets the airship, this is somewhat alleviated, but the story is still locked on a set path.
By comparison, the sequel gives the player the airship from the start of the game. The various areas present in the original game (and some new ones) get unlocked over time, and there isn't much to limit the player from going wherever they please. Players can their time, clear side quests, and appreciate the expanded world.
8 Faster Opening Hours
Final Fantasy X gets off to a slow start. This isn't unusual for a JRPG, but the focus on spectacle that comes with the game makes repeated playthroughs hard to recommend.
FFX-2 gets the player right into the action. After a brief tutorial sequence, the first chapter gets the player right into questing and exploring. Not having to spend time on exposition serves the pacing well, and players will enjoy seeing the new Spira. It's not a game that opens itself up immediately, but it does give the player agency much sooner.
7 An All-Women Traveling Party
Final Fantasy X-2 was not the first game in the series with a leading female protagonist. However, it was the first game in the serious to have a leading cast of entirely women, and is still the only game in the series to do so.
The main trio of Yuna, fan-favorite thief Rikku, and newcomer Paine is a fun cast. Their personalities play well off of each other, and each of them sees the world differently enough to provide multiple perspectives. Not all their moments are well-written, and their character design follows one of the more annoying JRPG tropes, but it's a unique experience not many other JRPGs can offer.
6 A Dynamic World Made New Again
The world of Spira has a lot of complexity in the original game. Although much of its depth is loaded into the backstory of the world, it's clear that the world lacks agency to save itself. It is trapped in a spiral of death and destruction. The Eternal Calm of FFX-2 may end the conflict against ancient deities, but creates a different kind of down-to-Earth conflict.
The focuses on the new factions vying for control of the new Spira. The player interacts with each of these parties, playing a neutral role that can influence the direction of the world. The player doesn't have much freedom to influence who gains power, but the illusion of choice is rock-solid. It creates a story that's more dynamic moment-to-moment, as opposed to the sweeping narrative of the original.
5 Return of ATB
On the gameplay side, FFX-2 is equal parts familiar and refreshing. Familiarity comes in the return of the ATB system that was absent from this game's predecessor. While the command-turn-based system from FFX works well in creating fast and strategic gameplay, it does slow things down.
By comparison, the ATB system makes combat feel much faster. Quick animations, fast-filling gauges, and a dynamic camera all keep combat feeling great. It still has plenty of elements of strategy in using attacks in the proper windows, but it's one of the best interpretations of the ATB gauge in the series as a whole. It all feels smooth in a way the original didn't.
4 Complex Job System
Another returning favorite in FFX-2 is the Job System. This series staple has been oft-neglected by the development team at Square, despite it working so well. In FFX-2, the main party can switch jobs on the fly between battles, allowing for quick adaptation and unique approaches to combat. Every time a new Dressphere is found, the game expands that much more.
The Job System is fantastic in any game, but it works particularly well in FFX-2. There are fewer useless jobs, and each of the three party members can specialize in just about everything. There are also still plenty of cheesy strategies and overpowered combinations that make experimentation worthwhile. It was great to see it return, and it helps elevate combat.
3 Plentiful Side Quests
Expanding on the earlier note of a more open world, FFX-2 also offers a wider variety of side quests to pursue. The original had a few, sparsely placed side quests throughout the main story, which only became prominent after the player got access to the airship. On the other hand, side quests and side stories are part of the meat and potatoes of the sequel.
The game's main story is broken into short episodes. At the end of the episode, the player has time to explore and catch any of the newly available side quests. The design lets players focus on side quests to get better equipment, new Dress Spheres, or simply to dress up as a Moogle and hand out balloons. It's fun, if nothing else.
2 Even More Minigames
Similarly to how the original was light on side quests, it also lacked the minigames that are typical of the series. Efforts were loaded into making Blitzball a fully-fledged game within a game, and it does lead to a fun experience. However, there is something missing in FFX when it comes to distractions from the main story.
Fortunately, FFX-2 isn't afraid to give the player distractions. Blitzball returns, this time with even more complexity and depth. The pseudo-card game Sphere Break also helps to provide a side activity. There's also treasure hunting, a shooting gauntlet, dog races, an even more horrendous minigame in the Thunder Plains. It's a mixed bag, but the majority are great distractions.
1 The Song "1000 Words"
Yuna's character development from sheltered summoner to world-famous pop star was a bizarre choice. The game's opening is both exciting and hilarious due to its absurdity. Despite that, "Real Emotion" is legitimately a fun song that plays into the tone of the game perfectly. It doesn't match "Otherworld" from the original, but it comes close.
However, the climactic ballad "1000 Words" destroys the emotional heights of the original. A duet across time and space, the song is both narratively perfect and just beautiful to listen to. The performance is incredible, and the CG cutscene that accompanies it is wonderful. It's the highlight of the game hands down, even if it's just a single song.