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Open up the job lookbook
Closing Fantasy X-2 first hit the PlayStation 2 20 years in the past in Japan, on March 13, 2003. It was a really uncommon sort of recreation for Sq. to make, each in tone and it being a direct sequel to a earlier Closing Fantasy recreation. However 20 years later, I’d argue it’s a stellar entry within the collection, in methods well-exemplified by its dressphere system.
Spheres are the core of plenty of know-how in Spira, all through most of Closing Fantasy X. After the occasions and revelations of FFX, although, Spheres all of the sudden turn into way more in-demand. Workforce YRP, or Yuna, Rikku, and Paine, kind up as sphere hunters to attempt to monitor down misplaced, uncommon spheres for large rewards.
It is showtime, women.
Right now marks 20 years since Y, R, P first took place with the launch of Closing Fantasy X-2.
What was your favorite reminiscence of returning to Spira? pic.twitter.com/2ataNgAYcd
— FINAL FANTASY (@FinalFantasy) March 13, 2023
Gameplay-wise, this leads into the dressphere system. We see a few of this within the recreation’s completely stellar intro, however Closing Fantasy X-2 makes use of spheres as its imply of re-classing and altering jobs. Your celebration is, outdoors of the creature seize characteristic, simply Yuna, Rikku, and Paine. The range of their skills and what they do, then, stems from the dresspheres, which sees them don new outfits to invoke the facility of various jobs.
Moon prism energy
It’s a mechanic that pulls very direct, overt homage to the magical lady style. These transformations aren’t only a hot-swap of things or weapons, however a whole transformation sequence, the place the ladies shed the armor of 1 job and clad themselves in one other. Strike a pose, get a particular intro, all of the bells and whistles. It guidelines.
Issues about Closing Fantasy X-2 prior to now swirled round worries that it may be too “girly“, the best way a jock in an ’80s film may speak about ballet earlier than all of the sudden changing into a primo dancer in a pumped-up coaching montage and altering his methods. Sure, Closing Fantasy X-2 leans heavy into the fashion of this, embodying magical sailor warriors, runway fashions, and warrior princesses alike. The result’s an effusively trendy and memorable battle system, full of implausible outfits that put style spins on traditional Closing Fantasy jobs.
Couple this with the quips in-game, and it’s an amazing set-up for a job system already. When Rikku remarks that her Darkish Knight armor “isn’t only for present” after a job swap, it’s a enjoyable battle comment that places a smile on my face. Some might keep in mind Closing Fantasy XV fondly for the boys’ camaraderie, but it surely’s price noting the ladies of YRP had an analogous vibe going years earlier on the PlayStation 2.
However let’s speak in regards to the battles now.
Navigating the Garment Grid
Swapping jobs on the fly and build up mastery in each already makes for an fascinating set-up. What places Closing Fantasy X-2 excessive is the way it layers the Garment Grid system over it, producing fascinating fight by imposing limitations.
No YRP member can freely swap between all out there dresspheres. They could get entry to all of them, aside from just a few character-specific spheres, however every lady has their very own Garment Grid. Right here, you plot out what dresspheres can be found and which one they begin on.
Whereas this begins out as a simple technique to condense down the breadth of jobs out there, the easy motion of swapping dresspheres turns into its personal mechanic. Some Garment Grids might have gates that, when handed by, provide further boons; a bump in stats, or perhaps even entry to sure spells. Now, you’re having to plot out not only a good vary of jobs in your fighters, however a possible “route” for them to take, with the intention to activate their bonuses.
Bear in mind, you’re doing this whereas combating one other enemy. Not like FFX‘s turn-based system, battles are (by default) in real-time in Closing Fantasy X-2, utilizing a model of the Lively Time Battle system. You can be attempting to work your approach by sure gates on the Grid and all of the sudden get hit by a giant assault. Or perhaps you wish to maintain off swapping to a lower-health class, at the least till there’s a pause in an enemy’s assault. Layered over prime are the particular dresspheres, a trump card shift that sees two of the ladies depart the battlefield for one to take middle stage of their “final” gear. It’s my humble opinion that Overwatch‘s D.va owes at the least a bit bit to Rikku’s Machina Maw dressphere.
Strike a pose
This fluid, ever-changing fight system simply helps additional spotlight how particular person every dressphere is. The Songstress takes on a distinctly Bard skillset, whereas the Gunner has an precise “press R1 to fireside” means that may arrange chain combos. Closing Fantasy X-2‘s tackle the traditional Blue Mage job, dubbed the Gun Mage right here, is one in every of my favorites within the collection. And later unlockable jobs like Girl Luck and the Alchemist all carry recent, new points to fight. Critically, having “Combine” all the time out there and a bottomless pocket of Mega-Potions makes for a extremely fascinating healer.
Closing Fantasy X has usually been remembered within the higher echelon of Closing Fantasy video games, and for good motive: it’s an distinctive RPG. However at present, twenty years out from its authentic launch in Japan, we must also pay some respects to the ingenious and pleasurable sequel it received in Closing Fantasy X-2, and a dressphere system that stands the check of time.
Eric Van Allen
Senior Information Reporter
