Final Fantasy X, initially released in 2001, received a high-definition (HD) remaster in 2014. This entry into the series marked a departure from pre-rendered backdrops to embrace 3D backgrounds, distinguishing itself within the Final Fantasy series. Also notable, it was the first to introduce an official sequel, Final Fantasy X-2.

This resource section encompasses a comprehensive game walkthrough, complete with screenshots and detailed guides for each of the Cloister of Trials. Check out the Walkthrough section and the Side Quests section for more information.

Review

Final Fantasy X is one of the greatest games in the Final Fantasy franchise. The series made the jump from the PlayStation console to the PlayStation 2, and the developers did a great job of taking everything that made some of the previous Final Fantasy titles great while ditching some of the annoying features that made them terrible.

To start, the graphics in the game are fantastic. The developers made the transition from 2D pre-rendered backgrounds to the realm of 3D, doing so flawlessly, giving Final Fantasy X a level of immersion that none of the other Final Fantasy games had previously achieved.

On the other hand, and as part of this transition, Final Fantasy X left behind one of the key features and signatures of the series. This overworld map tied each of the individual locations together. Instead of a world map, the game utilized a list of locations, allowing players to select a city or story location to return to from the Airship. This lack of an overworld gave the game less of that ‘epic feeling’ that some of the previous titles were able to achieve.

Nevertheless, this loss of grandeur did not extend to the narrative. The storyline, characters, setting, and particularly the music resonated deeply and left a lasting impact on players. This resonance paved the way for subsequent titles, including the first true sequel to any game in the series, Final Fantasy X-2.

The addition of voice actors added another impactful element to the game. While some of the lines in the game are particularly cringeworthy (such as the whistling scene in Luca), they did an overall fantastic job.

Most of the actual gameplay elements were done well and were well-received. The Sphere Grid ssystem was an interesting twist on the traditional leveling style of previous RPGs, but aside from its visual appeal, it offered a fairly linear leveling system with very limited customization options.

The Expert Sphere Grid introduces additional complexity and additional customization. However, it is only available on your second playthrough (aside from the HD Remaster version, which allows you to select the Expert Sphere Grid as soon as you start).

The equipment customization feature was annoying. Rather than providing an element of variability to the game, you tended to wind up with a mishmash of wacky armor with completely random auto-abilities. It is very tough during your first playthrough to create armor that is worth keeping without using up your key items and building that equipment up. The result is that you end up not customizing anything, fearing that you might be ‘wasting items.’

In addition to the main story, each Final Fantasy title typically has a minigame that you can play along with the regular game. The minigame is typically intertwined with the story in some way. This includes games like Chocobo racing, Triple Triad, and even the abysmally bad Tetra Master card game in Final Fantasy IX.

The minigame in Final Fantasy X is Blitzball. Blitzball can be genuinely enjoyable to play, and there are some strong rewards that you can pick up by winning tournaments and league matches. All the side quests (including Blitzball) in the game added up to a huge array of additional end-game content that was a welcome addition for those who wanted to keep playing.

The rewards continue to get incrementally better as well, which is a refreshing change from some of the previous end-game content (Ruby Weapon in Final Fantasy VII, for example).

Final Fantasy X is by no means the best Final Fantasy title, but it is right up there with the best of them. It has great replay value (because it is easy to miss content entirely during the first playthrough), and I have played through it many times. Overall score: 9/10.