Oh boy this is a game.
The story sucks. Like genuinely sucks. The romance is shallow. Idk how the summoning works or makes sense.
Why is Auron a special ghost?

Idk, watch Yuna do a dance.

Tidus is annoying, whiny, and not real, so as a protagonist he's a bit of a damp squib. Yuna too feels underbaked. Tidus I think would always be bad, but Yuna does feel like a missed opportunity to do or say something within the broader ouvre. Kimahri could use a few more minutes in the oven, and the Mt whateveritscalled segment threatens to be interesting.
Rikku is fine, Wakka is actively atrocious. Not only is he a massive racist, which is fine to position as if the aim is to challenge those views, but he never really shuts the door on that- instead it feels like he gives Rikku and her nearest and dearest the okay because "they're the good ones."
To say nothing of his weapon being a ball.
And to say nothing again because, although pro, Wakka isn't like the Pele of blitzball.

Feels like watching Ronaldo slay god with a sick bicycle kick.

Seymour also comes close to greatness, but frequently dips into tantrum too much to hit the level of a Sephiroth or a Kefka.

To Zanarkand slaps, but the music in 10 is mostly forgettable.

As a day 1 hater, I could talk about all the things I dislike about 10 for hours, but I have to begrudgingly tip my hat to it for stellar combat. It really is one of the best final fantasys to PLAY, even if that doesn't translate into being one of the best to experience.

Lightning plains might be the worst designed area in any ff

Valefor is a dumb fuckin summon

Even knowing the ending will not prepare you for it.

What a beautiful game this is, with one of the best, if not the best, turn based combat systems.

I could write more, so much more, about the characters and how much I love them, but I think I'll quote my favs instead:

"There is no need for fear. Kimahri will go with you" (it is very important that Kimahri goes with you, trust me, he's the best).

"You don't have to smile, if it's too tough."

"HAHAHAHAHAHA"

really did not expect to like it this much.

im kind of a sucker for those pre-rendered graphics that you could find in stuff like ff7 through 9 and though the game isn't completely made of those when it uses them it forces to stop and just look at it. similarly the 3d cutscenes used to mark significant story moments are the most shiniest and prettiest thing ever put on a ps2 disk and they instantly grab your full attention.

didn't think i would like yuna as a character but she turned out to be surprisingly great. i really like the trope of characters having to deal with the weight of the expectations put upon them in general and thought the way she developped really well throughout the game. tidus i thought was a bit annoying but in the end was kind of endearing (though maybe in a somewhat ironic way).

the combat was fun. the way it forces you to use several party members makes it very dynamic (though i kinda feel like you kinda need auron at almost all times with how good he is). the sphere system was interesting. idk how people are feeling about it. i personnally enjoyed seeing your progression and feeling like almost every fight was important.

the biggest problems are a bunch of small stuff that really add up together like the encounter rate being pretty high in some areas and every single minigame (that you need to accomplish to finish the game because i know there is stuff i didnt do like chocobo racing) is absolutely terrible. the worst part is at the end of the game right before the final boss (thats locked behind a 5 minutes cutscene) where you have a chance of dying and having to redo the whole thing again. also, the beginning of the game felt very sluggish, with the story having trouble to pick up and being bombarded with tutorials. there are also some incredibly bad puzzles at several points in the game that bring nothing of value.

though honestly as much as it feels like a cop out i almost want to say that those flaws make the bright spots of the game shine so much more