Final Fantasy X is largely heralded as the 2nd massively innovative titan in the long running series, and it's very easily to see why. Even past its numerous growing pains. X featured the beginning of many of the functions, and basic elements that we now come to expect from not only each Final Fantasy but most AAA games in general. Fully 3D rendered environments, full voice acting, an entirely linear structure, and a new level-up system never seen in the series are all cemented here. It all makes for a time capsule of a game, that surprisingly holds up incredibly well, especially with the HD remasters.

Final Fantasy X boasts my favorite combat system in the series to date. The sphere grid is an excellently fleshed-out system, which offers the entire potential for a unique experience and party build each play through. It's smartly designed so that each character has a very specifically designated path, yet it still allows every character to explore whatever path they want, meaning no ability aside from Yuna's Aeons is locked to any specific character. This flexibility in how you can personalize your own experience with the game pairs wonderfully with your engagement with the system, as the path you choose to take on the grid can be thought out and plotted in advance, to decide what build you want for each character right at the start. I also just think the combat is very snappy and addictive. Due to how the combat has been changed from ATB to a straight turn-based system, the battles go by within mostly a minute or two. Final Fantasy 100% has its fair share of padding, but i feel that X manages to streamline that experience to an admirable degree. Final Fantasy X is a game that respects your time, more than a lot of RPGs can say.

I'm not the biggest fan of its story. I think in regards to its villain, mythos, and iconography, 7 has this trumped. But the intentional choices in its design are not to be scoffed at. I've only played Final Fantasy 7, 16, and a good chunk of 15, but I think that X's colour pallet is by far my favorite. The aforementioned 3 all have intentionally dark and brooding design choices, so it's so nice to see a brighter and more vibrant Final Fantasy to contrast them. This is a definitive summer game, and it uses its water theme to create some truly beautiful visuals in the FMV cutscenes. I mentioned how I wasn't big on X's story, but what ultimately ended up solidifying the game for me was its characters. Yuna and her guardians each have a specific role in the story, and it's very clear to see they wrote the story with these characters in mind. Each of them would lessen the impact of the game if a single one was taken out, and that only goes to show how much effort was put into making you like each of the characters on this pilgrimage. No matter how small, they each get an arc, which is an effect you lose with the addition of optional characters, something the original Final Fantasy 7 suffered from. I was particularly interested in how Tidus and Yuna's romance unfolded, and it's so nice to see Square actually take the plunge to canonize a couple. The theme of death is portrayed in such a compelling way, as it is woven into the very fabric of the story. Tidus' arc only cements it as one of the most outwardly and devastating finales in all Final Fantasy.