It makes sense this is considered the “starting point” final fantasy game. Its linearity is used well enough to feel adventurous and cinematic rather than restricted and on rails. The mostly linear levels are well contrasted with the sphere grid system that has such a creative and free flow to it. Yes, the physical map is relatively straight forward, but your character growth isn’t linear and you still have moments of rest where you can chat with NPCs. It’s paced pretty well! It’s an ideal version of 13s philosophy. The use of a pilgrimage also justifies traveling from point A to B rather than backtracking to old areas. It’s justified with the narrative to the point of it barely being noticeable.
FFX has some of the best music in the series too. Challenge is such a wild song especially. The ps2 version specifically (I’ve never played the remaster, though I don’t dig the changes made to that song in it)
X is a full entree of themes and ideas and is served in a coherent fashion. It never felt overwhelming or confusing to learn terminology; the benefit of the fish out of water element. I really like XIII but X feels like the best version of what that game wanted to be, at least in regards to world building and blending the level design with the narrative.

I loved X much more than I remembered. It’s only my second time playing it but it was a breeze to experience. Such fun combat and characters. An incredibly diverse OST. It’s the perfect blend of old and new final fantasy. There’s occasional road blocks with bosses that might push you to grind for a while, but I found grinding to not be too big of a time commitment when it’s required. Some bosses have this IV type quality to them where it’s hyper specific on utilizing specific solutions and solving it like a puzzle. Not to say bosses have one solution, but I got in a similar headspace as IV’s bosses. The dungeons aren’t bad either. I feel like people really dig into those from a negative angle, but only one of them
really stuck out as trashy to me. You fight so much in this game and I appreciate a break from it.

FFX is beautiful and sentimental. Hard to imagine scowling at anyone who has this as their favorite entry. It contains a lot of ideas that I honestly wish would come back in future entries. Really stoked to have finally gone back to it after all these years. It holds up! There’s some ps2 era jank to deal with but if you have any love for this era of games, it’s nothing new to you.