24. Final Fantasy X (2001) – PS2
Final Fantasy X tells the story of Titus, a young man who, after his home town is destroyed by an unstoppable force known only as Sin, goes on a pilgrimage with a group of parishioners to right the wrongs of the land and cast this evil out.
This game has a phenomenal opening and some of the best artwork of its generation. Every location, from the great expanse of plains under constant lightning attack, to the crystal forests and ocean-side villages, is so richly layered that it is easy to become convinced that these locations must exist somewhere. This is also the first game in the series to feature voice-acting instead of dialogue bubbles. It’s a natural progression and gives the experience a much more cinematic feel, but it comes with the consequence that the player is unable to personally name the lead characters, as this RPG staple would complicate the voice-recording process.
The music does not quite match the standard set previously by the series. This is due in part to Nobuo Uematsu’s semi-retirement. After producing more than 140 songs, single-handedly, for Final Fantasy IX, Square brought in some extra help for X. The soundtrack is evenly split amongst its three composers, with all the most memorable pieces, including the opening and closing themes, being the work of Uematsu.
Final Fantasy X was the last really great entry into a franchise highly regarded for its consistent measure of quality and industry-leading craftsmanship. Everything about it brims with beauty and creativity. The story itself is a fine addition to the franchise, full of love, courage, friendship, and sadness.
This game has a phenomenal opening and some of the best artwork of its generation. Every location, from the great expanse of plains under constant lightning attack, to the crystal forests and ocean-side villages, is so richly layered that it is easy to become convinced that these locations must exist somewhere. This is also the first game in the series to feature voice-acting instead of dialogue bubbles. It’s a natural progression and gives the experience a much more cinematic feel, but it comes with the consequence that the player is unable to personally name the lead characters, as this RPG staple would complicate the voice-recording process.
The music does not quite match the standard set previously by the series. This is due in part to Nobuo Uematsu’s semi-retirement. After producing more than 140 songs, single-handedly, for Final Fantasy IX, Square brought in some extra help for X. The soundtrack is evenly split amongst its three composers, with all the most memorable pieces, including the opening and closing themes, being the work of Uematsu.
Final Fantasy X was the last really great entry into a franchise highly regarded for its consistent measure of quality and industry-leading craftsmanship. Everything about it brims with beauty and creativity. The story itself is a fine addition to the franchise, full of love, courage, friendship, and sadness.
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