So, after almost 13 years, it's time for us to go back to one of the most beloved worlds in Final Fantasy history... Spira! I can barely remember where I was or when it was that I bought the tenth chapter of the great saga. But I do remember the story. I was actually very anxious to play this game because of all the hype that had been going on back then. With this being the first FF to incorporate actual voices instead of blocks with speech dialogues, not to mention the updated graphics on the PS2, this was as anticipated as FF XV is for the PS4. And considering it had to compete with the great legacy that VII, VIII and IX left behind for the franchise, there were a lot of expectations for it to meet! Let me say this... It did not disappoint!
Fast-forward to September 2011, Square-Enix announced they would be remastering (and not remaking!) this classic title and now, after a long wait, it's finally time to get our hands on it! The graphics have been severely upgraded, but that's not all that this Remaster edition has in store for us! The soundtrack of the game has been updated as well, so that it's on par with the graphics (although some pieces, such as the memorable "To Zanarkand" have remained the same). Also for the first time in North American territories the Expert Sphere Grid has been implemented along with the Dark Aeons and Penance super hard bosses. And the features don't stop there. The extra episode "Eternal Calm" that features the events between X and X-2 plus the extra game content "Last Mission" have also been added.
Graphically, this is a great step-up from what the PS2 was ever capable of. Tidus and Yuna's faces specifically look as if they've been done from scratch. As for the rest of the main cast, they look just as flashy. It's obvious Square-Enix put all their emphasis on the protagonists, since the rest of the people of Spira look much more "last-gen" than the main cast (that's not to say they look bad, just less noticeable). The surroundings have had an obvious upgrade as well, with things such as trees, the sand, the water or buildings looking more livelier and colorful than ever! Even Blitzball is more fun to play!
Some people have voiced their opinion about the changes in the soundtrack. It's obvious that this was not a welcome change for all the series hardcore fanatics. But, we have to appreciate the effort that was put into the upgrade and the fact that the most memorable songs were left untouched. Perhaps the change will be better appreciated once the players actually hear the upgraded versions during their play-throughs.
The extra content was something a lot of people were concerned about. They had asked for it ever since this Remaster was announced, considering this was something that only the EU and Eastern areas got ("Eternal Calm" and "Last Mission" didn't even make it to the EU!) and when it was finally announced that everything was to be incorporated in one disc, everyone felt a weight off their chests. The extra content has been updated as well of course.
Recently there have been some rumors going around in regards to a possible continuation to the X saga. People have been wondering if a X-3 title could be in development. And all this is due to a 30 minute audio dramatization at the end of X-2 HD, that leaves a big plot hole. Could it be that Tidus and Yuna will be back for even more adventures after all these years? I guess that's up to Yusuke Naora, Yoshinore Kitase and the rest of the staff! (I, for one, would welcome it with open arms!)
Regardless of that, this week all Final Fantasy fans get to visit one of the most popular settings in the saga's 27 year history! For the old fans, it will be a very pleasant trip down memory lane, with modern sound and graphics! For the new fans, it will be a glimpse on what made this franchise go from "good" to "epic". No matter what though, this is a title no one should miss (considering what it has to offer for such a low price!).
No comments:
Post a Comment