Game Review: Final Fantasy X – HD Remaster (PS3)

“I fight for Spira. The people long for the Calm. I can give it to them. It’s all I can give. Defeating Sin, ending pain… this I can do.”

Final Fantasy X HD Remaster is a high-definition remaster of the role-playing video game Final Fantasy X originally developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) on the PlayStation 2 in 2001. The collection saw graphical and musical revisions and is based on the international versions of both games, making certain special features missing in the original releases accessible to North American and European players for the first time.

The idea for a remaster came about after the original team reunited while making FF Type-0, they felt they should do something to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of X. Additionally, producer, Yoshinori Kitas’s personal motivation was to have people too young to have played the games experience them.

Set in the fantasy world of Spira, the game’s story revolves around a group of adventurers and their quest to defeat a rampaging monster known as Sin. The player character is Tidus, an athlete star of the fictional sport known as blitzball. He finds himself in the world Spira after his home city of Zanarkand is destroyed by Sin. Shortly after arriving to Spira, Tidus joins the summoner Yuna on her pilgrimage to destroy Sin.

I’ve never actually played the original FFX so playing this HD remaster was my first experience of the game. But, from seeing comparison photos it’s easy to tell that they did a good job updating the graphics. Although, for me it’s the story I’m really interested in regardless.

Final Fantasy X introduced turn based battles, ATB and a unique take on summoning. Plus upgrading your characters by way of sphere grid which became commonplace thereafter to see in future instalments. As with future instalments the story is complex but not nearly as convoluted as its successors. I would only argue that being thrown into the world of Spira and the tale of Sin it’s natural to be bewildered. Luckily further explanations are out there online for anyone left muddled by the end of it. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and felt they did a great job at explaining it.

I’m all about characters and for once it’s difficult for me to choose my favourites. They were all so likeable in their own way. Besides our main protagonist and resident summoner, I choose the ever allusive Auron as my favourite character. Wise and downright badass, I mean, he rode on the back of Sin! I always felt as if he had so much more to say, and hung on every line of dialogue. But, still I was left with so much more I wanted to hear from him.

In conclusion, Final Fantasy X is an excellent game. Even more so remastered; its graphics are vastly improved and the cut scenes are stunning to look at. The story is one that will definitely stick with me, with an ending that had me shedding more than a few tears. Its story contains amazing twists and turns that connect each character in a seamless and unexpected way. While its combat is tough enough to challenge players of experience but still simple enough to understand. I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed experiencing this game, and the range of emotions it put me through. Furthermore, the soundtrack is awesome in itself and only adds to the emotion and depth of the game. The only criticism I can think of, is that the boss battles weren’t easy that’s for sure. But that’s what I’ve come to expect in any FF game.