Final Fantasy X-2 unfolds a delightful, poingant and charming story and the series venture into a pop-oriented story.
Before profundizing into this game's review let's analyze some factors previous to this game. The Final Fantasy series are celebrating it's 20th anniversary and they have practically become a genre in itself, complete with its own distinctive gameplay elements, rules, and traditions. In 2001 Final Fantasy X delighted us with it's amazing story and competent gameplay and graphic capabilities, well Final Fantasy X-2 proudly steps into the series sequel new venture attempt and delivers an amazing story too, great graphics and it changes the entire gameplay of the game.
Instead of following a story you can actually decide which events take place or which places you will visit (kind of like a create your own RPG). You will see a lot of familiar places from the past game but now you can enter this places as you please and complete a plethora of sidequests. This places have been updated graphically and in some cases they have changed and become bigger.
The game stars high sumoneer Yuna which now has become a bounty hunter and a pop idol (yeah this is one of the major love / hate factor in the game) It's two years after the defeat of Sin, and the fabled Eternal Calm has come to Spira. Though the constant threat of attack is gone, this newfound peace is made uneasy by competition between rival factions, each vying to bring Spira's new era under its own control. Amid these circumstances, Yuna is still as thoughtful and introspective as ever, but she's traded in her robes and staff for short-shorts and a pair of pistols by joining the Gullwings, a trio of 'sphere hunters' that includes FFX alum Rikku and a tough, new fighter named Paine.
This time the gameplay changes entirely and becomes more action oriented and fast paced and diferent from FFX this time your characters level up and gain new abilities through leveling so at times the game involves you in level-up grinds however it doesn't bother the experience.
The girls (Yuna, Rikku and Paine) are mercenaries of a "sphere hunting" group called the GullWings whose mission is to find and retrieve video recording devices called spheres (FFX fans must remember this) This spheres contain recordings of past events which marked the story of Spira. Yuna's attitude change and becoming a mercenary is because of a sphere in which she sees a recording of a man who strongly resembles Tidus (his loved one and protagonist of FFX).
While the game progresses the story links strongly to Final Fantasy X, this time the threat is no longer Sin this time the land of Spira becomes involved in political problems and warfare between different political groups which seek control over Spira.
GRAPHICS: Final Fantasy X-2 is an improvement over the first one majorly in the graphics department since you can notice superior visuals and the FMVs are as beautiful as ever, however they aren't as frequent as in FFX.
SOUND:
The boss fight track is awesome, and it also features a lot of great orchestra sounds and pop songs.
OVERALL:
Final Fantasy X-2 is the most love / hate game I've ever encountered, and I loved it since I came across a lot of obvious improvements over the first one which in my opinion standed out very nicely. The story is one of the most endearing and memorable of the past years.