Final Fantasy 10-2 isnt a particularly bad game, but set against the legacy of the series, it falls short.
Story- The story is a direct continuation of FF10's story, Yuna is now part of a group of Sphere hunters, who are on the lookout for spheres. spheres are essentially recorded messages from the past and help the inhabitants of the now peaceful world of Spira. Yuna is more interested in a sphere containing images of Tidus, who she is trying to find. against them are various enemies such as the leblanc syndicate which also seeks spheres, though for its own benefit, rather then the common good. The story gets somewhat deeper as is expected, but isnt anything special. The story is very lighthearted, almost comical at times, but isnt too interesting. The story is hard to take seriously when its so lighthearted and even cheesy at times. One nice aspect to the storyline however, is that in several key moments in the game, you are given an option on how to advance, and your decision can affect how the story goes,
Gameplay - The gameplay is essentially the same as it is in FF10 and so little explanation is needed, it is more important to talk about the changes.
the combat system is actually more akin to the older style of Final Fantasy combat, in that it is similar to the ATB system found in the likes of FF7 and FF9. What is different is the inclusion of dress spheres, which are acquired throughout the game and are similar to jobs, which you can change real time in combat. This aspect of FF10-2 is actually very good and shows this could have been a much better game if more care was taken with other aspects.
another unique aspect is that this game gives you an airship from the get go. This is both a blessing and a curse for this game. While it is novel to have an airship from the start of the game, it destroys any aspect of exploration in the game. It doesnt help that many locations in the game are simply recycled from FF10, which makes this game even more boring for long time fans of FF10.
Graphics and Sound - As far as the graphics go, this game is identical to Final Fantasy 10 in every way. The same graphics engine is used, very little improvements have been made. what is worse is that many of the locations in the game are recycled from FF10. The result is a game which feels like the same again, but with a worse story and faster gameplay. I would have expected at least a little improvement since this game is newer, but it ends up looking more like an expansion pack. As far as the sound goes, the music is very....different from everything else. Its very upbeat, almost too upbeat at some locations. what ends up being a mixed soundtrack depending on the location. Places like Besaid Island and Luca sound good while the airship sounds like horrid elevator music. Overall the music is a mixed bag depending on the location.
In conclusion, Final Fantasy 10-2 is a dissapointment due to the lackluster storyline and somewhat silly nature of the entire game, from its music to its atmosphere. I cannot wholeheartedly recommend this game unless it can be found for a good, relatively cheap price. ironically I would recommend this game more for gamers who have never played Final Fantasy 10, as fans of the game might feel dissapointed by it as I was.