Final Fantasy X is a game that defined my teenage years. It was my first introduction into what would become my favourite game series of all time, Final Fantasy. When I learned back in 2011 that Square-Enix were to release a HD Remaster of both Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2, I was thrilled. Since the announcement, I’ve been eagerly awaiting to be able to dive back into the world of Spira and I now finally have my chance to return in glorious HD.
Little did I know, it would take three years to finally be able to play Final Fantasy X HD and boy am I glad that I waited for the remaster instead of dragging out my old dust-ridden Playstation 2. I’m currently playing through Final Fantasy X HD on my Vita and the game looks marvelous. The Vita’s OLED screen makes Spira come to life, in areas such as Macalania Forest and Besaid Island you can’t help but to simply stop and admire the scenery.
I never thought Final Fantasy would lend itself to a portable platform so well. I now find myself bringing my Vita everywhere, whether it’s fighting fiends while I’m travelling on a bus or playing Blitzball while I’m waiting on my girlfriend taking hours to get ready, it just works. I find myself doing more of the mini games and side quests now because of the portability; if I’m looking to burn ten minutes of my time, I’ll play a game of Blitzball or just spend the few minutes power-leveling. It’s hard to imagine playing Final Fantasy X any other way, it’s just so damn good on the go.
I recently went back and played through some of the older Final Fantasy games and the first thing I noticed is that Final Fantasy X really was such a departure for the series. I will always have a place in my heart for Final Fantasy X, but I can honestly understand why a lot of people have split opinions on the game itself. The game is pretty much linear throughout your playthrough, even though it does open up somewhat towards the end, something no Final Fantasy was before. Nevertheless, Final Fantasy X boasts what I consider to be the greatest combat of them all, the Condition Turn-Based Battle System (CTB for short). With the CTB, players would be able to plan their attacks more accordingly without having enemies attack relentlessly whilst you figure out your next move like in previous games. This, in turn, made the battles much more tactical along with the ability to change both characters and equipment on the fly.
Final Fantasy X HD is a great way for both fans of the series and newcomers to experience a fantastic game in all it’s glory. It’s a game that really can’t be missed and if you’re looking for a reason to pick up and play your Vita, you’ve got it.
