Final Fantasy X Community Playthrough

[Jason Tandro]

AKA "There And O'aka Again"

Welcome to the Final Fantasy X Community Playthrough! Final Fantasy X was a groundbreaking title for the franchise and what yours truly dubs the end of the Final Fantasy Golden Era. The first Final Fantasy on the PS2, the first to utilize voice acting, and the first main series title to step away from the ATB system since it was introduced in Final Fantasy IV. The critical and fan reception for this game was remarkable then and the game remains one of the strongest entries in the franchise even to this day.

I remember playing the demo of this game on the Interactive Sampler that came with my first ever PS2 and running through the opening bits of Zanarkand alongside Auron. Later I was able to see a tiny bit of the stretch through Besaid Island and meet all of the other characters (except Rikku) and learn about how the battle line worked - active switching between members on the fly, swapping in and out of battle at the press of a button in a fluid system that made each battle seem that much more open-ended. I finally got the game proper, but no memory card - my dad didn't understand that it was required and back in the day a brand new 8 MB Memory Card for the PS2 cost around $30. But that didn't deter my sister and I who every weekend started up a new game and power-leveled our way to see how far we could get. The furthest I got before we got a memory card was the first fight with the beastly Anima who trounced me and made all that hard work of grinding seem like an utter waste.

But enough memories, on to the playthrough proper!

How Do I Take Part?

I've broken the game up into 10 roughly equivalent chapters, depending upon how much you dive into the game's side content such as Blitzball. Allowing for slower players I will be posting up new chapters every four days, which should be a happy medium between more experienced players who can breeze through the content and those who might need a little help. We can adjust the chapter timing as needed based on how players are progressing.

How Do I Get The Game?

While it's not quite as easy to get a version of this game as it is the first 9 entries, which have been ported onto everything from PSP to cell phones (I swear I played FF1 on my microwave the other day) FFX is still relatively easy to get a hold of. If you have a Playstation system apart from the first one, you can get this game.

• Final Fantasy X (Original - PS2)
• Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD (Remaster - PS3)
• Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD (Remaster - PS4)
• Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD (Remaster - PC)

The two remastered versions not only include X-2 as well and some bonus content such as an audio drama which hints at a third game and the in-betweener movie "Eternal Calm", but also a remastered soundtrack for Final Fantasy X and the option to choose an "Expert Mode" Sphere Grid, which allows for more versatility but also can be perilous to inexperienced players who might roam about the board without a clear goal. For more information see this article explaining in detail the differences.

Where Are The Chapters?
Chapter 1: We Called It Sin
Chapter 2: To Do Our Best
Chapter 3: It's The Right Thing To Do
Chapter 4: Memories Are Nice, But That's All They Are
Chapter 5: The Pilgrimages Have To Stop
Chapter 6: I Can Fly
Chapter 7: The End of Yuna's Journey
Chapter 8: Live And Fight Your Sorrow

Player Progress and Comments
This section will link you to the review and comments by the various players, as well as letting you know how far each person is progressing.

Chapter 1
Amizon
Teioh
Kimble
Channy
Kionae
Jason
Flare
ChipNoir
Joe
Mr. Ite

Chapter 2
Kimble
Channy
Teioh
Kionae
Amizon
ChipNoir
Joe
Jason
Flare
Mr. Ite

Chapter 3
Kionae
ChipNoir
Joe
Teioh
Amizon
Mr. Ite
Jason
Flare
Channy

Chapter 4
Kionae
Teioh
Amizon
Channy

Chapter 5
Kionae
Amizon
Teioh
Channy

Chapter 6
Kionae
Teioh
Amizon

Chapter 7
Kionae

Chapter 8

 

[Ite]

Excellent! I just bought the X/X2 remaster for Windows.

Until July 5, it's 50% off on Steam (I got it for $16.50 CDN).

I have OBS software so I may edit my thoughts into videos, or I may just write them

I hated this game when it came out. While the score itself isn't bad (it's downright great) I couldn't stand the sound samples the PS2 used. I also found the graphics deep in the uncanny valley, the costume and makeup baffling, and couldn't stand that Tidus fellow. I was also a late teen full of counterwill and fresh off of loving FF6-9, which still count among my fave games ever, so expectations may have been too high. I liked the world well enough. I'm willing to give this another go. I remember loving the sphere grid and the battle system so I'm really hoping that I'll love the whole game for this second go-around!

I'll be playing through with my fiance Sarah, so she may chime in now and then.

 

[ChipNoir]

This is a game that I bring out every couple of years. I was in 8th grade when I got this, a very difficult time for me as it was when my paternal grandfather (Who I lived with) was first starting to show signs of the cancers that would eventually take his life two years later. So at that time, while I was already very much into the Final Fantasy franchise since 97, I threw myself into X with an almost obsessive passion.

I was particularly drawn to what I felt like the zentih of the Turnbased Style, where every skill and spell, and attack has it's own special moment. I've more than once lamented that the franchise has since pulled away from this more intimate style in favor of a distanced, static third person view thats never quite entertained me as much as the previous generation. And yes, I'm such a dork that I do little hand gestures every time a spell is cast. I'm weird that way.

I have a huge tolerance for cheese and melodrama, as long as the characters have a certain amount of jua de vivre, which I feel (Especially compared to VIII and XII) these characters have in spades. I'm looking forward to point for point analysis and discussion. An old game like this, its hard to get people to settle down and talk about them since many people tend to have truncated opinions briefly mentioned on the subject.

 

[Anemone]

Aw yiss, this game is tied with FFIX as my favourite Final Fantasy.

Spoiler: I'm really looking forward to losing my mind again

 

[Ami]

Looking forward to this! I'll be streaming this every Saturday afternoon/evening at GMT+1.

 

[Joker]

My favorite final fantasy is being done in a community playthrough, you say?

edit- Playthrough suggestions for players:

1. Don't play on the damn expert grid. It's not that great, tbh. Yes, you can send people down paths that are weird as fuck (it's easy to send Yuna down Auron's path and make her your stat breaker, or have Lulu be your flyer-killing ace), BUT...the grid itself is still fairly similar, and the characters start out in relatively the same spots, meaning the first several SLs you gain are going to teach them the same damn skills anyway. Each character's section of the grid meanders all over the map, and several of the points where they overlap are NOT gated by Lock Nodes, so it's EXTREMELY easy to send someone down the wrong path, even with advanced planning. For the min/maxers out there (like me), the expert grid also features fewer nodes, which is lame, as it cuts into your final stats (that said, you also have more than enough nodes for what you need ANYWAY, so something of a moot point?). FINALLY, Kimahri's greatest strength in the game isn't that he can be a second version of any character (which he can), it's that he has the ability to aggressively rush certain powerful skills for unlocking, meaning he can easily grab certain abilities way before their intended character can - given the adaptability of the blue mage, which he clearly represents, this is fantastic. Expert grid removes this entirely. BE CAREFUL.

2. Don't bother with blitzball until you need to. And by "need to", I mean when you get the airship. Make sure to get the Jecht shot on the boat, though!

3. Pick 3-4 of your favorite characters. Focus on PRIMARILY using them throughout the story, so that come the endgame, you've got a few strong characters that can carry the weaker ones like luggage, rather than having an entire party that's a bit underpowered. In my most recent playthrough, my primary party changed from my usual Kimahri/Rikku/Auron to Tidus/Rikku/Auron, and holy hell did I notice the difference. Tidus' presence (and higher level of strength compared to previous playthroughs) made my team noticeably more aggressive and ended encounters much more quickly than the somewhat more mitigation-heavy Yuna-centric parties. Then again, I don't like using aeons for anything besides being damage soaks, so idk. Except for you, Yojimbo <3

4. Other stuff when I think about it.

I might stream this as well. I DO have this Saturday off...........

 

[Jason Tandro]

^
1. Yeah I used to send Kimahri down Lulu's path and make him a secondary spell-slinger but these days I actually prefer to send him down Rikku's path so I have a second person in the early game with Use and Steal. Al Bhed Potion for days.

2. Blitzball is super awesome and I'm going to have to make sure I don't get distracted by it to do the actual game.

3. New players are probably going to be locked into the game's reinforced mindset of varying enemy types for each player. It is kind of designed to make you focus on all of them, except Kimahri (who is usually my weakest until around Bikanel Desert). However, there are some things to keep in mind:

- Tidus is usually fast enough to hit anything Wakka can.
- When you acquire elemental marbles / gems anybody can take down Flans and Elementals.
- Auron can usually hit the targets meant for Tidus.
- Many target meant for Auron have high physical resistance but middling magical so Lulu can sometimes take them down. Also many of Kimahri's weapons have "Piercing" which is the specific weapon ability which makes Auron handle these.

Also when it comes time to move past each characters assigned slice of the Sphere Grid, send Yuna down Lulu's path. In time she will actually surpass Lulu as your main magical damage dealer (unless you then, in turn, send Lulu down Yuna's). Holy + Yuna's Ultimate Weapon can wreck most anybody's shit. Plus she has her Espers,Eidolons,Summons, Red Materia, Espers again but with Zodiac Signs, Aeons, so she is basically required to be in your endgame as far as I am concerned.

Finally if you're a limit break junkie like I am, do not underestimate Rikku's Mix ability. If you know what to mix it is easily the most OP Overdrive in the game (though Blitz Ace will get the job done). Also for Wakka, if you stack him right you'll never need to move him beyond his second Overdrive Attack Reels.

 

[Joe]

I am so ready for this

 

[ChipNoir]

The thing I usually end up doing to break my game is teaching Yuna and Kimahri the Use/Steal abilities. With access to those every round, my stockpile goes up massively, which means I can get some really high level customized equipment a lot faster. Plus having Use means almost nothing can hurt me, and I can do a LOT of damage without worrying about stats.

 

[Flare]

I can't wait to play this with a group from TLS. <3

I'm debating which version to play. Original PS2 version, or the PS3 Remaster. I want to play the Remaster but i like a lot of the original PS2 songs better... plus I have a PS2 in my bedroom, but the PS3 is in my parents room and I wouldn't be able to play it at night.

 

[Anemone]

I can't wait to play this with a group from TLS. <3

I'm debating which version to play. Original PS2 version, or the PS3 Remaster. I want to play the Remaster but i like a lot of the original PS2 songs better... plus I have a PS2 in my bedroom, but the PS3 is in my parents room and I wouldn't be able to play it at night.

I felt the same way as you regarding the music, but once I played through the Remaster, I found that I preferred that soundtrack (for the most part).

 

[Flintlock]

I also prefer a lot of the remastered soundtrack but the battle theme is so awful that I have to play with the default soundtrack or it would drive me crazy.

 

[ForceStealer]

The remastered soundtrack is fine. Some tracks I like worse, some I like better (especially freaking Sprouting/Movement in Green hnnnnng). The battle theme is one I was completely ambivalent about...just looked it up, don't hear the problem.

 

[Joker]

Yuna ALREADY hits harder than Lu. A couple of Black Magic Spheres and you're gucci.

Also, I will fucking riot and/or mutiny if the first chapter isn't called "Crews of What?" because it is the single most hilarious thing in the game outside of Brother miming for Tidus

 

[Flare]

Jason, Kimble wished you included a chapter just for Blitzball tournaments in the playthrough. He really loves blitzball. <3

I haven't heard all the remastered songs yet, so it might be really nice to play it for that fact alone. I did like the besaid remix. Not any better than the first one, but it's a lovely remix.
I think my decision will boil down to accessibility

 

[Channy]

Soooo stoked for this - will get my play throughs in on the weekend too during the day when Mr Channy's at work. But fuck blitzball. And the lightning dodges. Could never figure it out.

And I WILL play it, Force

 

[Joker]

Jason, Kimble wished you included a chapter just for Blitzball tournaments in the playthrough. He really loves blitzball. <3

there's a special kind of hell for people like you

people who invented blitzball and chocobo racing and lightning dodging and butterfly catching

I bet you're responsible for tetra master and ff13 as well

 

[Claymore]

AKA "There And O'aka Again"

I love you.

But I can't force myself to play this game again. Will be sitting this one out.

 

[Joe]

Lightning dodging and butterfly catching can suck a dick.

Blitzball, on the other hand, is my jam. I'm gonna have to stop myself from wasting hours in it during this playthrough.

 

[Ite]

I think I'm going to actually try and play as much blitzball as I can. I also have an old Al Bhed cypher around here somewhere... "dra" means "the" that much I remember, but I had a full alphabet in my FFX notebook.

Yes, when I play RPGs I have notebooks. The 9"x6" notebooks that you can get at the Dollarama. Perfect for keeping track of game stuff.

 

[Jason Tandro]

JT's Blitzball Tips:

1. Learn The Jecht Shot.
2. Learn The Jecht Shot.
3. Learn The Fucking Jecht Shot.

No but seriously learning the Jecht Shot onboard your second ship ride towards Luca will make your life 1000x easier in the Blitzball scene. It is an OP as hell move that can make Tidus so much more effective than he already is. If you don't know, it knocks away two defenders and adds a solid shot bonus as well meaning unless you are facing like four defenders or one hell of a Goalie you're basically guaranteed to make it in.

Other Tips:

Building Your Team

1. Hanging on to the Aurochs will get you a bonus with a certain ability in the late game if you so wish, but I usually trade several of them out. Jassu and Botta (I think these are your defenders) are actually pretty solid and worth keeping. Datto is a passable Midfielder.

2. Get rid of Keepa. He eventually becomes your best Goalie but the strategy that will win you games is an offensively minded one. You just want a stone wall that will keep most shots out early on until your offensive, and for that I reccomend Jumal who can be found in Luca. He actually remained my Goalie through my career even though his effectiveness did peter off.

3. For your Forwards, you want Tidus (obviously) and Wedge who can also be found in Luca. He's one of the guards. You can also find Biggs, but I found him less useful (still a solid player). If you eventually teach Wedge Sphere Shot he will function extremely well. In my third season he actually scored more goals than Tidus due to Sphere Shot's lower HP Cost.

Managing Your Team

1. Keep the Gil Flowing - Nothing sucks worse than losing one of your best players because the contract ran out and you couldn't foot the bill. To this end I usually set long consistent contracts and renew them all at once so there are no surprises. If you find gil hard to come by (you shouldn't) then staggering contracts make also work. I propose if you go for the long option to set Contracts out for 20 games each which is enough to cover an entire season plus all the tournaments within. It's pricey, but saves you hassle.

2. Focus on Key Abilities - Know what your players Key Abilities are. This will allow them to unlock new abilities and become more versatile. Early on you will find TechCopy to be hard as you are so low. It does become easier with time and if you mark players who have abilities you need, it will be so much better for you in the long run.

3. Pass the Ball - Don't let Tidus get all the glory, make sure everybody has a chance to handle the ball so they can level up evenly. Passing chains in the back row are also good ways to burn the clock down if you have a lead.

4. Strategize Your Abilities - You want abilities on your team that are going to supplement their roles. Give your Forwards Volley Shot so they can clear defenders when shooting and Drain Tackle so they can get some HP back to use their special skills. Give your Defenders Venom and Wither tackle to make your enemy attackers less effective (Wither is actually good for anybody really). Give your midfielder various Pass abilities not just for the chance to poison but for the Pass bonus it gives you. Goalie abilities are pretty set in stone but Grip Gloves and Super Goalie are basically your go to ones.


General Tips & Tricks

1. "Get The Ball And Just Shoot Like Crazy" - but no seriously, you will find that you win more games playing aggressive and offensive. Against some teams, like the Ronso Fangs you may find this approach harder but it's still essential to do the obvious thing and get points on the board. Did I mention get the Jecht Shot?

2. Tidus Midfielder - Here's a fun trick if you have the Jecht Shot and are behind. On Half-Time, switch Tidus to your midfielder. When he gets the ball, move forward just a bit then immediately use Jecht Shot. Against most goalies, the shot goes in and you get a point within a few seconds and limit your enemies ability to prepare. This also works okay (And if fortune favors you, better) with Sphere Shot. This is a Hail Mary though, most of the time, leave him on your Forward.

3. Cheating Bastard - Some team AIs are fun. If you have the ball in your midfield, there is a sweet spot you can sit at where the enemy team won't advance, anticipating your attack. You can actually sit here for a long while and burn down the clock (but only do this if you're in the lead).


Team Tips

Teams will change as they hire more people but early on here is what to expect:

1. Luca Goers - All around best, or so they would have you believe. Nobody here is a slouch and they have a solid Goalie.
2. Ronso Fangs - The team I actually have had historically the most trouble with. They are all very tough but very slow. Aggressive sideline maneuvers are your best bet here. Just don't let Argai use Sphere Shot on you.
3. Guado Glories - Slippery fast little buggers but not so tough. They are pretty aggressive and will use speed to gang up on you so watch out.
4. Kilika Beasts - A middle-effectiveness team with a good passing game. Vuroja is a tough SOB too so watch out for him.
5. Al Bhed Psyches - As the story basically tells you, this team sucks. They're on the quick side and love their techs but that's about it. Easiest team by far to beat.


Best of luck to you all.

 

[Flare]

Lightning dodging and butterfly catching can suck a dick.

Blitzball, on the other hand, is my jam. I'm gonna have to stop myself from wasting hours in it during this playthrough.

Pretty much same here

 

[ForceStealer]

I never cared about Blitzball in the past. But when I played the remaster I suddenly got into it. Sort of strange, but I enjoyed it

 

[Flare]

^I was kinda similar, never got into it my first few playthroughs, but the last one I really did and suddenly enjoyed it.

 

[Ami]

I'm going to end up wasting DAYS on blitzball if I have it my way. I was addicted back in the day and definitely will be addicted when I get back on now. But I'll more than likely spend time playing that outside the official stream.