Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster [PS3/PS4/Vita]

[The Twilight Mexican]

Do not forget to recruit Linna right before you enter the Macalania temple; particularly as you only meet her that one time.

You can go back and she'll be at the temple later too, but you'll have to get past Dark Shiva if you're playing the International or HD Remaster versions.

So at the risk of sounding stupid, do I have to play a couple games of Blitzball before I can start recruiting people?

Yes. No one's contracts will expire until games pass.




So, Tets, after reading your review of the new OST, I decided to sit and compare each track one-to-one in a proper fashion, and I'm still very much of the opinion that the original OST was superior.

There are a few individual tracks I can point to that are improved ("To Zanarkand" is slightly better for the reasons you mentioned, and "Blitz Off" is way better), but on the whole, the remastered soundtrack is a fucking disaster.

The new "Spira Unplugged" is grating as all hell and I honestly can't imagine playing the game while having to listen to that shit. Doubly so for the new "Mi'hen Highroad." That track was always a little obnoxious, but holy fucking shit, for the people who already disliked that portion of the game, I can't imagine the agony of enduring running down the path while listening to that chocobo manure. Speaking of those birds, I would have to rent one so I could quickly get away.

As a fan of that portion of the game, I feel like the experience would be damn near ruined between this and the wreck the battle theme became. As you said in your review, it became a mess because it really does sound like they tried making it too epic (which should have been reserved for the boss music), losing the sense of the whole thing in the process.

The new version of "Besaid" is technically pretty and would be nice as a reflective piece in any other context than while you're actually on the island of Besaid. That one is just awful for the purpose it's used for.

"Tidus's Theme" for the Remaster is kind of the same for me. It's a nice, relaxing, reflective piece, but it lacks the "set sail for adventure!" feeling the original had, which I would argue fit the game better. Still, it's one of the nicer pieces to come off the new OST and I expect I will listen to it again in the future.

Some are as good as they ever were despite the changes. "Auron's Theme" is a fine example. It's not really any better, but it's no worse -- it feels the same, just has some slight differences in sound. "Jecht's Theme" falls into this as well. I personally prefer the original, but it's pretty much the same. "Fight With Seymour" isn't much different in sound or feel either, really.

"Luca" is almost another example. It's perfectly fine until the horrendous saxophone bit starts. Thankfully, it doesn't last too long.

Also, I'm not sure how one manages to make "Assault" and "A Fleeting Dream" not feel quite as epic, but they did it. I still like the new take on the latter of the two (it starts off great for sure), but they changed the harsher delivery of one of the sounds (that cold pinging sound in the original, almost like the pinging of metal underwater; as though trapped in a tube under the sea), which really affects entirely how the rest of it resonates (or doesn't) with me.

I do have to give a tip of my hat for the new version of "Servants of the Mountain," though. This is just beautiful, and an improvement by any measure. I like how the improved string quality really emphasizes the "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" feel. Can't say enough good things about this. Probably the single best improvement on the whole OST, but "Via Purifico" comes in at a close second. The new take is far more haunting and eerie. I love it.

As you mentioned, the new "Beyond the Darkness" is also a marked improvement. There's nothing at all to dislike here. This is straight-up improvement.

So, there's the FFX|X-2 HD Remaster OST in a nutshell: A handful of improved tracks and shoulder shrugs amongst mostly horror and ruin.

 

[Tennyo]

I guess what I should elaborate on is, do I have to play games before I can approach them in game and bring up the little box that lets me check their stats and what they have left for a contract? It's not working for me.

 

[The Twilight Mexican]

I don't think so. If I remember right, it's available as soon as you leave Luca. I think your scout level goes up the more you play, though?

My own stupid questions: Are you pressing square and are you trying it on people who actually play blitzball?

 

[Tetsujin]

So, Tets, after reading your review of the new OST, I decided to sit and compare each track one-to-one in a proper fashion, and I'm still very much of the opinion that the original OST was superior.

You monster.

 

[Tennyo]

I don't think so. If I remember right, it's available as soon as you leave Luca. I think your scout level goes up the more you play, though?

I try all the buttons, actually. I have been trying it on all the NPC's I come across, and I can't get it to pop up. :/

 

[Tetsujin]

You can't recruit everyone. Maybe you just didn't talk to recruitable people yet?

 

[ForceStealer]

I totally disagree on the soundtrack. I've really enjoyed nearly all of them. I love the Sight of Spira on a real guitar, the electric guitar additions to the battle theme are subtle and work well, and I like the piano thunder plains, and I absolutely adore the song that plays on the moonflow. That one is by far my favorite, the new asian instruments are beautiful.

The only one I've disliked is the chocobo theme, which WAS ruined.

 

[Lex]

^I agree. I don't think you can make a proper judgement on it until you've heard them in-game, because I hated some of them prior to playing it and I found they didn't bother me at all in actual gameplay.

Also Tres:

You can go back and she'll be at the temple later too, but you'll have to get past Dark Shiva if you're playing the International or HD Remaster versions.

Are you absolutely certain about this? Because once you beat dark shiva you still can't get near the temple, Guado just infinitely pour out of it.

 

[ForceStealer]

Tres has been poo-pooing this awesome remaster from day one. I don't know who shit in his cheerios.

 

[The Twilight Mexican]

It's not my fault they had to remove so many great things about the original version.

As for the temple, Lex, I am absolutely certain. It may be after Mika dissipates or after you crack open Sin, but you can go back to the temple. You can visit Shiva's fayth and she says that bit about dreaming a new sea, remember?

 

[Lex]

^I've done some reading - the dark aeons appear when you hit the Calm Lands, after that point you need to beat dark shiva, leave the screen then re-enter to get rid of the guado if you want to get near/ enter the temple. I think. I've never gone back after going there in the story even though it's my favourite temple :/

 

[Joker]

If you weren't able to re-enter, you'd never have the chance to get Anima and the Magus Sisters if you missed the treasure the first time through.

And yes, that's exactly right. You just leave and re-enter the area and it's fine.

 

[Tetsujin]

So, got the airship- All that side content, WHERE DO I BEGIN.

Guess I'll snatch up the remaining Aeons first. Off to monster hunt a bit before I monster hunt all the monsters.

 

[Lex]

If you weren't able to re-enter, you'd never have the chance to get Anima and the Magus Sisters if you missed the treasure the first time through.

And yes, that's exactly right. You just leave and re-enter the area and it's fine.

I know, but up until this point I had assumed that you could return in the original/NA version but not the others. I mean you can't go back to the Bevelle temple either so it's not like a temple treasure being missable is unprecedented

 

[Joker]

I think in Bevelle's case, though, aren't you forced to take the treasure? (I can't remember)

 

[Lex]

Yeah the treasure chest is literally blocking your path so you can't miss it. Which is handy

 

[Tetsujin]

Talked to Maechen on Gagazet. I remember when I first played FFX, it was at that point that I thought he probably knew so much because he was there throughout the history of Spira as an Unsent.

I was glad to see that confirmed in X-2.

 

[ForceStealer]

Is the issue of sendings ever mentioned in X-2? Summoners did all the Sending, and there are no more summoners. But the ritual certainly seemed to do something and was just Yevon bullshit. So is there a massive uptick in the number of fiends in-universe do to the lack of people who perform Sendings?

Was there anything particular about Summoners that allowed them to perform the ritual or could anything technically do it with training? I assume it has something to do with a Summoners connection with a fayth, which is impossible now, but pyreflies are obviously still around...

Something I always wondered about and I don't recall (and have yet to find in this playthrough) any mention of it from an NPC or something.

 

[Tetsujin]

Is the issue of sendings ever mentioned in X-2? Summoners did all the Sending, and there are no more summoners.

There are summoners, there are just no more summons.

They are now known as senders. That's from the audio drama iirc. X-2 never mentions anything about sendings.

 

[Tetsujin]

Sigh. Fuck the chocobo race.

Would be slightly more bearable with the option to restart immediately. If the trainer pretty much gets the first bunch of balloons on her side immediately and then I get hit by one or two birds early on, I don't even wanna finish the race. Just let me restart that shit, dammit.

 

[ForceStealer]

Gah. First game over. Figured I'd get through the wedding last night before bed because I love that bit.
Evrae was the first time I really had trouble in my original playthrough, and if I recall he completed halted a second playthrough back when. I stomped him with no problem, and then got most of the way to the altar. Then those stupid standing-on-one-leg machina kicked Auron and Tidus out and managed to get a lucky two turns in a row on Lulu, killing her :/

I remembered later that they only do Thrust Kick when they're the last one left, but I forgot and hate those flamethrower guys.

 

[Russell]

I just spend 2 hours in the Omega ruins collecting monsters, on the way back to the save Sphere I got ambushed by a Great Malboro that hit me with Bad breath and cast confuse on all 3 of my characters who immediately killed themselves.

Spoiler

 

[Shademp]

I just spend 2 hours in the Omega ruins collecting monsters, on the way back to the save Sphere I got ambushed by a Great Malboro that hit me with Bad breath and cast confuse on all 3 of my characters who immediately killed themselves.

*has Vietnam Omega Ruins flashbacks*

Spoiler

 

[Joker]

I just spend 2 hours in the Omega ruins collecting monsters, on the way back to the save Sphere I got ambushed by a Great Malboro that hit me with Bad breath and cast confuse on all 3 of my characters who immediately killed themselves.

Spoiler

I know this pain all too well.

I'm going to go have a drink in your honor now.

 

[Cat Rage Room]

Is the issue of sendings ever mentioned in X-2? Summoners did all the Sending, and there are no more summoners. But the ritual certainly seemed to do something and was just Yevon bullshit. So is there a massive uptick in the number of fiends in-universe do to the lack of people who perform Sendings?

Was there anything particular about Summoners that allowed them to perform the ritual or could anything technically do it with training? I assume it has something to do with a Summoners connection with a fayth, which is impossible now, but pyreflies are obviously still around...

Something I always wondered about and I don't recall (and have yet to find in this playthrough) any mention of it from an NPC or something.

I always thought that the massive aura of despair and the high number of horribly violent deaths from Sin and fiends is what necessitated sendings. Someone getting mauled by a serpent fiend during a family outing would need a sending, not a grandma peacefully dying in her sleep.