I’ve been an enormous Ultimate Fantasy fan ever since I rented Ultimate Fantasy VI on the SNES as a child, although I fell off throughout the PlayStation 2 period. I nonetheless performed Ultimate Fantasy X and X-2, however sadly, a troublesome boss combat and a buddy stealing them put a damper on issues. Due to Ultimate Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster popping out for the Nintendo Swap 2, I lastly have an excuse to attempt once more.
This isn’t the primary time Ultimate Fantasy X/X-2 has graced a Nintendo platform; it first launched as a twin pack on the Nintendo Swap in 2019, alongside a number of different Ultimate Fantasy video games making their Nintendo debut. The 2 play the identical as they did of their authentic PlayStation 2 releases, so when you’ve performed them already, there’s nothing shocking right here.
Ultimate Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster holds up nicely and nonetheless feels contemporary and attention-grabbing. Ultimate Fantasy X stands out thanks largely to its turn-based gameplay and the Sphere Grid. Whereas the collection has used the Lively Time Battle (ATB) system ever since Ultimate Fantasy IV on the Tremendous NES, Ultimate Fantasy X breaks custom by giving what producer Yoshinori Kitase felt was a extra strategic tackle turn-based gameplay. I personally favor a purely turn-based system over the filling meters system Ultimate Fantasy often makes use of (it’s why I like Dragon Quest a lot), so it was a welcome change on the time!
Ultimate Fantasy X‘s Sphere Grid creates a novel tackle character progress, permitting gamers to extra freely direct a personality’s trajectory by way of a nonlinear system. Moderately than expertise factors, characters earn Skill Factors to progress alongside the grid, improve a personality’s stats, and be taught new strategies. If there’s one factor I’ve at all times appreciated in regards to the collection, it’s that every entry appears like an try and be an entire new expertise from the final. The identical is true even with Ultimate Fantasy X-2, with variations that genuinely shocked me once I first performed it!
I anticipated Ultimate Fantasy X-2 can be an enlargement on its predecessor’s techniques, one thing like Tremendous Mario Galaxy 2 or The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Colour me stunned to seek out that was not the case; whereas Ultimate Fantasy X bucked custom, X-2 returned to utilizing the ATB system, which I feel was a terrific choice—not merely to distinguish the sport, however as a result of it matched the vibe higher. Ultimate Fantasy X-2 feels rather more frenetic, each in gameplay and in story.
The opposite main change was the Dressphere system, which I completely adored. It introduced me again to Ultimate Fantasy V‘s job system, and it was loads of enjoyable customizing Yuna, Rikku, and Paine, each mechanically and stylistically! Like using ATB, the Dressphere system emphasizes the sport’s themes, notably changing into your true self.
In the event you’ve by no means skilled the story of Ultimate Fantasy X/X-2, this can be a nice solution to expertise it. It’s not my favourite within the collection (that award goes to Ultimate Fantasy IX!), however its plot, writing, characters, and setting are all robust. I’m notably keen on Yuna (scorching take, I do know!), however characters like Auron, Rikku, and Wakka additionally proved to bolster the story. I’m not the largest fan of Tidus, however he is a superb fish out of water to have issues defined to, and the thriller of his function on this world is unbelievable.
I can’t deny that I used to be extremely confused when Ultimate Fantasy X-2 was first introduced. I’d been spoiled on a lot of the story of the primary sport earlier than taking part in X-2, however the shift from a extra conventional fantasy setting to a pop star Charlie’s Angels vibe had me stunned (not an unusual opinion again within the day both). These days, nevertheless, I feel it really works fairly nicely!
Yuna, the true protagonist of the world of Ultimate Fantasy X/X-2, spent her life being advised what her function is, and all the things about her character in Ultimate Fantasy X-2 appears like an intentional rejection of a life dictated by others. I feel lots of people thought this was an try and chase tendencies, however in my view, they only used the rising pop trade in Japan to inform a terrific story.
Whereas Ultimate Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is basically unchanged mechanically, two noticeable options included on this model are touchscreen help and increase options. The touchscreen options, initially featured within the Vita and Swap releases of Ultimate Fantasy X/X-2, enable gamers to vary sure settings on the fly (like Aeon and Dressphere cutscene size) or fast therapeutic. As somebody who loves something that saves me valuable seconds in video games, particularly a protracted one like Ultimate Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster, I’m so grateful to have these!
The boosts are additionally a pleasant characteristic for Ultimate Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster, however none of them actually vibe with me besides maybe the encounter management once I’m irritated by random battles. Options like the flexibility to make your self primarily invincible, pace the sport up, and unlock all the abilities and talents take away from the enjoyable of an RPG for me. I can perceive why individuals would possibly wish to use them, and I don’t begrudge them being there, however it wouldn’t get me to double dip on Ultimate Fantasy X/X-2.
One annoying half I skilled in Ultimate Fantasy X-2 was getting caught on a tutorial for the touchscreen controls. I don’t know what went improper (or if something really went improper), however for no matter purpose, the tutorial lasted an inordinately very long time. I don’t know if I did something to trigger progress or if there was a glitch that made it get caught, however I solely obtained by way of it after a number of resets, which undoubtedly was not a enjoyable solution to begin my sport! No less than it was the one situation of that magnitude I discovered in Ultimate Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster.
At any time when I mess with remakes and remasters, I’m often cautious about new music preparations. Not that they aren’t good—they often are!—however not less than when it’s a sport I’ve already performed earlier than, I discover that it’s simple for the brand new model to stray a bit too distant from what I favored about its music.
I bear in mind liking the Ultimate Fantasy X/X-2 music quite a bit, so at first I used to be certain I might keep on with the unique. To be thorough, I switched soundtrack variations to get a grasp of how they differ. And shade me stunned, the soundtrack rearrangement was fairly nicely accomplished! In lots of circumstances, you won’t even register that the music differs until you recognize the tune by coronary heart. It’s solely within the extra vital items, like Tidus’ theme or the battle observe, that the variations grow to be apparent.
These had been two themes I picked as a result of I’ve opposing emotions on them. Whereas I felt that “Tidus’s Theme” works finest in the brand new model, the “Battle Theme” is lots stronger in the unique. Not that the brand new battle observe is weak, however it feels much less punchy, and I feel that’s an enormous mistake for a battle theme. It’s a part of why I discover Chrono Cross‘ common battle theme so weak. General, I most popular the unique soundtrack primarily as a result of the brand new soundtrack can overpower the dialogue in cutscenes. But, I nonetheless discover myself switching again to the brand new music at instances.
Sadly, issues that plagued the opposite remasters of Ultimate Fantasy X/X-2 plague this one, too. Sq. Enix has not stated particularly what precipitated the problems (although Yoshinori Kitase famous a lack of knowledge from the unique growth), however let me let you know, the faces within the remasters are noticeably worse. The sport total has a robust visible presentation, however the faces and expressions, particularly in cutscenes, really feel very picket. It’s downright tragic how stiff Yuna’s face appears to be like!
While you evaluate the faces, it’s onerous to disregard the dearth of emotive expression in Ultimate Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster. In the event that they took the chance to attempt to enhance facial expressions with this model, I feel I might really feel extra snug recommending double-dipping. Faces apart, the video games nonetheless look slightly lovely, although that’s been an opinion of mine from the start.
Whereas this can be a stable launch, Ultimate Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster struggles on worth. On one hand, I respect that the Swap 2 model is similar worth because the Swap model (59.99 USD), although I feel each are a bit overpriced. What makes it such a trouble is Sq. Enix’s reticence to supply an improve choice for 10 and even 20 {dollars}! I get that they’ve to consider their backside line, however I really feel extra individuals would cop the Swap 2 version if they may improve from the primary Swap. The shortage of a save knowledge switch doesn’t assist issues a lot, both.
Ultimate Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster appears to be like fairly good, however it doesn’t look noticeably completely different from the Swap model. In the event you sat me down and advised me this was the Swap version, I most likely wouldn’t assume twice. There are enhancements, certain, and perhaps I’m simply not that invested in visible constancy to actively discover, however the upgrades to different video games, like Xenoblade Chronicles 2, really feel much more apparent.
In the event you’re available in the market for Ultimate Fantasy X/X-2, that is nearly as good an choice as any, particularly in case you are serious about taking part in it handheld. The duology has a narrative and gameplay mechanics which might be among the many finest within the collection, but when you have already got it on the Nintendo Swap, there’s little purpose to trouble. It’s nonetheless an all-around nice package deal, however the lack of an improve choice and no main visible enhancements make Ultimate Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster a tough promote for returning followers.
