Final Fantasy X-2

Cheat Code Central

It's a quality production from start to finish, always letting fans in on the joke and treats the FF universe with great respect and more importantly, a sense of fun that is always present on both sides of the screen simultaneously. Your Diva's await...

Game Chronicles

Paints an epic tale while sporting an uncommonly, enjoyably light-hearted approach to much of it. It holds its own not just as a sequel but as a true, full-fledged Final Fantasy title in its own right.

GameNow

You can play this game for more than 80 hours before you find everything, and more important, you'll actually want to play it for that long. [Dec 2003, p.48]

Into Liquid Sky

The story was good for a sequel and while not as serious as the first one's story still can hold up to other RPGs out there.

Official U.S. Playstation Magazine

The most fun I've had playing a Final Fantasy... In terms of pure fun? This one rocks. [Dec 2003, p.149]

GameZone

Astounding!

Next Level Gaming

This game is HUGE. There are so many places to go and explore on your journey it is not even funny!

IGN

A brilliant and addictive romp through Spira that we're certainly glad to experience and one that could definitely mark the beginning of future opportunities for the franchise.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

Almost every deviation X-2 takes from the established Final Fantasy norm has paid off. [Jan 2004, p.136]

Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

It's sumptuously, head-swimmingly, plum-clutchingly lovely to look at. No, really, it's gorgeous. [Import]

Play Magazine

Square has taken a risk with Final Fantasy X-2, and even if they don't always hit the mark, when they do, it's a glorious cupid shot right through our FF-Loving hearts. [Dec 2003, p.67]

Gamezilla!

While FFX2 could’ve been better, as it does rely significantly on the design of FFX, it’s still a top notch title. It can be a little too ‘pop’ music style, but once you get over that, it’s just as dramatic as any other FF game.

GMR Magazine

As frivolous as it seems, FFX-2 is most effective later in the game, when the light stuff gives way to more serious tones. A bizarre, feisty triumph. [Dec 2003, p.90]

eToychest

A refreshing breath of fresh air in a series that had begun to feel very redundant.

Total Video Games

It’s hard for me to say how guys are going to react to the way this game does feel quite female oriented, if even just in presentation, it’s success in Japan suggests that it won’t pose a problem. Just to be safe though they put half naked chicks in it.

GameCritics

Looking past the graphically pleasing surface, there was plenty of gritty gameplay to hold my attention. Building up my characters by learning new dressphere abilities was more enjoyable than leveling in recent RPGs, as was the earnest and lighthearted telling of Yuna's story.

Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK

FF meets "Charlie's Angels" for a narcotic dose of the familiar RPG. [Jan 2007, p.106]

PSM Magazine

It's FFX-2's incredibly wacky, fruity charm that makes all the madness even more irresistible for fans who always secretly wanted to see what was really going on in the depths of Bevelle. [Feb 2004, p.18]

GamePro

Regardless of its shortcomings, FFX-2 is an engrossing RPG that’s worth the extensive time investment, although it may be a bit too awkward and saccharine for hardened FF vets.

3DAvenue

With the ability to travel all around Spira from the get go, this is also going to lead to spoilers from Final Fantasy X, but also allows you to do a bit of exploring should you get stuck at some point in the game.

GamingWorld X

With a less serious, but still meaningful storyline, one of the most playable battle systems around, and more side quests than you could keep track of, Final Fantasy X-2 is an RPG that will keep you occupied and satisfied for as long as any good game in its genre should.

1UP

There's never been a Final Fantasy as free and as fun as X-2.

Game Informer

A respectable follow-up, but it doesn't come close to rekindling the magic of the original. [Dec 2003, p.132]

Game Over Online

A strategy guide is a sheer necessity (not even close to being optional).

Action Trip

Easily an improvement over its predecessor, perhaps even twice as good. It certainly will have a good deal more replay value than the original, so if you are thinking of killing several dozen hours this would be a very good buy.

Deeko

I won’t deny that this game is the veritable oddball in the Final Fantasy family – the guy at the table with numerous facial tattoos and body piercings – with the rest of his family being straight laced and true to the expectations of society – but that is why I enjoyed it so much.

Armchair Empire

It’s refined battle system, the use of a job system, and a much more palatable story make it well worth checking out for fans of console RPGs.

Gamer's Pulse

Give this improbable but welcome follow-up the benefit of the doubt and chances are you’ll find it offers some of the most action, humor, and--dare I say it--fun you’ve had with a console RPG in a long time.

GameBiz

FFX-2 will keep the FF fan on the edge of their seat, but may cause the average gamer to die of boredom.

TotalPlayStation

Just make sure you’ve digested "Final Fantasy X" either way and you’ll walk away from X-2 with a nice, satisfying ending.

TotalGames.net

As for the FFX initiates, you're going to like this a lot. Some parts may disappoint, some parts may even annoy you, but the experience as a whole is a good one, and you'll never question your purchase.

Game Revolution

But if thongs and girl power RPG antics are wrong, then I don’t want to be right. Final Fantasy X-2 is a solid sequel that revives most of what made FF X a good game while offering some interesting (if a bit cheesy) dress-up features.

GameSpot

At its best, FFX-2 is every bit as poignant, endearing, and engrossing as its forebears, and it's this similarity to stronger games in the series that ultimately makes X-2's minor flaws forgivable.

Eurogamer

It's extraordinarily well crafted and polished, as most Square Enix games are, and should deliver a good forty hours of entertainment for your money. Once you get past the kitsch trappings of the game, there's a surprising amount of intelligence underlying it all.

G4 TV

While the structure and sidequests are a little too hard core and not as good as we would've hoped for in the first true "Final Fantasy" sequel, Final Fantasy X-2 is a great game nonetheless.

netjak

The incredible graphics and the sense of grandeur that comes along for the ride bolster the game's average gameplay, and save it from being something mediocre. If you don't buy into the hype, you're probably going to find it enjoyable for the most part...although you will cringe. [Import]

GameShark

The only real problem that I had with FFX-2 was that the game seems to flow at a very leisurely pace and not a rush to hurry and stop the villain.

GameSpy

There's a name for what this game is; it's just not typical to console games. That's "expansion pack." And expansion packs don't cost full price. Sure, FFX-2 gives you another lengthy quest to play through, but it’s just not up to par with the best games in the Final Fantasy series.

GamerFeed

The game suffers from things like a simplified feeling in terms of the ability to develop the characters, poor music choice, and lack of updated graphics.

Adrenaline Vault

It all boils down to short playtime with tons of reused content, and a shallow storyline. Whereas I usually spend upwards of 70 hours to finish a Final Fantasy, I had this one licked in under 40, with plenty of side-quests and exploration included.

games(TM)

While the core game is strong enough to hold its own in the Final Fantasy universe, the dress-up combat and whimsical approach could easily deter less patient or open-minded players. Even for the more easygoing gamer, there are times when the 'you go, girl' attitude can grate a little. [Jan 2004, p.102]

Edge Magazine

Over-familiarity and stagnation has bred a cancerous apathy among gaming's cognoscenti. FFX-2, like it or not, gives players a reason to take notice again. [Jan 2004, p.98]

Inside Gamer Online

If you like the faster paces, western influenced idea this might be one hell of a game to you, but if you're looking for a FFX sequel, look elsewhere. This game doesn't meet expectations in any way.

Yahoo! Games

A cheaply made, cost-effective sequel to "FFX" that reuses the graphics, characters, enemies, and areas to create a mostly new gameplay experience. You might love it, you might really, really hate it - or, like us, you might be torn... [Import]

Gaming Age

X-2 comes off as a flashy expansion pack, and not the full fledged sequel promised. The mission-based approach will work for some, but to me, it comes off as a cheap excuse to skimp out on a proper narrative.