Square’sFinal Fantasy Xreleased in 2001 for PlayStation 2 and was a critical and commercial success. The game was originally presented during the 2000 Square Millennium Event alongsideFinal Fantasy IXandFinal Fantasy XI. The game follows a star Blitzball player namedTidus, as he accompanies the summoner Yuna on her journey to save the world from Sin, a giant monstrosity that destroys large cities.
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The game has since been re-released as part of theFinal Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remasterfor PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC. So if you missed out on this gem when it first released, you may still enjoy it on modern consoles. Whether you’re a massive fan ofFinal Fantasyor not, there may be a few things you didn’t know about this particular title.
10Changes Since The First Announcement
WhenFinal Fantasy Xwas first presented to fans during the 2000 Square Millennium Event, it was a very different game to what players actually received. One of the notable differences was the change in the game’s logo, with the logo shown in 2000 depicting Yuna on the side and what appears to be anaeonor Sin in the background (top image).
Additionally, in early footage, Tidus had black hair instead of blonde and the game appeared to be true 3D, with players being able to rotate the camera around Tidus. The details in the character models were far more refined, with there being noticeable changes in Tidus’s clothing and hair when he moved or wind blew. Lastly, the level system shown was more like that of previousFinal Fantasytitles, unlike the Sphere Grid system that was ultimately used.
9A Game Of Firsts
Final Fantasy Xwas a game of firsts in many ways. It was the firstFinal Fantasytitle to launch on the PlayStation 2, with the more powerful console allowing it to also become the firstFinal Fantasytitle to utilize fully three-dimensional areas and voice acting.
Additionally, it was the firstFinal Fantasygame to ever get a direct sequel, withFinal Fantasy X-2releasing in 2003 for PlayStation 2. The sequel followedYuna, Rikku, and new companion Paine as they traveled across Spira looking for Tidus while trying to resolve political conflicts in the area.
8Early Concepts
Early ideas for the game’s premise were quite different from the final version. Initially, the key development theme was “inevitable death.” with the idea being that it was common for people to die at seventeen years of age. Though this idea was scrapped, it was carried over in some way, as the fate of the Summoners is to die young while fighting Sin.
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Another early concept was that the premise would revolve a deadly disease spreading throughout the world. Yuna was set to take on the role of a nurse who follows Yevon’s teachings and treats patients while on her pilgrimage, with Yevon being more like a Red Cross type of organization. The planned plot twist was that the treatment method for the disease was the real cause of death in those afflicted.
7Asian Influence
Final Fantasy Xwas the first game to have strong Asian influences in its visual design, with all of the other games up until that point being quite foreign from a Japanese point of view. EarlyFinal Fantasygames appeared to have more of a European Medieval setting, as well asFinal Fantasy IX, and some games had a more modern or futuristic western feel, such asFinal Fantasy VIIandFinal Fantasy VIII.
It wasFinal Fantasy X’s scenario writer Kazushige Nojima that suggested a more Asian setting, and staff from the development team visited locations in South East Asia, such as Bali and Thailand, to draw inspiration. Japanese influences are evident in Yuna’s kimono, Auron’s samurai outfit,Lulu’s hairstyle, and more. Additionally,Final Fantasy Xwas the first game to have its theme song sung in Japanese, and it used a traditional Japanese folk style rather than a pop song.
6Limitations Resulting In Lost Features
There were initially plans forFinal Fantasy Xto incorporate some new gameplay features, but due to limitations at the time, these ideas couldn’t be used. Firstly, it was originally planned that all monsters would be walking around on the field map and that players could seamlessly enter into battle with them. However, this idea was later recycled to be used inFinal Fantasy XII.
There were also plans for the game to have online capabilities, but ultimately the firstFinal Fantasyto receive any online element was Square Enix’s first MMORPG,Final Fantasy XI.
5Gotta Go Fast
WhenFinal Fantasy Xfirst released in Japan in 2001, it sold over 1.4 million copies in four days, which set a new record for thefastest-selling RPGfor consoles. Additionally, Square Enix revealed in 2004 that the game had sold over 6.6 million copies worldwide.
Square had initially estimated sales would be around 2 million copies worldwide forFinal Fantasy X, believing that sales would be lower because of the smaller player base for the PlayStation 2 as it was a new console. In 2013, it was announced by Square Enix that theFinal Fantasy Xseries, encompassingFinal Fantasy X-2, had sold over 14 million copies in total.
4Blood
Final Fantasygames typically try to steer clear of showing blood, though there are some notable exceptions throughout the titles, such as during the opening scene ofFinal Fantasy VIIIwhen Squall’s face is cut by Seifer. However, it remains that blood is largely unused or kept to a minimum, especially during battle scenes where you would most expect it most.
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Final Fantasy Xhas a few moments where blood is shown throughout the game, most prominently during the raid on Home and all over the sand in the aftermath of Operation Mi’ihen. Moreover, there are other occasions, such as when the Geosgaeno boss monster attacks a sahagin near the beginning of the game, and onAnima’s face when it is summoned for the first time.
3In Other Media
Final Fantasy Xproved to be so popular that is has appeared in other media. In the sitcomTwo and a Half Men, during the episode’Weekend in Bangkok with Two Olympic Gymnasts,' Jake rents a copy ofFinal Fantasy X.
However, the show makes a couple of mistakes; first, Jake refers to it as the “new"Final Fantasy, despite the case clearly being a Greatest Hits version. Secondly, when Jake is later playing the game, the music being played is actually fromFinal Fantasy II. Additionally, the game is also mentioned in Thomas Pynchon’s novelBleeding Edge.
2Changed Sentiments
During the end scene between Tidus and Yuna in the English versions ofFinal Fantasy X, Yuna’s parting words to Tidus are “I love you”. However, in the Japanese version, she says “Thank you” instead. This was a result of the head of localization, Alexander O. Smith, pushing for it to be changed for the English release.
There was resistance from the Japanese team who did not want the line to be changed, likely because it is something that would not be so easily said in Japan. However, Smith was successful in getting the line altered.
1Final Fantasy X-3
The scenario writer forFinal Fantasy XandX-2, Kazushige Nojima, mentioned in an interview for theFinal Fantasy X|X-2 HD Ultimanithat there could still be a possible third entry to theFinal Fantasy Xseries, saying “If there’s enough demand, then we may possibly see new developments.”
Additionally, during aDissidia Final Fantasy NTcommunity broadcast in 2018, the “Later Years of Tidus &Yuna” illustration by Tetsuya Nomura was shown (above image) and there was alsodiscussionof whether a sequel could work. TheFinal Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remasterfeatured a post-credits audio drama titledFinal Fantasy X -Will-, which as well as Nojima’s spin-off novellaFinal Fantasy X-2.5 ~Eien no Daishou~,contains unresolved plot points that could potentially serve as a basis forFinal Fantasy X-3.
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