FINAL FANTASY X
In short, what can't be said about this game. It's battle system, despite being turn based and not anywhere near as fulfilling as the battle system's of previous FF titles, yet still holds enough appeal all on it's own to keep you playing cause lets face it; the story could be the best rpg story ever written but and rpg is driven not just by it's story but how the game is played through the story. If a battle system sucks than the game falls apart, even if the story is good. But the turn-based battle system in FFX is a far cry from anything remotely close to that. It incorporates the fact that not all characters, regardless of how cool they are, are good at everything. Your forced to switch between different party members throughout the entirety of the game which causes for some serious strategy. And how does this strategy improve? By letting you see who's out for blood next! You can actually watch the turn order as it's being played out! Not to mention that summoning is in a class all it's own. The Character design's are outstanding and the game gets you so involved with the development of their personalities that you might actually cry at a few parts, or jump up out of your seat and dance at others! The musical score is by far some of the best work I've ever seen in a game to date and every song fit perfectly and enhanced every aspect of the games, already amazing feel. Capping the game with not only terrific game play and musical score but with a story that will be remembered for the ages. I've not played too many FF's but I can honestly say that I've played this one repeatedly just for the story. And though some may not like the ending to this amazing story, I for one found every part of this game's story as brilliant as the game itself.
Now that I’m done praising it, let me explain why this game, in my review at least, is not getting a perfect 10. It all comes down to final battle with me. How hard is it to beat a game when you can't die? And I think that more thought should have been put into Yu-Yevon, let alone the fact that I personally hate it in rpg's when the final boss is only heard of in the final three hours. Drive's me insane! Unlike FFVII where from the beginning you had the feeling that Sephiroth was going to be your adversary for the entirety of the game, FFX fill's you in on the knowledge of the final boss pretty much at the end of the game. Besides Jecht that is. Not to mention that Jecht's character model as Braska's Final Aeon was just breathtakingly awesome. Yu-Yevon only is found out about close to the end of the game. Nay I say. Nay. But I come back to that previous statement in which you can't lose the final battle versus Yu-Yevon, or your aeon's. You may, if your not prepared or strong enough, come to an endless stalemate, but you can't get a game over. If you can, then I apologize but I find it hard to get a game over when the game automatically puts Auto-Life on all my characters. Thanks for the help, but I didn't need it...
My review for Final Fantasy X -
9/10