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Common Sense Note

FINAL FANTASY X is heavily story and character-based, which can build more emotional attachment to the characters. While the action and violence in this game are standard to mild fare for role-playing games, the surprise plot transformations can be somewhat wrenching (by the end, characters are not as they seem: main characters vanish; bad characters turn out to be good and vice-versa). This game unfolds like a more meaningful fantasy novel or a profound movie (think of the impact of the ending of "The Sixth Sense"; different plot, but similar emotional effect, especially on someone younger). This game offers an older child (13+) an opportunity to think about issues such as loyalty to a higher purpose and the danger of assumptions, and it will test their ability to adjust to shifting emotional realities, as favorite characters disappear and good and evil change sides and shape. Younger children might find these issues either too confusing, stressful, or this aspect of the story might just go "over their heads". You might want to make yourself available to discuss the changing storyline, particularly as they near the end of the game.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Sarah Stockton

FINAL FANTASY X (FFX) mainly takes place in the land of Spira, where a force or monster called "Sin" (an interesting word choice, since the overall message of this game is not religious; however, there are mystical elements, gods and magic throughout) threatens the world and everyone in it. We follow the adventures of a young man called Tidus who is a Blitzball player (think space-age soccer/handball/hackeysack, all underwater). Tidus joins with other characters who have banded together to defeat Sin, along with the aid of the "Summoners", forces for good. There is some very mild love interest along the way, based more on the romantic settings and sense of shared purpose than anything else.

For the battle action, FFX offers something called a "sphere grid", which simply means that you can choose more complex approaches to skill-building than in other role-playing games in order to strengthen your characters for the ensuing battles. The actual game-playing skills needed for this game have much more to do with being able to figure out the complex plot than with the skills needed to punch and kick. While some players dislike the ratio of "movie" or viewing time to game playing in the Final Fantasy series (these games can be up to 50% watching as opposed to actively playing) other players will like the fact that the story is more complex than the average game, and requires some active thinking and imagination. It may take more than one play-through to figure out the exact nature of the plot twists and turns, even though the battles themselves are more easily won than in some other games such as Legend of Legaia.

Those who like this version of Final Fantasy may find previous versions less pleasing visually because the graphics are not as advanced and there is no voice-over, but if you enjoy the reliance on characters and plot, then this is a good series choice overall, with more planned for future release, including a new version (FFX2) in November 2003.

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