FFX-2 is not FFXII right?

So quite a while ago I played FF X on PS2 and enjoyed it a lot (but it consumed a LOT of my time). Then I heard XI was online only or something, then XII is out but I'm not sure that is. Then today I saw FF X-2 and remember reading about it a while back. Is FF X-2 like FF-X, you know more of the same, because if so I'm interested. I don't want a multi-player game, just good solid single player.

Anyone played them? Thanks.

It is the continuation of same history, but now you play with 3 character (Luna, Rikku and Paine). It is not as complete as FF-X but it is a good game. A little bit short, but wonderfully made like all FF.

FF-XII is another game. much like FF X in the way it works (off line RPG) but completly new.

FFX-2 is a bit Charlie's Angles like, so if you can't stand the way a trio of female protagonists work.....well.....

And yeah, XI is online only.
(which I'm still playing to this day since it's North American release...)

sounds like FF x-2 could be my bag then. Do the trio jiggle then?

yeah. It is very pop tho, and the music isn't Uematsu. But it was a decent game. Female-centric. So as long as you don't mind a game that is about group relationships and complex interpersonal dynamics, you'll enjoy. It does a fantastic job of building on the story of FFX.

FF-12 ditches the turn-based gameplay, in a good way. You really have to play it to get it. It is pretty much the 2nd best Final Fantasy game... second to FF6.

If you have to pick between FFX-2 and FF12.. I'd go with 12.

If you fancy a good RPG with high production values that won't eat quite so much of your time, I believe ShadowHearts : From the New World was just released on PS2. I bought the US version which came out a long time ago, but I belive it's finally got the PAL conversion it deserved.

Complex question ;]

Well, it's a Final Fantasy in that it is a direct continuation of the story from FFX (no matter how butchered it may be). It's a FF in that it has a FF style random battle system and FF related spells and characters (which FF12 kind of does, but some of it it doesn't).

It does NOT have FF music (it's very good, but it's completely innapproriate jazz/funk/electronica in most cases), it has a cheesy Charlies Angels-like girl power feel throughout the whole of it, it's the shortest FF in the entire series, it does the previous storyline no justice whatsoever (it only pretends to be tied to the previous game, that is until you play it and realise that is feeble at best) and in general is a terrible sequel to a terrific game.

On it's own merit, it could pass as an enjoyable RPG which is still closer to a FF than FF12 is (even though FF12 is still a very good game and you're missing out), if the girl power frenzy doesn't annoy you to the brink of hitting those closest to you.

In summary - if you watched Charlies Angels and didn't feel like walking out AND you played FF10 and are looking for FFX-but-completely-different-almost, then get it.

If you are looking to get lost in a very good RPG for countless hours (I still havn't finished it), or if you enjoyed the world of Final Fantasy Tactics, get FF12 ;]

hmm, very good input thanks all. The girl power and complex interpersonal dynamics kinda puts me off actually. Perhaps I should go for XII or Shadowhearts instead. I wouldn't mind something I can play with my 6 year old who's pretty good at games. I thought the turn-based battle with all the options would appeal to him and he'd learn some good tactics.

well. Shadowhearts contains a lot of near-nudity and sexual inuendo.. As-well-as a requirement that you understand the historical context that the characters live in. There is a big thing about al capone and other figures of that era. Rum running, and a lot of really bizzarely sexual monsters and creatures.

FF12 is more kid-friendly outside of the rabbit-girls who look like super-models and dress like hookers.. but there are few of them. The battles ARE NOT turn based.. At least they are mostly not turn-based. They are more like the battles in an MMO is some cases... and even that isn't accurate.

However, the plot is about political inrigue and is GREAT, but also heavy handed and will go right over the head of a 6 year old.

If you want an RPG a 6 yearold can play, you are best set with FFX-2... While there is some partial nudity and very little sexual inuendo, it is cutesy and the plot isn't too detailed to be accessable to a child..

Seriously tho? I'd get a DS and one of the new pokemon games.. That will be something you both can enjoy if you are after a turn-based RPG with that kind of system and a non-offencive storyline.

Another option is something like Paper Mario and the thousand year door, on the GC. That is very kid-friendly.

There are also Phantom Brave (which's sexual humor is stilted and should go over his head) and is a fantastic tactical RPG... I'm afraid there are relatively few RPGs that are good for 6 yearolds on the Ps2...

FFTA on the GBA is a good choice. So is the Mario Bros RPG on the GBA.. Which I forget the name of.

You are the parent. I think 6 is a little young to be staring at a native american woman who transforms into beasts by doing a striptease (ala Shadowhearts: From the New World) while fighting gory and sexual themed monsters and killing gangsters who want to rape a team-member's girlfriend they captured...

Not to mention the 2 flamingly-gay bikers who are the store for the game.. They are flaming, and it isn't hidden or anything. They are openly gay in the game. Nothing wrong with being gay... They just are ver steriotypical







Do you see a top on her? exactly.


look... al capone is trying NOT to look down at the native american girl's exposed breasts... and there is a gaint cat.

That looks good. I might have to pick up that Shadowhearts game myself.

My own recommendation for PS2 RPGs goes to the Shin Megami Tensei series. Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne (or Lucifer's Call, as it is known in the UK) is particularly amazing and wonderfully, wonderfully quirky; I can't say enough good things about this game. I also highly recommend the two Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga games.

All three games of these Shin egami Tensei games are far better than any Final Fantasy RPG.

Agreed the Shin Megami Tensei games are great. I just wish they'd hurry up and release Persona 3 in the US ( or Europe, but that's not gonna happen before the US. )

DampeS8N: Oh I hadn't actually checked out Shadowhearts so thanks for the tip off. I'd forgotten about paper mario, looks like I 'll get that :-)

yeah yeah. Soon as you said a 6 yearold would be playing whatever game you got I had allllll these red flags shoot up for shadowhearts.. hehe

It is a fun game, really interesting and moves well.. Just not for the young'ns

JustLuke

I didn't really like the digital devil saga, the first one.. I found the battles to be very un-controled and random. I found myself arbitrarily losing/beating boss battles without altering my strategy or leveling up. And all the characters seemed to play the same...

I liked the storyline, and that kept me playing for most of the game... but the gameplay wasn't very good.

The gameplay was a little tiresome in shadowhearts, but no more than any RPG can get. The story was no-less interesting than DDS's and it has a LOT of depth in the gameplay...

FF12 beats them all.. for it's time it is the best RPG in existance.. Only because you couldn't get away with a game like FF6 today. If they updated FF6 into the modern gaming world with the same story, aesthetic and mechanics, but with updated control-schemes, graphics and so on it would be a better game. So I still consider it to be the best japanese style RPG... and one of the Best games..

I thought that FF12 was tired and stale - to me Final Fantasy, like Zelda, is a series way past its prime. The story was cliched, the combat system clumsy, and the art direction uninspired.

and.... the combat system of DDS wasn't stale? It was like something outta 1995...

Isn't one of the old FF going to be remade? Seems all the rage these days what with the original Tomb Raider being remade.

Dampes8N:
Yeah, but the art direction, story, (etc) make up for it.
Saying that, I do agree with you about the combat system in DDS - my point is that unlike FF12, DDS's strengths outweigh its weaknesses. Oddly enough, although Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne's combat system is very similar to the one used in the DDS, it is probably my favourite implementation of a turn based combat system to date. It just goes to show that a few careful tweaks and refinements can make all the difference.

I don't know how you can say FF12 is bad because the rest of the series is stale. FF12 really isn't a Final Fantasy in any gameplay sense other than it's an RPG, to compare it in such a way is almost a complete contradiction.

@GA: One last thing to note about FFX-2 is that the battle system is not turn based, it's back to the old semi-realtime battles of previous FFs...

My son does like action bu tI wanted to show him the turned based stuff so he could learn to plan and think ahead.

I'm playing a turn-based game on PS2 called Disgaea 2. It's rated M (in Australia, for minor language and themes) but it's really fun and wacky. There is a fair amount of strategy involved each fight, with many combat options, arranging characters so they can co-ordinate combos, 'geo-panel' puzzles, etc.

M is usually classed as 15+ I think, probably not suitable for a 6 yr old =]

@GA, you have Vista don't you? Everyone likes Chess. =]

No I don't have Vista yet.

Just a heads up - I like japanese stuff, I watch all kinds of anime shows. FFX-2 got way to sweet for me - overdose more like it. Glad I just loaned it from a friend, because I could only stomach 10 minutes of gametime.

Reminded me of 14 year old girls and their way of acting socially..