Final Fantasy X-2

Final Fantasy X left a heartfelt and stunning ending, capturing the minds of fans everywhere. Many felt however, that the ending left room for more, as the character's stories never felt complete. Two years after the release of the original Final Fantasy X, Square made one of its most controversial moves yet – releasing the first ever sequel to a Final Fantasy title, and thus Final Fantasy X-2 was born, a wildly imaginative and different title from the rest of the series.

Two years have passed since Yuna and her guardians found a way to permanently destroy the terrible monster, Sin, and brought about the Eternal Calm. Yuna leads an idyllic life on her home island of Besaid, but when cousin Rikku brings a video sphere that hints Tidus may still be alive, her life is given new purpose. She sets out with a group of Al Bhed known as the Gullwings and becomes a sphere hunter, hoping that by traveling the world she saved and living the life she would have to forsake, that she can be reunited with the young man she fell in love with once again. However, Spira is still in unrest after the destruction Sin wrought on the world, and two warring factions and an unknown face from Spira's past are threatening to tear it apart. It looks like Spira is going to need another desperate rescue, and Yuna, Rikku, and Paine are up to the challenge.

Final Fantasy X-2 broke just about every boundary in the series yet. Most apparent, was the all female playable cast of only three characters. Instead of having multiple characters with different abilities, these three girls could be assigned classes with a dressphere system, allowing them to change classes (and clothes!) mid battle. There were multiple classes, each with their own abilities and stats such as the Pop Star, White Mage, Warrior, Gunner, Lady Luck, Trainer, and so on. Battles were the speediest in the series, and commended as the best use of the ATB system, with the ability to chain attacks. Final Fantasy X-2 was also the first game to employ a mission and chapter based structure. The airship was available from the start of the game, and players could select any area to go to at anytime, with different events occurring in different areas at different times, causing the game to have a lot of depth and replay value, as each person would play the branching storyline differently. To get the best ending, players would have to complete the game 100%.

Final Fantasy X-2 breathed creativity, but was received with mixed reactions. Some fans may complain that this has swayed too far from what made Final Fantasy originally so successful, others believing sequels should never be allowed. However, this game heightened a sense of feminism in the Final Fantasy Series (surprise surprise, many Final Fantasy Female Gamers!), and established a new trend for future compilations to come.