Square's Final Fantasy X released in 2001 for PlayStation 2 and was a critical and commercial success. The game was originally presented during the 2000 Square Millennium Event alongside Final Fantasy IX and Final Fantasy XI. The game follows a star Blitzball player named Tidus, as he accompanies the summoner Yuna on her journey to save the world from Sin, a giant monstrosity that destroys large cities.
The game has since been re-released as part of the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster for 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 can still enjoy it on modern consoles. Whether you're a massive fan of Final Fantasy or not, there may be a few things you didn't know about this particular title.
10 Changes Since The First Announcement
When Final Fantasy X was 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 an aeon or 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 previous Final Fantasy titles, unlike the Sphere Grid system that was ultimately used.
9 A Game Of Firsts
Final Fantasy X was a game of firsts in many ways. It was the first Final Fantasy title to launch on the PlayStation 2, with the more powerful console allowing it to also become the first Final Fantasy title to utilize fully three-dimensional areas and voice acting.
Additionally, it was the first Final Fantasy game to ever get a direct sequel, with Final Fantasy X-2 releasing in 2003 for PlayStation 2. The sequel followed Yuna, Rikku, and new companion Paine as they traveled across Spira looking for Tidus while trying to resolve political conflicts in the area.
8 Early 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.
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.
7 Asian Influence
Final Fantasy X was 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. Early Final Fantasy games appeared to have more of a European Medieval setting, as well as Final Fantasy IX, and some games had a more modern or futuristic western feel, such as Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII.
It was Final 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 X was the first game to have its theme song sung in Japanese, and it used a traditional Japanese folk style rather than a pop song.
6 Limitations Resulting In Lost Features
There were initially plans for Final Fantasy X to 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 in Final Fantasy XII.
There were also plans for the game to have online capabilities, but ultimately the first Final Fantasy to receive any online element was Square Enix's first MMORPG, Final Fantasy XI.
5 Gotta Go Fast
When Final Fantasy X first released in Japan in 2001, it sold over 1.4 million copies in four days, which set a new record for the fastest-selling RPG for 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 for Final 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 the Final Fantasy X series, encompassing Final Fantasy X-2, had sold over 14 million copies in total.
4 Blood
Final Fantasy games typically try to steer clear of showing blood, though there are some notable exceptions throughout the titles, such as during the opening scene of Final Fantasy VIII when 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.
Final Fantasy X has 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 on Anima's face when it is summoned for the first time.
3 In Other Media
Final Fantasy X proved to be so popular that is has appeared in other media. In the sitcom Two and a Half Men, during the episode 'Weekend in Bangkok with Two Olympic Gymnasts,' Jake rents a copy of Final 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 from Final Fantasy II. Additionally, the game is also mentioned in Thomas Pynchon's novel Bleeding Edge.
2 Changed Sentiments
During the end scene between Tidus and Yuna in the English versions of Final 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.
1 Final Fantasy X-3
The scenario writer for Final Fantasy X and X-2, Kazushige Nojima, mentioned in an interview for the Final Fantasy X|X-2 HD Ultimani that there could still be a possible third entry to the Final Fantasy X series, saying "If there's enough demand, then we may possibly see new developments."
Additionally, during a Dissidia Final Fantasy NT community broadcast in 2018, the “Later Years of Tidus & Yuna” illustration by Tetsuya Nomura was shown (above image) and there was also discussion of whether a sequel could work. The Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster featured a post-credits audio drama titled Final Fantasy X -Will-, which as well as Nojima's spin-off novella Final Fantasy X-2.5 ~Eien no Daishou~, contains unresolved plot points that could potentially serve as a basis for Final Fantasy X-3.