Final Fantasy 10: Kitase reveals the secrets of its success

The first full 3D Final Fantasy game brought the franchise into the modern age, with voice acting, remarkable art direction and a gloriously well-realised world. Producer Yoshinori Kitase recalls its creation to games™ as this modern classic prepares for its HD re-release…

[TimmyShire]

One of my favourite games ever this.

[gamesTM_dom]

Is it bad I'm more excited about FFX/X-2 HD Remaster than I am about any upcoming next-gen titles?

(Spoiler: No, it isn't).

[abzdine]

i didn't like FFX as much as the old ones. i didn't like it was linear compared to the previous ones or just old gens JRPGs in general.

[MegaRay]

Actually not only upcoming games but next-generation games on general

[gamesTM_dom]

I think Kitase saying "Final Fantasy X broadened my outlook on life" is my favourite thing about this interview.

[tigertron]

The last great FF games.

[Nerdmaster]

Can I punch the writer for saying "the romance between Tidus and Yuna is actually one of the series’ weakest to date"? It's maybe the only believable one in the series.

[gamesTM_dom]

I don't think it hit upon the kind of gothic tragedy the other games do, though. Look at Rinoa and Squall - the scene where he forsakes everything he has and is and carries her on his back across the Fisherman's Horizon bridge is incredibly poignant. The maelstrom of dynamics between Tifa, Aeries and Cloud has almost incestuous implications etc - there are heavy motivations behind those characters, I think. Tidus and Yuna; he just wants to protect her, and she wants protecting. It's far more simple.

Tidus' relationships, I think, are far more heavily weighted towards his dad; the whole Tidus/Jecht thing is phenomenal, a parent/child dynamic that isn't often explored in FF (because everyone and their dog is a bloody orphan). Yuna/Tidus' relationship comes second to Tidus' main quest, which is at odds to VII/VIII (VIII basically being a love story)

[Nerdmaster]

It's not about why they love each other, it's about how it's portrayed. Tidus starts the game seeing Yuna only as a way to go back to Zanarkand. When he starts to understand Spira, the hardships that summoners face, that she will even sacrifice herself, he changes. And most important, we see him changing. People who defend Squall and Rinoa says "Squall changed gradually while Rinoa teased him", but this just isn't true. We can even "read" his mind and nowhere he hints that he's starting to like her until the end of the game. What he does say (or think) is a lot of "whatever"s.

Tidus is the only one who sees the suffering of his romantic interest enough to say something on the lines of "please quit and be with me". They gave the first real kiss in a FF. It's the first time someone actually said "I love you" in a FF.

You using Squall and Rinoa, the "I don't care for you at all - oh, the game is almost ending so now I love you" couple as an example, shows how different we think about what makes a believable couple in a story.

And regarding to Clud/Tifa/Aeris, while there are feelings between them for sure, calling it romance is a big stretch. No wonder why people still discuss about who Cloud "should" be with - despite small hints of "I think I kind of like you", there's nothing resembling romance in their story.

And let's not forget about the other "couples" in other FFs. Cecil and Rosa already have a mutual love interest in the beginning of the game and it doesn't really develop during the game. Zidane seems to like Garnet just because she is a "babe" and he gives almost no other reason to consider her a love interest. Sarah and Snow loved each other and that's it.

I'm sure there are other "couples", but they are so insignificant that I don't even remember them.

So after all of this, I say: You're wrong, Tidus and Yuna's romance is nowhere near of the "series’ weakest to date".

[AC2020x]

I really really wish this was coming out for ps4 as well. Its the only game making me consider pulling my ps3 back out. Guess I'll have to get used to the old controller again! :(

[CLOUD1983]

The last good/real FF & my 2nd favorite FF of all time, awesome game the only minus I can find about it was the lack of world map that's it other than that it had everything a good FF must have, good story/characters, superb battle system, unforgettable soundtrack, countless secrets all over the place from summons to wpns to bosses to everything u can imagine, u really need to spent more than 200 hours to find & beat everything if there is any1 who haven't play this game yet don't miss the HD version for PS3 as for those who play & finish it already I'm sure that those ppl will get it for sure :P

[CorndogBurglar]

This all day.

Ever since they got away from the true turn based gameplay, and started getting into the real-time turn based style, FF has been horrible in my opinion.

I refuse to buy another FF game until they make one like the old style again. They can even switch off each game to keep fans happy. Do one like oldschool turn based style, then the next one can be real time turn based, and so on.

Why would that be so bad?

[pompombrum]

The secret to it's success is obvious.. Sakaguchi + Uematsu - Enix = FF X

[DCfan]

What made FFX good is the amazing setting and characters, and ofcourse the turn based combat, hate real time battles.

[SamPao]

Well I love both of them.
I finished FF9 not too long ago and am now playing FF7 aaaawesome games.
But I also liked FFXIII. Haven't finishedFFXIII-2 yet, got kinda bored, but I would like to play some lightning returns.
HOWEVER after finishing FF7 should I play FF8 ooor FFX first?
It comes out for Vita right? Cuz I love FF on the go.

[DCfan]

I played FF8 right after i beat FF7, the combat system and the junction felt weird so i left it, should probably return to it. I felt right at home with FFX (probably because i played it when i was little until i reached Besaid)
IMO, i think you should go with FF8

[TH3BR3W]

I can remember the first time I saw the first cutscene in ffx. When Titus is in the ring of water and boom the blitz sphere lights up man that was one of the most exciting moments I had with a FF. The sphere grid was one of the best systems imo because it was like playing Chinese checkers while leveling up lol. I remember going through the entire sphere grid with every character and running through the monster arena to get items for unlocking the damage limit.

The game itself was a masterpiece of it's time. No other game had it's depth.

[Chaos_Raiden]

Damn excited for FFX|FFX-2 HD this March.