This Fantasy's not Final - Let's qualify that statement. I loved FFX. It's my favorite game in the series since 1991's FFIV, and the idea of a direct sequel to it was something I hung a lot of my hopes on. But to say that FFX-2 is not exactly the game you might expect is an obvious understatement. More than a new adventure of the same caliber and emotional tenor, FFX-2 almost feels like a vacation in Spira. There's certainly a pervading and supporting underlying emotional resonance provided by revisiting the original's locales and seeing Yuna and pals again, but there's also a laidback, party-like atmosphere. It's a bit like watching the second season of a TV show you never thought would be renewed, and the creators didn't really either.

The game kicks off with a pop concert in Luca's Blitzball stadium, with a singer that is apparently Yuna bringing down the house with her high-energy performance. It's quickly revealed, thanks to Rikku and newcomer Paine, though, that this isn't the Yuna we know and love -- it's an impostor, LeBlanc, who has stolen the trio's "Result Plate," an important artifact. The trio of Yuna, Rikku, and Paine -- a.k.a. YuRiPa -- are out to search for spheres. Just like in FFX, they contain recordings of important events -- although they also offer the purpose of new "dress sphere" job classes, of which more later.