Spira Universe...

[M'aiq the Liar]

I found that final fantasy 10 was not that great. in fact most of the 3D games, i find ok at best(except 7, thats just awesome). The Best games in my opinion are those from 7 down.
Anyways, with the addition of Final Fantasy X-2, i have come to hate the universe of Spira and everything to do with it. Any one else agree?

 

[Totoro]

To be honest, I wasn't that wrapped when I had finished it for the first time. I liked certain aspects of the game but perhaps I was underwhelmed by the lack of exploration you could undertake within the game (until the latter stages).

But when I've played through it again (and finally understood the story ) I enjoyed the universe of Spira more and the concepts and ideas it provokes. As with other FF's it promotes the ideas of relationships between different races, which are diverese and all posess likeable traits. So I'm a fan of X.

And I've loved all the other 3D FF titles too. Maybe you're just more a fan of old school fantasies?

 

[jasminepotts]

I think its probably just a matter of opinion.
In my opinion I liked Spira and how it looked, its just probably how you yourself feel about it

 

[King Sean]

Spira wasnt that bad. It was a little all over the place with some places more advanced than others, but it was cool and fun to trek through. You probably hate spira because of the abomination that X-2 was, and thats no nice. It depends on what you like in the world, though.

 

[Robbiedbee]

I quite liked Spira, based on the history and inner workings of the place. I like the whole life/death cycle with the pyreflies, I quite like the idea of Yevon, and issues associated with it, plus the history of the Zanarkand/Bevelle war and all that stuff is really interesting.

As for the geography of Spira, it's hard to compare Spira to say, the worlds of FFVII or FFVIII, because i) it does not utilize a World Map, and ii) it is on a much more powerful gaming system. Areas like Wutai, Esthar or Trabia would look amazing with the graphical resources that FFX had.

Even with that in mind, I'd say Spira was a good world, but it was frustratingly linear at times.

 

[M'aiq the Liar]

I guess i do just like the earlier games more..i miss turn based final fantasy games, dont see why the new ones have to be the way they are.

 

[Dionysos]

I think hate is such a strong world. And focusing it on Spira is probably a little bit unfair. Your problems seem to be with the gameplay changes, perhaps the style of graphics, and also probably the loss of world map and airship.

Personally, while I find the things that I just noted above sometimes annoying, I still love the Spira universe. It's probably one of the universes that stands out more than any of the others to be honest. It was brilliantly designed. It's very hindu in look and feel with its scenery, its races (particularly the Ronso), and some of its characters.

I think it is one of more stunningly beautiful planets that the FF universe has ever spawned.

Most FF's went for either a medieval theme, a steampunk theme, or a sci-fi futuristic theme... Spira however went for something totally different I feel.

Personally, while I also prefered FFs 4-9 more than any other, I would like to see greater variation in culture, like they did with FFX, in future FF games... Why not have some games that are Aztec-like or Inca-like? Minoan-like? How about a planet where the dominant cities are similar to that of Classical Greece? In style and look, obviously.

 

[M'aiq the Liar]

Interesting, and you are probably correct.
But those styles you described that arent final fantasy ten, those are the ones i love....

 

[stinger]

I loved the world of Spira. X-2 let it down a little but the original story and the way in which the world played a part was fantastic. It was a big change of direction to what we expect from the world of Final Fantasy but I believe it was a succesful one.

 

[Saix]

I guess i do just like the earlier games more..i miss turn based final fantasy games, dont see why the new ones have to be the way they are.

A lesson to be learned here is that if everything remains unchanged and fails to evolve, it'd become remarkably dull and uninteresting.

Though as for your comment about 3D games being "ok at best", I'm inclined to agree; developers seem to be more strongly intent on creating stunning graphics for their games [which they successfully achieve] over real character and plot development. A sad story. :(

 

[MekanikStik]

Personally, i really enjoyed X, and the world of Spira. I have not played X-2 as of yet, but if it is as bad as everyone says it is, then i can understand your dislike for Spira. Personally, playing through X I really loved how everything in the universe looked except for one thing.

I did not like the linearity of the universe, how you travel in basically a straight line to complete the game. I feel that a game with a more feel would have been better in this regard.

 

[Linnaete]

What I liked most about Spira was that it had a rich, diverse culture. It was the first (and only as of now) Final Fantasy game to have a real foreign language that is alien to the main character- not like the Moogles' "Kupo"s etc. Spira had a variety of races- from Ronsos to Guados, and each have their own personal strifes and characteristics- and less two dimensional.

Each location had realistic vibes and are different- e.g. Kilika reminds me of somewhere like Vietnam or Thailand while the dream Zanarkand is all sci-fi like. Basically, you don't get that "oh, it looks the same" or "have I been here already?" feeling like you did with the 2D FF games. You don't get this feeling either with VII, VIII or IX, but the PS2's graphical horsepower intensifies Spira's visuals.

However, I didn't like the linearity of the game and how small Spira is (one major landmass only? Is Spira still recent from its Pangea stage?) and the loss of the world map. There is little exploration involved and this is why XII had a strong point for me. I also didn't like how fast the "Winds of Change" happened in X-2. In X, everyone in Spira lived in constant fear of Sin- while two years later in X-2, the mood is suddenly lifted and changed into a lively, rather silly and a "let's-forget-all-those-who-died-and-party" sort of world. Do I need to emphasise the following words? LEBLANC SYNDICATE? LADY YUNA IN CONCERT? DRESSPHERES? GARMENT GRIDS?