The Summoning System

Grand Lethal

Grand Lethal

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I personally think that the Aeons and the summoning system in FFX is the best in the whole series. The Espers of XII were almost the Real-Time counterparts, but they still seemed to phail ...

The systems in III - IX were all the same, weren't they? Summon a creature, blast of doom/status effect, and they went on their merry way again.

X added something to the series that gave it extra flair, and actually made the Summons more useful than beefed-up spells.

The only things that I think FFX had lacking in the summoning department was the number of summons. I think there was easily room and pacing for two or three more hidden or storyline Aeons (I'll say more when I get a few replies :P), also, I think the Aeons could have had more going for them in individuality. Once you customised them, they could all be clones, save for the Unique attacks and Overdrives.

But as a whole, I think it's a very good system and the best so far. What do you guys think? Agree? Disagree?

Discuss.
 
.. There are "two or three more hidden Aeons".... Namely Anima, and (If i remembered correctly) The Magus Sisters.
But well ya, i totally agree that the summoning system really rocked in this series.. But probably not the entire series...
While it brought innovation to the entire summoning thing in Final Fantasy, the real-time counterpart was kinda better, considering its more realistic, in terms of time it takes.. (Well, it never did make sense that your enemy would wait for you to cast a spell at them right?)
 
I mean on top of Yojimbo, Anima and the Magus sisters. I still think 8 is too small a number :\ I think the game could've fitted two or three more.

I understand what you're saying though. What made the Espers of XII inferior, in my opinion is the fact that you cannot control them, and they don't have a variety of attacks. They have 4 or 5 at max, and half of them are normal usable spells and not unique abilities. Their ultimate abilities are really unreliable too, as some/most of them have to meet certain criteria, and they weren't nearly as powerful. I don't mean the fact that Aeons could break the 9999 barrier, but I've never had my Belias match Ifrit for Hellfire damage, even keeping to 9999.
 
I personally like III-IX. It was just a burst thing, not sacrificing my partie's EXP so a summon can take damage for me. It was less... Refined yes, but... I dunno, I just liked it. :P
 
I agree. The summoning system of X is the best so far. It's the only one that really gives you full control of what you are summoning. XII was ok but you didn't really have a choice as to what it did. The espers of XII relied on gambits. The summons of the previous FF games were somewhat one-track minded, blasting everyone and going off.
 
I liked the summoning in FFX, and how Ifrit, Ixion etc can cast Thundaga, Firaga etc on themselves to heal.
 
The espers didn't really work in XII imo. My only complaint about them in X is that it makes the game far too easy. Bahamut doing 99,999 with one punch is a bit silly. But I suppose you could just not use them.
Although I prefered the magic learning system that was in VI. That is better than just teaching aeons abilities in my opinion.
 
Yeah, the elemental advantages and stuff really helped. I still feel that it had even more potential though. Instead of having four non-elemental Aeons, I feel that Square could have done more with them

Valefor could have been a Wind-based summon, and have spells like Aero/Aera/Aeraga and White Wind, with an Overdrive like a Tornado or Hurricane.

I still think a Water-based summon would have been PERFECT for the game. Isn't Spira known to be some waterworld, of sorts? Also, an example of Bismark or Leviathan Vs Sin would have been ace ...

Since the Magus Sisters are bugs and are summoned from flowers, I'm surprised that they weren't Earth-based summons. Anima could have been Shadow-based, since few enemies are Shadow-Elemental, it would have been a nice touch, since that element is rarely touched on in FFs.

I'm really surprised that since Mount Gagazet is known as a trial, that it wasn't made into a Cloister of Trials with a Holy-based summon, since it's the sacred mountain and all.
 
I think they are the best although I liked VIII's quite alot, the whole learning and boosy shizz was pretty nifty

I think if there were more summons in X though it would make it way too easy. I only really used them as sheilds anyway, I never taught them any abilities or wotnot, I just watched them fry against the Dark Aeons :wacky:

And if I ran out of aoens then Id actually have to think about a strategy to beat them instead of just thinking ooh overdrive is full, lets summon an aeon :gasp:
 
You can teach Aeons new abilities or raise their attributes. Every Aeon I have can cast any Black Magic elements. They're so powerful I just summon them in order when I get a chance to.
Overall the summon system is fine. Although I think they should've put in more Aeons. Like a water Aeon...
 
@ Tim Booth:
But that's the beauty of this game, you can challenge yourself by not using the Aeons whatsoever. I just think that it would've helped flesh out the world and story a bit more if there was more.

And yeah, Water/Watera/Waterga was actually a prominent part of this game! It's a shame they didn't include a Water Aeon.
 
I did like the Summon system in X. I personally think that FFVIII was a bit better in the customization part but X has it when it comes to how you use your Summons.

Well, coming from VIII nad IX, which had a plenty of summons, to X which had only 8...it's quite a change. I guess seeing a few more in the game would've been nice but it was still nice with the ones we had.
 
I enjoyed using Aeons in FFX.

The system was easy to use and it was fun to finally be able to control the Summon.

What with being able to teach your Aeons new abilities and being able to upgrade their stats, I'd say it was just like having a few extra party members.
 
I guess there wasn't really the need for any more seeing as only Yuna could use them, although I agree there should have been a water one, that would have been nifty, maybe there could of been like 2 more but then that would be pushing it abit I think

I would have quite liked to see another Diablos type summon I think...I suppose thinking about it, there would have been more Dark Aeons to kill so that could have angered me a little longer :wacky:

Although trawling around 2 more temples with irritating sodding puzzles would have really hacked me off :gasp:
 
Currently playing FFX at the moment, so I'm browsing the X section. :P Anyway, I absolutely love the summoning system in this game. I love the fact that you can teach your Aeons new abilities and teach them spells such as Firaga, Blizzaga, etc... I felt you could interact more with the summons in this game and I always love watching how they react to Yuna and Yuna reacts to them as you summon them. It's so awesome if you ask me.

Grand Lethal, you felt there weren't enough summons? o_o My goodness, I think we had quite enough xD but I suppose I do see where you are coming from with maybe wanting to find a couple more hidden ones. Though I think we did just fine with what all we had. We had:

Valefor
Ifrit
Ixion
Shiva
Bahamut
The Magus Sisters
Anima
Yojimbo

That's 8 summons, but like I said, I suppose I can see where you're coming from with wanting more, but where would they fit more into the story? Have you any ideas just out of sheer curiosity? Maybe Square just didn't want to overdo it with summons? I don't know...regardless though, I still absolutely loved the summoning system in this game. Replaying it again, I forgot how much I actually love FFX.
 
I feel that some of the newer summons were unecessary and that some were missed from FFX.

I do think that Leviathan should have been in X since he was one of the original summons and played an important part in earlier games.

Seriously, did we really need Yojimbo? He was a pain in the ass in general to use.

And as much as people loved the Magus Sisters, I thought their inclusion was rather silly considering that they were ridiculous and annoying villians in FFIV.

Why not include Alexander instead? Or Titan? Or another summon that we are all familur with. Anima could have just been the most powerful summon in FFX.
 
Actually, if you count all the Magus Sisters seperately, we'd have 10 summons.

I'm replaying FFX right now, and I like the Aeons alot, but if we had anymore, then boss battles would become too easy, you'd just need to rely on keeping Yuna alive.

I love the Aeons though, I love how you can actually control them and their actions in this game, and you grow more attached to them then you do in the other games.
 
Actually, Tifa, I did have some ideas! XD

Since Yu Yevon is a summoner, I've realised that Sin is probably modelled after Bismark, a summon from VI. So, instead of having Yuna summon Bismark, I think Leviathan would have fitted perfectly as X's Water summon. (Also, I mean, we actually had an advancement from the 'Water' spell! I really wish Square would have utilised this ...)

Where could it have fitted in? Spira is described as a waterworld so ... =P

I think that there could have been a hidden temple round abouts Bikanel Island or the Sanubia desert; once the group is swept away from Macalania Lake. Go around the desert for a bit, piece the party together again, including Yuna. Fight a boss of somekind (Were there Antlions in this game? Like the ones from IX?) Well, after you kill it you fall down through the sand into the remnants of a sunken temple (on the outskirts of the desert, so moderately near water). Read some markings, get some backstory to the summon, and then do the trial, gain Leviathan, and leave via the coast into the mainland. Rikku starts the way to HOME, but after a while they're covered by a sandstorm, and after a hectic struggle to get through, Yuna is missing. Look around for a bit, until you see an Al Bhed who tells you Yuna has been taken to HOME.

When you get to HOME, it's being besieged by Guado and fiends. Go through the scenes, and leave. Get on the Farenheit (at least I think that's what the airship is called), and just before Cid is about to blow up HOME, you see Yuna standing atop one of the pinnacles. Sin is on the Horizon, and a giant tidal wave approaches. FMV of her summoning Leviathan that blocks Sins wave with it's own power. A little face off between the two, before a Bevelle aircraft comes and takes her away, ending the Leviathan/Sin fight. Then Cid blows up HOME.

Chase the aircraft, and then Evrae comes and blocks your path. I think sounds kinda reasonable XD If a bit rough.

I had another idea, but I'll not make a Wall-Of-Text post =P I'll post it after a reply.
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Rikku's Godhand wasn't linked to an Aeon either, to break the damage limit.

Valefor = Nirvana
Ifrit = World Champion
Ixion = Spirit Lance
Shiva = Onion Knight
(Leviathan = Godhand =P)
Bahamut = whatever the hell Tidus' is called ...
Yojimbo = Masamune

I was thinking for Bahamut because of the fayth's affiliation with Tidus.
 
Roflmao. That's actually kinda reasonable. haha. Good one, Lethal.

It could work, I guess. It was weird not having a water summon. It's like...you have fiends weak against water...and no water summon. Hrmmm...?
 
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