“Listen to my story. This may be our last chance.” With these immortal phrases uttered by Tidus within the opening moments of 2001’s Final Fantasy X, my life modified eternally. But it wasn’t simply Tidus’ story that grabbed me. It was all the things surrounding it – the solid of characters, the world, the conflicts, the ability dynamics, the politics, and the relationships. All these parts gelled to create a potent recipe for an journey I’ll vividly bear in mind for the remainder of my life.
Spoiler Warning: The following article incorporates spoilers to Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2, and Pokémon Gold & Silver
In the next years, I’ve immersed myself on the earth of Spira, studying all the things I may in regards to the world I fought so valiantly to save lots of from the infinite cycle of dying perpetuated by Sin, Seymour, and Yevon. I watched YouTube lore movies, learn Wikis, and replayed the sport endlessly. In truth, I did all the things conceivable save for one factor: play the direct sequel.
Despite my fixation on studying and experiencing all the things Final Fantasy X needed to provide, I by no means performed 2003’s Final Fantasy X-2. Maybe it was the change within the battle system or the phrase of mouth that it wasn’t nearly as good as X, nevertheless it wasn’t simply Final Fantasy X-2 that I skipped. In truth, a number of of my favourite video games of all time did get direct sequels. And the important thing similarity binding all of them collectively is that it took me years to lastly proceed these tales.
Another instance is The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. I’ve replayed Ocarina of Time virtually as many instances as Final Fantasy X, but I hadn’t performed various hours of its sequel. When I used to be younger, I by no means owned the Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak required for Majora’s Mask. But I all the time yearned for one more journey with the Link from Ocarina of Time, and one had been ready for me all alongside.
Then one thing occurred. I lastly performed Pokémon SoulSilver, a 2010 remake of the direct follow-up to a different favourite sport of mine: 1998’s Pokémon Red and Blue. In addition to persevering with the combat towards Team Rocket, the story ends by permitting the participant to return to Kanto, the area of Red and Blue, and work together with a number of acquainted characters. In addition to those thrilling reunions and battles, I beloved witnessing the passage of time inside a area I used to be already so accustomed to. Years later, with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom poised to proceed the story of my favourite sport, Breath of the Wild, I made a decision it was lastly time to revisit and proceed the tales of Final Fantasy X and Ocarina of Time.
I started this by tackling Majora’s Mask; I figured giving myself a sport between it and Tears of the Kingdom may be a good suggestion. I’m glad I did, not as a result of I wanted some form of Zelda buffer, however as a result of Majora’s Mask, whereas distinct, haunting, and compelling, doesn’t ship the form of continuation I used to be in search of. Yes, it is the Link I bear in mind from Ocarina of Time, however as a result of it takes place in Termina as a substitute of Hyrule, the occasions felt completely faraway from the story I beloved.
I knew this getting in, however I used to be hopeful I’d nonetheless obtain some fascinating lore drops exterior of the principle story. Those moments have been few and much between, however I acquired an thrilling experiment in how the Zelda formulation may very well be expanded exterior of what is generally anticipated of the collection. Seeing all these characters I bear in mind from Ocarina of Time, however as totally different individuals altogether, provides the sport a dreamlike aura. And the brand new transformative gameplay mechanics and time-loop construction hammer residence that Termina is way more than meets the attention. Majora’s Mask didn’t find yourself being my favourite Zelda sport, nor did it ship a lot in the way in which of increasing my understanding of Link or the Ocarina of Time Hyrule, nevertheless it scratched an itch different Zelda video games don’t.
Conversely, Final Fantasy X-2 supplied the precise kind of continuation I used to be in search of. Taking place years after the tip of Final Fantasy X, you discover a Spira trying to find an identification faraway from the grips of Sin and a fanatical, oppressive faith. These themes of a complete individuals battling their identification whereas concurrently reconciling that they do not have a lot grasp on their very own historical past gave me all the things I needed. Whether it is Zanarkand reworked right into a vacationer attraction (which might completely occur) or the brewing battle between the Ronso and Guado, seeing the results of all the things that occurred in Final Fantasy X play out was satisfying and enthralling.
I beloved as soon as once more encountering the varied characters Yuna had met on her pilgrimage in Final Fantasy X and watching as she grew past her function as a summoner. Seeing her battle with a need to be egocentric for the primary time in her life, whilst Spira calls upon her as soon as once more, is the form of continuation I hoped to seek out. Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 are video games about dealing with loss however in very other ways. Yuna experiences outward conflicts all through each video games, however as highlighted in X-2, her inner battle is maybe probably the most compelling narrative thread in both sport. The video games rhyme thematically, despite the fact that they inform very totally different tales, which makes them work. In truth, when X-2 revealed that one other world-ending risk had emerged, I immediately longed for a time once we have been catching up with what was occurring in Spira and additional exploring Yuna’s place in it.
Hollywood has caught on to the truth that individuals need to proceed the tales of their youthful days and has cashed in significantly on the nostalgia issue. Movies like Top Gun: Maverick, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, and Creed have all proven that carrying ahead within the universe of favourite movies from the previous, all whereas delivering a mixture of heavy-handed nostalgia and giving the viewers purpose to be excited for the longer term because of an enthralling solid of recent characters, generally is a profitable formulation. But that’s not what these video games have been, even when I skilled them in that approach. Still, I’m a sucker for a continuation of a narrative, and I’m upset that I waited so lengthy to find the journey by way of Majora’s Mask and Final Fantasy X-2.
But that’s what made them particular for me; by now, I do know Ocarina of Time and Final Fantasy X so nicely that having extra to expertise as an grownup in his mid-30s appears like a sentimental return to a particular a part of my youth. Even if I didn’t like Final Fantasy X-2 and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask as a lot as their predecessors, I’m so glad I lastly took the time to deepen my reference to these worlds and characters. Now, after I return to the worlds of Spira of Final Fantasy X and the Hyrule of Ocarina of Time, I’ll achieve this with a deeper understanding and larger appreciation for these inaugural adventures. And with Tears of the Kingdom lastly right here, I excitedly dove again into that world and story that I adored a lot – this time, with out ready.
This article initially appeared in Issue 356 of Game Informer. For extra on Brian’s expertise enjoying Majora’s Mask in 2023, hearken to that episode of All Things Nintendo right here.
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