Final Fantasy X Rears Its Pretty Little Head
Oh, but you don't want to see the first high-res, squeaky-clean images and info do you?
Published: January 17, 2001
It's taken forever, but Square finally raised the curtain on their first 128-bit RPG, and the results? Well, they speak for themselves. Take a look at the first in-game shots and decide for yourself. Granted, these models aren't as high-poly (or at least don't look it) as the ones in The Bouncer, but then again, the graphics engine will be pumping out much bigger environments -- and all in real-time. CG hasn't been completely phased out, but it will take a back seat to the real-time images. The overworld map has also had an overhaul, adding a much-needed graphical kick to the world.
Square is trying harder than ever to create a world populated by not only believable places and events, but also characters that you can identify with and emotions you can read. To that end, facial animations have been particularly tweaked, so you won't just hear emotions, you'll see them.
Graphics aren't the only boost. Letting go of the pre-rendered backgrounds allows for a free-roaming camera, and one that tracks with the player and environment more naturally and cinematically. Speaking of players, you can say goodbye to text boxes popping up to convey dialogue. Voiceovers will be used to move the story along and flesh out the characters more completely. If Square can manage to get the same voice team that covered English dialog in The Bouncer, we could be looking at a whole new way of presenting an RPG.
So what about the game? The plot hasn't really been revealed yet, but we do know that "Sin" will play a major part as the game's antagonist, dealing the usual death and destruction on the largely unsuspecting inhabitants. Only two characters have been revealed so far, Tidus and Yuna.
Both Tidus and Yuna sport that very familiar Tetsuya Nomura look that graced Final Fantasy VIII, and more recently, The Bouncer. They even look like slightly tweaked versions of Rinoa and Squall.
While info on the characters is limited to a scant few facts, we do know that Tidus plays an underwater sport called "Blitzball". In fact, one look at his sword, and even his name has tidal implications. Water seems to be a rather large part of his life.
Yuna, on the other hand wields quite another force. What would a Final Fantasy be with out someone to call down the almighty power of some big, huge beasties? Daughter of High Summoner Braska, Yuna is a powerful summoner that will no doubt put her gifts to use as the game unfolds.
Okay, okay, enough yammering on. Take a gander at the first pics of the game, and some absolutely amazing CG renders of our hero and heroine. Oh, and just in case you were wondering, yes these images ARE (C) 2001 Square, while the character designs are courtesy the aforementioned Tetsuya Nomura. Oh, and that sweet logo you're about to click on below? That's (C) 2001 Yoshitaka Amano (who's been with the series designing the logos and characters since the series started. All legalese aside, just understand that if I didn't mention that, an army of lawyers the size of the population of Seattle would probably have descended upon me in record time. So, to reiterate: FFX = good, taking these images without credit to the talented folks that created them and their employer = very, very bad. Now git to clickin'! I said git!
The spiffy new Final Fantasy X logo (careful it's a big file)
Dig that hair
A battlefield?
Tidus ambles through town
Tidus speaks his mind
Yuna has such pretty blue (and green) eyes
Tidus in all his CG glory
Awww, Yuna's such a cutie!
Stunning... simply stunning
If you're curious as to what they're saying, head over here to get the translations.
And, just because we love you, we've taken that last render and turned it into a magically delicious wallpaper image in 6 easy to digest resolutions. Go [email=Sam@PSX2.com]tell us what you think[/email].
Square is trying harder than ever to create a world populated by not only believable places and events, but also characters that you can identify with and emotions you can read. To that end, facial animations have been particularly tweaked, so you won't just hear emotions, you'll see them.
Graphics aren't the only boost. Letting go of the pre-rendered backgrounds allows for a free-roaming camera, and one that tracks with the player and environment more naturally and cinematically. Speaking of players, you can say goodbye to text boxes popping up to convey dialogue. Voiceovers will be used to move the story along and flesh out the characters more completely. If Square can manage to get the same voice team that covered English dialog in The Bouncer, we could be looking at a whole new way of presenting an RPG.
So what about the game? The plot hasn't really been revealed yet, but we do know that "Sin" will play a major part as the game's antagonist, dealing the usual death and destruction on the largely unsuspecting inhabitants. Only two characters have been revealed so far, Tidus and Yuna.
Both Tidus and Yuna sport that very familiar Tetsuya Nomura look that graced Final Fantasy VIII, and more recently, The Bouncer. They even look like slightly tweaked versions of Rinoa and Squall.
While info on the characters is limited to a scant few facts, we do know that Tidus plays an underwater sport called "Blitzball". In fact, one look at his sword, and even his name has tidal implications. Water seems to be a rather large part of his life.
Yuna, on the other hand wields quite another force. What would a Final Fantasy be with out someone to call down the almighty power of some big, huge beasties? Daughter of High Summoner Braska, Yuna is a powerful summoner that will no doubt put her gifts to use as the game unfolds.
Okay, okay, enough yammering on. Take a gander at the first pics of the game, and some absolutely amazing CG renders of our hero and heroine. Oh, and just in case you were wondering, yes these images ARE (C) 2001 Square, while the character designs are courtesy the aforementioned Tetsuya Nomura. Oh, and that sweet logo you're about to click on below? That's (C) 2001 Yoshitaka Amano (who's been with the series designing the logos and characters since the series started. All legalese aside, just understand that if I didn't mention that, an army of lawyers the size of the population of Seattle would probably have descended upon me in record time. So, to reiterate: FFX = good, taking these images without credit to the talented folks that created them and their employer = very, very bad. Now git to clickin'! I said git!
The spiffy new Final Fantasy X logo (careful it's a big file)
Dig that hair
A battlefield?
Tidus ambles through town
Tidus speaks his mind
Yuna has such pretty blue (and green) eyes
Tidus in all his CG glory
Awww, Yuna's such a cutie!
Stunning... simply stunning
If you're curious as to what they're saying, head over here to get the translations.
And, just because we love you, we've taken that last render and turned it into a magically delicious wallpaper image in 6 easy to digest resolutions. Go [email=Sam@PSX2.com]tell us what you think[/email].
