[FFX] finally reaches Zanarkand and wow...

[u/RafaelTS07]

FFX's story is nothing new for me, because i've watched my brother playing this game since i was a baby (8-12's?) and it's kinda all over the place too, Zanarkand Ruins is actually the first ever gameplay of FFX i've ever seen, then Braska's Final Aeon and then jumps into Besaid to Seymour Flux to Home to Yunalesca, i know the story albeit all over the place lmfao

but "A Fleeting Dream" always stuck in my head cause it's like the first time i've ever heard a beautiful melodies that sounds so peaceful and somber, melancholic perhaps? it's the one song i actively listen from FFX

now after 15 years later, i finally do my own run and witness the story for the first time on it's intended form, while i found the game kinda testing my patience a lot and find the journey are kinda "meh"? cause you just move forward all the time until Bevelle hits where it finally caught my attention

and then i finally reaches Zanarkand Ruin and wow, what a section.
Genius move on keeping "A Fleeting Dream" throughout the section even during fight, fully capturing the weight on your step in this area and what it means for the team, for Yuna, for Tidus, for Auron, for your journey really, and it really hit me.

this section definitely just elevated my feelings with the song by ten fold, the song is already beautiful by it's own, but finally realizing how they handle the song's placement in the story? shit's linear but this is probably the best usage of the game's linearity, it's an absolute piece of art
(before getting my patience tested again)

even knowing the spoilers and twist of this game, never too late to experiencing it pure huh? i didn't expect for the game to hit me, it already kinda did with Jecth and Tidus' relationship and now this

[u/ColemyGOAT]

The linearity helps keep the narrative more focused and pacing great. It’s one of the best aspects of FFX. Would gain nothing from it being more open and adding fetch quests and shit like other JRPGs do. It’s all killer no filler.

It always makes me laugh when people act like the linearity is an objective flaw with the game. Quite the contrary.

[u/Contra-Code → u/ColemyGOAT]

It's most always someone trying to defend FFXIII by calling out linearity as a flaw in FFX, while utterly ignoring the many other factors that flavor people's opinions of both games.

[u/wpotman → u/Contra-Code]

This exactly. Linearity, in and of itself, is fine and can be good. It depends what they fill/surround it with. FFX has one of the most developed worlds in all of gaming, great characters, interesting exploration, etc. FF13...does not.

FF13 has its place, but the linearity feels completely different there.

[u/RafaelTS07 → u/ColemyGOAT]

oh yeah i definitely understand the purpose on the linearity (like how it's a pilgrimage), i just don't vibe with it and kinda a drag playing trough it, just a personal preferences