Random X-2 thoughts

[owlmoose]

I have been thinking for awhile that I want to play FFX-2 again, top to bottom. Partly to reimmerse myself in the source for a bit -- feels like I've been away from it for a long time -- but also catch some of the scenes that I keep missing (Brother in Chapter 5, anyone?). You'd think that after three complete playthroughs that I would have seen everything, but no. A few weeks ago, I had a free afternoon, so I started a brand new game; I had another free afternoon today (left work early because I have to work a couple of long days later in the week), so I picked it back up again and played for a couple of hours. I hope I get some more time to play with it.


The first sesssion was pretty much just the opening missions in Luca and Mt. Gagazet. I had forgotten how much fun Paine and Rikku seem to be having in that first fight scene, in the stadium. Then today I did the mission in Besaid, then visited Kilika, Luca, and the Mi'ihen Highroad. Doing all the missions, talking to as many NPCs as I can stand. So far so good! And I haven't died yet, which considering that I'm not doing New Game Plus is pretty good.

I'm noticing little things, like Lulu's serenity, and just how irritated Rikku is with her brother. Buddy, too; he also seems exasperated with Brother and his crush on Yuna. And you know I have an eagle eye on the tiny hints they're already dropping regarding Paine's backstory. One thing I'm making a point of doing is talking to Paine and Rikku every time I come back to the ship from someplace new. And there are some neat tidbits from there. Like after the visit to Kilika, where we meet Dona and Barthello and get a glimpse into their relationship problems. On the return to the ship, Rikku expresses concern that they might break up. But Paine claims not to care about anyone "going steady" and calls it "kid stuff." And then, after your stroll down the Highroad, Paine comments that she's glad to have left before dusk, since she doesn't like the sunset there. Gee, Paine, that might not be related to any bad memories or anything. I have to say, I was kind of surprised to see something that blatant, although of course neither the new player nor Yuna would have the context to understand what it means.

I'd also forgotten how divided the town of Kilika was. In my head it's a Youth League stronghold, but several of the townspeople express divided loyalites -- it's not just Dona and Barthello.

Part of me is really impatient to get to the juicy CS3 stuff, but I also really want to take this slowly, in order, and watch things develop. We'll see how long I hold out. ;)

Comments

[bottle-of-shine.livejournal.com]

So it makes me think Paine tried the going steady thing and uh. IT ENDED BADLY?

UNDERSTATEMENT: Y/N

Now I want to replay it just to see Baralai again. >> I'M OBSESSED IT'S TOTALLY A-OKAY.

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

Gee, what would make you think that?

(In other words, Y Y Y Y.)

Nothing wrong with early-stage new fandom obsession. It's the fun part!

[angeltaisha.livejournal.com]

They didn't get shot by Nooj at sunset on the Highroad by chance, did they? I haven't played the game in so long myself I could just be grasping at straws, but it got me thinking of why she could not like sunsets. Or she could just not like sunsets in general, not specifically where they are or anything. I guess that also doesn't explain her possible take on steady relationships.

Ah well. Ignore me, LOL! I think I may want to play that game again myself sometime so maybe I could pay more attention too.

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

I definitely think that her dislike of sunsets would have been caused by being shot at sunset, not the other way around. ;) Although, if she hated sunsets anyway, hmm.... Or maybe it's Nooj who dislikes sunsets. Or Shuyin! :)

[angeltaisha.livejournal.com]

That's what I meant- like sunsets would remind her of being shot or shot at. ;)

[regann]

I keep wanting to do the same thing because I've only played through once but, sadly, I am still beating FF12 into submission. (One day, I shall succeed!)

But, yeah, there is some blatant foreshadow-y stuff but since you don't know it the first time, it passes us by. Of course, I've never played a game I wasn't spoiled for, LOL.

Ironic that poor Paine has such bad memories of sunsets at Mihen where, in FFX, Yuna has a fairly romantic moment with Tidus.

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

That's very true! Like, the image used to make this icon likely comes from the sweet bonding moment that Yuna and Tidus share on the Highroad, but it has sinister undertones for me as well, because when I think Mi'ihen sunset, I think of the shooting.

I tend to avoid spoilers like the plague, so I would have had no idea what that line meant the first time through. ;) It's been so long now, I don't remember what, I thought of it then. Probably just "huh, that's weird", if I thought anything about it at all.