I really cannot say enough good things about this game. It’s all so well-executed. The main cast is diverse in both design and personalities but they all play off each other so well. The relationships between the characters (ie. Tidus and Yuna, Wakka and Lulu) feel genuine. The theme of loss throughout the story hits, especially towards the ending. This game also does a pretty good job of world-building as you visit different places and learn about the culture, customs and religion. Plus, visually, it’s a pretty unique-looking world even for FF standards.

Gameplay-wise FFX shines as well. During battle, the gameplay is about as traditional as Final Fantasy gets, but the ability to switch between party members on the fly keeps the flow of the fight going. Each character has their role and throughout the game they all get their time to shine. And then there's the sphere grid. I quite like it. Once you get into the post-game, it gives you a sense of freedom with your character's growth that’s really refreshing. Though this plays into a small gripe I have with this game and it's how daunting of a task it is to get started on the super-bosses. The amount of grinding you have to do is ridiculous. I mean, I liked the gameplay so much I gladly whipped out the tables and spreadsheets to max out my characters but that didn’t make it any less time-consuming. That and the mini-games are infuriating. Chocobo training, lightning dodging, Blitzball, butterfly catching… Not a single one of those were fun to do. Unfortunately, if you want the strongest weapons in the game you’ll have to power through. Though, the fact that my biggest complaint about the game comes from optional post-game content speaks to how strong the main adventure is.

To reiterate, Final Fantasy X presents a vibrant world with a charming cast of characters and gameplay that is simple to understand but provides plenty of depth. Also it made me cry.