lightfagami
Newbie
Don't know whether this will be considered a bump... sorry. 
Anyways... though I have only played this installment of the Final Fantasy series and therefore have no comparison with the franchise I still highly rate this game. I am a very picky person who finds it hard to stay dedicated to anything (i.e. games, tv shows, even movies) and this is something that kept me playing non-stop 'til the very end!
Story
The story is truly compelling. There is a colossal, unstoppable being reigning terror over the world of Spira, known as Sin. Sin brings terrible heartache to those it makes suffer, ruining towns and shattering lives; though maybe an unoriginal starting point, SE really knew what to do with it. The game is divinely skilled at showing us the pain Sin brings to Spira, what with scenes such as Yuna's sending of the souls of the dead as onlooking relatives and friends of the fallen watch, traumatised. We follow from Tidus' POV, a young male who seems to have been thrown away from his world and into Spira by Sin. He accompanies Yuna, a summoner who travels on a pilgrimage to defeat, temporarily, the reigning beast. We are joined by other characters who are guardians of Yuna, protecting her on the way. The romance that sparks between Tidus and Yuna is unquestionable; silenced by the importance of the pilgrimage, every moment they share is filled with subtleties that indicate their love for one another, and their story becomes so bittersweet - facing some of the toughest obstacles with their mortality hanging in the balance as they harbour their affection for one other, every moment they share being a quick escape from the danger they are faced with.
Characters
I believe that most of the characters, most importantly Yuna and her guardians who you are the most exposed to, are developed greatly and really grow on you. There is Yuna, the young and hopeful summoner who seeks to bring the Calm upon Spira; you really admire her selflessness to put herself through these trials in order to make the world happy. Tidus begins as a little clueless, but his passion and kindness really burst through when he begins to befriend his new comrades and starts to become personally involved in the journey to defeat Sin. I won't discuss that of every character, but each one has their own unique essence that you appreciate within them all. Even the villains and characters that fall into a moral grey area that you come across have their complexities; especially Seymour Guado and Jecht, Tidus' father, who you are first made to believe in nothing but an alcoholic failure of a parent. Overall, the cast of the game really captivates you in one way or another, making it a really good playing experience. What's worse than bland characters?
Music
One word; flawless. Though I may not be able to discuss the soundtrack too deeply with those that played the original PS2 version whilst I, as a latecomer into this franchise, bagged the PS3 Remaster, I have listened to both tracks and though, both executed a little differently, seem to share the same bases and are both of a high standard. I believe the Remaster to give the game a more magical and eloquent feel; every track had a little personality, bringing your surroundings to life. There were intense moments where I was already so fired up, and the music would kick in or become more apparent and my feelings would just be magnified x10. It really is a graceful soundtrack that helps amplify all moments, whether they be of comedy, relief, or tragedy.
Graphics
Again, as a player of the Remaster, I had a different experience with the visuals of this game in comparison to the oldies, though watching through old playthroughs, reading old reviews and understanding that FFX was the first PS2 FF game, I know that in their time, they were a breakthrough, and the Remaster only heightens this. As a Remaster of a PS2 game I was thoroughly impressed - the colours vivid and visuals themselves awe striking. Your journey is a long one, and there are a varied amount of places you travel through; icy mountains, humid forests and gloomy caves, this game has the lot.
Minigames/sidequests
Though not the most important part of an RPG, those dedicated players who want to get that 100% are in for some real frustration. There are optional ultimate weapons you can obtain in this game, known as Celestial Weapons, to help you in the final showdown with Sin - though not required, they are highly useful, but require a lot of painstakingly repetitive and infuriating tasks to complete before being able to use them, such as dodging lightning strikes up to 200 times, acquiring at time of 0.0.0 in a Chocobo race, and re-returning to locations where powerful Dark Aeons await you, if you did not previously obtain other items. This is my only complaint, the games are fine on their own but can become extremely tedious if you are aiming for extra stuff.
Overall
This installment is a real gem, and highly recommend it to those who are mega-fans of RPGS, or those in the FF franchise who have not yet explored this masterpiece. With it's highly engaging story, captivating characters, scenic locations and beautifully crafted soundtrack, Final Fantasy Ten takes you on an unforgettable journey jam packed with emotion that won't subside for weeks.
Anyways... though I have only played this installment of the Final Fantasy series and therefore have no comparison with the franchise I still highly rate this game. I am a very picky person who finds it hard to stay dedicated to anything (i.e. games, tv shows, even movies) and this is something that kept me playing non-stop 'til the very end!
Story
The story is truly compelling. There is a colossal, unstoppable being reigning terror over the world of Spira, known as Sin. Sin brings terrible heartache to those it makes suffer, ruining towns and shattering lives; though maybe an unoriginal starting point, SE really knew what to do with it. The game is divinely skilled at showing us the pain Sin brings to Spira, what with scenes such as Yuna's sending of the souls of the dead as onlooking relatives and friends of the fallen watch, traumatised. We follow from Tidus' POV, a young male who seems to have been thrown away from his world and into Spira by Sin. He accompanies Yuna, a summoner who travels on a pilgrimage to defeat, temporarily, the reigning beast. We are joined by other characters who are guardians of Yuna, protecting her on the way. The romance that sparks between Tidus and Yuna is unquestionable; silenced by the importance of the pilgrimage, every moment they share is filled with subtleties that indicate their love for one another, and their story becomes so bittersweet - facing some of the toughest obstacles with their mortality hanging in the balance as they harbour their affection for one other, every moment they share being a quick escape from the danger they are faced with.
Characters
I believe that most of the characters, most importantly Yuna and her guardians who you are the most exposed to, are developed greatly and really grow on you. There is Yuna, the young and hopeful summoner who seeks to bring the Calm upon Spira; you really admire her selflessness to put herself through these trials in order to make the world happy. Tidus begins as a little clueless, but his passion and kindness really burst through when he begins to befriend his new comrades and starts to become personally involved in the journey to defeat Sin. I won't discuss that of every character, but each one has their own unique essence that you appreciate within them all. Even the villains and characters that fall into a moral grey area that you come across have their complexities; especially Seymour Guado and Jecht, Tidus' father, who you are first made to believe in nothing but an alcoholic failure of a parent. Overall, the cast of the game really captivates you in one way or another, making it a really good playing experience. What's worse than bland characters?
Music
One word; flawless. Though I may not be able to discuss the soundtrack too deeply with those that played the original PS2 version whilst I, as a latecomer into this franchise, bagged the PS3 Remaster, I have listened to both tracks and though, both executed a little differently, seem to share the same bases and are both of a high standard. I believe the Remaster to give the game a more magical and eloquent feel; every track had a little personality, bringing your surroundings to life. There were intense moments where I was already so fired up, and the music would kick in or become more apparent and my feelings would just be magnified x10. It really is a graceful soundtrack that helps amplify all moments, whether they be of comedy, relief, or tragedy.
Graphics
Again, as a player of the Remaster, I had a different experience with the visuals of this game in comparison to the oldies, though watching through old playthroughs, reading old reviews and understanding that FFX was the first PS2 FF game, I know that in their time, they were a breakthrough, and the Remaster only heightens this. As a Remaster of a PS2 game I was thoroughly impressed - the colours vivid and visuals themselves awe striking. Your journey is a long one, and there are a varied amount of places you travel through; icy mountains, humid forests and gloomy caves, this game has the lot.
Minigames/sidequests
Though not the most important part of an RPG, those dedicated players who want to get that 100% are in for some real frustration. There are optional ultimate weapons you can obtain in this game, known as Celestial Weapons, to help you in the final showdown with Sin - though not required, they are highly useful, but require a lot of painstakingly repetitive and infuriating tasks to complete before being able to use them, such as dodging lightning strikes up to 200 times, acquiring at time of 0.0.0 in a Chocobo race, and re-returning to locations where powerful Dark Aeons await you, if you did not previously obtain other items. This is my only complaint, the games are fine on their own but can become extremely tedious if you are aiming for extra stuff.
Overall
This installment is a real gem, and highly recommend it to those who are mega-fans of RPGS, or those in the FF franchise who have not yet explored this masterpiece. With it's highly engaging story, captivating characters, scenic locations and beautifully crafted soundtrack, Final Fantasy Ten takes you on an unforgettable journey jam packed with emotion that won't subside for weeks.
). Plus the gameplay is excellent as well; there were some moments were it was hard for me to put down the controller because I was having so much fun! Although, the random battle encounters could get a little annoying at times, and I found the Sphere Grid system to be somewhat clunky and dated, especially since each characters' paths on the grid can overlap with each other. 
Also, Yuna can be a bit of a nuisance at times, too...oh well, at least she's beautiful to look at. 
