In Medias Res
Ask any Final Fantasy X fan about the one moment that really started to hook them and get them invested, and you’ll probably hear the opening get brought up at least once or twice.
Final Fantasy X has such a powerful opening, thanks in no small part to the gorgeous Zanarkand theme, and Tidus’ heartfelt plea to the player to listen to his story. The opening scene itself takes place near the end of the game, where Yuna and her guardians are finally about to reach the end of their journey, and she can summon the Final Aeon.
Of course, you wouldn’t know all this if you were starting the game for the first time, but that doesn’t matter. The solemn tone of the scene is enough to let you know that some serious stuff’s going down, and it really helps set the tone for the rest of the game.
The Pre-Match Radio Show
One of the oft-overlooked moments in Final Fantasy X, the little walk Tidus has to take to the Zanarkand arena is actually quite a poignant one.
In this segment, all you’re doing is running in a straight line to get to your destination. Along the way, you get a glimpse of a large image of Jecht on a building, and in the background, you get to hear a bit of a radio show hyping up the upcoming match.
The caster reminisces about Jecht and talks about how he’d felt when the news about his disappearance first broke. It’s a heartwarming story, made all the better with Tidus’ Theme playing at the same time.
But upon a second playthrough, you start to see the irony of the scene, as Tidus has no interest in thinking about Jecht at this point in the game. His dismissal towards Jecht is beautifully contrasted with the announcer’s enthusiasm, and it makes for quite the introspective moment in the game once you know how the story plays out.
The Laughing Scene
Alright, so this is probably the one scene from Final Fantasy X that everyone loves to hate, and for good reason.
Voice acting performances aside, the laughing scene serves a really important purpose in establishing the relationship between Tidus and Yuna. The idea of the scene is for Yuna to get Tidus to start laughing so that he can start to feel better.
The laughter is meant to be awkward at first, but as the pair continues to force themselves to laugh, that awkwardness is supposed to transform into genuine laughter, allowing Tidus to properly release his emotions.
It’s a really beautiful sentiment, and it’s just a shame that the awkwardness kinda just persists throughout the execution.
Macalania Lake
One of the longest cutscenes in the game, this moment is also the one that finally confirms that Tidus and Yuna are indeed A Thing. This melancholic scene starts off with Tidus looking to comfort Yuna after the big reveal that Yevon’s teachings are all pretty much a sham. The pair begins to fantasize about adventures of wanderlust, and possibly even visiting the old Zanarkand.
But, of course, Yuna knows she can’t just quit the pilgrimage, and the scene continues with her breaking down into tears. Tidus then decides that now is the time to make his move, and the two spend a romantic moment together underwater.
This is a scene that can feel a little cheesy at first, but the music and the story implications behind it are enough to make it a memorable one.
The Yunalesca Reveal
No other scene in Final Fantasy X is as impactful and hard-hitting as the brutal truth Yunalesca lays on our heroes. By the time Yuna and gang reach Zanarkand, they learn that the rite of the Final Summoning was completely based off of false hope, and was designed to trap Spira in a never-ending cycle of death and despair.
That’s not what makes this scene so great, though; it’s the way Auron steps up to convince his comrades to face their fears and sorrow. It’s either that or just die with false hope, believing in the lies that Yevon has fed them all these years.
It’s a powerful moment that really allows the entire gang to come together, and be resolved in ending Yevon’s terrible tradition once and for all to save Spira.
The Ending Scene
Final Fantasy X’s entire pilgrimage is compelling, and the final ending scene wraps things up perfectly.
As Tidus learns that he is, in fact, just a dream, he accepts that he has to disappear, but not before saying goodbye to Yuna and his friends. The farewell scene is kept relatively short and sweet, and we even get to see Tidus finally have closure to all his daddy issues when he gives Jecht a final high-five at the end.
The game’s prologue then closes things out with a beautiful shot of Yuna whistling (because he’ll come running), and giving an uplifting speech to the people of Spira about how they can now finally live their lives to the fullest without Sin around.
The entire ending scene doesn’t last longer than 20 minutes and wraps everything up in a bittersweet manner.
What Can I Do For You?
Final Fantasy X had a ton of great, memorable moments. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Final Fantasy X-2. Not that it isn’t a good game, mind you, it just doesn’t have a lot of good moments that add anything substantial to the story.
However, we’d be remiss not to mention the iconic opening scene where Yuna, Rikku, and Paine crash Leblanc’s concert. The guards notice Rikku and Paine first, and the girls start beating the crap out of them. All while Leblanc (disguised as Yuna) is up on stage, belting out a pop song that’s way catchier than it has any right to be.
Then, Rikku and Paine finally reunite with Yuna as they get Leblanc to return her dress sphere. In an epic Charlie’s Angels moment, the three girls strike a pose that definitely sets the tone for the rest of the game.
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