Final Fantasy X and X-2 hit Steam this week with gameplay improvements

By Danny Cowan Published May 10, 2016

final fantasy x 2 upgraded for steam release hd remaster 20150225153430 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Square Enix announced that its classic PlayStation 2-era RPGs Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 will arrive on PC platforms this week with upgraded graphics and optional “game boosters” that eliminate random encounters, among other improvements.

Both games are bundled together in the upcoming Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster compilation on Steam, which launches on May 12.

Originally released in 2001, Final Fantasy X was a landmark entry for Square Enix’s long-running RPG franchise, introducing voice acting for the first time in series history alongside other innovations like the Conditional Turn-Based Battle system and Sphere Grid leveling mechanics. 2003’s Final Fantasy X-2 continued the original game’s storyline with a new starring cast of characters.

Final Fantasy X and X-2 were later remade for the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita, and both games saw several additional improvements with the launch of a PlayStation 4 compilation in 2015. The upcoming Steam versions will build upon the foundation of last year’s upgraded PS4 release with even more enhancements, including remastered audio, an auto-save feature, and “5 game boosters including high speed and no encounter modes.”

Recent remakes of Final Fantasy VII, VIII, and IX boasted a similar set of expanded features, offering players optional party invincibility and the ability to fast-forward through slow gameplay segments. It’s not yet known which features specifically will make the jump to the upcoming Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster compilation.

Square Enix revealed that the PC remake of Final Fantasy X will also include all International Edition content, previously available exclusively in 2002’s Japan-only Final Fantasy X International for the PlayStation 2.

While a price for the PC version Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster has not been officially announced, Green Man Gaming revealed that the compilation will be available for at $30 at launch.

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The best ways to farm Gil in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Cait Sith dances in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

Some say it's the Lifestream that makes the world go round in Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth, but we all know the real answer is Gil. Cloud may be on a quest to save the world from Sephiroth, but he's still a merc who wants to get paid for his efforts. Plus, there are a ton of expensive items to gather up on your journey, such as Materia, Accessories, Armor, and Queen's Blood cards. You'll need some very deep pockets if you want to buy everything that catches your eye, but Gil isn't the easiest thing to come by. We've done all the odd jobs and activities around Gaia to give you the best ways to grind for Gil in Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth.
Best ways to farm Gil
Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth introduces a ton of new activities, minigames, and quests that didn't exist in Remake. That means there are a lot more ways to earn Gil than ever before, but also a lot that are a waste of time compared to others.
Get your steps in

Even when you get yourself a Chocobo to ride around on, there's no getting around how much running you will be doing. Whether it's in one of the dungeons or towns where you can't take your mount, part of a quest that keeps you on foot, or if you just like exploring the old-fashioned way, Cloud will be getting more than his fair share of steps in. So why not get paid for your efforts? The Pedometer Pin is an accessory that automatically pays you 1 Gil for every 100 steps taken. Now, that doesn't sound like a lot, but that number will build up fast when running around. Plus, it's free money you'd otherwise be leaving on the table. The best part is you don't need to sacrifice a valuable accessory slot on Cloud, or even anyone in your active party, to get the benefits. So long as the person who has it equipped is available to be in your party, not necessarily currently in it, you reap the rewards.
Sword for hire
Sidequests pay well in Rebirth for the most part. There aren't a ton of them compared to most open world games, so they all tend to be worth your while in one way or another. Visit every new town's notice board and snag all the requests whenever possible. You won't know exactly what reward you're going to get until it's said and done, but you should expect at least a couple thousand Gil for your efforts in most cases.
Get crafty

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Queen's Blood

After Fort Condor arrived in Final Fantasy 7: Remake Intergrade, you may not have expected an entirely new minigame to be introduced in Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth. However, after the opening hours, when you're let loose in Kalm, you will automatically be given your very first deck of Queen's Blood cards. While this minigame is entirely optional after you play your first game to learn the basics, you would be missing out on a ton of content and secrets, let alone fun, by ignoring it. Still, we understand if you feel you didn't sign up for a strange new card game in your Final Fantasy adventure. Plus, there is a lot more depth to the game than is properly explained. If you want to rise up the ranks and be a Queen's Blood champion, but are unsure how to start, we'll show you the ropes.
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The tutorial for Queen's Blood does a decent job explaining the basic rules of Queen's Blood, but it goes by rather quickly and may leave some things a little unclear until you play a few rounds.

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PSA: Don’t burn yourself out on Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s open-world activities

Cloud from FFVII

I'm normally a completionist when it comes to games, but I wish I had told myself to push that mindset to the side before I started Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

I get the desire to do it all, I really do. In the critically acclaimed sequel, we're finally let loose outside of Midgar. Square Enix has laid a huge, lush set of biomes to stretch our legs in after being stuck in the cramped hallways and tunnels of the drab city. Despite most of the world activities in Rebirth being standard open-world fare (activating towers, scanning points of interest, and hunting down specific monsters), there's an undeniable novelty to doing it with Cloud and the rest of Avalanche. What I wish I had known before starting was just how easy it was to burn out on that feeling.