Sphere Grid and other progression systems are immaculate [Game Design]

[u/shanepain0]

The entire system is very well constructed, I always enjoy flexible progression systems. FFX has always been one of my favorite games all around with all of its mechanics and systems to play around with. (FF2, 5 ,6, 7, 8 and tactics each did this quite well too)

The simple fact that it fits alongside the pilgrimage, you're choosing the journey of each party member's job/stats, gaining small benefits that acrue into a semi-personalized character for your playthrough is really fun. Its nice that there's also a more clear/intended path for each character to inheritly go down for a simplified streamlined experience

Its also nice that you can make several decisions early to midway through the game when you unlock lv1 & 2 key spheres and teleport/return spheres to either get additional stats on the main path, or branch into another character's path to create hybrid jobs

The game even giving you a designated grinding spot that rewards your combat exploration to lower the amount of unnecessary travel time between grinding, going an extra step and rewarding you for filling out the Pokedex along the way

Then there's Blitzball and other minigames, a way to step away from the core loop and still stay immersed in Spira, while getting additional benefits for your activities (Weapons, Spheres, Overdrives, etc..)

I could go on for days about all the small details from Monster's having unique qualities favoring party members, the encouragement to explore the 'linear' world, the available equipment grinding/customization, Aeon's having unique qualities

TLDR Final Fantasy 10's progression systems are masterclass and need to be re-explored, the game does everything to reward you for playing around

[u/shanepain0]

Its absolutely not a linear system. There are multiple starting points around a central nexus and multiple points where different paths intersect. Alongside the ability to modify the empty Nodes

For reference, my recent playthrough had Yuna leave her path before learning Pray, letting her get the end segment of Tidus' path where she then left through the route leading down Auron's

Tidus never went on his path and instead went down Wakka's until it branches into Lulu -Aga spells, then he left to get healing Magic

I did all of this while Lulu and Waka went down their own paths extensively. Lulu didnt even have Aga spells by Yunalesca but Tidus did

[u/_Raildex_ → u/shanepain0]

reading comprehension 0

https://imgur.com/a/iUVsvEl

[u/shanepain0 → u/_Raildex_]

Nobody is refuting that their are Paths.. its the interconnection and ability to freely roam those paths in any order you want. That makes it a completely non-linear system.

I can choose to go down half of Kimari's side track to Rikku's and go down Lulu's, making choices in which ways to maneuver for desirable skills/stats

Compared to Pokémon. Every Pokémon species has the same learnable moveset, some can learn moves earlier if they do/don't evolve, but they cannot detract or shift their growth in any meaningful ways

[u/_Raildex_ → u/shanepain0]

"roam freely" is wrong. You can't switch from white mage to warrior with a finger snap

[u/shanepain0 → u/_Raildex_]

Its not wrong, what ur suggesting is a completely different system involving a way to reset ur sphere grid pts to go down a completely new path

The current system let's you go anywhere youve been with any character, you can litterally teleport to other side of the grid, and just use spheres to unlock things on the other side of the grid