Final Fantasy 10-2 was a bizarre beast. Somehow fantastic and disappointing all at once, this unprecedented experiment would have big consequences for Final Fantasy. Released in North America 20 years ago this weekend, this cult classic RPG offered a peppy, colorful sequel to one of the darkest and most somber entries in the series. It also marked a turning point for the franchise as a whole, opening the floodgates for a new kind of Final Fantasy: a sequel.
In the series’ original incarnation, a sequel to any Final Fantasy title would have been unthinkable. Hironobu Sakaguchi, the father of Final Fantasy, famously resisted the idea of sequels for any Final Fantasy titles that he produced or directed. A veteran through and through, Sakaguchi directed the first five Final Fantasy games and produced entries 6, 7, and 9. The renowned developer was always averse to any potential follow-ups for his games.
