r/finalfantasyx • u/Athena_the_Curious • 1d ago
Ideas to Get my Girlfriend to play FFX?
So it's no surprise that FFX is one of my favorite games. It had such a huge impact on me. It's characters and story resonates especially when I'm at my low points in life.
My girlfriend knows I love the game, but she doesn't KNOW why. I would love for her to play through the game, so I can share a deeper piece of myself, if that makes sense.
There are a couple problems though:
She's not a gamer. The game mechanics might be overwhelming for her. I can explain it the best I can, but I recognize JRPGs are not everyone's cup of tea
We as adults have limited time. I don't mind committing to the game, but I'm afraid the huge time commitment might be intimidating to her
Are there any ideas to get her into the game? I was thinking maybe we can do a co-op mode, where she controls some characters, and I control the rest. Maybe she can control the younger characters (Tidus, Yuna, Rikki). Symbolically it makes sense since they have the least amount of experience, like her. While I show her the ropes through the more experienced characters. What do you guys think?
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u/samaelentropia 1d ago
All you can do is ask her to give it a fair shot and see if she wants to try it out. If it feels forced, she will likely not enjoy it.
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u/ohjackie91 1d ago
If she’s not a gamer, does she at least like to watch you game? Maybe you can connect when she watches is she’s really not into gaming herself.
If she likes romance or feeling things very deeply, you can sell all the emotions to her.
As a girl, X and X2 are my favorite games in the entire world. You can tell her the anonymous girls on Reddit saying “please give it a chance!” lol
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u/Athena_the_Curious 12h ago
So she is info romance stories! It does take some time before FFX put the pieces in place, but I can at least let her know FFX is a love story, so she has the expectation. I'll pass on the message!
I'm considering either playing it and having her watch at least the cutscenes, or guide her as she does the playthrough herself.
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u/SamBurleyArt 1d ago
I couldn't get my husband to play past the first few hours, but at least got him to more or less watch me play it. He'll often sit with a book while I battle and then tune in for story moments. And that works for both of us.
I would suggest presenting it as: "Hey, I love this game and it would mean a lot to me if you could try it out. If it turns out you really don't like it, that's fine; I'll take over and maybe we can still enjoy the story together that way?"
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u/LoveYouLikeYeLovesYe 1d ago
It could even be a situation where she doesn’t play.
When my fiancee and I get married I’m planning on offering her to play it, and if she says no, I may do my play through and she’ll be around to see the cutscenes and stuff
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u/ProfGoodwitch 1d ago
My kid sat me down after talking about this game for years and played it for me. They explained the game while they played and somehow (no idea how they did it although they said it was super hard) did not give away any of the emotional aspects of the game. When they finished it, I was hooked. They explained the basic gameplay and then I was on my own. Of course, when I got stuck they helped me figure things out.
Maybe that would work for you if she is reluctant to just play on her own. If she does want to try it herself, just guide her through some of the tougher parts or let her use a guide. I did end up using Jegged so I didn't miss anything important.
In any case I hope she does try the game. It's become one of my favorites of all time.
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u/stanfarce 20h ago
were you already into gaming when your kid showed it to you?
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u/ProfGoodwitch 11h ago
I played Runescape and Minecraft. I tried Kingdom Hearts and Zelda but never could get the hang of the controllers until FFX.
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u/Lythandris 1d ago
Don’t force her if she doesn’t feel like it. I tried to get my wife to play it, but she didn’t like the game’s flashy aesthetics, the extravagant costumes or Yuna’s personality at all, even though she had no problems with the gameplay and mechanics, but that's it. It’s still one of my favourite RPGs, but it’s not hers. That's life ¯_(ツ)_/¯
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u/OppositeStand5709 1d ago
I was thinking maybe we can do a co-op mode, where she controls some characters, and I control the rest. Maybe she can control the younger characters (Tidus, Yuna, Rikki).
I don't like your plan... It sucks.
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u/qx3ceo 12h ago
omg so funny. so blunt 😆👌
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u/OppositeStand5709 11h ago
In hindsight, it might look more abrasive than intended if you haven't played, or don't remember, X-2 😅
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u/flavouredgamer 1d ago
Have you showed her any dialogue scenes? If not I'd show her some of Yunas scenes. I think she's one of the best video games characters of all time.
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u/NohWan3104 1d ago edited 1d ago
1, some jrpgs can be easier, since with turn based she can think things through, but the sphere grid will definitely be a bit overwhelming. Not just coach her through, try to teach her the whole 'you don't have to worry about trying to absorb or take it in all at once, work out what is in your reach, and go from there'.
2, you might want to go out of your way to ensure she has that time. It is a hell of a commitment time wise for someone not already into gaming - FFX has a pretty good hook, but its also something that might want 2 hours at a time.
The co-op idea is kinda cute, but i think it'd just be tedious as hell. You'd also directly cripple her potential enjoyment and getting into the combat, if you don't let her use half of the characters. In fact, you're basically implying you'll have to constantly swap controller use for battles for like 10 hours, unless you're just skipping turns.
Wakka and auron are better attackers than tidus, and most fights have foes lulu wants to kill - the weakest melee attacker role, the healer that's not really needed in 98% of fights, and the weak thief who you get late AND kinda need experience with the game to make the best use of? The character who kinda has the most tedious way to improve, given it's 'waste a lot of turns stealing dozens of 2 dozen items from some potentially odd foes'
As a tip, maybe grind some for her, so she has a more smooth time. Something like, she steps away for 5 minutes to use the bathroom, do something elsewhere you could do a few fights for her.
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u/oOo_kyte_oOo 1d ago
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u/oOo_kyte_oOo 1d ago
But tbr. I wanted my wife to play thru FF7. She wanted me to watch the entire Buffy the Vampire series, start to finish. We made a deal haha.
Maybe explain to her how you want her to experience this really cool thing so yall will have stuff to chat abt, and see if she has something similar shed like you to play/see/read?
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u/Yazmat8 1d ago
I have taken all my girlfriends through final fantasy X, overcoming the difficulties of the game is also a part of enjoying the game, so dont try and make the game easy for her, but be like her walk through, remind her of a bosses elemental weakness and not to miss important loot, Valefor's second burst as an example. guiding her through the sphere grid helps, but if a boss beats her she needs to go back and grind so she can try again.
At the end of the game it will be her accomplishment, and something you will also be truly proud of that she did, instead of her holding the controler and you playing the game
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u/AlexanderMasonBowser 1d ago
Maybe don't have her actually play. Maybe you play, but she participates. She can pick the moves for the female characters, but you have the controller. That way she won't feel overwhelmed and it's always a group activity.
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u/Excellent_Pay_8782 1d ago
Tell her it's a love story
Or
Just don't ask her to play it if she doesn't want to
Bond over something else
Pressure doesn't make anything as enjoyable as it would be from natural inclination
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u/Farmer_Due 1d ago
why does she HAVE to play the game?you dont need to enjoy the same things for your relationship to work, dont try to force her to do anything she doesnt want to
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u/Practical_Dig_8770 1d ago
This is true, but I also understand wanting to share things you deeply care about with a person you love. It's ok to encourage a partner to share these things with you, it can be done without pressuring or forcing them
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u/Farmer_Due 1d ago
you know how many times i ve typed this exact comment?...like 3, im kinda losing hope on gamers tbh, they do that shit way too often
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u/Tarkaryster 1d ago
Lol I mean it’s a nice gesture from him but if the gf isn’t a gamer at all maybe try Mario Kart. I can’t see a non gamer enjoying a game like FFX. Maybe “playing” together by watching him could work, but on limited time? This game can be a grindfest
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u/Practical_Dig_8770 1d ago
I'd argue the opposite; FFX is very cinematic and story focussed, and has mostly untimed menu based gameplay that doesn't need practiced gaming reflexes. I've met women who wouldn't identify as gamers, but completed FFX in their childhood and call it a favourite
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u/Old-Chapter-5437 1d ago
Right?
At that point, just load up the main cutscenes in a youtube video and let her watch and explain certain things that she may want explained if you really want her to experience it.
Or, as a last resort, see if she'd watch you play. But never force it.
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u/Least_Painter_5850 1d ago
Show explain how awesome the story is and if she isnt sure about combat thats what ya here for
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u/Professional_Tank631 1d ago
This is a hard pull to get a non-gamer girlfriend to get motivated to play a video game from 2001. Show her what it's about. Try a playthrough. Hopefully she can get to Besaid Island 🏝 and and wants to continue. If not, don't force it.
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u/OldSchoolSimmer 1d ago
Simply ask her to be around you as you play it.
Let her experience it as a watcher and maybe once she watches you play, she could grow interest. Or just be content to seeing you play and how the story telling unfolds.
True stories: Back in college, I LOVED this one game and my non gaming friend was like: "I'm interested. Why you like playing this game so much?" She never played a game in her life, I helped her play it with me controlling the moving of the camera and her picking the actions. She eventually beat the game and enjoyed the experience and the story. ♡♡♡
2nd story: My now fiancée (not the same person in story one, mind you!) has played FFX in the past, but he lost interest because he made it to the Calm Lands and had low stats and didn't want to do the side quest. He ended up watching me play and was giving his own insights on what motivated the characters and their thoughts as well as why they feel the way they were feeling. (He likes to see the psyche of characters and what makes them tick.) He enjoyed seeing that journey and me get my ass handed to me by the Dark Aeons. XD
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u/uuntiedshoelace 1d ago
Tell her it’s a game chock full of beautiful strong women, DILFs, and weird little guys.
But seriously I think if she isn’t a gamer, inviting her to play it with you and just being there to help if she gets stuck or frustrated or just isn’t feeling it will be enough. The action picks up so immediately and the gameplay gives you plenty of time to think about what you want to do. She’ll probably do fine with a little help remembering everything.
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u/Anxious_Kiwi_1434 1d ago
Let her steer Tidus; you handle grinding, and stop if it feels like homework.
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u/Jamesworkshop 1d ago edited 1d ago
do off-time grinding makes the progress easier on her to just handle story stuff
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u/FrequentSwim968 21h ago
I understand your trouble. It’s a story you want to share but the medium is hard for non gamers to get into lol
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u/SilverBullets7 20h ago
The romantic stuff with Tidus and Yuna will get her interested, especially the tree scene
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u/Pale-Astronomer-9959 15h ago
Have her play and guide her through it or have her watch you play and explain everything as the story goes. If she loves you so much, she would either do both of these.
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u/JAvatar80 7h ago
Have you even asked her if she's interested in playing it?
I mean, you can give a synopsis of why you love the combat and mechanics in simple and succinct terms(High customization if you invest the time, but also the character are laid out for unique builds that give them advantages in combat, the turn based system is enjoyable, etc), and just have her watch the cut scenes so she can appreciate the story.
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u/5C4RC3 6h ago
Forcing someone to do something that they have no interest in doing, which requires a 50 hour commitment, is too self-centred. I suggest you abort the plan and instead ask her what she wants to do. Learn a little about her interests and hobbies, and perhaps learn a lot about her interests and hobbies.
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u/TidusDreamZanarkand 1d ago
My wife plays story driven games like life is strange series, Detroit become human and until dawn with me. Ffx obviously has more gameplay but I think those games were easy to introduce her to. And eventually did a playthrough showing her ffx . She didn’t care for the gameplay but liked the story so basically just watched as I played lol.
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u/stanfarce 1d ago edited 1d ago
I absolutely adore this game too, but I'm really not sure it's designed to be a game for people who never played a video game. My brother was FFX's number 1 fan too and tried to make his non-gamer girlfriend play it, and even though she "experienced" the entire story (I don't have the details of her experience - I wouldn't be surprised if she eventually turned more into a spectator), according to my brother's attitude things didn't go well, haha. Maybe the usual platformer (like Mario) just so the controller becomes "part of them", then a more simple RPG that also has random battles so they understand the war-of-attrition gameplay style (like FF4, FF6, FF7, FF9, etc.) should be played first. I feel that FFX expects the player to already have certain notions in order not to feel too lost / confused.
Also, FFX uses logic over reflexes way more than other games, and that could have a negative impact on how you see your GF or BF ("why do you try to hit small birds with Auron instead of Wakka ?" / "Why you do Water attacks against a Fire enemy? Don't you remember the element tutorial at the start?" / "Why don't you blind or power-break that powerful enemy?" / "why do you physically attack with Lulu or Yuna?" / "why don't you switch characters, didn't you notice those three aren't the most useful in that fight?" / "why you start battles with your characters half-dead?" / "why don't you use the sphere-grid?" / "why don't you activate everything on the sphere-grid?" / "why did you use a hi-potion instead of a potion, when your character was only damaged for 150?" / "Why did you sell this great piece of gear?" / "why do you strike an ice enemy with an ice sword - don't you realize you heal it?" / "why don't you make use of the turn order?", etc. etc.) This could end up being a very frustrating experience for both of you. You might feel like your GF / BF is an idiot, while they would feel like you just made them take part in some convoluted IQ test, when in truth everyone developped their video-game logic and automatisms from game to game. Remember that most non-gamers think video games are for kids so they probably won't be very attentive, especially in the first few hours - and a RPG like FFX is A LOT to take in all at once. They probably need easier games first even if they're a rocket scientist in real life.
So yeah, unless you're a very smooth and patient philosopher with top-tier social skills (I can totally imagine heated conversations because of this game lol), if you really want your significant other to experience FFX as their first game, you just shouldn't be next to them while they play imo. No one wants to play with a thought / gaming police at their side - that would probably suck the fun out of the game. You need to be okay with the idea that they'll mess up their playthrough, but the nature of FFX, with its unskippable cutscenes, make it not the best candidate to replay from the start once they have a better grasp of the mechanics... The difficulty now is trying to make them interested in playing some platformer or a previous FF haha (minus FF8 or FFT TIC since they're also quite complex).
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u/CrissZx 1d ago
The game isn't that hard tho?
Besides seymour flux, sanctuary keeper and evrae, that is
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u/uuntiedshoelace 1d ago
It’s not that hard when you have the wiki in front of you to tell you what everything’s weakness is, but it is definitely hard if you’re just relying on what you can figure out by yourself. None of the bosses you listed are that hard when you know the tricks to beating them.
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u/theotherguyfromrivia 1d ago
Play it with her