The story follows Yuna as she searches for Tidus, the main character of the previous game, while trying to prevent political conflicts in Spira from escalating to war.

The soundtrack was created by Noriko Matsueda and Takahito Eguchi in lieu of long-time Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu.

The game was positively received by critics and was commercially successful, selling over 5.4 million copies on PlayStation 2 and winning a number of awards.

[3] Final Fantasy X-2 is a role-playing video game in which players take on the role of Yuna as she explores the fictional world of Spira.

[4][5] The game's sidequests include minor tasks and quests, optional bosses and dungeons, and the most minigames of any Final Fantasy at the time of its release.

[6] The combat in Final Fantasy X-2 uses an enhanced version of the Active Time Battle (ATB) system, in which characters and enemies take actions according to their speed.

Depending on the properties of the Garment Grid, changing dresspheres in battle will grant bonuses such as increased strength or added elemental effects.

It features diverse climates, ranging from the tropical Besaid and Kilika islands, to the temperate Mi'ihen region, to the frigid Macalania and Mt.

Spira is distinct from the mainly European-influenced worlds found in previous Final Fantasy games, being much more closely modeled on Southeast Asia, most notably with respect to vegetation, topography, architecture, and names.

The priests of the Yevon religion chose to expose the truth about the order's role in perpetuating the cycle, leaving the populace to decide for themselves how to live in a world without Sin.

[14] Advanced technology and the Al Bhed are embraced by the people, who have begun to pursue leisures such as attending musical concerts and participating in the sport of blitzball.

[15] The three main playable characters of Final Fantasy X-2 are Yuna, Rikku, and Paine, members of the sphere hunter group called the Gullwings.

Additionally, other characters are introduced in Final Fantasy X-2, such as the faction leaders and the Leblanc Syndicate, a group of sphere hunters who serve as the Gullwings' rivals for much of the game.

[16] Meanwhile, the Gullwings discover a sphere containing images of an ancient machina weapon called "Vegnagun" that was secretly buried beneath Bevelle.

[17][18] The Gullwings join forces with the Leblanc Syndicate to investigate the underground areas of the city in an attempt to destroy the machine before it can be used by either side in the upcoming conflict.

Discovering a large tunnel recently dug into the floor of the weapon's chamber, they realize that Vegnagun has apparently moved to the Farplane, located deep below ground.

In the underground areas of Bevelle, the Gullwings discover the missing faction leaders discussing Vegnagun and learn that the machine's artificial intelligence allows it to detect hostility and respond by fleeing.

[24] In the present, Shuyin's spirit expresses anger that the people have still not understood the pain of war and plans to use Vegnagun to destroy all of Spira in retribution.

[34] Producer Yoshinori Kitase and director Motomu Toriyama explained that the objective in mind when designing Final Fantasy X-2 was to embrace the concept of change as the game's theme and establish a more upbeat atmosphere than its predecessor.

[35] Because of the more optimistic setting, the designers drew inspiration from the magical girl subgenre of anime and manga to create the elaborate transformation sequences of the dressphere system.

It introduces two new dresspheres, an additional "Last Mission" at a location called "Yadonoki Tower", and the option to capture and battle with numerous monsters and characters including Tidus, Auron and Seymour Guado from Final Fantasy X.

[42] Several action figures, books, and soundtracks were released by Square Enix, including three Ultimania guidebooks, a series of artbooks and strategy guides published in Japan.

[47][48][49] Gaming peripheral company Hori produced PlayStation 2 controllers modeled after the Tiny Bee guns Yuna uses in Final Fantasy X-2.

[50] Hori also released a vertical stand for the PlayStation 2 console, with a Final Fantasy X-2 logo that lights up in blue color when plugged in.

IGN felt the changes were part of its intrigue, praising the narrative's political elements and comedic tone compared to the first game.

[65] RPGamer suggested that "the absence of Uematsu proves deafening", but noted that its lighter atmosphere matched the tone and events of the game.

[90] Joseph Leray of Destructoid attributed the fan backlash against the game to its status as the first direct sequel in the series and its light-hearted and "girly" tone.

[77] Reflecting on the game's legacy, Dale Bashir of IGN declared it the best among Final Fantasy sequels, citing its innovations in non-linear and episodic storytelling.

[90] Fritz Fraundorf of the GIA likewise praised its open-ended nature, observing that it was the first Final Fantasy game released in the wake of Grand Theft Auto III's popularity.

[91] Katharine Castle of Rock, Paper, Shotgun appreciated the game for serving as the "happy ending" to Yuna's story, a sentiment echoed by Mike Fahey of Kotaku, who also commended its ability not to take itself seriously.