Final Fantasy X-2 is the first-ever direct sequel to appear in Square's legendary Final Fantasy series of role-playing adventure games. Here the emphasis is placed squarely on the all-female trio of adventurers who make up the player's role-playing team. At the forefront is Yuna, of Final Fantasy X, who makes a heroic return just in time for another wild adventure. What's more, these girls have more about them than most all-girl manufactured pop groups; then, too, they remain at the cutting edge of fashion throughout the game, thanks to a system of costume changes. The game itself is classically typical of the series, sending players on epic missions in a fantastical world of monsters and spectacular otherworldly scenery. This is not a game you'll play for a couple of hours and then forget: Final Fantasy X-2 demands attention--tens of hours' worth. X-2 is a most interesting experiment: the series' feminine side has never been played on as strongly as it has here, and twee features such as Japanese pop music and sporting events feature more prominently than ever before. But it's more than a mere tangent--at its core, Final Fantasy X-2 is a cracking RPG. --Jonti Davies