《最終幻想X》以計算時間戰鬥(Count Time Battle)[4](美版稱「條件回合制戰鬥」,Conditional Turn-Based Battle縮寫CTB)系統取代自《最終幻想IV》起使用的即時戰鬥(Active Time Battle、ATB)系統。ATB的理念使用了實時元素,而CTB為等待玩家操作的回合制形式,因此CTB設計可讓玩家在無時間壓力的環境下選擇指令。屏幕右上方的圖表時間軸列出了之後數回合中的行動對象,而所選行動會可能改變回合順序。玩家在戰鬥中至多能同時控制三名角色,並可透過換人系統隨時替換參戰隊員。可以打出高傷害的特殊攻擊極限技以「過載」名義在《最終幻想X》中重新出現。大多數技能要用按鍵輸入來強化威力[5]。雖然角色最開始只能在受到強力攻擊後增加過載,但之後可以切換為其它解鎖過載增長方式[6]。
遊戲有三首歌曲使用聲樂元素,其中有日本流行樂民謠《真好》(素敵だね)。歌曲由野島一成作詞,植松伸夫作曲,日本民謠歌手Rikki演唱——音樂團隊在尋找沖繩歌曲歌手時與Rikki簽約[72]。日版和英文版遊戲都使用了《完美》。和《最終幻想VIII》的《Eyes on Me》與《最終幻想IX》的《Melodies of Life》類似,遊戲片尾曲使用了弦樂版的《真好》。其他填詞歌曲是:比爾·繆爾以英文演唱的重金屬片頭曲《Otherworld》;以及由日文假名演唱,在遊戲中多次出現的《祈子之歌》[73]。
由植松伸夫領銜,將最終幻想電子遊戲音樂編曲為搖滾音樂的樂團黑魔導士曾為三首《最終幻想X》樂曲編曲。它們是2003年同名專輯中的《與希摩爾之戰》[78],以及2004年專輯《黑魔導師II:蒼天之上》中的《Otherworld》個《蒼天之上》[79]。植松還在他的「Dear Friends: Music From Final Fantasy」系列音樂會中演奏了數首曲目[80]。《最終幻想X》的音樂還出現在多個官方音樂會和現場專輯中,如管弦音樂現場錄音專輯《20020220 Music from Final Fantasy》就收錄了數首遊戲曲目[81]。此外皇家斯德哥爾摩愛樂樂團在「Distant Worlds - Music from Final Fantasy」音樂會巡演上演出了《Swing de Chocobo》[82],新日本愛樂樂團則在「Tour de Japon: Music from Final Fantasy」上演奏了《札納爾坎德》[83]。專注電子遊戲編曲的Project Majestic Mix等團體亦未經官方授權獨立發行了《最終幻想X》的音樂[84]。遊戲音樂還出現在日本同人音樂重混專輯以及英語重混網站中[85]。
日版《最終幻想X》還內含收錄採訪錄像、畫像製作的附加碟片「The Other Side of Final Fantasy」,《藍天之翼》、《王國之心》和《最終幻想:靈魂深處》的預告片,以及《最終幻想XI》的首個演示視頻[86]。遊戲國際版於2002年1月在日本為《最終幻想X國際版》名義,2002年5月發行的PAL版亦繼承了國際版的要素。國際版在原NTSC版上增加了一些特性,如和「黑暗」召喚獸及飛空艇上超級頭目「Penance」的戰鬥[8]。日本國際版還收錄了《永遠的安寧節》——連接《最終幻想X》及後傳《最終幻想X-2》故事的14分鐘的影片剪輯[87]。影片剪輯以《永遠的安寧節 最終幻想X-2 前奏》名義收錄於《無限:沙加收藏版》的附加DVD中。它於2003年10月31日在歐洲首發,使用英文配音[88]。
國際版和PAL版都收錄了附加DVD《Beyond Final Fantasy》,內含對遊戲開發者及兩名英文版配音員——詹姆斯·阿諾德·泰勒(提達)、赫蒂·布里斯(尤娜)——的訪談。此外還有《最終幻想X》和《王國之心》的預告片,遊戲概念圖和促銷畫廊,以及Rikki演唱歌曲《真好》的音樂視頻[89]。2005年,收錄《最終幻想》和《最終幻想X-2》的合輯《最終幻想X/X-2 Ultimate Box》在日本發行[90]。2012年12月18日,收錄遊戲的《Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box》發行[91]。
史克威爾還出品了許多商品與書籍[92],如《The Art of Final Fantasy X》和三本《Ultimania》攻略,一系列畫集與攻略本,書籍皆由DigiCube在日本發行。這些書籍或收錄《最終幻想X》的原畫與遊戲攻略,或深入補充遊戲設定;之中還收錄數篇遊戲設計師採訪。[93]。
日本和西方媒體都給遊戲打出高分。日本電子遊戲雜誌《Fami通》和《Fami通 PS2》給遊戲打出接近滿分的39/40[123];而在《Fami通》2006年上半年的史上最佳遊戲讀者票選中,遊戲獲得首位[124]。另一日本遊戲雜誌《The Play Station》給遊戲打出29/30。三本雜誌特別稱讚了遊戲的情節、畫面和影片[123]。遊戲在GameRankings和Metacritic的匯總得分為91%和92/100[111][112]。製作人橋本真司稱總體評價「極好」,得到媒體的稱讚和獎項[59]。
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Rikku: We're Al Bhed. Can't you tell? Wait, you're not an Al Bhed-hater, are you? / Tidus: I don't even know what an Al Bhed is. / Rikku: Where are you from? / Tidus: Zanarkand. I'm a blitzball player. Star player of the Zanarkand Abes! / Rikku: Did you...hit your head or something? / Tidus: Um, you guys hit me. / Rikku: Oh, right... Do you remember anything before that? / Tidus [voiceover]: So I told her everything there was to tell about Zanarkand; about life there, blitzball, and Sin's attack...and about how Auron and I were engulfed in this light.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Macalania. Wakka: But you Al Bhed use the forbidden machina! You know what that means? Sin was born because people used machina!
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Kilika. Tidus: What's a "sending"? Are we going somewhere? / Lulu: You truly are clueless. Are you sure it's just your memory that's the problem? ... The dead need guidance. Filled with grief over their own death, they refuse to face their fate. They yearn to live on, and resent those still alive. You see, they envy the living. And in time, that envy turns to anger, even hate. Should these souls remain in Spira, they become fiends that prey on the living. Sad, isn't it? The sending takes them to the Farplane, where they may rest in peace.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Besaid. Tidus: We're taking the same boat as Yuna, right? Why do we gotta wait here? / Wakka: Yuna came to [Besaid] ten years ago, when the last Calm started. [...] Since then, she's been like a little sister to me and Lulu. But she had the talent...she became an apprentice. Now, today, she leaves as a summoner. / Lulu: This is our journey. We should leave together.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Besaid. Lulu: Kimahri Ronso, of the Ronso tribe. He's learned the fiends' way of fighting. [...]Wakka: He's another of Yuna's guardians. [...]Yuna: Sometimes we don't understand him either. Kimahri doesn't talk much, anyway. But he has protected me since I was a child!
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Besaid. Wakka: My little brother, Chappu. He looked like you [Tidus]. [...] He was with the Crusaders...when they fought Sin last year. He didn't make it. [...] I became a guardian to fight Sin, ya? / Tidus: Revenge, then? / Wakka: That was the idea. But, I'm more worried about a stupid game now than avenging my brother. Well, after the next tournament, I'll be a guardian full-time.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Luca. Tidus: Who are you, anyway? You knew my old man, didn't you? / Auron: Yeah. / Tidus: And you also knew Yuna's father? / Auron: That's correct. / Tidus: Hey, man, there's no way. That's just impossible. / Auron: Nothing impossible about it. Jecht, Braska, and I...together, we defeated Sin, ten years ago. Then I went to Zanarkand, where I watched over you, so that one day, I could bring you to Spira.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Zanarkand (Dream). Zanar (Commentator): Ten years later, the Jecht Memorial Cup tournament is today! The two teams that have won through to the finals are, of course, the Abes from A-East, and the Duggles from C-South. I know there's a lot of people out there today to see the star of the Abes [Tidus]! In just one year, he's become the team's number one player! He's Jecht's blood, and the new hope of blitzball!
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Al Bhed Salvage Ship. Rikku: Yeah, there is no Zanarkand anymore. Sin destroyed it a thousand years ago. So, no one plays blitzball there. / Tidus: ...Huh?! Wh-What you do mean, a thousand years ago? But I saw Sin attack Zanarkand! You're saying that happened a thousand years ago? No way!
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Mi'ihen Highroad. Yuna: The Final Summoning. It's the only way to defeat Sin. The only way. With it, we can call the Final Aeon. That's the goal of the pilgrimage. The Fayth of the Final Summoning lies waiting in the far north, to greet summoners [who] complete their pilgrimage. At the world's edge – in Zanarkand. [...] / Auron: She means the ruins of a city destroyed a thousand years ago.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Besaid. Wakka: A major blitz[ball] tournament's coming up. All the teams in Spira'll be there. It's so huge, I'm sure someone there will recognize you! [...] It'll be fun! Whaddaya say, huh? Come on, come on! / Tidus: ...Sure thing.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. S.S. Liki. Tidus [voiceover]: I was just fooling myself. Maybe it was that day...on the sea, under the burning sun... I started to give up hope. I was in a foreign world; I wasn't going home. This was my new reality, and I was stuck in it for good.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Kilika. Tidus: So, what're these sinspawn, anyway? / Lulu: Fiends. They fall from Sin's body, and are left behind in its wake. / Wakka: Leave 'em alone and Sin comes back for 'em. Ya gotta be quick!
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Luca. Auron: Yuna / Yuna: Sir? / Auron: I wish to become your guardian. Do you accept? / [...]Lulu: But why? / Auron: I promised Braska. [...] And...[Tidus] comes too. / Tidus: Hi, guys. Eh...howdy. / Auron: This one I promised Jecht.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. S.S. Liki. Yuna: You're a blitzball player, aren't you? from Zanarkand, right? / Tidus: You...hear that from Wakka? [...] Wakka... Wakka doesn't believe me at all. / Yuna: But...I believe you. [...] I've heard...that in Zanarkand, there's a great stadium, all lit up, even at night. [...] / Tidus: How do you know that? / Yuna: A man named Jecht told me. He was my father's guardian. / Tidus: [to self] J...Jecht...? [out loud] My father... his name is Jecht. / Yuna: Amazing! You know, our meeting like this must be the blessing of Yevon! / Tidus: Sounds like him, but it can't be him. / Yuna: Why not? / Tidus: My old man, he died. Ten years ago, off the coast of Zanarkand. / Yuna: I-I'm sorry. / Tidus: He went out to sea for training one day...and never came back. And no one's seen him since then. / Yuna: Why, that's the day that Jecht came to Spira! / Tidus: Wha – ? / Yuna: It's true! I first met Jecht ten years and three months ago! I remember that was the day my father left. The date fits, doesn't it?
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Guadosalam. Yuna: [Seymour]...He asked me to marry him! / Tidus: You serious?! / Auron: [to Seymour] You know what Yuna must do. / Seymour: Of course. Lady Yuna—no, all summoners—are charged with bringing peace to Spira. But this means more than just defeating Sin. She must ease the suffering of all Spira. She must be a leader for the people. I proposed to Lady Yuna as a maester of Yevon. / Auron: Spira is no playhouse. A moment's diversion may amuse an audience, but it changes nothing.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Macalania Temple. Jyscal: Listen to me very carefully, for I shall tell you the truth about my son, Seymour. His mind is closed even to me, a maester of Yevon. But I can feel flames of darkness burning in his heart. He is using Yevon, the Guado, and even the summoners. If he is not stopped, he will surely bring destruction and chaos to Spira. I will leave this world soon, killed by my own son. [...] / Auron: Wonderful. / Rikku: Will Yuna be all right? / Auron: Without us, no.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Macalania Temple. Seymour: Yuna...you would pity me now? [dies] / Tromell: Lord Seymour! What happened here?! / Wakka: What...What have I done...? / Tidus: Wait a minute! It's not our fault at all! Seymour struck first; he's the bad guy! / Tromell: Y-You did this?! / Auron: Yuna. Send him. / Tromell: No, stop! Stay away from him, traitors!
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Bikanel Island – Sanubia Desert. Rikku: Oh! Hey, guys! Where's Yunie? / Tidus: Gone. / Lulu: Gone... Some guardian I am. / Rikku: Um... There's something I wanna tell you, but promise you won't say anything. [...] I know where we are. We're on Bikanel Island. There's a place us Al Bhed call "Home" here. Yunie's there, I'm sure of it! Other Al Bhed must've come and rescued her! / Wakka: "Rescued"? You mean "kidnapped"! / Tidus: What does it matter as long as she's safe?! / Rikku: That's right! Anyway, I will take you there if you promise that you won't tell anyone about it.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Bikanel Island – Home. Rikku: Summoners journey to get the Final Aeon. Yuna told you, didn't she? With the Final Aeon, she can beat Sin. But then...but then... If she calls it, the Final Aeon's going to kill her! Even if she defeats Sin, it will kill Yunie too, you know! / Tidus: Was I the only one who didn't know...? [...] I can't let her die! I'll find her!
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Fahrenheit. Tidus: I'm telling you, [Yuna] won't die! / Cid: ...Boy, don't forget those words, 'cause if you do...I'm gonna make you regret it. / Tidus: I won't. So you know where she is? / Cid: 'Course not! That's why we're gonna look! Using this airship!
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Fahrenheit (en route to Bevelle). Lulu: The palace of St. Bevelle. Heart of Yevon. [...]Rikku: What's Seymour doing alive? Didn't we...take care of him in Macalania? / Auron: He is dead. As dead as Jyscal was. His attachment to this world kept him from the next. [...] Yuna must be trying to send him.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Bevelle. Seymour: You would play at marriage just for a chance to send me? Your resolve is admirable. All the more fitting to be my lovely wife.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Bevelle. Tidus: Lemme go! I'm gonna kill that Seymour! / Kimahri: Yuna said leave! We leave! / Lulu: We'll join up with her later!
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Bevelle Temple. Kinoc: You are to stand trial. / Auron: I expect it will be a fair trial. / Kinoc: Of course it will.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Introduction (Zanarkand). Tidus [voiceover]: Listen to my story. This...may be our last chance.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Tidus [voiceover]: We escaped with our skins intact, but Yuna lost something. I could tell: her faith was shaken. Yevon had betrayed her. I felt like I should do or say something – anything – but nothing came.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Dream Zanarkand. Fayth: Yes, you're a dream of the fayth. You, your father, your mother, everyone. All dreams. And if the fayth stop dreaming... [...]Tidus: No! So what if I'm a dream? I...I like being here. / Fayth: We've been dreaming so long...we're tired. Would you and your father... Would you let us rest?
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Dream Zanarkand. Fayth: Long ago, there was a war. [...] A war between Zanarkand and Bevelle. Bevelle's machina assured their victory from the start. Spira had never seen such power. The summoners of Zanarkand didn't stand a chance. Zanarkand was doomed to oblivion. That's why we tried to save it—if only in a memory.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Bevelle Temple. Fayth: If you defeat Yu Yevon, it will end. Tell me, what do you know about Yu Yevon? / Tidus: He's what makes Sin come back! / Yuna: Sin is his armor. It protects him. / Fayth: Yu Yevon was once a summoner, long ago. He was peerless. Yet now he lives for one purpose: only to summon. [...] Even if you defeat[ed] Sin with the Final Summoning, Yu Yevon will live. Yu Yevon will join with the Final Aeon. He will transform it into a new Sin. / Yuna: Yu Yevon merges with the aeon... / Fayth: Then, protected by this new Sin he has created, Yu Yevon continues the summoning.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Zanarkand. Yunalesca: Sin is eternal. Every aeon that defeats it becomes Sin it its place...and thus is Sin reborn. / Tidus: So that's why Jecht became Sin.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Zanarkand. Tidus: I give up. So, what would an adult do, then? They know they can just throw away a summoner, then they can do whatever they like. You're right. I might not even have a chance. But no way am I gonna just stand here and let Yuna go. And what Auron said about there being a way...I think it's true. [...] I'll go ask Yunalesca. She's got to know something. / Rikku: You really think she'll help you? / Tidus: I don't know, but I have to try. This is my story. It'll go the way I want it...or I'll end it here.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Zanarkand. Yunalesca: If I die, so does the Final Aeon. And with it...Spira's only hope. / Tidus: Then we'll find Spira a new hope!
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Sin. Seymour: Sin has chosen me. I am part of Sin! I am one with Sin, forever! Immortal! / Tidus: Sin just absorbed you. / Seymour: I will learn to control it, from within. I have all the time in the world! Since you were gracious enough to dispose of Yunalesca...the only means of destroying Sin is forever gone! Now nothing can stop us!
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Sin. Jecht: Well, I am Sin, you know. [...] / Tidus: That's enough! Let's finish this, okay? / Jecht: You're right. Well, then...let's go! [transforms into Braska's Final Aeon] / Tidus: I promise this'll be quick! Hit me with all you got, Dad!
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Celsius. Auron: I am also an unsent. You are not surprised? / Tidus: I think...I kinda knew. It was Yunalesca, wasn't it?
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Sin. Auron: Don't stop. / Yuna: But I... / Auron: It's all right. It's been...long enough. This...is your world now.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Tidus: Yuna, I have to go. I'm sorry I couldn't show you Zanarkand. Goodbye. / Wakka: Hey! / Rikku: We're gonna see you again...? [...] / Yuna: [to Tidus] I love you.
Square Co. Final Fantasy X. PlayStation 2. Square EA. 2001-12-20. Yuna: Everyone... everyone has lost something precious. Everyone here has lost homes, dreams, and friends. Everybody...now, Sin is finally dead. Now, Spira is ours again. Working together...now, we can make new homes for ourselves, and new dreams. Although I know the journey will be hard, we have lots of time. Together, we will rebuild Spira.