Abuse can cause crazy dreams. It can even make you think you are a dream.

Sports and his dreams are probably Tidus’ only escape from his abusive father. So after his adventure, you’d think his dream should have a happy ending. But it doesn’t, because Tidus is starting to wake up to his real life. Tidus fades away leaving his perfect girlfriend behind to thank him for making her a better person. Will he become a better person?

This was his story, so did he learn anything? He fades away, into the reality that is his homeland. That is, he fades into consciousness.

Then he wakes up.

Final Fantasy X-2 is based on Tidus’ dream. Tidus really wants to hold on to his memories of what happened in Final Fantasy X. But like most of us, he slowly forgets 90% of what he dreamt. So as he tries to remember through his daydreams, he re-imagines the characters. Only now he’s using his conscious mind. He forgot what he learned and started using the characters to express his waking final fantasy…of a sexual teenage nature.

Everything about Final Fantasy X-2 plays out like a perverted boy’s fantasy on feminism. The battle music sounds like 70’s porn guitar licks. The girls strip down naked, covered by a ball of light when changing dresses. Dresses give them powers. The girls even have a playful semi-nude scene in the hot springs. Awesome massage scene, bro.

Pop culture references abound because this is what Tidus is thinking of at the time. Yuna becomes a hotter, athletic pop-star so obsessed with Tidus she must find him. Rikku gets wilder and naughtier. Paine is the new “mature” one, replacing Auron and Lulu because she’s sexier than both combined (and much more mysterious). They probably all had multiple lesbian encounters by now (even the cousins). Wakka and Lulu marry and have a child, because why not? Yuna shoots guns now because that’s hardcore. Paine is emo-sexual (what?), that’s hardcore! Rikku has dreads and knives because she’s a thief. Is she a “beach pirate” on spring break from Girls Gone Wild? That’s hardcore! Everything seems so wrong, but it feels so right…if you’re a shameless teenager with a less than desirable upbringing.

Brother becomes so crazily perverted he screams and lusts after his cousin (a manifestation of Tidus’ own desires). Buddy is just some token character. Shinra really is “just a kid” Tidus. Final Fantasy VII was Tidus’ favorite game. Leblanc and her cronies exist as extras in a porn flick would. If that porn flick were based on a Saturday morning cartoon. None of this seems insightful or meaningful, showing us Tidus did not learn anything from his dreams.

This was his story, but what did he really learn?

Tidus writes himself into the daydream. And who is Tidus? A jerk. In his daydream, he becomes a “shadow” (read: emo) version of himself. He failed to protect Lenne (who’s probably based on his real-life ex-girlfriend). But Tidus probably thinks of himself this way as “cool”. How could he not, after having an abusive dad? Tidus is now a creep.

Also consider that Final Fantasy X-2 has multiple endings, as Tidus thought they were all appropriate. But Tidus probably favors one of them over the others. Which one he chooses is based on how he felt at the time. He probably wrote the “bad” ending first, then the “good” ending. Then finally caved into the “best” ending for a “self-esteem” boost. And the radio drama? It was fan-fiction.

This is my interpretation of Final Fantasy X-2.