I had to sign in just for this. So to start, I'm a huge Final Fantasy fan. I have at least one copy of every Final Fantasy from the original to 13, counting the Tactics games and Disidia.
So I have X-2, and I will admit there parts to it I like. The job system was pretty cool, and gave a nice break from sphere hunting (F'ing Sphere Grid), some of the music I liked. One of my favorite characters returned, Rikku (Since Auron was gone after Sin was no more). I even liked Paine. Now those things don't make up for the rest of the game. Story was carp, script was carp, the first half the game is boring mission based 'Collect that Dress Sphere!'. Why? Cause the game said so was really the only reason I got out of it.
While we are speaking on weather a game should on the merits of its prequel or what not...It should. The game is X-2 (hopes this is BB Code), and as such it should stem off the original story in some way, no? If they could have done that, then I have a feeling it would be a better game. Instead they finished X with the defeat of Sin and at the same time got rid rid of the role of summoners. The only real thing X-2 is playing off is the return to a world setting that raked in cash, with a sprinkling of familiar faces.