Hamauzu worked at Square Enix between 19. FFX was the first mainline Final Fantasy game not entirely scored by Nobuo Uematsu, with Masashi Hamauzu and Junya Nakano joining the project with the goal of adding complementary, but distinct styles to the game. The game's 91-song soundtrack was also a critical transition point for the series.
A popular and critical success, it was the first Final Fantasy title to inspire a direct sequel. The first 'modern' Final Fantasy ditched pre-rendered backgrounds for fully 3D environments and full voice acting. Final Fantasy X marked a transition point for the venerable JRPG series when it debuted in 2001, moving away from cornerstone elements like turn-based combat and introducing a new leveling system.
