Final Fantasy 10's Cut Content Explained

Summary

Tidus was meant to wield Cloud's Buster Sword but ultimately didn't in the final release.
Multiple music tracks, such as "Illusion" and "Wakka's Theme," were cut from the game.
Auron was initially supposed to be Jecht, but the idea was abandoned during development.

No video game, not even Final Fantasy 10, can make it through development without experiencing some substantial cuts. Many of these cuts are often made due to budgetary or time constraints, visionary changes, or shifts in the development team, all of which happen frequently as a game is being conceived. While Final Fantasy 10 is widely considered one of the better Final Fantasy games ever made, it is ultimately the result of an original vision that was cut to pieces and reorganized before its release.

That being said, most of Final Fantasy 10's cut content wasn't too substantial. Some of it involved some big changes in vision, particularly concerning certain characters, but the rest didn't pose too much of a threat to the game. In the end, Final Fantasy 10 is likely exactly what it needed to be, regardless of what was cut or changed during its development.

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By Josh Cotts

Everything Cut From Final Fantasy 10

Tidus Originally Had Access to Cloud's Buster Sword

One of the more well-known facts about Final Fantasy 10's cut content is that Tidus was originally supposed to be able to wield Cloud Strife's Buster Sword from Final Fantasy 7. In fact, the Buster Sword still exists within the files of the original Final Fantasy 10, and it's possible to hack the game using a save editor and even use the weapon. It's unclear why the Buster Sword ultimately went unused in the final release of Final Fantasy 10, but there reasons why it might have been included in the first place.

It's possible the Buster Sword was used for fun during Final Fantasy 10's testing phase, perhaps for animation purposes or combat mechanics. It's also possible that Square ultimately left it in the files on purpose, with the intent of someone finding it at some point. If it was supposed to be in the game but was cut from the final release, it certainly would have been a great Easter egg for longtime Final Fantasy fans.

Several Music Tracks Were Cut

Apart from the Buster Sword, several music tracks were cut from Final Fantasy 10 as well. Interestingly enough, Final Fantasy 10 has one of the best soundtracks in the entire series, despite several of its tracks being removed before the game's launch. These cut tracks included the following:

"Illusion" by Junya Nakano
"Nostalgia" by Nobuo Uematsu
"Wakka's Theme" by Nobuo Uematsu
"Hum of the Fayth (Female)"

Auron Was Initially Supposed to Be Jecht

Another interesting element that was ultimately cut from Final Fantasy 10 ahead of its release involved the character of Auron. During the early development of Final Fantasy 10, Auron was initially intended to be Jecht in disguise. However, the concept was eventually abandoned as Final Fantasy 10's story evolved, with the development team deciding instead to establish Auron and Jecht as distinct characters, each with their own unique backstories and roles within the story.

Tidus Was Originally Conceptualized as a Plumber

A final piece of confirmed cut content is also one of Final Fantasy 10's most humorous, as it sees Tidus originally conceptualized as a plumber. Writer Kazushige Nojima initially envisioned Tidus as an "underwater plumber" to justify the game's prevalent water-themed environments. Character designer Tetsuya Nomura then crafted designs showing Tidus wearing clothes like overalls that reflected the profession.

However, producer Yoshinori Kitase thought it might be better for Tidus to be a Blitzball athlete. That way, Final Fantasy 10 could have a sports element to it, and it would also help distinguish Tidus from previous Final Fantasy protagonists. In turn, Tidus' attire was changed to reflect a more athletic appearance, although the overalls were still retained.

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