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Preview
To read our interview with the Final Fantasy IX creators, click here.
As with the other games in the series, Final Fantasy IX has the ability to grab your attention from the time you fire it up until the last boss is put down. Previous entries into the game's lineage took a more dramatic, cinematic route to do what a role-playing game does best--tell a story. That style led to some complaints from headstrong fans and role-playing gamers alike. In response to this, while not sacrificing what new technology they've built into the series, SquareSoft has backtracked a bit. To put it simply, they've gone back to their roots while forging ahead.
When we last left the Final Fantasy characters, Princess Garnet was starting to break out of her shell and put to rest the notion that she was a snob. The kidnapping attempt by Zidane, oddly enough, started a few new friendships. Story elements continuously roll on, never leaving you to wonder for too long. Vivi, you may remember, started out as a Black Mage, and the Queen of Alexandria's story was left far from finished as well.
But even players with no experience in this series can pick this up as a new game. Final Fantasy IX's story follows a group trying to stop Brahne, the evil Queen of Alexandria, in her quest to rule the world. Zidane, a skilled thief, teams with a young mage, a royal knight, and a princess, who all soon discover that the queen's threats are fronting an even more sinister plot involving a powerful sorcerer named Kuja. It's your job to control the eight playable characters--each of whom begin the game with one weapon, one piece of armor, and one special power--and to uncover Kuja's motives before he carries out his deadly plan.
The game's opening sequence sets the stage for what's to follow and, as we've come to expect from the CG wizards at SquareSoft, what is an utterly amazing visual scene. Long-time fans should go ga-ga over SquareSoft's decision to return to the disproportional-character look of the past. While the change in the last game was interesting, realistic characters didn't quite work well within the established Final Fantasy universe. With the beloved wizards returned, the entire look is now much more medieval. Did anyone say "Chocobo"?
Like VII and VIII, Final Fantasy IX uses the ATB (Active Time Battle) system. Each character learns the abilities and commands appropriate to his or her job class. There are two major ability types: support and action. Action abilities use Magic Points (MP) and include commands such as Black Magic, Steal, White Magic, and Summon. Characters can go into trances after repeated physical attacks from enemies. When the trance gauge, located below the ATB gauge, reaches maximum capacity, the character goes into a trance, the commands change, and the character's attacks become more powerful. Up to four characters can be in the active party, but players can summon Guardian Forces, called Eidolons, into battle in Final Fantasy IX. Many of the Eidolons from Final Fantasy VIII return in this game, including Carbuncle, Bahamut, Odin, Ifrit, Shiva, and (naturally) Leviathan.
An Active Time Event (ATE) lets you see events that are happening elsewhere. For example, while you are controlling the main character in a town, you can view what the other characters are doing in another part of the same town. This function provides additional information and behind-the-scenes details about the story and the characters. You can only view ATEs when the ATE option appears onscreen, however.
The game's visual splendor touches even the most ordinary scenes, such as shadows in the street alleys and the mazes of cobblestones. Final Fantasy IX's color palette does a remarkable job in creating interest on every single object, location, and person.
SquareSoft claims their intention in Final Fantasy IX, as the last single-digit game in the series, was to assert the idea of progress. Not satisfied with looking back at previous accomplishments, they simply explain that this is just the beginning. But to that end, this will truly be the final Fantasy on the PlayStation as the series heads to greener pastures of the next-generation consoles.
With its awesome graphics, a good story, and random battles that reveal curious bits about each character, Final Fantasy IX is an epic adventure that'll have long-time fans of the acclaimed series beaming with pride and joy. As for everyone else who has yet to experience the Fantasy, now is the time!
Amazon.com Customer Reviews
Final Fantasy 9 - The best ff series so far, January 16, 2001
Reviewer: Garnet from New York City, New York United States
My advice is that anyone that enjoys playing ff series should definately get this game. It is the best!! The music and the vocals are excellent along with the theme song Melodies Of Life and the graphics are amazing. There are also tons of fmv cut scenes in every disc. The storyline is well done and as you move on, it becomes more complex. The characters were also very well done with their own individual unique personalities. The limit break had been changed into something into called "Trance Mode" which you can use more than once in a battle. The summons or eidolons(called in the game)had been shorter but still very effective against certain enemies. The equip mode had become alot easier and all you have to do is choose which abilities you want to equip and then adjust the proper slots which is alot easier then the ff8 junction system. The battle mode allows you to have 4 party members and only certain characters can cast certain magic. Besides that the game is a "little bit" too short, this is a great rpg game for ff fans and I give it a overall of 5 stars.
Best FF Game Ever!!, January 30, 2001
Reviewer: A gamer from Madison, WI USA
Wow! I think thats the main word for this game! FF9 has got to be the best Final Fantasy game ever made. The FMVs are beautiful, the storyline is great, the characters are very unique (Zidane is actually not a jerk like Squall! He's more of a "player") and most important to me, the game has got to have the best musical score I've ever heard!!! (Nobuo Uematsu is THE MAN!!!) This game takes you back to when Final Fantasy first came out, (knights, dragons, all that good stuff!) I was a die-hard Final Fantasy 7 fan, and thought no other FF could be better, but after playing through the first 30 min of the game, I fell in love right away. The ending of the game, (which is about 45 min long) actually had me balling my eyes out. It was SOOOOO beautiful! The game starts off in the kingdom of Alexandria, where Zidane and the rest of "Tantalus" are set to capture Princess Garnet Til Alexandros 17th (whew!). And I won't tell you what happens after that, so find out for yourselves! It's totally worth it!
Well not as great as FF8...but,, July 27, 2003
Reviewer: Larry M. Smith (see more about me) from USA
Its still worth playing if you are a true FF fan. Loads of fun and some really great graphics. Do get this game, a true classic to play.
The last "true" Final Fantasy..., July 26, 2003
Reviewer: Jon from Fairfax, VA
This is the PSX last Final Fantasy game and what a roller coaster ride it is. This game does not dissapoint. The story will draw you in and never let go. I have to admit I am a little dissapointed with the Ablility System but other then that a truley remarkable game. Also Final Fantasy XI has one of the best endings I have ever witnessed at the end of an RPG, very satisfying. If you're a fan of Final Fantasy games you owe it to yourself to play this incredible game, to others I say go ahead and jump on the Final Fantasy 7 bandwagon, that is if you havent already.
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Final Fantasy IX Official Strategy Guide