cerberus435's Full Review: Final Fantasy IX for PlayStation 1
Final Fantasy 9 changes the direction of the series by tapping its roots.
Final Fantasy 9
AT A GLANCE
Graphics = 4.0
Less proportional character models. More color. Better texture quality.
Sounds = 4.5
A return to the more classical sounds of Final Fantasy.
Difficulty = 4.0
The classic formula makes this a more difficult game to beat.
Controls = 4.5
Simple and intuitive. Nothing to really worry about in an RPG.
Learning Curve = 5.0
No special systems here. The easiest-to-learn PSX FF game ever!
Replayability = 5.0
Each disc is packed with hours and hours of pure RPG heaven.
Final Fantasy 9 was created in response to overwhelming fan
displeasure. Apparently, many people did not like the science fiction-oriented
direction Square was taking with the series. They felt that Square was straying
too far away from the fantasy in Final Fantasy.
To satisfy the crowd, Square designed number 9 with Final Fantasies 4, 5,
and 6 in mind. As you know from your experiences with those games (or
from reading my reviews of those games), those three games featured medieval
elements; Lord of the Rings-esque presentation.
No longer will Square delve into a Blade Runner style world like it did in
FF’s 7 and 8. Now, gamers will be treated with a rich, 32-bit presentation of the
16-bit Final Fantasies.
How do I feel about it?
We shall see.
———~~~~ {ƒƒ} ~~~~———
A Tarantulas Presentation
———~~~~ {ƒƒ} ~~~~———
Final Fantasy 7 started with a peaceful flythrough with Aeris, then an
infiltration mission involving Avalanche. Final Fantasy 8 began with
Squall and Seifer, battling it out in a gunblade duel. Quite action-packed, don’t
you think?
Unlike those two, FF9 starts very discreetly, with members of Tarantulas
planning out their moves. After a brief encounter with your boss, you go through
a serene scene of the marketplace at Alexandria.
Final Fantasy 9 is a whole new ballgame. Those of you who got used to
the formulas of FF7 and 8 will find the differences like night and day. Instead of
thrusting the player into a futuristic utopia, you are instead placed in a
fantasyland, reminiscent of the 16-bit versions of Final Fantasy.
The characters in this edition represent the tried and true roles of any fantasy
adventure. Zidane, the lead character, is an adventurous boy with a tail.
He is the complete opposite of the introverted Squall Leonhart of FF8
lore. Garnet is the hapless, naive princess of Alexandria and the target
of Zidane’s infatuation. Steiner is a loyal yet stoogey knight and liege of
the princess. Vivi is like Pancho: small, seemingly insignificant, but
dynamic.
Square’s emphasis on character development produces mixed results. Yes, the
characters are more rounded than the last two FF’s, thus allowing the gamer to
relate to them more easily. However, because they all have such structured,
banal roles, you pretty much know what’s going to happen next.
Indeed, the story is largely predictable. Rah-rah, win the trust of the princess,
save her a few times, save this, save that, they reveal unsurprising stuff, and get
yourself thrust on an objective that you saw coming from a mile away.
Don’t get me wrong. Yes, the predictability of the whole thing somewhat detracts
the story, but it’s still very interesting to follow along. The characters indeed
develop interesting traits and their personas have deep ramifications to the party.
For example, as you go along, Steiner sheds his stiffness and opens himself to
the party, making him stronger and allowing him to team up with Vivi to produce
powerful magic-aided attacks.
FF9 suffered somewhat in the plot department, but it can still hold its own.
——~~ {ƒƒ} ~~——
Gameplay Fire Sale
——~~ {ƒƒ} ~~——
Wholesale changes were made to the gameplay system in FF9. Gone are the
multi-hit special abilities and highly customizable characters. In come the Item-
Ability learning system (similar to the Esper system in FF6), Active Time
Events(ATE), the classical gameplay elements, the job classes, and the
four-character party.
In the last two Final Fantasies, each character had very loose job classes that
were dictated merely by their choice of equipment and character-specific limit
breaks. This time around, each character has a unique character class with
totally unique abilities. ALL of these classes draw from previous Final Fantasies,
and I will do the pleasure of spoiling you the origins of these classes:
Name— {{Similar Character from FF#}} ++ Class ++ †† Ability ††
Zidane— {{Locke from FF6}} ++ Thief ++ †† Steal ††
Dagger— {{Aeris and Rydia from FF7 / FF4}} ++ Summoner /
White Mage ++ †† Call / White Magic ††
Vivi— {{Palom from FF4}} ++ Black Mage ++ †† Black Magic ††
Freya— {{Cid and Kain from FF7 / FF4}} ++ Dragoon ++ ††
Jump ††
Quina— {{Quistis and Strago from FF8 / FF6}} ++ Blue Mage
++ †† Enemy Skill ††
Eiko— {{Porom and Rydia from FF4}} ++ Summoner / White
Mage ++ †† Call / White Mage ††
Amarant— {{Sabin and Shadow from FF6}} ++ Monk ++ ††
Flair / Throw ††
The wholesale change to the gameplay is not without flaws.
The limit break system is trashed in favor of the much maligned Trance
System. The effects of the trance is just like the Limit Break; characters in a
trance increase their stats tremendously perform their most powerful moves
within a limited amount of time. After suffering a certain amount of damage, a
character enters a trance once the trance gauge fills up. However, the character
becomes tranced whether you like it or not. You cannot save the trance for a
later battle. This process makes the whole system largely ineffective.
After the incredible success with Triple Triad, Square tries to re-establish
the card game aspect with Tetra Master. This card game is a far cry from
its FF8 predecessor and gamers had no incentive in playing it.
Despite these setbacks, FF9 has perhaps the best mini games in the series.
Moogles and chocobos play a significant role in acquiring some very powerful
items. Such side quests include Chocobo Hot and Cold,
Stellazios, and Mognet Central.
——~~ {ƒƒ} ~~——
Illusions of Grandeur
——~~ {ƒƒ} ~~——
Square redid the entire graphic presentation for FF9. This is yet another way for
them to distance themselves from the styled used in FF8. Whereas FF8 featured
character models with standard human proportions, FF9 features characters with
the traditional big head and small body.
The pre-rendered backgrounds are colorful and more dynamic this time around.
Now, you have lots of stuff going on around the environment. Trees move with
the wind. Water flows more freely. Bells roll as they toll. Planks vibrate when you
walk on them. There are a lot more things going on around you. It’s all evident
when you walk around the marketplace at Alexandria. So much life.
The CG scenes are of trademark beauty. Absolutely stunning.
There really isn’t anything groundbreaking to say about FF9’s graphics. Square
made the most with what they know after working with the PSX for so many
years. No flaws that I can complain about.
—~~ {ƒƒ} ~~—
Melodies of Life
—~~ {ƒƒ} ~~—
To further emphasize the importance of characters in FF9, uber-composer
Nobuo Uematsu focused greatly on the themes of the characters. This is
yet another counterbalance from FF8, where he emphasized more stirring
situational tracks instead of individual character themes.
Indeed the character tracks here are among the best you will hear from any Final
Fantasy score.
Vivi’s Theme has a playful connotation to it. It goes well with our cute,
clumsy little hero. Very light melody, use of cheery instruments and notes. Too
bad it’s only played in the beginning.
Kuja’s Theme employs a straight-up piano ensemble. Masterfully
executed, with boomy bass notes and striking trebles. Very classical composition
that invokes power and mystique to our number one bad boy.
Mystery Sword is also largely a piano composition, but other instruments
are implemented for greater dramatic effect. It starts slow, then becomes up
tempo when the violins enter. As netnut746 said, “it captures Beatrix
herself, as a seemingly gentle person, but really is very powerful.”
Dark Messenger is Kuja’s trance theme. Introduced under the exact
same beat as Immoral Melody, but after the entrance of the clapping
sounds, it takes on a whole new dimension. Perhaps the only theme in the game
that features techno-oriented sounds. Check out the evil organ sounds.
These are just the more memorable theme tracks. Quina’s and Freya’s themes
are quite good, but detailing them would take up too much space. For it is
important to note that, while the theme tracks have improved remarkably, the
situational tracks are less than memorable.
However, there are some truly shiny gems among them. You’re Not
Alone is played after the incident at Bran Bal. In this track, Uematsu gives
the gloomy song an Oriental flavor to it. The Boss Battle track is probably the
best in all the Final Fantasies. It’s played in a more sinister fashion than all other
boss tracks.
Finally, Uematsu stepped up the lackluster Overworld Theme in FF8, and
improved it greatly in FF9. Crossing Those Hills, in my opinion, is the
best overworld theme in all of Final Fantasy. Played along the same lines as
Melodies of Life, it has a light-hearted and adventurous feel.
In the long run, FF9’s tracks rank up there among the best. If it wasn’t for the
stunning character themes, the outcome may have been far lower.
——~~~ {ƒƒ} ~~~——
Bidding Adieu to the PSX
——~~~ {ƒƒ} ~~~——
Final Fantasy 9 ended Square’s run with the Playstation One in a
positive note. The complaints from the previous Final Fantasy was answered with
a product that took the best out of the 16-bit editions and presented them in bold,
stunning 3-D graphics.
Personally, although I enjoyed playing FF9, I did not like the retroactive stance
taken by Square. I felt that the formula they had used in FF7 and FF8 was for the
better of the series. Nevertheless, very few gamers share my sentiments, and the
majority always wins.
Prejudices aside, Square did a terrific job bringing back the fantasy elements and
tweaking the gameplay back in its classic form. This completes their highly
successful and lucrative stint in the PSX and opens the door to the next
generation of system consoles.
Hero — Zidane is the antithesis of our two previous male
heroes. Whereas Squall and Cloud were antisocial and troublesome, Zidane is
focused, full of enthusiasm, and dedicated to the cause. My only gripe with him is
that Square made him to be something of a teen idol. He’s young, dumb, and full
of cum. But this can be a positive thing, especially for those who didn’t like
Squall’s attitude.
Heroine — Princess Garnet is your typical damsel in distress.
She is essentially Rinoa with longer hair, younger features, and different
get-up. She has a mysterious past that slowly unravels as you progress. When
she finally comes to grips with her past, she totally frees herself and loses her
distress. And you can rest easy that she won’t turn out like Queen
Branhe.
Wild Card — Eiko is just a little girl that you meet at Madain
Sari. However, her status as the last of her kind makes her special. Not only
that, she holds the key to the history of the Eidolons and how they relate
to Princess Garnet. She may be tiny and immature, but she is a crucial piece to
the puzzle.
The Cid of FF9 — Cid Fabul is the regent to the kingdom of
Lindblum. Like most other Cids of the past, he will take the party to the
skies with his airship, the Hilde Garde.
--{ Antagonists }--
Lead boss — Kuja claims the distinction of being the fruitiest
bad guy in Final Fantasy. A slick-haired, leotard-wearing dragon rider, Kuja
shares many things in common with Zidane. They are actually of the same
species, but Kuja is the failure. Unwilling to accept that fate, he takes matters into
his own hands by attempting to take over Gaia and Terra.
Supporting player — Garland is the head honcho of the
genomes at Terra. Although he masterminded the whole project with the
genomes, Kuja eventually gets the best of him, but not before the party can get
to Garland and discover the events behind the bloodshed.
Toughest enemy — Ozma is perhaps the most annoying
ultimate boss in all of Final Fantasy. Although his stats pale in comparison to
Omega, Ruby, and Emerald Weapons, there is no Knights of the
Round or Lionheart to simplify the job. It’s all a matter of luck and
skill this time around. It took 20 attempts from me before I could finally beat him.
--{ Ultimate Gears }--
Strongest weapon — For once, the main character does not possess the
strongest weapon. With great skill, Steiner can claim the Excalibur II.
The legendary sword boasts incredible attack power and allows Steiner to learn
some powerful Sword Techs.
Strongest armor — Most of the armor in this game are well-rounded, but
when it comes to physical defense, Tin Armor provides the most. The
equivalent of Ziedrich, Tin Armor provides an incredible boost in physical
defense, but not as much magical defense.
Strongest magic — Vivi’s Doomsday is very similar to the
Merton spell used in FF6. Like Merton, Doomsday inflicts massive
damage to all parties (including yours.) This may sound bad, but if you equip
Shadow-absorbing armor, you can use this to your benefit by inflicting severe
harm to your enemies while curing your party greatly at the same time.
Strongest Eidolon — Ark is another vehicle-based summon,
much like Eden is to FF8. Ark rains weapons down on all enemies,
inflicting massive holy damage. Even in its hasty, weakened form, it can still be
quite deadly.
Strongest attack — Zidane’s Grand Lethal can only be used
while he’s in a trance. It consistently hits all targets once for massive damage.
Sure it’s not as flashy as Omnislash or Lionheart, but you can
pull off three of these attacks, potentially causing 28,000 damage in one whole
trance sequence.
--{ Top Tracks }--
Best overall track — Crossing Those Hills. Mr. Uematsu took a
nap while composing the overworld track for FF8. This time, he comes back with
a vengeance, producing an overworld track that beats the rest.
Best theme track — Dark Messenger. Kuja’s trance theme
incorporates all kinds of musical styles to create an evil composition that suits
well with one of the baddest bad guys of Final Fantasy.
Marquee Track — Melodies of Life. The second Final Fantasy
vocal performed by Emiko Shiratori. Unlike Eyes on Me, Melodies of Life
goes for a more light and classical theme. Quite touching, especially when you
play it during a romantic date with your girlfriend. *grin*
--{ Memorable Moments }--
— Vivi, scorned by the Black Waltz, and unwilling to accept the fate of his kind.
— Eiko sharing her thoughts with the party.
— The fall of Cleyra and Freya’s vengeance.
— Beatrix, realizing the error of her ways and finally opening up to Steiner.
— Princess Garnet, finally freeing herself from the shackles of her past.
— The fall of the black mages and the final straw of the Black Waltz.
— The destruction of Terra, and Zidane’s sworn vengeance against his brother.
The crystal comes back in this outstanding chapter of the Final Fantasy epic. Visually stunning and exciting to play, it's a brilliant game that satis...More at QVC
FINAL FANTASY IX is a change of direction for the PlayStation series. Instead of the photo-realistic humans of FINAL FANTASY VIII, this game features ...More at eBay
Dark times have spread over the world of Gaia. Four separate governing nations, some blinded by their short-sighted greed, some persevering in the nam...More at Amazon
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2010 Shopping.com, Inc.