Final Fantasy 9 – Fans are extremely excited about the FF IX remake. Read this review of the JRPG masterpiece Visual novel game to find out why
The history of art has many examples of largely overlooked works. Countless paintings and manuscripts collect dust in storage, never getting the attention they deserve. But occasionally, an open-minded connoisseur gives the previously forsaken piece a second look. Suddenly, stars align, and the world becomes aware of the neglected masterpiece at Wild Love.
Comparably, the ninth chapter of Hironobu Sakaguchi’s saga has gone underappreciated for over a decade. But the 2016 Final Fantasy 9 Remastered put it back on the map.
More than 15 years later, audiences finally saw the title for what it was. This unforgettable adventure in a magical universe became the ultimate embodiment of the creator’s vision. In retrospect, many decisions that used to seem controversial, started making a lot more sense. That would have been a satisfying conclusion already. But recently, rumors have started floating around about an upcoming FF IX remake.
Previously, a similar undertaking for part 7 blew everyone away with its stellar quality. Can the Japanese developers accomplish the same feat once more? And what is it that makes this particular game a worthy contender?
This overview will bring those unaware of the project up to date.
Timeless Classic
Before getting to the meat of the matter, let’s do a brief retrospect. Why has the original flown under the radar for so long? And how did it manage to make such an incredible comeback?
The title came out in 2000 on PS1, late in the console’s lifespan. For part 9, Square squeezed every last bit of performance out of the older hardware. However, by that point, PlayStation 2 has already been out for a couple of months.
Consumers were understandably excited about the next generation and shifted their attention to its library. Because of the unfortunate timing, many people ended up missing out on a real gem.
Although it wasn’t revolutionary or groundbreaking, Final Fantasy 9 had some wonderful features:
- Familiar well-rounded gameplay, polished to a near-perfect state
- Thematic return to the medieval roots after a decade-long period of machines and sci-fi
- Memorable protagonists who became all-time favorites to some
- Engaging system of learning abilities through the use of items
- Touching storylines that made most of the FF IX characters relatable and sympathetic
- Visually stunning cutscenes with beautiful animations
- Enchanting score by the maestro Nobuo Uematsu
How could such an impressive combination go unnoticed? As mentioned earlier, the timeframe wasn’t ideal. But it also had other issues which wouldn’t be fair to dismiss.
Ironically, many of them stemmed from the aforementioned advantages:
- The secondary Final Fantasy 9 characters were infamously unremarkable and bland
- The combat, although fairly dynamic, was a little slow, and some even found it aggravating
- While recognizable and distinctive, the cartoonish style was not universally appealing
- The Tetra Master minigame was obligatory, despite having significant flaws
- Some fans argued that the overall design wasn’t as innovative as they had hoped
- Despite the beauty of Final Fantasy 9, PS1 limited its visual fidelity and performance
In the grand scheme of things, these drawbacks weren’t that significant. Still, they might have contributed to the somewhat dispassionate reception. But time is the best judge, and eventually, the community recognized the entry’s qualities.
Today, it still holds up both as a wonderful story and as a fun RPG. No wonder that years after the release of FFIX, free download still isn’t an option. And the leaks about the reimagining that is likely underway aren’t all that surprising.
FF9 Characters, Locations, and Plot Details
The events take place on a planet called Gaia. The setting draws inspiration from the Earth’s Middle Ages historical period. The inhabitants of the Mist Continent, the world’s largest landmass, are fighting amongst themselves. The protagonist kidnaps the princess of Alexandria, who was apparently planning her own escape anyway.
As the narrative proceeds, more FFIX characters emerge and form an unlikely team:
 | Zidane Zidane, a 16-year-old blond-haired thief with a monkey tail |
 | Vivi Vivi, a young black mage on a journey of self-discovery |
 | Princess Garnet Princess Garnet, an heir to the throne, running away from her royal castle |
 | Adelbert Steiner Adelbert Steiner, her personal guard, who follows a strict code of honor |
 | Eiko Eiko, a 6-year-old summoner, one of the last of her kind |
 | Quina Quen Quina Quen, a strange entity on a quest to try cuisines from different regions |
 | Freya Crescent Freya Crescent, a fierce Burmecian-born Dragon Knight |
 | Amarant Coral Amarant Coral, a red-haired mercenary, well-versed in fist-fighting |
Together, these Final Fantasy IX characters travel around the globe, pursuing various goals.
Their journeys take them to countless vibrant destinations:
- Mist Continent, lush with greenery and densely populated
- Outer Continent, mostly a barren land with a rocky terrain and minimal flora
- Forgotten Continent, mostly uninhabited, located in the West
- Lost Continent, a northern icy land with a few settlements
The environments are diverse, rich in detail, and delightfully put-together. Practically every scenery would make a fine Final Fantasy 9 wallpaper. Describing them all the natural zones, castles, and towns would spoil the experience. Visiting both the population centers and the distant corners is enjoyable in its own right.
Core Mechanics and Strategy Tips
The game incorporates elements of role-playing, exploration, action, and puzzle-solving. The player has to navigate the pre-rendered surroundings, complete missions, and advance through the story. Occasionally, traversal is interrupted with enemy encounters. They make Final Fatasy 9 switch to a dedicated battle mode.
When the fight begins, a special on-screen menu appears. It allows issuing various commands to the 4 combatants. Each has their own skills, equipment, and a set of defensive and offensive moves. In the course of the playthrough, the party members level up and grow stronger. The process is more or less intuitive.
But there are a few FF 9 tricks that beginners often miss out on:
- Steal from foes and bosses during confrontations to gain otherwise inaccessible gear
- Use the tent to restore health on the battlefield
- Buy materials and avoid selling loot to be able to craft better equipment later on
- Find secrets by investigating points of interests to earn some gil
The FFIX difficulty may seem too high and unforgiving to anyone unfamiliar with the genre. But after some grinding and gaining a couple of levels, the challenger can usually persevere.
Unlocking the Endings
The plot is rife with twists and turns that are worth experiencing personally. It revolves around the concept of planetary crystals and a conspiracy surrounding them. The narrative of FF IX touches on incredibly complex subjects, including mortality, friendship, and memories.
By the end, the very fabric of reality comes into question. Be prepared for emotionally-charged scenes and dramatic developments. Technically, there is only one conclusion to the epic tale. To reach it, follow the main storyline of the single-player campaign. But keep in mind that there is a hidden extra scene. To trigger it, have Cinna’s Hammer in the inventory while viewing the ending sequences.
What to Expect from the Final Fantasy IX Remake
The public seems to perceive gaming primarily as entertainment. The uninitiated regard its offerings as disposable products that come and go. But these days, a more thoughtful point of view is getting traction. According to it, certain games are works of art that need to be preserved.
The greatest examples stand the test of time and age like fine wine. Sometimes, a simple improvement of the graphics is enough to breathe new life into them.
The FF9 Remaster did a fantastic job of maximizing the visual fidelity. It increased the resolution, made the imagery look sharper and brighter than before. Parts of the user interface were adapted to accommodate modern screens. Additionally, it introduced other quality-of-life improvements, including cloud saving and anti-aliasing. The port is available on multiple platforms. So why would the owners of the IP bother with a Final Fantasy 9 remake?
Compared to the existing re-release, it could be a full-on reimagining with numerous benefits, namely:
- Complete gameplay overhaul that would add modern real-time combat with a tactical mode
- Professional voice acting instead of dialogue text boxes
- Creative revisions that would address storytelling issues, such as underdeveloped character arcs
- Esthetic and stylistic changes akin to the redesigns incorporated into the 2020 Final Fantasy XVII
- Friendlier UI with easily accessible commands, more comfortable inventory and upgrade menus
For long-time fans, this is a chance to re-experience their beloved story anew. For newcomers, on the other hand, it could be a brilliant introduction to the franchise. Considering its cult-like status, this installment deserves all the attention it can get.
What Can One Learn By Playing Final Fantasy 9?
This is by no means an educational game in any conventional sense. Completing it won’t provide any insights into real-world events, cultures, or scientific knowledge. But the otherworldly cities, villages, and their dwellers do stimulate imagination.
Furthermore, the structure encourages inventive puzzle-solving and logical thinking. Finally, when the FF9 switch to tactical combat occurs, it introduces a strong strategic element. On a deeper level, the narrative helps develop emotional maturity and process potentially upsetting subjects.
With the fast-approaching 35th anniversary of the series, there is much to look forward to. So far, neither the publisher nor any other source have confirmed or denied the speculations. But although the exact FF9 release date remains a mystery, it’s almost certainly coming soon.
