Where's the love for FFIX?

[busterkeatonrules]

Personally, I was introduced to the FF series along with the majority of its current fanbase - by Final Fantasy VII. That game blew my mind like no game before it. It took me some time getting used to the somewhat futuristic setting, but the dynamic characters and engaging storyline kept me playing it until Sephiroth could get his ass handed to him by the Knights of the Round.

I didn't care much for VIII, with its cold, generic sci-fi setting and its cold, generic protagonist, but my overall memories of the series were still overwhelmingly positive, so I bought Final Fantasy IX the day it came out.

And my mind was blown all over again. Here was a cast of characters that could provide a strong and entertaining narrative just by being in the same room together, the best music I've heard in a game to this day, and best of all: It finally delivered the kind of world I had hoped to explore when I was first told about the existence of the FF series. Green forests and stone castles. Not a gun, car or computer in sight! It felt as if someone had opened a window and let in some fresh air!

And, as I later discovered, the story was pretty good too!

Final Fantasy IX remains my favorite FF game to this day, and not even the fabled VII remake will ever change that!

 

[Dark_Reaction]

I enjoyed FF 6-10, but couldn't stand FFIX. Why?

Super cartoony graphics, lack-luster characters (including a quasi-furry for the lead) and utterly forgettable story.

True, some of the other games in that 6-10 range contained characters that weren't amazing - but often enough, they were bad enough that I at least remembered them... True, my rememberance was tempered by hatred, but at least I remember them! The only characters from IX that I remember are the main character (a Saiyan prat), the love interest (about whom all I remember is that she looked like a Tifa clone with breast reduction, dressed as a clown) and the black mage (about whom all I remember is that... well, that they were the black mage). The rest were utterly forgettable, in my humble opinion, which is a real problem - every other FF game I've played, I could tell you the entire party cast and some of their greater moments. FF9? I know I never finished the game, and (iirc) it wasn't due to gameplay issues - it was because I just outright didn't care for the characters, particularly the lead, and the style of the game. They weren't even worth hating - they were just, not worth caring about.

Again iirc, FF9 transitioned from a sort of scifi-fantasy setting (see FF7/8) to a more (cartoonish) fantasy setting, and it really didn't sit well with me. This change in setting was accompanied by a change in visual style that, again, really just didn't do it for me.

End result: Game felt childish, the characters felt hollow (if not outright annoying), and both the setting and story seemed bland.

I literally remember NOTHING of the story of this game. That says it all.

 

[anthony87]

I LOVED this game. Easily and by far my favourit of the FF titles. why? IT HAS BEATRIX! Honestly, why is she so over-looked? She is a villain charater who you NEVER beat. ever. In any context.

her only downside is that she fell in love with steiner. I hate Steiner. but beyond that she's an awesome character!

FF9 deserves more love. Srsly. >.>

Damn straight yo! Such a shame she gets nerfed when you actually get to control her in battle, but the fights against her are some of the most intense of the game.

 

[Gearhead mk2]

I played 7 for bit. Gave up when I got stuck about when you first meet Areis. My 8 disk died, so I went straight to 9, and I freakin loved it. The characters were great, the bosses were hard but fair, the setting was perfect and the story was pretty good too. List the game at the start of disk 2 though.

Also, VIVI FOR NEXT DISSIDA

 

[anthony87]

-Snippero-

End result: Game felt childish, the characters felt hollow (if not outright annoying), and both the setting and story were bland.

So a world war, genocide, slavery, obliteration of cities/villages/worlds, child kidnapping, searching for the meaning of your existence, struggling to come to terms with your own mortality and a few other pretty heavy story points are childish?

Look past just what you see and FFIX has one of the most mature stories in the series. Also I really really hate to be the guy but:

"FF9 transitioned from a sort of scifi-fantasy setting (see FF7/8) to a more (cartoonish) fantasy setting, and it really didn't sit well with me."

A cartoonish fantasy setting? You mean the same kind of fantasy setting used in Final Fantasies 1-6?

 

[Owen Robertson]

FF9... Overall... not bad. Not series best. I still love IV. Cecil the Dark-Dragoon turned Paladin. Nothing else is needed and we still got a spoony bard.

 

[eggy32]

I love Final Fantasy IX. Apart from being my favorite Final Fantasy game it's also one of my favorite games ever.
(It's currently tied with The Elder Scrolls IV)

 

[Owen Robertson]

A cartoonish fantasy setting? You mean the same kind of fantasy setting used in Final Fantasies 1-6?

Hate to be THAT guy but: 6 (North American 3) was more steam-punk magic and I'd call it closer to 7 than 9. But to each his own n'est-ce pa?

 

[Happy Sock Puppet]

9 was the last Final Fantasy I really enjoyed. A great story, lots of extras to find, most of the characters were great. The battle system just did it for me, I'd be completely happy if they just left it that way for the rest of the games.

 

[Rolf]

I loved Final Fantasy IX. I can safely say it's my favorite game ever. The world was colorfull and full of charm. The story was well thought out and had some realy good moments. The romance sceens fit the game and did not feel forced like in some of the other games. And Zidane was not a emotinal twat that felt he had to whine about everything that happend around him. And the other charaters was not bad. Vivi trying to find out what he was, Dagger getting her first taste of true freedom, Steiner learning to think for himself. And the soundtrack was great too.

Some of the negative points is that some of the bossfight feel shoved into the game too prolong the game. Master Gizamaluke im looking at you. At some points the story seem to stop for about an hour. And the city's where hard to navigate the first time. And some of the sidequests are a little hard to find. I think the first time i played the game i didn't even know about chocobo hot and cold.

But still i love it more then any other game in the series. It's was a great throwback to when the games was not set in the future and I love to replay it every now and then.

 

[anthony87]

A cartoonish fantasy setting? You mean the same kind of fantasy setting used in Final Fantasies 1-6?

Hate to be THAT guy but: 6 (North American 3) was more steam-punk magic and I'd call it closer to 7 than 9. But to each his own n'est-ce pa?

I believe I have just been told. Good show sir.

My other points are still valid though. ^_^

 

[RagnarokHybrid]

I feel like I'm the only one in the whole wide world who loves FFIX more than the others? It has (barely) tolerable graphics today, the original black mage and an amazingly nostalgic storyline. Where's the love???

Dude, I'm totally with you. FFIX is my favorite FF ever. Better than 10 in many respects. I'd never played any FF before it so it has a special place in my heart as my wonderful and fantastic intro to a, now, mediocre series.

I think on IGN some time ago, a person wrote an article naming FFIX as the best Final Fantasy. I can't remember the exact link or when. But I believe it was sometime this year.

 

[Dark_Reaction]

-Snippero-

End result: Game felt childish, the characters felt hollow (if not outright annoying), and both the setting and story were bland.

So a world war, genocide, slavery, destruction of cities/villages/worlds, child kidnapping, searching for the meaning of your existence, struggling to come to terms with your own mortality and a few other pretty heavy story points are childish?

Look past just what you see and FFIX has one of the most mature stories in the series.

Again, its been a long time since I played the game (and I know I didn't finish it), but given the fact that pretty much all the issues you brought up were addressed in other FF games, and I REMEMBER THEM, I'm forced to say that either you've got your nostalgia/fanboy goggles on, or the combination of the visual style and the means of presentation of the plot simply didn't appeal to me on a personal level.

You have to admit, MANY of the topics you just mentioned ARE quite prevalent in cartoons specifically designed to target children - it's the presentation of these issues that may (or may not) make them seem childish. For example, both Ducktales and Black Lagoon bear story-lines involving child kidnapping, but the presentation varies VASTLY between the two. FF9's plot may well have been very adult in content, but their presentation may simply have been too childish to appeal to me at the time (I may have to give it another play-through to see if that's the case).

Also I really really hate to be the guy but:

"FF9 transitioned from a sort of scifi-fantasy setting (see FF7/8) to a more (cartoonish) fantasy setting, and it really didn't sit well with me."

A cartoonish fantasy setting? You mean the same kind of fantasy setting used in Final Fantasies 1-6?

That could be the case.
Frankly, I don't know - I started at 6, which admittedly had more of a steampunk feel as I remember it (as opposed to the more scifi-ish bent that 7 and 8 started to show); but still had that technological angle that I don't remember being particularly prevalent in 9 (whether it was there and simply didn't jump out at me, I can't really say).

Beyond that, the cartoonish-ness of FF6 was due in large part to the graphics of the day - FF7 and (particularly) 8 seemed to be moving away from the super-deformed character animations towards something vaguely resembling realistic figures, while 9 seemed to 'take a step back' towards (what I would call) a more cartoonish style.

While its easy to say one should 'look past what you see', this is a video game - what you see is going to vastly color your perceptions of what is taking place, and (in this case) my personal perceptions were of a cartoonish world, with childish characters and plot presentation.

Everyone has their own tastes in games, and by no means would I intend this as an 'attack' against a game obviously loved by many - but I have no intention or reason to pretend that I am one of those many.
I didn't enjoy the game, reasonings been stated, feel free to agree or disagree - either way, that's just, like, your opinion man.

 

[AtmaPhil]

The love for FFIX is EVERYWHERE. Everyone loves the game for some reason, I think I might be one of the few that didn't like it because it was a slap in the face to hear it was supposed to be a throw back to the old final fantasy games while it was just FFVII with a chibby/cute skin having all the same problems the other PSX FFs had (and that those after had as well in worse ways to).

Also I really really hate to be the guy but:

"FF9 transitioned from a sort of scifi-fantasy setting (see FF7/8) to a more (cartoonish) fantasy setting, and it really didn't sit well with me."

A cartoonish fantasy setting? You mean the same kind of fantasy setting used in Final Fantasies 1-6?

Hmm previous FFs where only cartoonish because thats how 8-16bit games look the only final fantasy games with cartoonish elements where 3 (on the NES) and 5.

 

[AzureRaven]

FFIX will always be my favorite. Everything about it short of the graphics was phenomenal. And heck, for the time even those were great. For me the game ages great because I can still get a great bit of fun out of replaying it.

Not sure what else I can say about it. Honestly, the love is there, it's just not as vocalized as VII.

 

[JWRosser]

I feel like I'm the only one in the whole wide world who loves FFIX more than the others? It has (barely) tolerable graphics today, the original black mage and an amazingly nostalgic storyline. Where's the love???

IX is my favourite, and Vivi is generally considered the most popular Final Fantasy character out there. The only let down is the ending when

Spoiler: but seriously, if you haven't played it yet, when are you going to?

when Kuja decides to be a good guy, and also, Necron....

.

 

[dickywebster]

From what i understand, those who have played only ff7 onwards, do tend to rate the ps versions higher than the later ones, iveh eard a lot of people comparing the ps with the ps2 and even 3 versions and siding with the older games.
Now personally i like them better as well, thoguh id place 7 over 9, but ffs 7 - 9 seem to be the ones ive heard get the msot praise, probably cause its the ones more people have played or something, idk.

Oh and btw, my fav is still the original, dug it out a few months back and clocked up like 30 hours on one save file over a long weekend :3
but hey, I love the old ffs, got issues with the new ones sure, but i just love to replay the old ones
Remakes however, they might screw it up, its happened before...

 

[anthony87]

-Snippero-

End result: Game felt childish, the characters felt hollow (if not outright annoying), and both the setting and story were bland.

So a world war, genocide, slavery, destruction of cities/villages/worlds, child kidnapping, searching for the meaning of your existence, struggling to come to terms with your own mortality and a few other pretty heavy story points are childish?

Look past just what you see and FFIX has one of the most mature stories in the series.

Again, its been a long time since I played the game (and I know I didn't finish it), but given the fact that pretty much all the issues you brought up were addressed in other FF games, and I REMEMBER THEM, I'm forced to say that either you've got your nostalgia/fanboy goggles on, or the combination of the visual style and the means of presentation of the plot simply didn't appeal to me on a personal level.

You have to admit, MANY of the topics you just mentioned ARE quite prevalent in cartoons specifically designed to target children - it's the presentation of these issues that may (or may not) make them seem childish. For example, both Ducktales and Black Lagoon bear story-lines involving child kidnapping, but the presentation varies VASTLY between the two. FF9's plot may well have been very adult in content, but their presentation may simply have been too childish to appeal to me at the time (I may have to give it another play-through to see if that's the case).

Also I really really hate to be the guy but:

"FF9 transitioned from a sort of scifi-fantasy setting (see FF7/8) to a more (cartoonish) fantasy setting, and it really didn't sit well with me."

A cartoonish fantasy setting? You mean the same kind of fantasy setting used in Final Fantasies 1-6?

That could be the case.
Frankly, I don't know - I started at 6, which admittedly had more of a steampunk feel as I remember it (as opposed to the more scifi-ish bent that 7 and 8 started to show); but still had that technological angle that I don't remember being particularly prevalent in 9 (whether it was there and simply didn't jump out at me, I can't really say).

Beyond that, the cartoonish-ness of FF6 was due in large part to the graphics of the day - FF7 and (particularly) 8 seemed to be moving away from the super-deformed character animations towards something vaguely resembling realistic figures, while 9 seemed to 'take a step back' towards (what I would call) a more cartoonish style.

While its easy to say one should 'look past what you see', this is a video game - what you see is going to vastly color your perceptions of what is taking place, and (in this case) my personal perceptions were of a cartoonish world, with childish characters and plot presentation.

Everyone has their own tastes in games, and by no means would I intend this as an 'attack' against a game obviously loved by many - but I have no intention or reason to pretend that I am one of those many.
I didn't enjoy the game, reasonings been stated, feel free to agree or disagree - either way, that's just, like, your opinion man.

Wow, the only thing I can really say to that is....I abide.

 

[CannibalCorpses]

9 is the only one i didn't bother playing through to the end so i can't really sing it's praises. 10 was my favourite for the gameplay, not so sure about the story but thats just the sprinkle on the top for me. I liked the advancement system and blitzball was a good side game.

 

[LilithSlave]

I would like to say this as inoffensively as possible.

But I think if you judge things like Final Fantasy IX as more childish than the others, you have a childish view on what childishness and maturity is. Or rather, a shallow one.

Because it's really not. And being impressed by a "mature appearing" atmosphere that doesn't actually add to the maturity of something isn't very mature.

Also I really really hate to be the guy but:

"FF9 transitioned from a sort of scifi-fantasy setting (see FF7/8) to a more (cartoonish) fantasy setting, and it really didn't sit well with me."

Well then, allow me to be that guy, too. As someone who grew up on the Sword and Sorcery Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy VII didn't sit well with me. I learned to get over it and it grew on me quite well. But it was quite an uncomfortable transition and I honestly wouldn't mind it if the transition never happened. And IX was a breath of fresh air for me.

I respect Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII, especially now that I have grown to look past their departure from traditional Final Fantasy. But I wouldn't find it inferior to VII and VIII as a whole. And it is just my personal taste, but IX is my favourite on the PlayStation console. Or rather it would be second place if Tactics counts.