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Final Fantasy IX (review)

© Chuck Bednar

Let's face it. As RPG fans, there's nothing that we look forward to more than a new Final Fantasy game. Final Fantasy II and III for the Super Nintendo drew us in with their gripping storylines well before we even knew that they were, in fact, the fourth and sixth installments of the series respectively. Final Fantasy VII introduced cinematics to the genre, and VIII showed us just how beautiful an RPG could look.

Final Fantasy IX, released on Nov. 14 of last year for the Sony Playstation, was a bit of an added treat. It promised to combine the best of the old-school Final Fantasies (epic story, lighthearted adventure set in a true fantasy era) with the best of the new (cinematic style, gorgeous graphics). It seemed like a "can't-miss" combination -- perhaps even a recipe for the perfect role-playing game.

Well, sadly, Final Fantasy IX is not perfect, but if it is at all disappointing it's only because we as gamers have come to expect so much of Squaresoft's flagship series.

From the instant you start playing the game, it becomes clear that the focus of FF IX is the cast of characters, who are a lot more accessible and endearing that those found in previous Playstation editions of the series. No doubt about it -- this is a great group of characters, each with their own prevalent personality type.

There's Vivi, the shy little black mage; Zidane, a thief who fancies himself a womanizer; Steiner, the valiant and somewhat accident-prone sworn protect of Princess Garnet; and the princess herself, who begins the game as naïve royalty but will soon find her life turned upside-down by the adventure that follows. The cast is a great bunch of misfits, and with the combination of their personalities and the brilliant dialogue in the game, they truly steal the show.

The visuals are again top notch, but who would expect anything less from Squaresoft? The game's pre-rendered backgrounds are exceptionally lush and vibrant, and the effects are stunning. The characters, even though they return to the classic deformed-style that predates FF VII and VIII, have a undeniable flair and charm to them. And the FMV is once-again top-notch. It isn't noticeably improved graphically from the last Final Fantasy game, but it is used better, and genuinely helps move the story along.

A major selling point of FF IX was nostalgia, as it promised plenty of references to past games in the series. Unfortunately, those looking for a trip down memory lane should look elsewhere, as the game's references to prior Final Fantasy titles are rare and, with the exception of the game's heavy reliance on Moogles and Chocobos, weak. Sure, you'll find a familiar song here or a recognizable boss name there, but it really isn't worth getting excited about.

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