Final Fantasy IX

System: Playstation
Release Date: 2000
Published By: Square
Reviewed by: Darien
Rating:

One small step above Final Fantasy VII, one giant leap above Final Fantasy VIII.

If I may be so allowed to butcher Armstrong, we proceed into the uncertainty of Final Fantasy IX. I didn't know what to expect heading into it, but I was bored and got it on the cheap, so I gave it a shot. And it's actually not bad. It's no Final Fantasy VI, mind, but it certainly isn't bad. The characters are actually different from one another, for a start, and the method of learning and equipping abilities is engaging (if you've played Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, that uses precisely the same system). The cinematics are attractive, and short, and relatively few. The characters are likeable and their dialogue is lively and interesting. The only thing, really, that I don't like about FFIX is that it's woefully easy and lacking in sidequests.

If you want to talk story, I am forced to admit that it's actually pretty good. It's not really predictable, either; in fact, the first time you cut away from the fantasy adventure to a scene of Darth Vader standing on the bridge of a spaceship, you so completely didn't predict that that your eyes will bug out of your head and you'll froth for a few minutes trying to figure out what exactly this is and where it came from. There are only really two complaints to be raised with the story: first, it's ripped off a bit too obviously from Dragon Ball. Second, it tries too hard to build up sympathy for the villains, and it's left with nobody for you to fight in the final battle and has to throw you some completely random space alien god robot thing. Oh, yeah, spoiler. Don't read that if you didn't want to know.

For fifteen bucks, you can do a lot worse than this if you're bumming around looking for an RPG to play. So give it a shot.

Buy this game from Amazon.com!