Storytelling
As I said before, I love me a good RPG. I love venturing into these unique worlds that the developers put so much effort into creating. What they may lack in complexity as far as game mechanics go, having kept very simplistic turn based battle systems with party members being a consistent mainstay of the series, they make up for with rich storytelling. Turn based combat is much less taxing on the old gaming hardware and limited space of the various game cartridges and disks back in the day, so having a simplistic style of game meant there was more room for actual storytelling. Characters can develop, drama unfolds, laughs can be shared. A lot can be packed into these games if the developers know what they're doing and can get one extremely invested.
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| The charming 3D models mix well with the pre-rendered backgrounds |
The World and its Art
In addition saving space for the story, you can also save a lot of space to make a massive grand world filled with all sorts of places to explore. From the deep dark swamps of the Qu Marsh to the great grand noble cities of Alexandria, Final Fantasy IX really does create a place you can easily get yourself lost in just by wanting to see all the game's sights on your journey. What makes it better is the stunning pre-rendered background images used underneath the 3D character models in order to make a detailed environment which only looks more clear and stunning on the higher resolutions of the PC. The original PS1 version would have to have compressed the image sizes of the backgrounds and lowered the detail on the character model. So despite the age of this game, it actually looks really good today, especially with it's more stylized artstyle making it feel more timeless. Many games going for realism often age a lot worse as time goes on and graphics get better.
Some Updated Mechanics
While the core game is very much the exact same as it was on the original PS1 version, there are a few changes to how the game functions that help make the experience run much more smoothly. The biggest one being that you can TURN OFF RANDOM ENCOUNTERS! Many RPG players will know the frustration of trekking across far lands and being caught off guard by a random battle when their characters are tired, weak and just about ready to die. In the new version of the game you have the option to turn this off which is invaluable for making your way across long distances in the game or trying to backtrack to previous locations without having to worry about being stopped every 2 minutes to fight some enemies you have now grown way too powerful to be a challenge anymore.
The Music
I cannot stress enough how much I love the soundtrack to this game. So many tracks in this game really bring to life each scenario and location in the world. From the peaceful almost whimsical overworld music that plays when out in the open landscape driving you onward in your jouney, to the adrenaline pumping Boss battle music for all those dangerous villains and monsters you encounter on your way.
Each track in this game is just amazing!
Each track in this game is just amazing!
Those lovable, flawed, fleshed out characters
By far without a doubt, the thing I love the most about Final Fantasy IX is its cast of characters. Anyone who had played some of the previous titles in the series may have felt that certain characters and protagonists were perhaps a bit too archetypical, one note or...just plain moody. While these characters can be fine sometimes it does feel somewhat samey at times. Then here comes Final Fantasy IX with it's colourfal cast of who aren't afraid to crack a smile every once in a while, and it really brings a certain charm to the game as a whole. Every party member has their own little quirks and personality traits that really makes them stand out compared to some of the more one dimensional characters of the past. The protagonist Zidane for example is a brash, cocky, cheery little thief who has a good heart but has a tendency to go around chasing skirts and getting distracted by pretty girls. Zidane seldom broods in this game at all and because he isn't trying to be serious all the time, much more of his playful personality shines through. He isn't afraid to poke fun at his friends, but at the same time, he can be determined and serious when he needs to be. He understands his friends and allies very well. Sometime they need a good boot up the backside to motivate them, a little name calling and provoking just enough to keep everyone going. While other times Zidane realises that it's better to just sit down and talk things over with other members of the party. He isn't just some stoic tough guy or soldier always on a mission, he's just a teenager trying to earn a living and make his friends smile. It really fleshes him out as a character, and it becomes even greater when he decides to bring his sense of humour into more pressing events within the game.
During the game's beginning Zidane and his merry band of thieves are staging a play at the royal families castle with the intent of kidnapping and running off with the kingdoms Princess Garnet to make a lot of money for her ransom. During the performance Zidane sneaks off to start making a move in on capturing the Princess...only when he finally catches her, it turns out she wants to be kidnapped. We find out that Garnet is sick and tired of her castle life with her abusive mother and wishes to escape. So when asked, Zidane gets down on one knee before her highness and boldly promises "I shall humbly do my best to kidnap you!", passing off the act of promising to guard her with his life with a line about the very fact what he's doing is illegal.
During the game's beginning Zidane and his merry band of thieves are staging a play at the royal families castle with the intent of kidnapping and running off with the kingdoms Princess Garnet to make a lot of money for her ransom. During the performance Zidane sneaks off to start making a move in on capturing the Princess...only when he finally catches her, it turns out she wants to be kidnapped. We find out that Garnet is sick and tired of her castle life with her abusive mother and wishes to escape. So when asked, Zidane gets down on one knee before her highness and boldly promises "I shall humbly do my best to kidnap you!", passing off the act of promising to guard her with his life with a line about the very fact what he's doing is illegal.
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| How noble of you! |
It's that quirky outlook that helps drive a lot of the light hearted humour of the game enough to elevate it above most RPG's I have played. The characters are funny, the characters are likeable and the characters have their flaws just like any other person and when they try to overcome them you're with them all the way. I wound up caring so much about these characters through their ups and downs, from every laugh to every tear, I am there with them till the bitter end on their quest. If you have missed your chance to play the game on the PS1 I highly recommend the PC version if you wish to try out a little gem of an RPG experience or haven't played a Final Fantasy game before.
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