Final Fantasy IX

 PlayStation
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 1535 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,390 out of 1535
  2. Mixed: 75 out of 1535
  3. Negative: 70 out of 1535
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  1. sufflaminandus
    Aug 18, 2019
    2
    FF9 is an jRPG with all inherited negatives which I succinctly recited in FF7 review. So if you are a person who loves western role playing games for the fact that you actually can… ahem… role play in them then pass FF9 by without a second thought - nothing new here.

    But if you are a player who loves qualitative story, epic adventure and emotional immersion and never minds repetitive,    FF9 is an jRPG with all inherited negatives which I succinctly recited in FF7 review. So if you are a person who loves western role playing games for the fact that you actually can… ahem… role play in them then pass FF9 by without a second thought - nothing new here.

    But if you are a player who loves qualitative story, epic adventure and emotional immersion and never minds repetitive, linear gameplay then you might want to give a FF9 a try though I’d suggest you look at FF7 (or FF6 if you dare) first as these are better games in aforementioned aspects.

    The following paragraph is addressed to those familiar with FF franchise and curious whether is it worth to dive into 2000 graphics or not.
    So FF9 is basically a reincarnation of FF6 in PS1 game engine which is undoubtedly splendid. Medieval fantasy setting of swords and magic is nothing but charming. Visuals are stunning, movies are breathtaking, world design is gorgeous. Classes (jobs) return - every character has its own specialization with unique skill set and abilities. Skills are learned from equipment alike FF6. Equipment system, by the way, is in its classical form (unlike infamous FF8) so there will be plenty of hidden treasures throughout the world that are worth looking for. Combat design is slightly better than in FF7 as I couldn’t mindlessly spam “Attack” in all non-boss battles. FF9’s limit break unfortunately is weakest variant because it triggers automatically upon filling the bar which renders it rather useless. All in all gameplay of FF9 is almost flawless, the only significant drawback being Chocobo Hot & Cold minigame. Chocobo Hot & Cold is boring, very grindy minigame which you have to spend time on if you wish to see FF9’s side content whether it is items or quests. I will warn you again that this minigame is extremely exasperating but you *have* to play it you’re after extra content. The other chagrin is that I haven’t found myself genuinely attached to the story or characters. All seems well made and perfect upfront but for some reason I just wasn’t involved emotionally. I blame the fact that FF9 is my 7th FF and got used to the magic FF setting but it is still worth mentioning.

    All in good traditions expect for one ridiculous minigame. Yet I haven’t enjoyed FF9 as much as I hoped I would.    … Expand
  2. 400lingrush
    Apr 4, 2011
    1
    Ever wondered what would happen if Square added 3D graphics and limit breaks to FFIV? FFIX would happen. Square basically took all the worst things from the older games, added some of the newer features, and laughed when people actually bought this trash.

    Old features include things such as a lack of customization, plot tropes, shallow character archetypes. New features include limit    Ever wondered what would happen if Square added 3D graphics and limit breaks to FFIV? FFIX would happen. Square basically took all the worst things from the older games, added some of the newer features, and laughed when people actually bought this trash.

    Old features include things such as a lack of customization, plot tropes, shallow character archetypes.

    New features include limit breaks, a half-assed clone of the FFVIII card game, minigames, good graphics.

    FFIX is just an attempt to cash in on the older fans, nothing more. Even if you like 1-4, don't bother with this garbage.    … Expand
  3. Phanixis
    Jul 26, 2015
    2
    This game is an absolutely mess, but the worst of its crimes is it is just downright boring. Combat in particular is just a tedious slog, as the way both enemy and friendly attacks are rendered makes combat take forever, and the removal of character customization options that were incorporated and refined in previous installments makes combat repetitive. If you have played any other FFThis game is an absolutely mess, but the worst of its crimes is it is just downright boring. Combat in particular is just a tedious slog, as the way both enemy and friendly attacks are rendered makes combat take forever, and the removal of character customization options that were incorporated and refined in previous installments makes combat repetitive. If you have played any other FF before, you have played this one, as it does absolutely nothing to introduce any new variation in regards to its core gameplay mechanic, save a weird system of abilities learned from equipment that is far too passive to alter the way combat plays out.

    The story, while it starts strong, quickly degrades into absolute and convoluted mess. The game's supposed protagonist run around observing events but really doing nothing to change them while the plot becomes increasingly obtuse and contorted. It is a failure in storytelling on virtually every level. And this isn't even getting into the mess that is the final boss. This game will have you slogging through boring and uneventful random combats only to be fed a bizarre failure of a story piecemeal.

    About the only good thing I can say about this game is the graphics or gorgeous. Well, the background graphics at any rate. The characters themselves looked like your dog swallowed a bunch of colorful ribbons and then vomited them on your couch, but the backgrounds really do look nice. Unfortunately, while pretty backgrounds might make for a good screensaver, they do not make for a good video game.

    This game is nostalgia bait for those yearning for Final Fantasy to return to its Swords and Sorcery roots that fails to live up to the high standards of previous installments of the series. Save your time, money and sanity and avoid this mess.    … Expand
  4. ArkonBlade
    Jul 12, 2011
    4
    wow im amazed this got so many positive reviews . this is the first FF game in the series i did not care for . the cutesey moronic graphic style really turned me off but i plodded through and beat the game . the story didnt do much for me eather even though Vivi was kinda intresting not much about what was going on hooked me. im tryin to remember the story more since its been 10 years orwow im amazed this got so many positive reviews . this is the first FF game in the series i did not care for . the cutesey moronic graphic style really turned me off but i plodded through and beat the game . the story didnt do much for me eather even though Vivi was kinda intresting not much about what was going on hooked me. im tryin to remember the story more since its been 10 years or so since i beat this . i do remember how freekin annoyed i was about the back attacks and the pincer attacks which i swear to god happend like 50% of the time . i kid you not i do remember i had that happen 13X in a ROW.and just wanted to spike my controller into the TV. then your main charicter looks like a metrosexaul monkey which i just hated how he looked and him personally . about the only possitive thing is you can have 4 players in your party . i really dont even know how or why i finished this game . my guess was that it was sqaure at the time who back then almost every RPG they made was GOLD . this certainly is not.… Expand
  5. ShaunT.
    Nov 11, 2005
    0
    Worst one of the entire series.
  6. Kevin
    Mar 24, 2006
    3
    This game was very dissapointing. The music was good, and so were the graphics, but the story and gameplay were all just too...done! It seemed like Spuare tried to combine FFVII and FFVIII into one game. With all of the "child" looking characters, it jut reminded me of the FFVII characters. And it seemed to follow FFVIII's theme of love. I did, however, rather enjoy the use of the This game was very dissapointing. The music was good, and so were the graphics, but the story and gameplay were all just too...done! It seemed like Spuare tried to combine FFVII and FFVIII into one game. With all of the "child" looking characters, it jut reminded me of the FFVII characters. And it seemed to follow FFVIII's theme of love. I did, however, rather enjoy the use of the chocobo's in this game, but all of the other mini-games and side-quests were just plain boring. The story was way to predictable, and the game was way to easy to beat. You could beat the final boss with ease at level 50(which is not hard to get to). If it weren't for the fact that Square tried to make this game for younger kids, and made it more...mature, this game would have been much greater.… Expand
  7. JustinDeC.
    Mar 16, 2005
    2
    Not a really good game to play.
  8. LukeB.
    Aug 16, 2002
    3
    Boring and cutesy as crap. Gimme a break.
  9. MorganF
    Mar 10, 2009
    0
    Boring, boring, boring. The plot is so shallow that makes you doubt your intelligence, the gameplay makes you want to cut your hands ang the graphics sucs. It is the most overrated game ever. I want my spended hours back!
  10. Gaiduk
    Sep 3, 2015
    2
    It's a pile of old ideas from previous FF and nothing fresh, the story is so predictable and naive that reading old novels make you sleeping slower than playing this. The last masterpiece from Square was Xenogears.
  11. FF9sucked
    Jul 9, 2016
    1
    Let me tell you, as one of the final fantasy franchises biggest fans, and growing up with their games I was never more disappointed than when I played this game. This game ruined all my hopes and actually made me fear to buy another one of their games. The plot line was lame, the characters looked lame, Zidanes relationship with Sarah was cool but it was so plain and boring, nothing likeLet me tell you, as one of the final fantasy franchises biggest fans, and growing up with their games I was never more disappointed than when I played this game. This game ruined all my hopes and actually made me fear to buy another one of their games. The plot line was lame, the characters looked lame, Zidanes relationship with Sarah was cool but it was so plain and boring, nothing like that of Zack and Aerith or Tidus and Yuna. It took a million years to level up your characters and boss fights never gave you experience. Sorry I gotta say it again...the characters looked so freiking lame... how do you expect me to take the story line seriously when the characters look like they were made for some failed kids comedy...and the battle system...garbage. It's the system where the bar loads to attack, and they pretend its turn based but its really not. It was so flippin slow ALL the time. Untill you really needed to think wether to use a potion or use magic and the boss was beting on you while you were just trying to plan your sh!t. This game honestly sucked. Don't buy it please. You may never buy a final fantasy game again.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best PS1 Game of 2000
1
#1 Most Discussed PS1 Game of 2000
3
#3 Most Shared PS1 Game of 2000

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
94

Universal acclaim - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. GMR Magazine
    100
    The crystals return to the series, along with a four-member party, blue magic, and black mages. [Feb 2003, p.97]
  2. CNET Gamecenter
    90
    Continues the series' long-standing tradition of quality in one of the most compelling RPGs ever. This is the last Final Fantasy game that will appear on the PlayStation, and SquareSoft has definitely saved its best for last.
  3. Gamestyle
    90
    A masterpiece of an adventure game. For anyone not to fall in love with it would truly amaze me. Everything is set just right and you are drawn into the story right from the very offset.
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