Final Fantasy IX

I never thought that I would ever have the chance to play Final Fantasy IX on a Nintendo console, and, with Nintendo Switch, Square Enix has perhaps found the perfect place to experience the genre classic. Complete with its twists and turns, you can chip away at this roughly 40-hour quest both at home and on the move, which I can only hope will allow more players the time needed to reach the game’s grand and, for some at least, tear-inducing conclusion.

The sound and gameplay both hold up and there’s something cool about playing this on a Nintendo console after all the history shared between them and Sony. It’s also the same port we’ve seen with options to speed up the time spent in battles. So if it’s the first time you’re experiencing the game then you’re in for a treat and I’m glad to see it on the Switch, but at a current price just over $20 for those with other options you may want to wait for a sale.

If you've never played Final Fantasy IX before, I would highly recommend picking this up, despite the graphical and musical shortcomings of this particular port. [Issue #39 – May/June 2019, p. 26]

I think Final Fantasy IX proves that the middle road between a complete remake and simple emulation may be the best path to take to revive older games. Welcome features like autosave and optional cheats let players old and new experience the game on their terms. Final Fantasy IX is an amazing experience, with a fantastic cast and story — it’s truly a masterpiece of the PlayStation era. This upgrade means that fans don’t have to wait years to experience it again without all the pitfalls of the original.

Final Fantasy IX is not the more serious-looking futuristic Final Fantasy like the two games before it. Instead, it is a lovely fantasy world which can be just as serious and deep, and more importantly, enjoyable. The addition of ‘boosters’ help make the game playable for those who don’t want to endlessly grind for experience and just want to enjoy the journey. This port isn’t without its problems, fortunately outside of the annoying load times into battle the rest are minor issues. For Final Fantasy fans, the port does more right than it does wrong. If you haven’t played FF IX yet, love a good turn based RPG and don’t mind older games, then there is no better place to play it than on the Switch.

Although this is nothing more than a port of the inferior PC version, Final Fantasy IX feels great on the Switch and will introduce a whole new generation to the game's many charms.

If you’re a fan of RPGs and somehow haven’t played Final Fantasy IX yet, it’s certainly worth a download for the privilege to play this classic on the go. On the other hand, if you’re just getting into RPGs, Final Fantasy IX may be a little too obtuse and archaic to recommend when compared to more modern releases. Whichever camp you may fall in, the bottom line is that, warts and all, Final Fantasy IX remains a great RPG to this day; you likely won’t regret picking this one up.

We obviously would have liked a better portage than just a copy / paste from the mobile version but the game still has huge qualities as an heroic fantasy RPG and deserves to be known.

Final Fantasy IX is a fantastic game with an average port. The price is steep for a 20 year old game with no major upgrades. But once you start playing you won't be able to put it down.

It doesn’t matter which console you play it on: Final Fantasy IX still remains a timeless masterpiece, and thus we can only be glad to see its success on the Nintendo digital store. However, this Switch edition is basically the same that was published on PS4 and PC on last two years, so if you already own it on one of these two platforms, there is no real need to buy it again.

Although it is a simple port, Final Fantasy IX for Nintendo Switch is a title recommended for its excellent story, its great gameplay and its sound section that borders on perfection.

FFIX is reminiscent of a simpler time, boasting a strong narrative and quality of life features that make it easy to get into. I just wish it had a better presentation, one that a game of this quality truly deserves.

Final Fantasy IX is an absolute must-buy and must-experience classic JRPG that deserved a home on a Nintendo console, and should have had one a long time ago. It starts off as the best and last proper throwback to older Final Fantasy titles of the late '80s and early '90s, but with all the enhancements that the technology of the day could afford, but also doesn't know whether to be Final Fantasy VII and VIII, or classic Final Fantasy towards the end, but overall, it is a magical experience to behold.

This version is a lot more than the original ever was on the PSN, but it is a modified version. I’m just happy to have this game on the Switch, but I recognize that it’s far from a perfect port. If you can see past the minor flaws, Final Fantasy IX is an excellent investment on the Nintendo Switch.

Almost 20 years later, Final Fantasy IX is still one of the best JRPGs ever made. Nevertheless, the Switch port still inherits the many flaws from the mobile, PC and PS4 versions.

Eighteen years after its original release on PlayStation, Final Fantasy IX is back on Switch, but with all the flaws inherited from the PC/PS4 port of 2017. But in the end, its compressed soundtrack and smartphone interface will not make us forget the greatness of such an adventure, which could have benefit from a sweeter launch price.

The quality of life improvements made can’t cover up the fact that this is a lazy port of a game that deserves better.