Replay: Final Fantasy IX

FFIX, psOne, Squaresoft, 2000.

It'll be nearly ten years since Square released FFIX. I can't believe it's been that long. I still feel like it's a new game, maybe it's because Square takes forever producing a FF title lately. In hindsight, the game was still very fun to play. I really appreciated playing the game as it was originally made. There's no need to make a remake of the game. Imagine the sentimental scenes filled with awkward dialogue and updated graphics? It won't have the same effects of seeing the exaggerated features. To express shock, Steiner would drop his shoulder. When Garnet got snotty, she'd throw her arms down at her sides. Plus, Vivi keeps tripping in a lot of scenes. If this was made with all the updated features, it'd just look really unnecessary. Adding a makeover would also ruin the "light-hearted off on a grand adventure feel" because the story is really dark and depressing. There was a part in the game where all the major cities have fallen under the bad guy's power. A lot of people died and there's a lot to be fixed. Because there wasn't the high class graphics and voice audio, we don't fully grasp it. We just read it and believe it. We know that pain exists, but we haven't heard it nor seen it. All we hear is the same background music playing as people express their grief. Who knows, maybe if it was remade, then people would take the game seriously and actually give a chance.

One thing that had me surprised was about Zidane, Kuja, Genomes, and Terra. If anyone reading this does not want to get the ending spoiled, I'd suggest stop reading the next two paragraphs.


I don't remember the connection all too well from the first time I played this game back in 2000. So, the Genomes were vessels for the sleeping people of Terra, which failed to assimilate thousands of years ago to Gaia. So in the meantime, Garland extracted souls from Gaia to get ready for another fusion. That's pretty scifi, and I can't believe I missed that.

I also found some similarities with Dragonball believe it or not. Goku was sent to Earth to destroy it, but forgot his memories once he got there. Zidane was supposed to wreck havoc on Gaia, but he forgot his memories as well. They both got tails, and they both are light-hearted good guys. Plus, they meet quirky people in their line of friends. Ok, that's about the similarities.


I'm happy I replayed this game. It's still a sad ending because of Vivi's little monologue about death. He still lives on in memories though... lol that's the message of FFIX. aww