Final Fantasy IX is a worthy entry into the series, but doesn't quite live up to previous installments.
User Rating: 8.5 | Final Fantasy IX PS
===================== Review of Final Fantasy IX ===================== GAMEPLAY: Final Fantasy IX was meant to be a tribute to the older Final Fantasies of the SNES era. It includes a lot of old-school elements of gameplay from those games, and combines them with newer elements from Final Fantasy VII and VIII. These combinations make for a nostalgic experience, but in the process, loses what Final Fantasy was all about. Final Fantasy IX's battle system is nothing new. Wait for the Time bar to fill up, then attack. However, like the older FF's, you can use up to four party members in battle now. While this can work well to your advantage, the Time bar has slowed down significantly to make up for that. The Time bar in the game goes so incredibly slow that you'll probably want to start skipping battles later on in the game just to get on with the story. However, the battles can get pretty intense at times. Unlike Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy IX has returned with the traditional MP system. Not only that, but just like the SNES Final Fantasies, each character has something special about them. For example, you have a White Mage, Black Mage, Theif, Knight, etc. It's not like the last two games where any character could use any move. But speaking of the last two games, FFIX brings back the Limit Break system, only this time it's called a Trance. This can be a really awesome thing, but it can also be really frustrating. In order to activate it, you have to fill up your trance meter (ala FFVII), only this time it fills up way slower, and unlike FFVII, it disappears after you finish the battle. So for example, say you just fought about ten battles trying to fill it up, and then it does. Right after you activate Trance, your other character goes up and finished off the last enemy. Now, when you start the next battle, your Trance is gone, and the Meter is back to zero, which allows for frustration. Aside from these details, FFIX remains just like the previous games' gameplay. Graphics: I gave this a 9/10 because, while everything looks amazing for a Playstation game, they abandoned the 'mature' look of the previous game and made them quite cartoony to adjust to the somewhat less mature story than compared to the previous games. But if you prefer cartoony graphics over mature looking characters, then this game is for you. That's just my opinion. Sound: Once again, Nobou Uematsu returns to the scene to deliver another emotionally-charged, powerful soundtrack. The soundtrack seems to fit every scene perfectly and is amazing all around, although I prefer FFVII's and FFX's (and maybe VIII's), but this is still amazing. Value: This game is chock full of Value. It will take you at least 30-some hours to complete without doing any sidequests, not to mention the Card game which will float some people's boat, but not mine. The world is huge and full of things for you to do that will keep you occupied for a long time. Tilt: I have to be honest. While I really enjoyed this game, it's among my least favorite Final Fantasy games. But that makes it sound like it's a bad one, but it isn't at all. The story is just as incredible as any previous ones, but the main villain leaves something to be desired. However I felt that Square "borrowed" a lot of plot elements from previous games, which keeps this from getting a perfect score. The CG movies in this game will really blow your mind. Conclusion: I have to bring this review to an end sometime, so here it is. Final Fantasy IX is a worthy entry into the series, but doesn't quite live up to previous installments. If you have really enjoyed any previous FF's or RPG's in general, then this is a definite must buy. But hardcore FF fans may find a small disappointment with Final Fantasy IX. ===== 8.5/10 ===== 
