One of the last and greatest games of the ps1 era...
First seen are the phenomenal graphics that make it the best looking game for playstation, having been released at the very end of the console's life cycle. The chibi-esque art style may put off some people but it proves to be a unique design by long time art concept designer Yoshitaka Amano, and a nice departure from the "realistic" look of previous Final Fantasy games (namely FF 8). The cutscenes are also breathtaking that truly show how much power Square could squeeze out of the console, and even with no voice acting the sequences themselves are told so well in their own silent way.
The sound quality is reminiscent of previous Final Fantasy titles, with a few remixed themes here and there. The original soundtracks present are nice enough but like the previous playstation games get repetitive and rather annoying, but are nevertheless a solid effort.
The gameplay has also been brought back to its roots and this time focuses less on customization, which can be seen both as a relief and a disappointment. Gone are the days in which one must master countless materia, or draw magic from monsters for hours. There is some good traditional gameplay, with equipment having 'abilities' that teach certain characters different techniques, such as a black mage's Fira spell, or a white mage's Cure spell, a more refined 'steal' technique for a thief, and so on and so forth. This leaves more room for level grinding, though it's not needed as the game might seem simpler for more hard core fans of the genre, as well as previous masters of the Final Fantasy universe.
The story is interesting enough with it's usual twists and turns commonly seen in Final Fantasy games, and it again is an enjoyable experience for all that give it a chance. The story is told through text (naturally) and beautiful cg cutscenes that should not be missed, for they truly enhance the game's mood and give you a sense of being in the game's universe. All in all it is as good as any Final Fantasy story with a number of conventions in tow, either adding to or subtracting from the experience, depending on each player's preference.
In short: for any avid fan of the Final Fantasy series, this game is a must-have, and this holds true for any that have a slight interest in the rpg genre. Square has developed another outstanding role playing game, and a perfect way for the playstation to go out with a bang, and introduce players to the next installations of the Final Fantasy games.