If I've haven't played Persona 4 (PS2) when I first picked up during the end of year sales back in 2009, Final Fantasy IX would have still been one my all-time favourite game in general but it's still my favourite PS1 game for that system. The reason I've been wanting to do a blog about this certain game because it has been 20 years ago since it was first released in Japan on July 7th 2000 and last to debut on the original PlayStation console.

Unlike its past two Final Fantasy games that were released before it both VII and VIII, which had the fantasy styled-world setting set a few years ahead in the future. Final Fantasy IX's setting was set more in a medieval setting set in a fantasy world, but took a different approach by returning to the more traditional style of the early Final Fantasy games. Even after the game was first released in Japan and released in other countries soon after many fans and critics have said that the game had certain characters in Final Fantasy IX looking like other characters that we've seen in other Disney movies or even in children's books as well.

The story centers on a war between nations, following a young thief named Zidane Tribal, who joins with others characters you end up meeting to defeat Queen Brahne of Alexandria, the one responsible for starting the war. The plot shifts from of direction to another when the Zidane and his friends realise that Brahne is working with an even more threatening person called Kuja.

What I liked about it gameplay was that it used a system called Active Time Battle, this was first introduced in Final Fantasy IV but however Final Fantasy IX was the first ever Final Fantasy game I've played in the series when I first picked up the game back around the end of 2001 during the New Year sales. Instead, each character has an ATB meter that gradually fills over time in real time and you must think and act quickly lest they miss their chance to take their turn. Each character you have on your team having up to four members in a party each character have different skills and abilities; example, Zidane can steal items from enemies, Eiko and Garnet can summon Eidolons to help your team and Vivi can use black magic on enemies. Like Final Fantasy VII that used Limit Breaks in Final Fantasy IX your characters can go through Trance mode where you can pull off more powerful damage to enemies, double black magic or an aerial attack which is a rain of spears from above.

Final Fantasy IX also introduced Active Time Events, these allow you to view events unfolding at different locations, providing character development, special items and prompts for key story-altering decisions. Mognet was a clever feature added in just like delivering post you are delivering mail to other moogles that live in different parts of the world and places you travel to. Once again Nobuo Uematsu composed the soundtrack making it both memorable and having some of the best themes you'll ever hear in an RPG game. There have been multiple times that I've been wanting to come back playing this game over and over again either starting a whole new game or just continue where I left and try to complete the Chocobo missions or try and collect every card from other towns people from playing a card game of Tetra Master.

During my first play-through it took me around over 72 hours, but I never wanted its story to end, when I mentioned that characters in Final Fantasy IX looking like other characters that we've seen in other Disney movies or even in children's books, this takes me to my next point on why I loved Final Fantasy IX that much when I was in school I kept failing on certain lessons in school, especially Literacy/English when it came to creative-writing when it came to writing diaries on the main character from a book like KES or Goodnight Mister Tom or even doing concept art during World War II I always used Final Fantasy IX for inspiration on art and story-telling. I loved Final Fantasy IX that much got me into the Kingdom Hearts series soon after this was before I even heard of the game after reading an article about it in an issue of the Official UK PS1 magazine mentioning that a new game that had been taking Japan by storm having both Final Fantasy and Disney characters in one game; I remember watching a load of old Disney movies on VHS because when I had the thought of the main characters from Final Fantasy IX enter other worlds from books to movies the ideas and imagination got even bigger and bigger in my head. When I first played Kingdom Hearts for the very first time this was yet another game I always keep coming back to. If it wasn't for Final Fantasy IX I might not have had even played or even heard about Kingdom Hearts, I wouldn't even think that one game, it can change one person's life just like that, same goes with Persona 4 which helped me get through depression, which I had for a few months, including a memorable soundtrack that game even helped me get through life in general so you could say all three games played a huge role in life for the past 15 years from now.

Back in 2017 after attending KupoCon: Mind the Pom in London and towards the start of the year, I've always wanted to a Final Fantasy IX cosplay based on my favourite character from IX being Freya which I used for SunnyCon Anime Expo back in 2017, it wouldn't be until the start of 2018 I used Freya more when I attended KupoCon events for Pommingham Palace, Pomathon and The Wee Pom in 2019. I have talked about KupoCon in past blogs, for those who don't know what KupoCon is it's simply a Final Fantasy fan event, made by the fans of Final Fantasy. There are a number of small unofficial fan events that take place in the western world, KupoCon wanted to take it to the next level. They are aiming to produce a fan gathering of unique style and proportion. Their aim is to simply bring together a large number of fans and celebrate the series we love through various activities. KupoCon was only a 1 day event.

You would be amazed how many Final Fantasy IX fans and cosplayers alike if you ever did attend a KupoCon event. As a Final Fantasy fan I would highly recommend this convention if you have the chance, especially if you love the series, it's the staff, especially Alex who brings everyone together and volunteers who put it altogether if it wasn't for them there wouldn't be a Final Fantasy fan event. It's not about the love of the Final Fantasy games, it's the strong community that brings everyone together and this is why I love KupoCon that much ever since I attended Mind the Pom back in 2017 more and more people are wanting to check out KupoCon for the price you are paying for a one day event it's worth every penny or as I say it's worth every gil.

Going back to Final Fantasy IX it would later be released on all platforms, including Steam, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch meaning that you could almost play this game on any system or platform now. Fans are still hoping that it will get a Remake just like Final Fantasy VII Remake made from the ground up which would really surprise if it ever did happen but we'll never know.

Would you say Final Fantasy IX is the best Final Fantasy game in the series? Or even an all-time favourite game?

Have any favourite moments in IX?

Let us know in the comments-