Final Fantasy IX

I came around to Final Fantasy IX years after it originally released on PSX in 1999, and damn, I didn’t know what a charming game I was missing. If Final Fantasy XVI’s medieval world drew you in, I implore you to consider playing IX. Though a 1990’s FF experience with turn-based combat, I find it contains all of the charm that made many of us Final Fantasy fans first fall in love with the series—and that Final Fantasy XVI was all too eager to shed in its quest for moody Game of Thrones mimicry.

Yes, Final Fantasy IX is set in a “medieval fantasy world,” but it’s one with a vibrant cast of characters, diverse species, and an endearing story where the protagonists must come to rely on each other to face insurmountable odds. It also doesn’t feel as derivative as Final Fantasy XVI’s world. While FFXVI’s setting does have some unique elements, I’ve seen this setting before in Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings, and just about any D&D book. A classic fantasy style for sure, but Final Fantasy IX just has enough of a different vibe in its architecture and world that it becomes a memorable place in a way I don’t think FFXI can lay claim to.

Buy Final Fantasy IX: GameStop