Final Fantasy IX (2000) (PS1) (Squaresoft)

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Demiath

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Published on May 24, 2020 10:24:19 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POOPLDCxIGE

Game:

Final Fantasy IX (2000)

Duration: 14:24

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Recorded on real PlayStation 1 hardware.

Despite not having had a PlayStation 1 console before this month, I nonetheless have owned PS1 copies of Final Fantasy VI, VII, VIII and IX for many years. The original idea was to play them on a slim PS2 - which I bought at the tail end of the system's lifespan as an actively supported platform - but in the end I only got around to playing roughly half of FFVI. Since I have played a bit of FFVII and a lot of FFVIII on the PC, FFIX is the only of these four entries I haven't touched at all until now.

The opening hour (not featured in this video, by the way) of Final Fantasy IX impressed me with its intricately designed and wonderfully directed storytelling involving multiple playable characters, extravagant battle sequences and even a play-within-a-play. Poor Steiner might not be the only one who has a hard time keeping up with the breakneak pace of the scene-bending action, and all shows just how far Squaresoft had come in 2000 compared with the early days of the JRPG.

Although the FFVII fan base is loud and clear (especially in these Remake-heavy days), a lot of people hold up FFIX as the best Final Fantasy of the PS1 era. After having experienced the beginning of the game for the first time, I'm beginning to understand why...