You know what they say, right? Better late than never! So Final Fantasy IX finally (no pun intended) launched on a Nintendo console so that you can indulge in this fantasy released back in 2000 on the PS1. If you didn’t play the game back then, or on iOS, Android, PC or PS4, then here’s your chance! I had the chance to play it back in the original PlayStation days and it always struck me as one of the most visually impressive games at the time. I didn’t play the re-release version which packs new features like no encounter mode, a much needed auto-save and “high-definition movies and character models”. I also remember mostly bits and pieces of the plot from my first playthrough so the Nintendo Switch version presented itself as a good excuse to refresh my memory and invest some more time in gaming.

Final Fantasy IX begins with the Tantalus Theater Troupe’s plan to kidnap Princess Garnet, the heir of Alexandria, who was in fact simultaneously planning on escaping from the castle herself. The plot evolves to merge the paths of monkey-tailed Zidane, member of the Tantalus Theater Troupe, Princess Garnet, her personal guard Steiner, the shy but powerful black mage Vivi and other colorful characters who all share an unexpected journey filled with adventures, dangers and ultimately a threat to destroy the world. The story is original and interesting to say the least, and worthy of traditional Final Fantasy games.

The port is basically the same version that was released on previous platforms and works perfectly on the Nintendo Switch. Noticeably, it has enhanced sprites that starkly contrast with the pre-rendered environment throughout the game’s varying backdrop. In the original game, the models and environments blended almost naturally but with the HD upheaval, one cannot help but notice the discrepancy. Leaving the models untouched might have been a better option visually in this case.

However, at its core, Final Fantasy IX is still a classic Final Fantasy JRPG, what with managing your party, partaking in mini games and the ability to travel freely across vast and varied locations supplemented with those nagging random encounters coupled with the charm of those old school ATB-based battles. But this version of the game has a “Safe Travel” mode that actually allows you to prevent those random encounters while exploring. To help ease things even more there is the “Battle Assistance” mode that refills the health, MP, and Trance counts and can help you out in a particularly difficult fight. On top of that there is the “9999” mode that assigns this number to your damage points, level and money, should you come across even more difficult fights (or are just feeling especially lazy). All of these modes can be triggered in-battles and while you can dismiss them as plain cheat, they are still all optional.

One feature that will surely be welcome unanimously is the auto-save. I used to dread the save function in Final Fantasy games, having to look for a Moogle before saving and/or quitting. In this version though, once you enter a new area, the game automatically saves. This allows players to enjoy this immense game at their own pace, opening it up to a wider audience.

Final Fantasy IX is a fine port on the Switch. It is boasts new features, some of which enhance the experience while others can be divisive. However the experience is mostly the same at its core; that is an enjoyable one.

​

Final Fantasy IX eShop Link

 

[Ericthegreat]

Pretty sure this released weeks ago guys

 

[Arras]

The game looks like the emulated PS1 game with PGXP enabled.
The low resolution prerendered backgrounds clash with the blocky high resolution 3d character models.
Laughable that they didn't update those when they seem to have the original assets stored somewhere and this would be a small addition to the otherwise barebone port.

One could buy the 10$ PSN PS1 game, retrieve the pkg link with psndl, extract it with lman pkg extractor, extract the disc images with psxtract and play it on switch via emulation.
Much more steps but it would look nearly identical for half the price.

Where are you getting "they seem to have the original assets somewhere" from? Everything I've heard is that they lost the original background assets.

 

[Subtle Demise]

The low resolution prerendered backgrounds clash with the blocky high resolution 3d character models.
Laughable that they didn't update those when they seem to have the original assets stored somewhere and this would be a small addition to the otherwise barebone port.

Yeah, they obviously still have the source files to re-render the videos, so why not do the same with the backgrounds?

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Where are you getting "they seem to have the original assets somewhere" from? Everything I've heard is that they lost the original background assets.

They somehow magically have the source files to re-render the videos in HD though lol

 

[JimmyCall]

I'm really finding this a horrible game so far. I've just got out of the crashed airship after the kidnapping. The fight scenes take way to long to start up with the black screen. Then I hate the battle system of waiting for ready status. The story is also a bit lame with weird looking characters. The magic classes are uninspiring too. FF3 (Final Fantasy VI jap) on the SNES was fantastic but this goes to a low depth in quality and feel. Yep I get the restrictions of the Playstation and 3D at the time, but least they could have had sophisticated gameplay and overlays for the 3D.

 

[Longshot56]

View attachment 159334​

You know what they say, right? Better late than never! So Final Fantasy IX finally (no pun intended) launched on a Nintendo console so that you can indulge in this fantasy released back in 2000 on the PS1. If you didn’t play the game back then, or on iOS, Android, PC or PS4, then here’s your chance! I had the chance to play it back in the original PlayStation days and it always struck me as one of the most visually impressive games at the time. I didn’t play the re-release version which packs new features like no encounter mode, a much needed auto-save and “high-definition movies and character models”. I also remember mostly bits and pieces of the plot from my first playthrough so the Nintendo Switch version presented itself as a good excuse to refresh my memory and invest some more time in gaming.

View attachment 159335​

Final Fantasy IX begins with the Tantalus Theater Troupe’s plan to kidnap Princess Garnet, the heir of Alexandria, who was in fact simultaneously planning on escaping from the castle herself. The plot evolves to merge the paths of monkey-tailed Zidane, member of the Tantalus Theater Troupe, Princess Garnet, her personal guard Steiner, the shy but powerful black mage Vivi and other colorful characters who all share an unexpected journey filled with adventures, dangers and ultimately a threat to destroy the world. The story is original and interesting to say the least, and worthy of traditional Final Fantasy games.

View attachment 159339​

The port is basically the same version that was released on previous platforms and works perfectly on the Nintendo Switch. Noticeably, it has enhanced sprites that starkly contrast with the pre-rendered environment throughout the game’s varying backdrop. In the original game, the models and environments blended almost naturally but with the HD upheaval, one cannot help but notice the discrepancy. Leaving the models untouched might have been a better option visually in this case.

View attachment 159338​

However, at its core, Final Fantasy IX is still a classic Final Fantasy JRPG, what with managing your party, partaking in mini games and the ability to travel freely across vast and varied locations supplemented with those nagging random encounters coupled with the charm of those old school ATB-based battles. But this version of the game has a “Safe Travel” mode that actually allows you to prevent those random encounters while exploring. To help ease things even more there is the “Battle Assistance” mode that refills the health, MP, and Trance counts and can help you out in a particularly difficult fight. On top of that there is the “9999” mode that assigns this number to your damage points, level and money, should you come across even more difficult fights (or are just feeling especially lazy). All of these modes can be triggered in-battles and while you can dismiss them as plain cheat, they are still all optional.

One feature that will surely be welcome unanimously is the auto-save. I used to dread the save function in Final Fantasy games, having to look for a Moogle before saving and/or quitting. In this version though, once you enter a new area, the game automatically saves. This allows players to enjoy this immense game at their own pace, opening it up to a wider audience.

View attachment 159336​

Final Fantasy IX is a fine port on the Switch. It is boasts new features, some of which enhance the experience while others can be divisive. However the experience is mostly the same at its core; that is an enjoyable one.

​

Final Fantasy IX eShop Link

What if I've never played FF before, is this a good starting point?

 

[sarkwalvein]

What if I've never played FF before, is this a good starting point?

Yes

 

[the_randomizer]

Despite the music looping glitch (which is actually reminiscent of older RPGs that did it on the Snes), it runs well and is a good fit for Switch. Not to mention is has a few advantages over the PC vanilla port, in that it doesn't have the missing enemy sound glitch among others. I double dipped because I want to support Square Enix

those prerendered backgrounds look like ass.

Yes because they looked so much better on a 320 x 340 screen back in 2000.

 

[VartioArtel]

I've heard a lot of people hold this up as one of the best Final Fantasy games. I might finally get around to trying it now that it's on the Switch.

It's the last "true" Final Fantasy. It feels like a true fantasy world, not some alternate reality Earth (FFXV), advanced supercivilization (XIII for the most part until Pulse), or pseudo-dystopian future (X). XII was close but it had a bit too much on the airships being so common it cheapened them and they had to MAKE plot reasons not to use the Strahl.

Least out of the single players.

Epic story, believeable characters (most of which aren't even human, hell, ONE human in the whole main cast), good drama and believeable for the most part...

Basically put 9 is the closest thing to a TRUE fantasy in the FF Single players since... I wanna say it IS the only TRUE fantasy in the batch. The rest tend to heavily favor entirely human races, wherein the only Human in 9 is Steiner.

 

[Glyptofane]

Unfortunately (and unmentioned in this review) this version of FFIX does carry over the music bug of the PS4 version, meaning music tracks restart after each battle rather than carry on as they did in the original version. While not game breaking, it does mean that you may never hear the full music tracks in regular gameplay. More troubling is the fact that Square Enix is satisfied with letting this go unpatched.

Thanks for pointing this out. When this happened to FFVII on PS4, it disgusted me. They did eventually patch this bug on FFX HD Remaster, but it remains in every other FF port. Fuck these bastards and I won't be buying any more of these ports. I'd rather have the music play correctly and play these on PSTV or something than have HD models.

 

[Frankbel]

Better this one or Ni No Kuni?
I have missed both of them.

 

[Pokem]

Love this game. Playing it on my phone right now.

 

[anhminh]

Ok, so what the gimmick? You know all FF game have a gimmick in battle system or level up system, what is the gimmick here?

 

[KyleHyde]

Better this one or Ni No Kuni?
I have missed both of them.

While both are RPGs, they have different stories and gameplay mechanics. I suppose it would depend more on which one piques your interest the most at this time.

Ok, so what the gimmick? You know all FF game have a gimmick in battle system or level up system, what is the gimmick here?

FFIX has a Trance system (instead of Limit Breaks) where the characters transform, gaining access to new attacks and stat buffs. iirc, you're also able to learn skills by maxing out certain pieces of equipment (unless I'm mixing it up with another FF title).

 

[ertaboy356b]

My PSPGo says hi while connected to the television.

 

[xxNathanxx]

My PSPGo says hi while connected to the television.

I signed in just to say my person of colour. Almost as easy to use as the Switch, and because it's the original it doesn't have any of the port's bugs.

 

[ferret7463]

ahhh, yes the last real Final Fantasy....

 

[the_randomizer]

ahhh, yes the last real Final Fantasy....

While FFX was a good game, the sequel sucked ass.

 

[THYPLEX]

Please. Go. Play. This. Game. For the love of God, if you like any sort of Final Fantasy, JRPG, good games, and haven't played this one. Go. Right now. You owe it to yourself.

I have a very good sense of time. I have this uncanny ability to be able to guess the time within minutes. I don't "lose" track of time when gaming. My internal clock is great, even when sleeping. When I was in high school/college, I would game before bed. It was kinda like reading a book for me. It wound me down and got me all sleepy. On spring break of my junior year of college, I learned that you can adapt your own psp eboots and put them on your PSP. I had just finished FFVII and couldn't get into VIII. I tried IX (I think secretly I had just wanted to play XI anyways lol). I figured I would play the intro and get my first save or so. After what I thought was about an hour and 15 minutes or so I rolled over to check the time, thinking "Its kinda late and i'm tired. Better get to bed." It was 3:30AM. I am not kidding. I played 6 hours straight without so much a checking the time. It never happened before and it hasn't happened since.

I finished it once. I haven't played it again despite it being one of the best gaming experiences I have EVER had. I don't want to ruin the memories. I even completely skipped (read:missed) and entire huge portion of the game, the Chocobo Hot and Cold mini game.

Go. Play. This. Game.

I dropped final fantasy 4 for ds because i found it really hard , this game at it's normal difficulty , how is It with the enemies difficulty overall , too hard ?

 

[sarkwalvein]

I dropped final fantasy 4 for ds because i found it really hard , this game at it's normal difficulty , how is It with the enemies difficulty overall , too hard ?

Nah.
FF4 sure is harder/grindier.

 

[THYPLEX]

Nah.
FF4 sure is harder/grindier.

I don't want a game easy BTW, but more like balanced.
(Sorry for my bad english)