'Final Fantasy IX' Nintendo Switch Port
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.
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
