Final Fantasy 9. OG classic rpg, my favorite Final Fantasy in the entire franchise. This isn’t just great game it’s majestic game. Great gameplay, OST and story. And I can tell you from the beginning it’s a must play, even if you are a poser jrpg lover, do not skip this game. You will fall in love with it. It’s shaping corner stone in taste of every jrpg fan. I’ve played it when I was just a teenager and majority of other jrpgs pales in comparison to this god’s gift.
If my vocabulary would be greater I’d continue to sing praises to this game, but since it’s not let’s move to the plot section. And for the sake of spoilers I’ll only talk about premise. This story combines fates of several people and sets it on one path. With start with Zidane who assuming by his tail is a saiyan. He’s an actor on board of the flying ship. But there is a twist to his actor career, you‘ll know it soon enough. Second character is Vivi, mysterious black mage who on his way to see “Will you be my canary” play in castle of Alexandria. Alexandria is matriarchate queendom ruled by queen Brahne and her daughter Garnet. So you’ll see armor clad babes all over the streets of Alexandria and don’t miss the strongest beauty General Beatrix loyal guardian of Queen Brahne. Everything going great for Vivi, new place, beautiful architecture, all sorts of humanoid creatures walking around. Till he tries to enter the theater, it looks like the ticket he have is a crude fake. Vivi is utterly demoralized and shocked by this, some bloody scammer fooled poor and naïve kid (who’s also an orphan). But it looks like there is still hope for Vivi as he meets small rat boy who offers to help him in exchange for Vivi becoming his slave. That’s where we switch for the next character. Captain of Pluto knights Adalbert Steiner, the only squad of male knights in Alexandria. He’s proud of his knights even though they lack discipline and spirit for the job. That’s where the plot starts to pick up, but since I’ve said that won’t spoil too much of it I’ll stop there.
Gameplay. Golden classic gameplay of jrpg during Play Station one era. Pre-rendered background and 3D character that run on it. If there is spot that can be interacted with the exclamation bubble pop up above the character’s head will inform you about that. Fights are mostly random encounters apart from times where you can see the enemy. Battle system is called ATB which is short for “Active Time Battle”. There are two sets for ATB: time goes even when you are navigating menus and time stops when you navigating menus. Apart from classic strike exchange there is also other options in your battle. Most of characters have one unique set of skill and one utility type of active skill. For example Vivi, he’s a black mage which means he can wield Black Magic in battle. But to be honest it’s not pure elemental magic since he has magic of other types of mages such as slow or poison which black mages do not have. As for his active utility skill it is focus which slightly raises magic attack and it can be stacked, but it’s rather useless to be honest. There is also equivalent of Limit Break option but it works more like in FF7 than how it worked in FF6 and 8. Basics of it that as you take damage you’ll build up trance bar. When it fills to the brim you’ll transform into stronger version of you. It will also buff all your stats and even change skills for non-magic users. Mages would get double cast option instead.
As for what we can do (ability and skillwise). It divides into two categories. Active skills are marked by red gem with a letter “A” near it. As for passive abilities they are marked by a blue gem with letter “P”. You learn it from all sorts of equipment items. And if you can use all of your active skills for passive abilities you need to have enough gems to equip it. You won’t have enough to equip everything so adjust it for whatever situation required.
One thing about your equipment. Buying is not the only option, you can find it during your adventures so search actively. But the most beneficial option is stealing from a boss. There are also synthesis, you won’t get till you arrive in Lindblum, so word of advice stock a little bit on first tier weapons and armors. As for slots for equipment there are weapon, shield/bracer, torso, head and one slot for an accessory. Also look out for adventuring moogle Stilzkin, you’ll recognize him, he’ll offer you a good deal every time you stumble upon him in a new place.
There is also such thing as ATE which stands for “Active Time Event”. Not a unique thing as I’ve seen it in other older games but good one nonetheless. Basically it is what is happening to other party members while you exploring the city. Kind of like skits in “Tales of” series or like it was, I think, in “Star Ocean”. Sometimes it’s important to look through it for your benefit.
There are many side quests, mini games and activities to do. Many things and event are missable to keep a keen eye on. You won’t get bored there at all because if judge by how it went for me it kept me interested for 5 full 100+ hours playthroughs. But we haven’t talked about OST. Usually I don’t talk about it and only mention it in the facet section of my review. But OST in this game is so great it deserve to be talked about. Every jrpg fan know the person who composed music for this game. It’s the legend himself Nobuo Uematsu. He’s been composing music for this franchise since the first Final Fantasy. Just like this game shaped my taste in jrpg Mr. Uematsu shaped my taste in music. There are so many bangers in this game that I thing this game robbed all others games of banger OSTs for a decade. Anyway, 10 out 10 for every category, you won’t find a better jrpg. THIS IS MUST PLAY!
