This title was on my radar earlier in the year before I got all ate up with the Souls franchise. The next time im in the mood for a classic ill give this some deep consideration. How many hours to get through it?
Final Fantasy IX is 14 Years Old!!!
On 07/07/2014 at 10:01 PM by Matt Snee See More From This User » |
Today is the 14th anniversary of the release of Final Fantasy IX, one of my favorite games of all time. The timeless tale of Zidane, Dagger, Steiner, Vivi, and the other characters lodged itself into my heart the first time I played it in my shitty rundown apartment in San Francisco, and ever since I’ve continued to play it every few years, because it brings me joy I can’t really find in anywhere else. According to Wikipedia, it’s the highest rated FF game on Metacritic, and for good reason: it’s the fucking bomb.
Strangely, it doesn’t get the love that Final Fantasy VI, VII or X get, or the hate that VIII gets, and is kind of forgotten by many people. It’s always kind of flown under the radar, having been released late in the life of the PSX. It will always be my favorite Final Fantasy game, because I highly doubt they will release another that rivals it, for it is so unique in its style and storytelling.
One of the reasons it’s so good is the characters. Perhaps if they had been voiced acted, it would have been different, but even in the silent text of the game, they come across as clear, living, complex people, in a very real (though fantastic world). Whether it’s the endless moral optimism of Zidane, or the confusion of Dagger, or the dedication of Steiner, or the nobility of Freya, or the hunger of Quina, or the amazing presence and color of Vivi, they all stand out and LIVE.
I’ve always hoped that they would me a direct sequel to it, but I’m not holding my breath. Instead, maybe someday I will write some fanfiction that pics up the story ten or twenty years down the road. I always wondered what would happen to these characters over the years. I’d love to find out.
Anyway, that’s what I’m thinking about today.
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