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Am I the only one who didn't like FF9?

D

djtiesto

is beloved, despite what anyone might say
Everybody I know swears by FF9, thinks its the best of the PSX FFs... my ex, my best friend, all loved it. But you know what, I could never get into this game. I liked the characters (Vivi was awesome, Steiner was funny), and I liked all the references to previous FF games. But, there was something about the game that never sat right with me... The story took much too long to develop (it only really picked up towards the end of disk 3), and the music was painfully generic. Probably Uematsu's worst work (I think I enjoyed the Gurgu Volcano remix the best) - but then I understand he was pushed to the limits. There was something like 110 original songs in the game, right? Nothing seemed to stand out for me though, in the way something like "The Extreme" in FF8 or "Battle On The Big Bridge" from FF5 did. And finally, the battle system. I was ecstatic when they went back to 4 character parties, but the actual combat seemed to move too slow with too many interruptions. After setting up my characters' commands, they would be delayed while the characters and the enemies attacked, that I would sometimes forget what I assigned my guys to do! Not to mention, battles moved at a snail's pace and were extremely frequent. The guide was also godawful and such a waste of money :P Going on the website to find out how to do subquests... ugh so annoying! Am I wrong for not liking this game?
 
I kind of like the world in FF9, but given they were going for "old school" it certainly didn't have any of the charm or memorable moments of FFIV or FFVI (of course I'm definately willing to suggest that the fact that I was younger when I played FFIV and FFVI makes it easier for them to be "memorable").

I also felt the game had an even worse use of Deus-Ex-Machina than even FFIV and the whole Zeromus thing. I can't even remember the name of the final boss in FF9 because he came completely out of left field - I just remember someone on the translation team apparently thought it would be cool if the guy quoted Yoda.
 
Nothing wrong.

It was the most forgettable FF for me. Even though I went through the first disc, none of the characters left an impression.

Even FF8, another FF I personally didn't like, I can remember most of the characters there.
 
FF9 and FF7 are my favorites in the whole series (with FF6 coming in third).

Best part about FF9 was the story. It didn't take itself too seriously like FF8 did. Zidane was a great change of pace from Cloud and Squall.

"Ooo, soft."
 
I never saw FF9 perceived as the best. I thought everybody was praising FF7 ALOT more.
Anyway, glad to hear that some people perceive FF9 as a great one. It shits all over FF8 and FF10 for me. ( i won't even mention the mediocrity of FF10-2 -- shit i did!!)
 
teiresias said:
I also felt the game had an even worse use of Deus-Ex-Machina than even FFIV and the whole Zeromus thing. I can't even remember the name of the final boss in FF9 because he came completely out of left field - I just remember someone on the translation team apparently thought it would be cool if the guy quoted Yoda.
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His name was Necron and I like you I thought he came outta friggin NOWHERE... you guys want to destroy everything... ok I'll do that... uh wtf?

EDIT: Ah here we go...

"All life bears death from birth."
"Life fears death, but lives only to die."
"It starts with anxiety."
"Anxiety becomes fear."
"Fear leads to anger... anger leads to hate... hate leads to suffering..."
"The only cure for this fear is total destruction."

"...Now, the theory is undeniable."
"Kuja's action proves it. All things live to perish."
"At last, life has uncovered this truth. Now, it is time to end this world."

...

"I exist for one purpose..."
"To return everything back to the zero world, where there is no life and no
crystal to give life."
"In a world of nothing, fear does not exist. This is the world that all life
desires."
 
I wasn't wild about it. I wanted to see progress in the series, not some weak amalgamation of FFs IV and VI for people who couldn't move on from the 16-bit era
 
demi said:
Best one on the PlayStation.
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It was certainly better than the angst/teen drama trash that was FF8. It still wasn't all that good though.

Square should just go back to 2D.
 
I agree that it's the most forgettable game in the FF series. It was a very solid FF rpg, but it was also very standard and little stood out. All I remember is the badass FMV of Alexander vs. Bahamut and the scene where your moving forward alone and the best song from the ost plays. Otherwise I don't even remember what the story was about or who any of the characters were. Nice game but it was just too standard IMO.
 
belgurdo said:
I wasn't wild about it. I wanted to see progress in the series, not some weak amalgamation of FFs IV and VI for people who couldn't move on from the 16-bit era
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Maybe it's a style that is viable like any other one. You should respect it at least even if you don't like it.
 
It was my favorite. Everything was right about it for me. The characters (the main reason I love the game), world, gameplay, story, etc. just gave me the right feeling while playing. Ironically, everyone I know likes 8 the best. Good game but I don't really care for that one.
 
demi said:
Best one on the PlayStation.
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What he said. I also love the music in FF9. You are not Alone, Melodies of Life, Dark Messenger and Vivi's Theme. Omg Uematsu's best work imo.
 
Wyzdom said:
You should respect it at least even if you don't like it.
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I do respect it, but I still think it's high time for RPG makers to get away from the "magical 1500s" theme in JRPGs, especially if they're not gonna do anything new with it
 
belgurdo said:
I do respect it, but I still think it's high time for RPG makers to get away from the "magical 1500s" theme in JRPGs, especially if they're not gonna do anything new with it
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I guess you loved the "teen angst FF8 fest" then?
 
belgurdo said:
I do respect it, but I still think it's high time for RPG makers to get away from the "magical 1500s" theme in JRPGs, especially if they're not gonna do anything new with it
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Well, if it's not "magical 1500" it's "techno-futuristic". I can take both settings but not in every god damn game.
 
I liked it, and I thought overall it was a more rounded game than FF8, but it was too safe. FF8 was a big disappointment for me, but at least it was ambitious and tried new things...it failed, but it failed admirably. So, FF7 is definitely my favourite PS1 FF, but on any given day I'd choose either 8 or 9 to take second place in the list...

Of course, after playing FF 10 (and not even finishing it...a first for me when it comes to the FF series...got 30 hours through), I no longer give a shit about the series. I mean, this game was devoid of everything bar good graphics. The plot was tedious, the characters were complete shite without a shred of originality (a hideous mix of the personalities from the last 3 FFs), the music was utterly forgetable (usually the one thing you can rely on with Square), and frankly, I've had it up to here with random fucking battles. Also, the game lacked even a shred of feeling or emotion...FF9 was on the verge of such a cookie cutter path but IMO narrowly avoided it. Anyway, uh I agree with the original poster to a certain extent. FF9 is good but is uh, not the best of the PS1 FFs... :D
 
Optimistic said:
Of course, after playing FF 10 (and not even finishing it...a first for me when it comes to the FF series...got 30 hours through), I no longer give a shit about the series. I mean, this game was devoid of everything bar good graphics. The plot was tedious, the characters were complete shite without a shred of originality (a hideous mix of the personalities from the last 3 FFs), the music was utterly forgetable (usually the one thing you can rely on with Square), and frankly, I've had it up to here with random fucking battles. Also, the game lacked even a shred of feeling or emotion...FF9 was on the verge of such a cookie cutter path but IMO narrowly avoided it. Anyway, uh I agree with the original poster to a certain extent. FF9 is good but is uh, not the best of the PS1 FFs... :D
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Heh, FF10 had the opposite effect on me. It felt like it took the series forward a hundred steps and improved on almost everything that the FF name stood for. After the three good but all kinda downhill from FF6, PS1 FF games, FF10 was the game that renewed my love for the series and I'm more excited about FF12 than any other game in the world.
 
SantaCruZer said:
I guess you loved the "teen angst FF8 fest" then?
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It was no more angsty than Kain's "I hate you Cecil! No, wait, they're controlling my mind! Just kidding! Fuck you and everything you stand for!" act and many bits in FFVI (with characters sitting around doubting themselves-but of course overcoming this adversity and inner conflict after a quick trip through a dungeon designed around their particular plot point)
 
Aside from the asexual villain, loadtimes, and occasional slow dips in the progression, FF9 was a very solid adventure. The game gets bonus points for having a truly consistent art and world design, something FF had sorta fumbled with in other recent entrants.

The NPC's were lively and developed almost as much as the heroes(rogue gang particularly), and thankfully even monkey-boy zidane was given a more dimensional personality than pretty boy Squall and brainless Cloud. The junction system in FF8 was more appealing to tinker with, but the crystal system was a sound progression device.

It's one of those games I would love to replay someday, but know it may never happen.
 
belgurdo said:
It was no more angsty than Kain's "I hate you Cecil! No, wait, they're controlling my mind! Just kidding! Fuck you and everything you stand for!" act and many bits in FFVI (with characters sitting around doubting themselves-but of course overcoming this adversity and inner conflict after a quick trip through a dungeon designed around their particular plot point)
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I like how you complain about angst while displaying your rebelious nature and hardcore attitude by having an avatar displaying fellatio.

And before the inevitable comment is made about my avatar, I have never complained about angst nor denied being a damn drama queen. :D
 
Bebpo said:
Heh, FF10 had the opposite effect on me. It felt like it took the series forward a hundred steps and improved on almost everything that the FF name stood for. After the three good but all kinda downhill from FF6, PS1 FF games, FF10 was the game that renewed my love for the series and I'm more excited about FF12 than any other game in the world.
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6, 8, and 9 were the ones I couldn't like, and 10 redeemed the Final Fantasy name...until 10-2 ruined it once again.

12 doesn't excite me much, but it's always worth a shot with any of the numbered FF games.
 
I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't actively detest 9, just throught it sat between the gap of good and bad. One of the very few Final Fantasies I don't have a strong opinion about either way. 10 was a rather flawed game, but its graphics, lush world, story progression (though I felt it kinda copped out towards the end of it), sphere grid and battle system modifications worked fine enough for me, and kept my attention much better than 9 (although, when 9 came out, it was during the holiday season of 2000 and I owned a Dreamcast - like one of the best years for gaming ever IMO). X2 is still the bane of the series for me.

And I'm gonna have to agree with belgurdo on cliched RPG settings. The settings of most RPGs are marginalized into a fantasy medieval/renaissance Europe, feudal Japan, or a futuristic/magic hybrid. More interesting settings would make for more original and unique stories, something RPGs sorely need nowadays. I'd personally love to see a game that takes place in modern or near future settings, kind of like Earthbound but more serious. Why not a game that takes place in the world of the Native Americans, involving their cultures... something like that? I'm always a fan of dystopian futures, too :P
 
FF9 was a great game, but it is no FF7. FF7 had a better all around story, great characters, and was the first game to truly blow me away with the 32-bit consoles. FF9 had some great characters Vivi was the best, but the story fell apart at the end and left me very unintrested.
 
FF9 is probably the most vocally-underrated game in the series. It is more of a throwback, and I think that turned off a lot of folks who loved FF7, but what's great about it is how much it nails the FF experience, and that makes it stand apart from a lot of the other games (basically not by standing out, but just being real solid and having a great melancholy/nostalgic sensibility). IMO it's definitely a better Final Fantasy than FF7, even though FF7 is more of a classic game in its own right.
 
I have to say that while I didn't hate FF9 I also didn't love it. I loved the artwork, but it was just forgettable to me. The combat was way too slow. I don't know I intend to replay it to see if I was wrong, but as of right now, it's not one of my favorites.
 
Espers and Materia is where it's at. Nothing even comes close to those 2 gems, imho. But I did like IX and it's setting and characters and really hate VIII with a passion. For its setting, story and chars.

For me it's FFVI>FFVII>FFV>FFIX>FFX>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>FFX-2/FFVIII
 
Kato said:
Espers and Materia is where it's at. Nothing even comes close to those 2 gems, imho. But I did like IX and it's setting and characters and really hate VIII with a passion. For its setting, story and chars.

For me it's FFVI>FFVII>FFV>FFIX>FFX>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>FFX-2/FFVIII
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Pretty well said. Materia system is my fav of all rpgs. Mime + Counter and killing the 2 other characters so you can mime your Omnislash to infinity = some of the best moment in history of console RPGs.
 
FFIX sucked as a game. It was the only FF I finished on the PSX, and it was because I was determined to see if I was wrong about the series. But I wasn't. The stupid game didn't change after 10 years. Sure it got prettier. Sure the cinematic and stories were played up more. (And with that comes the lamest WTF outta nowhere last boss meh)

But it made me realize that as long as Square continues to deliver crap, people will continue to buy it.
 
demi said:
Best one on the PlayStation.
Click to expand...

IAWTP.

I totally despised FF8 because it felt like the Dawson's Creek version of FF8, though I can understand why some people loved it. FF8 it totally a love it or a hate it type of game. I really hated the new gameplay ideas though. The only thing I liked about the game was it had a really good ending.

I actually in many ways FF7 is superior to FF9, but I really hated the whole 3rd disc of FF7 storywise. Gameplay wise though, FF7 is much better than FF8 or FF9 (horrible loadtimes). Storywise it just fell apart for me though.

The reason I love FF9 so much is that the entire game was a blast and it actually had characters I cared about. The game was actually fun to play, something that seems to get overlooked here a lot. If they could fix the load times it would be much better overall though. Oh yeah, loved the ending in this game too. But I loved the entire ride in this game, best FF since 6 imo. Though I have high hopes for FF12 too.

I hated FF10 too btw, the voice acting and Tidus were not a good combination. Not that voice acting is bad, I liked the voice acting in Kingdom Hearts, but maybe it was better in Kingdom Hearts because there was so much less of it. It is probably impossible to have as much voice acting as FF10 and do it well.
 
Brilliant game and one I thoroughly enjoyed. But I think the general opinion is that FFVII was the best for Playstation and some people really seem to like FFVIII (though most place it behind VII and IX).
 
bionic77 said:
IAWTP.

I totally despised FF8 because it felt like the Dawson's Creek version of FF8, though I can understand why some people loved it. FF8 it totally a love it or a hate it type of game. I really hated the new gameplay ideas though. The only thing I liked about the game was it had a really good ending.

I actually in many ways FF7 is superior to FF9, but I really hated the whole 3rd disc of FF7 storywise. Gameplay wise though, FF7 is much better than FF8 or FF9 (horrible loadtimes). Storywise it just fell apart for me though.

The reason I love FF9 so much is that the entire game was a blast and it actually had characters I cared about. The game was actually fun to play, something that seems to get overlooked here a lot. If they could fix the load times it would be much better overall though. Oh yeah, loved the ending in this game too. But I loved the entire ride in this game, best FF since 6 imo. Though I have high hopes for FF12 too.

I hated FF10 too btw, the voice acting and Tidus were not a good combination. Not that voice acting is bad, I liked the voice acting in Kingdom Hearts, but maybe it was better in Kingdom Hearts because there was so much less of it. It is probably impossible to have as much voice acting as FF10 and do it well.
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Thank you, except for FFX, it was awesome. FF9 had heart and soul, it was fun, the main character was a thief for crying out loud. People with no soul like FF8, people who get laid like FF9. This is all.
 
I must say FF7 and FF9 are pretty even each having its own flare. Ill never forget the beautiful world in FF9 and really good music.
 
I thought it was overall an ok game. There were some good characters but most were completely forgettable, as was the story and music. I'm not looking for nostalgia in the newer FF's so it really didn't do much for me.

FF8 > FF10 > FF7 > FF10-2 > FF9

That's how i'd rank the new games in the series,
 
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