Final Fantasy IX Reviews
EXCELLENT - The Switch port of Final Fantasy IX is a great way for new players and veterans alike to experience the timeless tale in the best looking version of the game to date. There are a few annoyances that come along for the ride, but nothing that’s going to hinder this fantastic game. Get ready to fall in love with Vivi all over again.
Final Fantasy IX has sadly always been the most overlooked of the PS1 era Final Fantasy games, but now you have the opportunity to give it a try with its definitive version on PS4. For anyone looking to go back and play the game or give it a try for the first time, Final Fantasy IX on PS4 is definitely the way to go.
I never thought that I would ever have the chance to play Final Fantasy IX on a Nintendo console, and, with Nintendo Switch, Square Enix has perhaps found the perfect place to experience the genre classic.
There are a lot of ways this port of Final Fantasy IX could have been so much more than it is, from a simple change like a console-relevant UI to more challenging ones like the improvement to the background textures. While these gripes are justified in my opinion, the experience of the core game itself has not been affected: Final Fantasy IX is easily one of the best stories in the series with a cast on-par, if not stronger, than any recent game you care to name. While I feel it does little to win over modern gamers, fans of the genre who didn’t get to enjoy this one in their childhood would be doing themselves a disservice to not pick this one up immediately.
Final Fantasy IX is an excellent RPG with excellent characters, a fun story and combat, and is a great reason to experience one of the original PlayStation's finest titles on a new platform. Unfortunately, the quality of life improvements made can't cover up the fact that this is a lazy port of a game that deserves better.
Some of the earlier Final Fantasy games simply transcend time and need to be made available for the newer generations, and this is one that I hope to see them experience
Final Fantasy IX is an amazing experience, with a fantastic cast and story — it’s truly a masterpiece of the PlayStation era. This upgrade means that fans don’t have to wait years to experience it again without all the pitfalls of the original.
The modern ports of Final Fantasy IX are a great way to play one of the greatest RPGs of its generation, despite a few technical shortcomings that weren’t present in the original.
Final Fantasy IX still holds true as being an amazing entry in the series for JRPG lovers but be prepared for a lackluster porting of the classic experience.
Final Fantasy IX can best be described as the most "complete" entry in the series to date; it is as whimsical as it is dark, and as nostalgic as it is its own identity, telling many individual stories that create laughs and pull on the heartstrings. Previous criticisms in the slow battle system and inability to reduce or disable random encounters are now accounted for with optional additions to gameplay, but the port does suffer in other departments - namely blurry backgrounds and slight lag in menus. The sheer love that has been poured into FFIX as a whole is on show for all to see, though, and is still evident to this very day. It is no wonder fans have been calling for Hiroyuki Ito to craft another entry in the series again, but whatever the future holds, there may never be a Final Fantasy title that will ever match up to the greatness of Final Fantasy IX.
That's not to say people should avoid this re-release, because despite the problems there's a strong game here that's worth playing and experiencing. FFIX is reminiscent of a simpler time, boasting a strong narrative and quality of life features that make it easy to get into. I just wish it had a better presentation, one that a game of this quality truly deserves.
It's a bold claim, but Final Fantasy IX is the best PS1 era Final Fantasy, and easily one of the best the series has ever produced. With it being on PS4 and PC, even if you don't want to visit a garage sale or local game shop to grab a PS1, you can now play one of the best RPGs ever created. While it manages to only just fall short of greatness, it does so with a level of grace so memorizing, it's hard to believe sometimes. If you still aren't convinced, just play to the final cutscene. That should convince you just fine.
Final Fantasy IX is an absolute must-buy and must-experience classic JRPG that deserved a home on a Nintendo console, and should have had one a long time ago.
Though Final Fantasy IX's PS4 port lacks the same love and care that was given to the recently released Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, it is still a solid enough re-release, and more importantly another modern source for players to experience this wonderful RPG classic, whether for the first time or the hundredth time. The timeless charm, characterization and content guarantees that this game will be the place you'll return to someday, now and forever.
We won't waste time in small chat: Final Fantasy IX is a timeless masterpiece.
Review in Italian | Read full review
For a seventeen-year-old game, Final Fantasy IX has aged incredibly well.
The black sheep of the PlayStation-era Final Fantasy behemoths certainly deserves attention from those who have somehow avoided playing it in some form or another over the last seventeen years and feels like slipping into a worn but comfortable pair of slippers for any returning players.
It doesn't matter which console you play it on: Final Fantasy IX still remains a timeless masterpiece, and thus we can only be glad to see its success on the Nintendo digital store. However, this Switch edition is basically the same that was published on PS4 and PC on last two years, so if you already own it on one of these two platforms, there is no real need to buy it again.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Final Fantasy IX is a fantastic game with an average port. The price is steep for a 20 year old game with no major upgrades. But once you start playing you won't be able to put it down.