User Reviews (11 - 21 of 470)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

Best of the Final Fantasys by far

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 15
Date: December 15, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I was ready to hate this game when I first played it, because Final Fantsy VIII was so overly complicated and the story wasn't even understandable. I belived Final Fantasy VII was going to be the best of the Final Fantasys until I had played the 9th installment. The story isn't the best, but far better then most RPGs now days. The interesting characters draw you in and you don't want to stop playing until you find out what will happen to them. The graphics, while not as realilistic as 8, are just as good, if not better, with amazing backrounds and good chacter models. The musical score is decent, and I belive most would not complain, as It is far better then Chrono Cross or Legend of Dragoon. The Juction system has been discarded for a new, simple system that almost any gamer can get in to. The return of mini games is a welcome suprise as well as a new card game supierior to Triple Triad in most ways. The only big flaw I can see is the random battles which may have been ramped up some, but other then that, there is nothing major that takes away from the game. If you like RPGs then buy it. If not, then at least rent it.

I love this game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: November 27, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I am glad they went back to the magic system and love the way they have the abilitys put in. The graphics are awsome and best of all the story and characters are great! The ATEs they put in also let us see what other characters are doing while not paying them!

Final Fantasy is leaving playstation with a BANG!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: November 27, 2000
Author: Amazon User

FFIX, is truly a masterpiece... so far. I must admit, when I heard about it, I pre ordered it A.S.A.P. After reading some reviews though, I had my doubts. Going back to their roots meant medieval times, with M.P., and distorted bodies, which I thought they had left behind in 7. When I got the game, and read the manual, it sounded like a pathetic attempt of a game. I was dead wrong.

After putting the C.D. in the Playstation, it amazed me how fast the game loaded. It is much superior to any other game the speed at which the game loads is most excellent. Going from one screen to the next takes maybe 4 seconds, FMV's start quick, as well as battles. I've played both FF 7 and 8, so the battle system was simplistic. Up to 4 characters can now participate in battle. The enemies are still a challenge, and there is quite a variety of magic. Unfortunately, and so far the biggest mistake, was getting rid of Limit Breaks. Limits Breaks, were like Final Fantasy's trademark. Instead, there is a Trance gauge, which increases as you take damage. When full, that person goes into a Trance, their attack and defence increase, and their commands change. Monsters can be summoned, and are now called Eidolons. There is the usual gang of Shiva, Ifrit, Odin, Bahamut, Alexander, and Leviathan. They don't play as much of a role as they did in 8, and are more in line with 7. The characters, on the field, have gone back to their cartoon drawings.

The music is great. There is a wide variety of scores, that even rival Final Fnatasy 7's. There's something for every mood.

Controls are extremely easy to pick up, for anyone who's familiar with other FF's. Even then, skimming the manual will provide all the info needed.

Final Fantasy IX's story line is well thought out and written. I felt that 8's was to basic. It's obvious that the story has alot of heart and soul put into it. The characters come together perfectly, and interact with each other in a most beautiful way.

The highlight of the story is the ATE. ATE is Active Time Events, which allow you to see what other people that you've met are doing. It is necessary to view them, because they help the story and give vital clues to solving riddles and puzzles.

To conclude, anyone who like Final Fantasy should try XI, even those of you who thought 7 and/or 8 was bad, or like RPG's, or are looking for something new. Everyone into video games, in fact, should give this a try. Believe me, it's worth the $ and the time!

FF 9

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: May 05, 2006
Author: Amazon User

best of all the final fantasys i think. its just so much fun to play and has an amazing story. i love rpg games but this one takes the cake...but then again all the final fantasys are great. so if you like roleplaying games then buy this right now. you need this to get by. its one of the greatest games of all time.

One of my favorite games ever.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: January 25, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This game is very different from the past two Final Fantasies, but it's a nice change of pace. The world that the game is set in is, in one world, beautiful. The graphics are simply amazing, and I loved the beautifully done cutscenes. The characters in this game were a lot more likable than in FF8, in my opinion, and there was more humor and lighthearted moments than in FF7 & FF8 combined. The ending is amazing, and it's well worth the at least 35 hours of gameplay you'll put into it. I don't really want to spoil much of the plot, but you play as a young thief named Zidane with a mysterious past, who is part of a group hired to kidnap a princess of the midst of a rising war among four great kingdoms. That's just the beginning though, and it gets a lot more deep and complicated. I highly reccomend this game to all RPG fans.

The PS1 Closes With A Bang

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: May 06, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Before Squaresoft moved on to releasing games for the Playstation 2 game console, the company obviously wanted the PSX's last (original) Final Fantasy game to be something special. After all, with Final Fantasy 7 the company successfully brought RPGs into the mainstream through their game's incredible ease of play and amazing technological accomplishments. Then with FF8, the company opted to take the series in a somewhat different direction through a completely revamped battle system and more character centered storyline. So what did the company do with Final Fantasy IX? Attempt to return the series to its roots... with somewhat mixed results.

On one hand, Final Fantasy IX is an excellent RPG. It has an all around solid storyline, if a bit less serious than previous Final Fantasies, with some interesting and funny characters to go with it (my favorite being Steiner). And Squaresoft thankfully threw away the "revamped" Final Fantasy VIII battle system in favor of a less cumbersome/more user friendly system.

However, Final Fantasy IX is not quite the nostalgic trip it was hyped up to be. Much of this problem has to do with the graphics, which (truth be told) are Final Fantasy VIII's with super-deformed characters and Lord Of The Rings-ish environments. So don't expect the 2-D anime artwork of FFs 1 through 6. Squaresoft also insists on using the same brand of fancy-panse prerendered cinemas they've been using in the previous two Final Fantasies (which, despite being somewhat blurry, are very well done) which somewhat detracts from the nostalgic feeling of FF9. One more gripe is that, as with FF's 7 and 8, the characters are a bit on the stereotypical side; as opposed to the more generic characters in FFs 1 through 6.

Still, when all is said and done, Final Fantasy IX is an excellent RPG. The storyline is well crafted, characters memorable, and gameplay near perfect. Just don't buy it expecting the same experience you had playing Final Fantasy VI back in 1994, because unfortunately you won't get it.

The Ultimate RPG

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: November 20, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I never dreamed this game would be so amazing. I was not even a Final Fantasy fan before this. In fact, this is the first game of the series I have played. It is by far the best RPG ever made.

A modern masterpiece.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: January 11, 2006
Author: Amazon User

While this will make my review sound one-sided, I hold Final Fantasy IX very dear to me. At one point in my life, I was very depressed. I'm talkin' "don't eat anything and just sit around and mope all day" depressed. If only out of sympathy, my parents got me FFIX back then. I'm still not sure why I wanted this over the likes of Suikoden II (which I probably should've chosen given how rare it is), but I'm glad I did, as it took me out of that depression and now ranks as my favorite in the numbered series, and just behind FF Tactics as my favorite of the entire FF series. And I'll have you know that I try not to go "oh, [x FF] isn't as good as [x FF]" since they're all different games. There's no point in saying VIII isn't as good as VI- they had completely different systems. IX has it all- memorable characters, a great plot, a good villain, a fun ability learning system, breath taking FMVs, and so much more. The only things that keep this from being the best rpg I've played are minor- I prefer Kefka over Kuja, the battle system has an annoying second waiting period in between attacks (I'll get to that in a minute), and oddly enough, it could've used more side-quests. Despite those minor things, IX is the ideal rpg for the 3D representatives of the genre.

Boy does this one have a long, inter winding plot. There's a lot going on in the first hour that you're better off just getting the game rather than reading through this. Zidane is part of a band of thieves who are given the task of kidnapping princess Garnet. They plan on taking her during a theatrical performance, and everything looks like it's going to fall into place. Meanwhile, Vivi, a young black mage, is new to the kingdom comes to see the same play, but it turns out that his ticket is fake. So he goes out looking for a way to see the play. And then there's Steiner, the captain of the Queen's knights...well, a small portion of them anyway. He's clumsy, but means well, and will do anything to protect the princess. But then there's the princess- who ends up running away on her own, which makes things even easier for Zidane since she demands he kidnaps her. Things go well for a while, but then Zidane's ship crashes in the middle of a dangerous forest. The princess goes missing again, and he, Vivi and Steiner have to look for her. Once they're all out, they learn of a dark plot with the black mages- they're all manufactured. Naturally, Vivi freaks out, and begins to wonder the meaning of life, his in particular. It's the Queen's doing, along with the person that delivers her the goods to her- Kuja. Through thick and thin, our party of heroes need to put a stop to them, and find out the deeper meaning behind everything. Why is there a strange mist that shrouds their world? What's the huge eye in the sky that's capable of destroying entire cities in one blast? Why is the Queen so corrupt? There are more questions than your standard rpg here, and they all come together perfectly- there are no loose ends.

Final Fantasy IX is as great as it is thanks to a perfect cast of characters. They're all great, and none of them are there just for the sake of being there. Zidane is a great lead character, and seems like a combination of Locke from FFVI and Irvine from FFVIII at times. He means well, but takes time to check out the ladies even when wandering around towns. Vivi, only 8 years old, is very mature, but you can see how helpless and vulnerable he is. Crying at the right times, questioning his existence, and wondering why everyone like him is made for destruction is a lot to deal with, no matter how old you are. Garnet is somewhat stereotypical- a princess who wants to be free of the whole royalty thing, but at least she remains an individual through the game. Later on, something devastating happens with her, which changes not only the way she acts, but the way others see her. While not tear-inducing, it'll change the way you look at her if you thought she was spoiled at first. Then there's Steiner, the oafish knight. The poor guy gets made fun of constantly by Zidane, being called "Rusty" at any given time. While he is a person that plays by the books, when he sees that what the Queen's doing is hazardous to Garnet, he snaps out of it, and makes sure protecting her really is his #1 duty, no matter what the costs. And you gotta love his little romantic bit later on in the game with Beatrix. Quina is...just plain odd. S/he is basically genderless, and cares only about trying new foods. She's a chef in training, and uses this in combat as well. Eiko is a little girl who's the last of her tribe of summoners. She lives with Moogles, and joins the gang once she realizes what they're doing, and to get closer to Zidane. Amarant is 100% bad-ass and tied for my favorite character in the game. He's a huge bounty hunter who never changes. Even when Zidane's having a very tough time with his life later on, Amarant helps a little, but remains the same bad-ass. Freya is my other favorite- a female mouse-person lancer. Her former love lost his memory when things were getting serious between them, and he just up and left. Her quote, "to be forgotten is worse than death" rings a heavy toll over everything. She also probably gets the short end of the stick in everything story-wise. Her lover is practically gone, her people are under attack, there's no one in the party to really relate to, and things go even worse shortly after she joins your party.

This time, you won't learn abilities via leveling up stupid magical orbs or drawing spells from enemies. But instead, you gain them from armor. And this time, they're permanent. Say you equip a bracelet that gives you an immunity to poison and boosts your MP by 10%. Once you gain enough AP from fights with the bracelet equipped, you'll learn those abilities, and can equip them whenever you want, not just when you have the armor on you. The same applies for weapons- learning skills and new attacks from them. And even better, all the characters have unique abilities. Unlike the horrid FF7, there's more than just limit breaks that separate the characters from one another. Zidane can steal, Steiner has useful sword techniques, Vivi has black magic, Garnet and Eiko summon and heal (but have different techniques in both categories), Amarant throws weapons and has a vast selection of skills, Freya can jump and cast useful spells, and Quina is the blue mage. But then there's the fights in the game. It's all turn-based, as usual, but there's an odd one second delay for some reason. When your characters have all selected their attacks, they don't do them right away, even if the enemy's not attacking. It bugs me, and sometimes the enemy will be at an advantage, getting in an attack or two before you do with all 4 characters. You'll see for yourself. Also included is a fun Chocobo mini-game where you run around digging up objects, an optional uber-boss, another card game (though not as fun as Triple Triad), some minor side-quests, and finding each character's ultimate weapon. This is one of the longer FF games, actually being as long as the critics say it is. My first run through the game clocked in at 40-some hours.

Since IX came out at the end of the PSone's life span, it holds the best graphics in the PSone line of FF games. Character animations are stupendous, the FMVs run a lot smoother with less grain, and the spells look great. You'll also be pleased to know that there are considerably less jaggies here than in the last two games. As for the sound, the soundtrack nears perfection and the sound effects are all as crisp as they should be. No awkward sound effects like midi laughs or anything like that of which plagued FF7 and sometimes in VIII.

Final Fantasy IX does everything right for the most part. Aside from the small cons I've mentioned, there's nothing bad I can say about this game that would affect me leaving it out of my top 10 favorite games list. Maybe it's going back to a simple fantasy world more than sci-fi has something to do with it, or maybe it's because it's hailed as the "last fantasy Final Fantasy" by some. Whatever it is, I have no regrets in buying IX. Those who got into the series via the NES, SNES or Genesis will have no problem getting into IX.

WOW

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: November 29, 2000
Author: Amazon User

When people who play video games hear the words Final Fantasy, even those who don't like that type of game have to admit that the series is very cool. It's creators have a history of Taking beautiful fantasy, Sci-fim type of stories, mixing them with interesting and beautifully developed charachters, putting them into fantastic and epic adventures and battles. Final Fantasy IX Scores in every way. You'll laugh, you'll cry, (Really) your jaw will drop at some of the events that happen. You will not be able to shut the game off.

to those who've never played and RPG, I say this: if you like reading, and you like video games, you must play this game. Most RPG's are like fantasy novels turned into videogames. And Final Fantasy is to video games, what the sowrd of truth series it to fantasy novels. simply the best. You save princesses, fight dragons, bring evil doer's to justice, and learn about the meaning of life, love, and beloging. I't not everybodies cup of tea. RPG's, even the best one's are an acquired taste. But should you have the taste for this type of adventure, you'll dig it the most.

For those of you that know the type of game, get it now. It will rob you of sleep, it will keep you from finishing homework, it is truly a captivating game filled with wizards, warriors, acts of courage and sacrifice, beautiful charachter development, mystery, chocobo's, Ultima, Masamune, crystals, and some dude named Cid. For those of you not in the know, Cid is the Q (From James bond) of Final Fantsy.

And, of course the graphics a captivating. the music; inspired. the story; a work of beauty. The battles; epic and exciting. Ant the villans are powerful and deep. But these things are final fantasy staples. This is the best Final Fantasy ever.

THIS is how you create a Final Fantasy game.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 11
Date: August 09, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This game has restored my view of Squaresoft, at least temporarily. You know, you can't just change everything that classifies a game as a Final Fantasy and then slap the FF label on it. There are some features that every true Final Fantasy game on every system from NES to Game Boy to SNES all kept, such as the overall medieval setting with bits of technology, the 4-person party, the class system that kept all the characters' abilities unique, appealing main characters, among other things. I'm happy to see them restored to their proper place.

FFIX redeems the series in my opinion. Now, the story is a little less serious than other Final Fantasies. However, that doesn't really bother me because I didn't like all the oppressive gloom of Final Fantasy VII. Final Fantasy VIII was a great improvement, but unfortunately, it was damaged by a love theme that was very poorly done, along with very weak character development. This game's story was not meant to confound you with constant plot twists (although there are plenty) or try to mystify you with "hidden truths." I don't need video games to teach me anything about life. This storyline was simply meant to be fun, and there's nothing wrong with that.

The character development here is far better, and the dialogue is thankfully not damaged by bad translation or excessive profanity (there should've been a "Soap" materia to stick in Barret's mouth). No more bad attempts at slang such as "chicken-wuss." Granted, Quina's accent can be a little grating at times, but that's deliberate, not a result of poor translation.

I think Zidane's romance with Dagger is very well done, much better than Squall & Rinoa's. The problem with the latter is that their relationship just came out of nowhere. There was no connection between them. They spent the entire game getting on each other's nerves and hurting each other's feelings, and then all of a sudden, POOF! They're in love. Zidane and Dagger obviously develop their connection over time, making it far more believable. Does Zidane have to get past some sort of major mental issues or "come out of his shell," so to speak? Nope. The only problem he needs to overcome is to stop flirting with every girl he sees and concentrate on Dagger. It's just a plain and simple relationship, and there's nothing wrong with that.

I also like Zidane as a main character. He's very sociable, likeable, humorous, and a daredevil, but he can also be a little full of himself at times, and he's quite obviously girl-crazy. So, he's got merits, and he's got flaws. That sounds like a pretty rounded-out and believable character to me. You see people like that in real life, especially at his age. He's also a refreshing change from these recent pessimistic and apathetic heroes, with abrasive personalities that rub everyone the wrong way (not to mention getting on my nerves as I'm the one who has to play them). Forgive me, but given the choice of either Zidane, or guys who say "I don't care" when you tell them the planet's going to die, my choice is pretty obvious: Zidane Tribal all the way.

The gameplay has also restored some of the older Final Fantasy features which I think were better, while still keeping a few of the newer features to make the game a fresh experience. This game's system is something like a combination of three: the old class system of the original, the Job system of FFV, and a little touch of the Junction system in FFVIII. The class system sees to it that the characters stay unique, only learning what their class will allow, while the little touches of the Job and Junction systems allow customization and strategy. It's an awesome and very well-balanced mix. All characters, even silly ones like Quina, have some specialty that truly makes them a valid team member. Chrono Trigger players will even notice a few Double Techs between Steiner and Vivi. I also like the fact that this system takes away the possibility of creating a party of demigods, though some may see this as a bad point.

I also like the Trance feature, to an extent. Sure, there isn't much eye candy with the attacks, or any over-the-top attacks like Lion Heart (don't get me wrong, Lion Heart's the best move I've ever seen in an RPG, but it does so much damage it's ridiculous--and it's so final... That attack could have been saved for an FMV in itself, to show Squall finishing off Ultimecia). I like Trance because it is more controllable than a one-time limit-break, and I also like the little transformation that it does to the character graphics. What I don't like, though, is the fact that it's completely useless if it comes in at the end of a battle. Also, as relates to the battle system, I find that the ATB gauge runs unusually slow in this game. I don't really like that either, especially in parts of the game where your time is limited (like the Festival of the Hunt). It seems to speed up as you progress though.

Well, overall, this game makes a fine tribute to the older games that made Final Fantasy what it is today. I would most definitely recommend it for anyone. I liked FFVII, and I liked FFVIII, but I honestly believe this one surpasses them both. This seems to be the first and last true Final Fantasy game on the Playstation console, and the best Final Fantasy to come along since the original and FFVI.

Review Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next 

Actions