Epitomizes the brilliance of Final Fantasy in an epic tribute to the past.
User Rating: 10 | Final Fantasy IX PS
While the world began to turn their attention to the next generation of gaming consoles, Squaresoft didn't seem to hear that buzz defening PS1 releases. Times were changes, games were changing; and in that context Square released the game that defines their success....Final Fantasy 9. It was not the most original game, but that was never the point. FF9 returned to its class system, Medieval styled setting, grand epic as a tribute to its roots and the world it defines. The outstanding world designs, as beautiful and artistic as in any game, are full of dark city alleyways, misty fields, and mysterious forests primed for exploring. And if the settings themselves don't pull you into their world, Uematsu's overwhelmingly dramatic musical score will--quite possibly his best work; a masterpiece that surpasses anything in the movies. The character development is top rate, and the story is intriguing enough and involved enough to provide some of the most powerful and moving moments in video game history. The game does have its faults though. For starters, it is too short. You'll be thick into the game when it's time for the final stages, and finish a few notches before the 40 hour mark. Additionally, some of the character development fall apart at the end, or leaves you with nagging, unanswered questions. However, these minor problems are negligible next to the brilliance that is Final Fantasy 9. I highly recommend this game to everyone who loves games, especially classic RPGs.
