While Final Fantasy IX is not the paramount of the series, it still holds up as a highly enjoyable RPG even today.
How could such a solid RPG have received such an unimpressive reputation? Final Fantasy IX does start off a little slow, but if you give it some time the game proves to be just as fine-tuned and involving as the greats of the series. The storyline may not be as "mature" as the dramas of VII, VIII, and X, but it still possessed the same sort of character development that has become a staple of the series. Rest assured, the tale told in IX is one of the most absorbing, spanning four discs and countless cities, forests, mountains, and dimensions. That's right, dimensions. Nostalgia being a common theme for IX, the game world is a mix of everything you've seen in previous Final Fantasy games, from the ever-so-classic black mages of the first Final Fantasy to the mechanical warfare of FFVIII. While appearing disastrous on paper, Final Fantasy IX takes all of the well-loved elements of the series and puts them together in an incredibly smooth package.
Of course, at the heart of any Final Fantasy game is its battle system. This time around the battle system is playable and exciting, but nothing special. Four playable characters at a time is a nice addition, but the amount of customization is very low. Some of the thrill in previous games definitely came from molding your characters into hybrids of physical attackers and healers to magic users and summoners. Final Fantasy IX does allow for discretion in learning skills, but unless they relate to status boons, each character is mostly restricted to certain types of skills. The "trance" system of IX is also overly hard to execute and control, turning trances into nothing but luck. However, despite all of the little things, the enemies you battle vary significantly and boss fights usually require pretty careful strategy. There are some really satisfying victories in FFIX.
Overall, Final Fantasy IX can go against the best of the series and still hold its own. Kudos to Square for such presentation, as even ten years later some of the environments and visuals are still incredibly imaginative and stunning. Despite its linearity, Final Fantasy IX is a very fun and lengthy experience that you should definitely pick up if you get the chance.