Hero-of-Time Posted February 14, 2008 Posted February 14, 2008 With the lack of RPGs in this current generation ( PS3, 360 & Wii ) I have decided to catch up on some of the gems that I never played or never finished back in the day and Final Fantasy IX is one of these games. I think I have tried to finish this about 4 times now during its 7 years of release and each time I get stopped by another game or I just lose the drive to play it. I decided that this time its now or never so I started playing it last weekend. So far im nearly finished the 1st disc and im starting to once again get into the game. I think one of the main reasons I never finished the game was because out of all the FF games this one IMO has the worst mini games. From the skipping game at the start to the poorly made card game and then the final nail in the coffin is the Chocograph hunting. Also I dont really connect with most of the characters in the game. I think I only really like Vivi and to a certain extent Zidane. I spent a good hour yesterday in the first Chocobo Forest getting all the Chocographs which wasnt as half as bad as I thought it was going to be. I then spent a while just levelling up and then learning Blue Magic with Quina, who I think is a pretty shoddy character that seems like nothing but filler. Having played 10 hours of the game I still love Vivi, the little Black Mage is still adorable and hard as nails. The cutscene where he unleashes on the Black Waltz is still a classic but it is outdone by the scene of Alexander being summoned later in the game. I only ever got mid way on disc 3 so anything after that will be a great suprise for me. So after 7 years will HoT finally reach the end of the game and get to see the ending once and for all? Hopefully Feel free to discuss your memories and thoughts on the game but if there is anything that I havent reached yet please use the spoiler tags. Thanks.
darksnowman Posted February 14, 2008 Posted February 14, 2008 I don't think anyone would argue with you about Vivi being supremely cool. What about Tetra Master though? How come you don't like it? Maybe because its not optional in this like Triple Triad was in FF VIII? If you lose interest in playing this, I'll catch you up cos I was planning on playing FF IX at some point fairly soon.
Jonnas Posted February 14, 2008 Posted February 14, 2008 Funny. You don't like this FF as much as the others, but to me it's the very best. Oh well, keep going. You don't have to do those side-quests, you know. And there're some great parts before the ending.
Zell Posted February 14, 2008 Posted February 14, 2008 This is probably my second favourite Final Fantasy, I think what made it stand out was the retro feel to it, was a good decision after the futuristic settings in VII and VIII. I actually really enjoyed Chocograph hunting, was always a nice break from the main quest. I agree with you with the card game though, it was quite poor, especially compared to Triple Triad. Just keep going. The story should keep you playing on (though the ending's a bit rubbish).
McMad Posted February 14, 2008 Posted February 14, 2008 I loved this game, it easily had the best cast of Final Fantasy characters in the series. Shame about Kuja being such a crap villain though.
Hero-of-Time Posted February 14, 2008 Author Posted February 14, 2008 Shame about Kuja being such a crap villain though. Why the hell does he look like a woman? Just finished off the 1st disc, 1 down and 3 to go
Zelda_Rulez Posted February 14, 2008 Posted February 14, 2008 This was one of my favourite FFs, really liked the story and that they went back to a more classic setting. One of the few FFs next to FFX and FFVII and FFVI that I actually finished, and I've played them all.
Roostophe Posted February 14, 2008 Posted February 14, 2008 FFIX is my favourite one in the series. I can play the title screen theme (Which I think is called "The Place I'll Return To" or something or other.) on guitar. :awesome: I never played Tetra Master, though. Purely because I just didn't bother with it. It wasn't a compulsory part of the game, and I didn't enjoy it, so I left it out. I was much more interested in the main quest. I think I got up to Disc 3 before I got distracted and stopped playing. (By distraction, I think I mean "Getting the 360".) I haven't played it since then.
Sheikah Posted February 15, 2008 Posted February 15, 2008 I loved this game, it easily had the best cast of Final Fantasy characters in the series. Shame about Kuja being such a crap villain though. I thought he was great. FFIX is probably my second favourite game, after FFVIII. I actually loved the Chocobo's Hot and Cold - after you get your chocobo colour upgrades the minigame becomes much more enjoyable and the rewards really pay off. I really loved the background art in this game, especially Cleyra and Treno. The ability learning system from weapons/armour rocked, as well as some equipment giving you extra abilities such as absorbing shadow (good against Ozma). Some of the music was great, the story; while not appearing as important as those in the previous games, was still awesome in its own right. Superb game.
killer kirby Posted February 15, 2008 Posted February 15, 2008 Final Fantasy IX was a great direction of the game after the terrible game known as VIII. But then they made X, which made me go....WTF!!!! Final Fantasy IX was going in a great direction with the final fantasy series and they fuck it all up with X
Guest Jordan Posted February 15, 2008 Posted February 15, 2008 FFIX is by far my favourite of the series (then again, i detest 7, 8, 10 and 11 and not played 12). I got to the middle of the third disc but i don't know why i didn't finish it... Now i have a PS3 i might go buy it again.
Domstercool Posted February 15, 2008 Posted February 15, 2008 Out of the PSX games, 9 was my least fave, it was a good game, but man they went backwards with some of the stuff. I hated that you couldn't customise your teams, only 2 people could summon, wtf is that about? I didn't even use those two people, so basicaly I watch the summon once to see what it looked like, then off went Garnet, back to her cage. Lol and don't even get me started on the Tranny Kuja, oh god, I hated alot of those characters in that game. Lol oh yeah, and Trance! Yes lets make the limit breaker known as Trance go off after a battle is over. What a waste that was! Anyway, you should go back and play the whole Suikoden series once you've done with FF9, brilliant collection of games.
Hero-of-Time Posted February 15, 2008 Author Posted February 15, 2008 Dom pretty much summed up why I have such a hard time playing this FF. For me the main reason I enjoy playing RPGs is the characters and the story and with FFIX I find myself caring about neither...well apart from Vivi.
Zell Posted February 15, 2008 Posted February 15, 2008 Trance... what a poor system that was. Especially after the superb limit break system in FFVIII.
Domstercool Posted February 15, 2008 Posted February 15, 2008 Aura and refreshing the menu until you get the move But yeah back on FF9, Vivi was indeed awesome, but that's one of the only characters I really cared about.
Chuck Posted February 16, 2008 Posted February 16, 2008 I got up to the very last bit on my play through. Like 4 bosses all at once. Trance Kuja and finally Ultima crystal person. Got up to the last bit but failed after being almost plumitted by trance Kuja.
Hero-of-Time Posted February 16, 2008 Author Posted February 16, 2008 Woohoo! Disc 3!! I had a great session on this today, practically played all day on it. Ive really started to get into the game and suprisingly started to like another character, Stenier. He has really grown on me, just the way he follows orders blindly and im finding him quite humourous. Shame he hasnt been playable for most the 2nd disc but I look forward to getting him back into my party.
Fandango Posted February 18, 2008 Posted February 18, 2008 FFIX is my favorite Final Fantasy, just such a great game, Alot of people dislike it for some reason, dunno why, I just loved everything about it! Got stuck at the very end unfortunately and I can't finish it now as I lost the disks Great art-style, superb music and I thought the storyline was pretty decent, nothing special but maybe its just because I didn't like one or two of the characters......anyway, give this game a go if you like traditional RPGs as you'll love it!
MoogleViper Posted February 19, 2008 Posted February 19, 2008 Anyway, you should go back and play the whole Suikoden series once you've done with FF9, brilliant collection of games. I've only got suikoden IV (I think it's that one, the one with the ships and Cray Trading Company and Snowe). It was ok but nothing too great. I got a bit bored of it so I never finished it. I got quite far but it was just the same all the way through. FFIX wasn't my favourite. Although it seemed to be like more by fans of VII. Personally I'm a VIII fan. Love that game. Only beaten by Shenmue.
Hero-of-Time Posted February 19, 2008 Author Posted February 19, 2008 I've only got suikoden IV (I think it's that one, the one with the ships and Cray Trading Company and Snowe). It was ok but nothing too great. I got a bit bored of it so I never finished it. I got quite far but it was just the same all the way through. FFIX wasn't my favourite. Although it seemed to be like more by fans of VII. Personally I'm a VIII fan. Love that game. Only beaten by Shenmue. Yeah, FFVIII is also my favourite. I just got my sailing ship today and went and got lvl 5 death for Quina. I then just spent 30 mins killing Grand Dragons with that move which levelled up my characters stupidly fast
Domstercool Posted February 20, 2008 Posted February 20, 2008 I've only got suikoden IV (I think it's that one, the one with the ships and Cray Trading Company and Snowe). It was ok but nothing too great. I got a bit bored of it so I never finished it. I got quite far but it was just the same all the way through. FFIX wasn't my favourite. Although it seemed to be like more by fans of VII. Personally I'm a VIII fan. Love that game. Only beaten by Shenmue. Suikoden 4 was the weakest in the series, as it changed producers. But in the overall of the game series, it still adds some nice touches, especially seeing Ted, oh man, he was a guy from Suikoden 1! He's like 150 years old Everyone should still play them all, it's the best series going. Rumours of 6 are coming out. *prays* Unlike most other RPGs, each Suikoden is set in the same world, so the games build a MASSIVE amount of history in the game. Nothing like it really. I'm a FF7 fan, it's my fave, still go for 8 over 9.
Hero-of-Time Posted February 24, 2008 Author Posted February 24, 2008 Wow, just wow! I have just reached the 4th disc and I never seen that twist coming at all. End of disc 3 spoilers. [spoiler=]Kuja and Zidane brothers! Zidane basically just a pawn like the Black Mages! Terra getting the hell shot out of it! SIMPLY AWESOME! Also the whole section where Zidane refuses any help from his team mates as they all battle was very epic, especially the music that was playing in the background in and out of the fights. I was hoping to have this finished for Thursday what with Lost Odyssey coming out but I dont think it will happen. I need about 20 more cards to finish the set and I need to beat Ozma and Hades. I have done all the Chocobo Forest stuff though, got a gold chocobo and found all the treasures so at least that is out of the way now
Chuck Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 Ive just started playing again. Have you got the cards and items for the skipping game in Alexandria. And do you know the secret 1 move for defeating the tree that i remember?
Hero-of-Time Posted February 24, 2008 Author Posted February 24, 2008 Ive just started playing again. Have you got the cards and items for the skipping game in Alexandria. And do you know the secret 1 move for defeating the tree that i remember? Is that the Iifa tree boss? If so then yeah you use the Life spell for a 1 hit kill.
Chuck Posted February 24, 2008 Posted February 24, 2008 Lol. I remember that back in the day when I had the guide. I got it back out today to go thorugh it. Some of the stuff it says go online to find out more. What is the point in the guide then? What about the skipping game adam?
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