It is safe to say that Squaresoft's presence in the time line of the role-playing genre is probably the most significant there is. While a few people would argue this, it can't be denied that the Final Fantasy series, alongside Nintendo's classic Zelda series, is one of the most successful franchises since video games began. With future Final Fantasy titles in production on Sony's PlayStation 2, Final Fantasy IX will be the third and last outing on the six-year-old PlayStation. While previous Final Fantasy titles on PlayStation have been presented as futuristic (VII and VIII), Final Fantasy IX sees a return to the old school role-playing games of instalments one through six.
A typically epic, all-new plot has been incorporated for FFIX that once again demonstrates Square's ability to produce amazing story lines. Here, you will take on the role of Zidane, a cleverly skilled thief who has an eye for Princess Garnet. However, her stepmother, Queen Brahne's hidden agenda for world domination and possession over Garnet puts a spanner in the works. Up to eight playable characters will be introduced through the game's duration. But more importantly, and for the first time in Final Fantasy history, four characters can be controlled simultaneously. While the addition of a fourth character initially gives you a distinct advantage, the opposition's strength and numbers soon balance the equation. What's more, to keep the equilibrium of battles consistent, a refined battle interface has been employed, requiring time and attention to become accustomed to, whether you are an experienced player of the series or not. Many players will often begin with a variety of unusable abilities that after extended play will become available.
The random battles for the ninth instalment have remained intact, and while they may not be to your liking, they are necessary to keep your character's abilities at reasonable levels. Once again the game's pre-renders are especially detailed, meaning that the transition from in-game areas to CG movies are more seamless than ever. Also, textured battle sequences have been improved over previous versions, making spells, summons, and any other special effects even more `special'. The most welcome change for Final Fantasy IX is the capability to skip the lengthy battle animations, shortening any unnecessary life span of the game.
Players who joined the Final Fantasy series from its PlayStation debut in 1997 will uncover an entirely new experience that may not be to everybody's taste. Veterans of the earlier 8 and 16-bit creations should welcome this backward step in presentation with open arms. Whether you like it or not, FFIX is going to rock the world of at least one of your game-head friends, and if you're not a fan of the genre, prepare yourself for endlessly boring accounts of their virtual adventures. If, however, role-playing is your preference, then this is an essential purchase. Chart domination awaits.
