Final Fantasy IX Is Stupid

GameRaven.com writes:

''Let’s be honest, Final Fantasy IX is stupid. Like really, stupid. While the two prior games are guilty of the same thing, IX thrives upon it. All of the stupid dialogue, trips and fall, make it possibly the silliest entry into the franchise. But that’s why the game is so good.''

[Kupa]

This editor's clickbait game is on-point.

I hope they give FFIX the love it deserves someday and give it a nice simple remake. I don't want them to "remake" it, but I want them to Crash Bandicoot remake it.

[PixelGateUk]

How is it click bait? The game was often criticised for the change in tone from 7 and 8. People labelled the humour as stupid, along with the aesthetic of the game. Well, guess what, the game is 'stupid' but that's why it works. Hence a post that looks into why that is.

But i get it, people prefer to scream 'click bait' before reading.

[Kupa]

I meant it as a good thing. Because I clicked it thinking it would be negative, and it wasn't. Don't be offended.

[Vegamyster]

FF7 & 8 were different tones from the previous 6 games, I'm willing to bet the criticism came from people who's first game in the series were those two PSx games rather than long time fans.

[CrowbaitBob]

It's possible to have a substantive article that's sitting behind a click bait title. Calling something stupid in a title is like throwing gasoline on the flames of fanboyism.

[drunkenspy007]

Because they're using a negative blanket statement to get people to click in reaction. If you didn't know what click bait was, this is a classic tactic used.

[PixelGateUk]

Ah, i'm that used to clickbait being used as an insult on here that i went into auto 'time to explain why it's not clickbait' mode. My bad :)

It would be nice to have an HD update of sorts. But i don't see it happening any time soon

[Kupa]

No worries.

Yeah, Square is kind of infuriating like that. For forever, I just wanted the PS1 FFs remade with new assets and higher resolution, They finally move their feet, and now it's a full-blown new game coming out in five years. It's like, I don't think I'm asking too much for the same game with a prettier coat of paint, but whatever.

[Asuka]

yeah i kinda agree with the article. The art style, and the every so often comic remark gave this game unique charm about it. If this game was changed in any way i would feel it wouldn't be the same. Like mentioned in the article, i originally did not care for the game. the story, the settings, the art direction was a departure compared to the previous two mainline PS1 titles. But as i grew older and came back to the game I have developed quite a fondness for it. I would even venture to say I liked it as much as FFVIII (my personal favorite entry).

The story did have a unique charm about it that was somewhat cartoonish. However, it got pretty dark towards the end. Really wish more people checked this game out, or give it another go.

Edit: yeah the title is clickbait xD

[PixelGateUk]

It started off as my favourite Final Fantasy game, but the more i replay it (as well as the older i get), the game starts to become of my favourites in all of video games. Vivi is such a quirky character that opens up some of the game's most dramatic, and as you said, dark moments in the game. It's top stuff

[goken]

i really liked FF9 although i only went a few hours into the game. reminded me most of the old FFs (6 and earlier). played a lot of 8 and 10, but 9 is my favourite. really liked the theme song 'melodies of life' as well

[meka2611]

Same way I felt about it, was a return to old school, without all this bs technology. I think the people that hate FF9 might have had their first final fantasy expierence with 7 or 8 and expected the same. IMO FF8 was absolutely horrible, worst in the series, well beside 13 lol.

[rainslacker]

9 was my favorite of the PS1 gen. But I always loved that unique anime style quirkiness, and while it was somewhat there in 7 & 8, the tone was more serious in the overall game, whereas in 9, the story was actually more serious in many ways, but the characters made it more interesting because they weren't all serious all the time.

[The_Sage]

The title cracked me up. I had to read more. Click bait, or not... That's funny.

[FallenAngel1984]

"Final Fantasy IX was a far more light-hearted affair."

"The explosion of Western interest came with VII, leading to another ‘mature’ entry with VIII. Both games are grand features dripping with serious drama. Switching back to a more traditional style as they did with IX would no doubt be jarring. Cutesy designs, whimsical themes and far more comedy is a big departure after all."

Despite the art style, colourful settings and generally whimsical first disc, this game is rife with dark themes that make it a top contender for most depressing game in the series. The villains commit genocide with varying levels of success (the lowest level being "about half"), almost every kingdom you go to is either invaded, destroyed, or both, an entire planet is destroyed (and the other was pretty much its life support), the woobie-riffic characters experience existential angst that makes Cloud Strife look absolutely normal in comparison, no less than three existential crises occur, and the party actually dies at the end.

[Omnislashver36]

Damn, I'd actually forgotten about most of that. This is why I need a remake, to experience that epicness all over again.

[Fist4achin]

To each their own homeboy!

[343_Guilty_Spark]

It felt like an actual fantasy. The hyper realistic stuff gets boring

[DeathtoOtakuDJ]

I've always preferred/liked the High-Fantasy/Medieval Fantasy over the more realistic/modern themes for RPGs... but that's just me.

[DeathtoOtakuDJ]

All this talk, made me dream of Lost Odyssey and FF Tactics. Sigh...

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Both amazing

[Elda]

I have to say I enjoy playing FF games & I've played them all except the mmo's but imo FFIX wasn't a memorable FF. I enjoyed playing it but when I was done I was over it,I usually play a FF game at least 2 or 3 times.

[DeathtoOtakuDJ]

I mean... if you just look up Vivi and his past, and his association with the other Mages, you'll know how dark FF9 can really get.

[rainslacker]

That scene where they destroy the ship with the dark mages and they're all falling out was just sad. There were so many dark elements in the story that I think never really got much attention in the press for the time, and the game isn't really talked about in much detail when the subject is brought up, but FF9 is probably one of the darkest in the series.

The whimsical presentation and colorful graphics only mask just how depressing the game can be.

[PhoenixUp]

This whole article seems to only talk about the superficial things that you only see on the surface. For example.

"The ‘gritty’ nature of Squall and cloud’s adventures resulted in a blueprint for countless JRPGs in their wake. A brooding warrior"

In the original, Cloud Strife actually did very little brooding, preferring to focus on fighting Sephiroth and saving the planet from Shinra. The guy even cracked a few jokes at his friends and could take a jab back in return, and is very caring of his friends and claims he trusts everyone. It's only in later media that his broody attitude got turned up and overshadowed his character.

"Both FFVII & FFVIII were introduced with epic cut scenes that oozed with drama."

And so was FFIX. Let's not forget that a recurring theme that happens throughout the game is how characters treat having an intentionally short time span.

Even Vivi, who this article likes to pick out his humorous slapstick, has a lot of emotional baggage. He gets treated like a soulless monster by various NPCs, witness his kind being slaughtered like mere cattle in front of his eyes, and he finds out he doesn't have long to live and doesn't make it through the finale unlike the rest of the party.

"On the whole, there’s an element of whimsical enchantment beating at the heart of the game."

People say that FF9 is one of the cheerier games in the tone for the series, but, when you think about it long enough, you realize that's it's not true. Through the events of the game, you will witness the deaths of millions through war and genocide. The entire summoner race is immolated to death by a giant death ray. Both Burmecia and Cleyra are destroyed, nearly wiping out the rat people. Thousands die in the attacks on both Lindblum and Alexandria. Kuja kills all the sleeping Terrans by blasting everything to hell. And god knows how many died thanks to the introduction of the Mist. Garland planned to kill every living person on Gaia and he did a very goddamn good job. In short, IX probably has the highest body count of any Final Fantasy game to date - and that's just the deaths we see!

Yes FFIX has its comedy and light moments, but so do FFVII & FFVIII. The main thing separating FFIX from those two is the art style and the more overall upbeat main protagonist. But just like Cloud & Squall, Zidane goes through some brooding as well. The brooding just doesn't define him.

[PixelGateUk]

'This whole article seems to only talk about the superficial things that you only see on the surface. For example. '

Hey, you mean the same way critics of the game often refer to the superficial things? You're damn right!

Also, you've taken the brooding thing to direct to 7. If you're trying to tell me FF7 didn't kick off the brooding JRPG hero then i'd have to challenge you to a dual in the name of heresy. The post isn't about brooding anyway

[rainslacker]

I don't think Cloud brooded so much as he was standoffish from being close to others or caring to get involved with the problems of others. This was an early part of the game, but as he made friends with these people, he didn't brood as much and opened up quite a bit. He was pretty focused on his goal, and was very upset over Aerith's death where he became kind of an a** for a while, but he didn't brood. He had a lot of self-pity, but brooding tends to imply that he spent time dwelling on things that made him unhappy, whereas he actually concentrated on removing the things which made him angry, or finding the answers to things which made him angry.

[PhoenixUp]

Critics of the game highly praised it since its tied with FFVI as the critically highest rated game in the series. Yeah it has its detractors, but many of them are people who only look on the surface.

We've had brooding JRPG protagonists since FFIV's Cecil.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

lol best title ever

[TheGamez100]

Lol dat clickbait...but a good one

[TheOttomatic91]

If they ever do a remake I would like it to be a graphical one like N Sane Trilogy.

[pietro1212]

I wish this title was getting a full remake over FFVII

[Gatsu]

Lol that title.
I wonder if the writer even played the game as the story gets dark for the characters. IX felt like an actual fantasy and the comedy fits well to the game.

[PixelGateUk]

Lol that comment.

[Relientk77]

I think Final Fantasy IX is one of the best games ever made. I want a remake, and I want Final Fantasy 16 to be like this medieval fantasy

[feraldrgn]

*gasp*.
Oh you got me.

[Tzuno]

It's someone opinion...ok , FFIX is a gem for me.

[PixelGateUk]

read the title, not the post

[callahan09]

The best game in the franchise in my opinion. I have incredibly fond memories of this game.