FINAL FANTASY IX 18 YEAR ANNIVERSARY - Happy Console Gamer

Final Fantasy IX 18 Year Anniversary (ファイナルファンタジーIX Fainaru Fantajī Nain) is a 2000 role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation video game console. It is the ninth game in the main Final Fantasy series and the last to debut on the original PlayStation.
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Join Johnny Millenium The Happy Console Gamer as he discusses new video game news and reviews forgotten games that not many people know about but should!

[@edmundblackadder2741]

Final Fantasy 16 needs to have a medieval setting. We haven't had a setting like that since 9.

[@fattiger6957]

Agreed. Hell, as long as it isn't the 'a slight fantasy version of our world' like FFXV. You have no idea how pissed off I was to see all the product placement in that game.

[@mistertgt3477]

To be fair, 14 has kind of a medieval setting to it.

[@MrGnuh]

and it needs to be an airshiptrip with an all chicks party! haha

[@MrGnuh]

@@mistertgt3477 i sunk so many hours into that game. if i'm completely honest. if anyone asks me what my alltime favorite ff is. i almost have to say 14...

[@edmundblackadder2741]

MisterTGT but 14 is an MMO it’s not really a main series game.

[@dynamickirby]

It’s an adult now...They grow up so fast. 😢

[@allchatgaming7107]

man that’s my fav final fantasy, I literally just bought this on my iPhone lol got to the chocobo forest and never left lol. Amazing game. Great channel thanks dude!

[@FGazi-qf1hp]

Now it can legaly drink alcohol (Rest of world not USA haha).

[@Sarato]

Fun fact: My wedding song was actually Melodies of Life. It was amazing to dance to it.

[@MedoJumelOfficial]

Sarato that’s amazing!

[@silverwings21]

I still have the receipt for this game: I got it at Game Factory on November 22, 2000 for $45 (Brand new). Also bought Zelda: Majora's Mask for $60 (Brand new) the same day.

[@stonaraptor8196]

jesus the day i got to pick up majoras mask when it released :o lovely memories.

[@fattiger6957]

Oh, that brings back fond memories of the price difference between ps1 and n64 games. Still glad I chose ps1.

[@silverwings21]

@@fattiger6957 Yeah, the CDs were a lot cheaper to make, whereas memory on the cartridges was more expensive. But I prefer cartridges, because they are more durable, in my 28 years of gaming I never broken a cartridge, whereas a few of my CD games have been scratched up and unplayable at certain points. Also like no load times (for the most part) on cartridges, so the slight price increase was worth it.

[@CrossoverGameReviews]

@@fattiger6957 And now disc based games cost $60 while Nintendo Switch carts are $40. How about that?

[@fattiger6957]

@@CrossoverGameReviews What??? New Switch games are the same price as new PS4/Xbone games. Some of the remasters of older games are $5-$10 more. Haven't you heard about the 'switch tax'?

[@hafurg]

Love how people today still talk with so much joy and melancholy about this game. I'm currently playing it for the 9th time (now in PS4 version) and this game is truly a masterpiece. The storytelling, the emotions that characters give to you as you play, the setting, everything is so beautiful, the perfect OST...an RPG can't get better than this.

[@shad3slay]

To be completely honest I havent played it, funny thing is I have played from the first one to the 8 then skipped to the 15. I will probably purchase it next week on steam or emulate it on a ps2 emulator.

[@hafurg]

@@shad3slay nice! Hope you enjoy it, it is a psx game though. If you don't mind buying it digital, the moguri mod from the steam version greatly enhances your game experience. Have fun!

[@makzterzzz]

Yes a masterpiece.. there's not a lot of games you can call masterpiece and this is definitely one of them

[@JCrossJ]

My parents bought me this game back in 2001. I was ten years old and I remember that we went to the store because I was gonna get FFVIII. When we found FFVIII, it had the label M for Mature (that happened here in Spain), so my parents said: no way you're getting that, but look, there's another Final Fantasy rated E for Everyone, you can pick that one up. I was SO pissed off, because I wanted VIII (it's what I had seen and what my friends were playing) but oh boy when I popped in disc 1 and was greeted with that amazing introduction and Vivi running around the streets of Alexandria. My mind just shifted to: FFIX is better!! It's better! And to this day I still keep the VHS tape I used to record the ending of the game after defeating Necron to watch the ending and cry like 20 times that day. And it's been my favorite in the series since. So that's my little story on it. Great video!

[@cruzmedina8287]

Good bless

[@RoninAM]

Nice story :)

[@boombap08]

Just sold me on this game

[@Soup-man]

Good. Did you eventually play VIII?

[@jjc4924]

You parents raised you so well.

[@finallyjeremy8217]

It's hard to believe that IX is further away from us than IX is to the first Final Fantasy game.

[@budakbaongsiah]

Interesting way to look at the past. I like it.

[@nookloot6504]

My favorite game of all times being talked by my favorite youtuber! This game means so much to me, and it got me through the hardest moments of my life. Wish they had done a decent job with the re-release, but they destroyed the game in my opinion. (I had dreamt of a Resident Evil 1 style remake for this game, keeping the core game the same, including the fixed cameras, but with orchestrated soundtrack, and a NG+, but it's a pipe dream).

[@GregoryAlanBaileygamereviews]

They blurred the backgrounds in the game on the re-release it didn't look as refined as the PS1 version on a tube television.

[@creaksbass8953]

Im the exact same.this game has done more for me than most people.respect from ireland

[@TheFerretJuice]

I am not ashamed to admit I cried during the end cut scene when Zidane reveals himself to everybody and Garnet runs down to embrace him. Such a great game.

[@shocktrauma85]

Vivis letter at the end and knowing he died made me tear up.

[@kerbelkerbel3522]

There's something I love about hearing someone recall different times of their life. Drawing to the music, the old standard def TV. I could listen to that stuff all day.

[@Saiful.phom978]

I love Ff9. Always wished Blank was a permanent party member.

[@dominicdunn2579]

The sacrifice of Blank and his return was so memorable. I agree though Zidane needed a buddy with him but it worked out for the best :)

[@Chalexim]

FFIX is currently $12.59 on PSN (USA) for the PS4 :)

[@gersonmelendez8940]

That’s a steal at a retro game store this can go easily for 25 to 30 bucks

[@JazGalaxy]

the original Playsation release is NOT the way to play this game. The remake is ABSOLUTELY the ONLY way to play this game. There is so much detail put into the game that you literally can't see in its original version. It's compressed beyond recognition. The re-release is the actual representation of what the developers actually meant the game to look and play like. Especially on ipad where it can take advantage of the insane resolution.

[@JazGalaxy]

@@yournightmare9999 S-video will help a bit, but it's still a night and day difference. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHWVlapud513m6M this video doesn't even show the real benefits of the transition, which is Alexandria castle. There are lots of scenes with lots of little doo-dads in the background that you can't make out in it's original version. It's just visual noise. But in it's re-release you can actually see all the little details that the artists included. You can even read writing that was previously unreadable. It's just a gorgeous re-release and what the game alwasy deserved. It also elimates load times between screens and between battles which makes a MASSIVE difference in the way the game plays. Certain sections and quests that require you to move through screens repeatedly, like the monster-hunt mini-game, are finally playable and not headache inducing.

[@FallicIdol]

It’s in sale in the humble bundle store for the of too

[@ejbricks2831]

Floyd Money Mayweather 50-0 GOAT an update made the menu smaller

[@DaBakk88]

I was 12 when it came out and now i'm 30. Still my favorite game after 18 years. It has a magical charm that none other game I played has.

[@Tekman_]

I was around 8 when it came out.

[@PhillipAntoneOMara]

I remember brewing up some coffee and drinking some while visiting Morrid, who loved coffee. Sitting there in his house with the soothing music playing and drinking coffee with old Morrid is a great memory I have. I was way too immersed in this world.

[@darrylrobson4376]

Never heard of this game

[@paine7992]

I....really don't believe you dear Vivi^^ 😜 😝

[@PhantasyL]

I actually laugh at this comment, thanks.

[@ghostlywinds5334]

Boi with that adorable vivi icon I'm calling BS haha

[@Keppis100]

Darryl Robson Hahah 🤣

[@serrocsc]

yeah me too mr vivi

[@kellyh7202]

I was so excited when I saw this uploaded! One of my favorite games of all time and probably my favorite title in the series.

[@Silvergun_Raven]

I got my copy for Christmas of 2000 and not only was that year nostalgic for all of the games that came out on multiple consoles, but FF9 was one of my favorite games of that year. I remember taking the game and PlayStation to my Grandparents house on the weekends and whenever I hear the world map music today, it takes me back to that year when everything was better and my Grandpa was alive.

[@guilhermealbuquerque5648]

Forever my favorite game of all time. Wish I could go back in time to experience the game for the first time again.

[@davidgeorge3944]

It’s one of the finest games ever made and by a mile the greatest FF game ever. what a time we grew up in guys, if you were a young 12-14 year old like me, playing this for the first time ever on your old CRT screen TV, it was beautiful. It was amazing. Everything about it was amazing. Maybe that’s nostalgia kicking in but when I was that young, to play something this cool, I was in another world. I played and played and played until my eyes would almost bleed, uncovering every detail, every secret, everything I could, all the ultimate weapons, (accept Excalibur 2 I missed that one) just simply everything about it. I ruined ozma, easiest secret boss ever coz my party was so Damon powerful at levels 80 and up, that that world looking thing was destroyed in a matter of mere minutes. So was the final bosses. I pawned them all! Kuja, wrecked, Necron, piece of cake, ozma, easiest of them all lol 😂 I love and live and breathe this game man. I’m so glad there’s so much appreciation for this also out there due to it not being the best selling of the series by a long long way.. but damn, was it by far the hidden gem 💎 (or crystal) of the series ♥️💯 oh and vivi is one of the best characters ever, end of no debate 😉

[@emissaryoftheadams]

I played it again recently and it's now become my personal favourite, which is odd because for longest time it was always X or VII. I guess I forgot how emotional and engaging it gets. The characters are so charming, there is a calm atmosphere to it all with the music and the world and it never takes itself too seriously, can be funny but also sad and the ending may be the best of the series. I wish it was seen as one of 'important' titles of the series but it's slightly underrated status is also what makes it special.

[@derekhart410]

Still my favorite in the series. It blew my mind when it came out. The pre-rendered backgrounds are gorgeous and still hold up to this day

[@driftless7134]

My favorite Final Fantasy. I don't play video games much anymore, but constantly think about going back and replaying this.

[@FrenchDanceParty]

I played/beat 9 for the very first time this year when in lockdown from the virus. It was the perfect escape from life that I needed. I really loved the growth of the characters, especially Vivi. The music is also incredible. Best game in the series for me.

[@snhvnc]

Ever since I found your channel, I've found myself revisiting games from my teenage years, and you're right, they were great times. And they went by too fast. Thanks for all the trips down memory lane Johnny.

[@firebreather4192]

hey johnny, thank you so much for this video! final fantasy 9 was my introduction to the series and to RPGs in general, so it has got a very special place in my heart and still is one of my most favorite games ever! it was such a new experience for me back than as i didn't knew this kind of gameplay, character introduction / progression and storytelling. oh and the music! aand i did fell a little bit in love with garnet as an early teenager, haha. :D last time i played it (now on Steam) was about a year ago and it was an emotional journey again. :) i really do hope that we will get a similar game from square in the future, but i'm not very optimistic, looking at what the series has become over the years after FF X. :/

[@Chaoitcme]

Wow, 18 years. Time flies. I was 16 when this came out. I got the game right when it was released.

[@charaznable8082]

Amazing video, thank you for doing it. IX is truly the last and greatest Final Fantasy game ever made. It's also my favorite game of all time. I can't tell you how many times I played it and beat it. Just like you, I got it on release and I just fell in love with the game immediately. Not even talking about how great the gameplay is. The undertones of the game is what makes it so special. It's a truly sad story. Vivi wanting to know who he is, Zidane learning of his true self, Steiner trying to break the shackles of being just a solider, Freya longing for her past life and lost love. Yes, even Quina, proving that you should just go out and enjoy life, do what makes you happy, don't care about what others think! Just to name a few of them, but every character is so special and important to the story. They are all looking for something. The speech Vivi gives at the end of the game - moving on in life, we all die, accepting things, we all want something from life. All the characters go through so much. Even the music. The music is just amazing. Every track has character and weight to it. (Go listen to Alone, it's amazing.) Daggers song, Melodies of Life, breaks the entire game down perfectly. Listen to the lyrics. It's all about needing someone, and also moving on. IX was Sakaguchi's final, Final Fantasy, and in the characters and the music you feel a goodbye story. The characters themselves grow and move on and so did Sakaguchi. As Vivi said, "We were all so courageous...I wish we could all go on more adventures, but we all have to say goodbye someday." Such amazing writing and farewell to Final Fantasy and Sakaguchi. Every bit of dialogue really meant something. IX truly changed my life and I always think about it. Thank you Johnny, and thank you Final Fantasy IX and happy anniversary.

[@glidingfalcon4370]

Oh shut up. The last great FF was FF10. That had one of the best stories, some of the best characters and arguably the best music. It was the last Squaresoft game. It got 92 on metacritic same as FF6 and FF7. Thats Squaresoft's last farewell to the fans. It's a tragic tale that fits the tone of the end of Squaresoft. 'Listen to my story, this may be the last time', thats Squaresoft saying this might be their last game, so listen up. When Tidus says 'Goodbye'. Thats Squaresoft saying 'Goodbye' to the fans.

[@Dexterityshow]

@@glidingfalcon4370 I'm curious as to when the conversation was about X? According to Metacritic IX beats out all of the final fantasy games you mentioned. Why are you here again?

[@glidingfalcon4370]

Dexterity so a metascore of 92 is bad? FF6, FF7, FF10 and The Witcher 3 all got 92 on metacritic. FF9 got 94 that means it’s a great game. But doesn’t mean the others are bad.

[@budakbaongsiah]

Why do people think that FFIX is Sakaguchi's last FF? His last FF was FFXI, which was made and released by Squaresoft. Heck, Kingdom Hearts and X-2 were still made by Squaresoft and Sakaguchi was the executive producer of X-2. FFXII was the last great mainline FF. FITE ME

[@Dexterityshow]

@@glidingfalcon4370 when did I say FFX was bad? It's actually my favorite one out of the series lmao. Keep assuming.

[@brentongunter1287]

Ff9 will always be one of my favorite games ever. My first playthrough as a kid was so fun. The story and characters was the greatest. I also made my girlfriend play it and she loved it. Now I can't wait for my son to play it.

[@noahDnewport]

It’s corny but I just picked this up on the PS4. As soon as I started playing I was hit with nostalgia so hard I almost cried. I love this game so much.

[@positiveportia8590]

Absolutely love this game! Great characters, good story, stunning world, amazing soundtrack, just love it :D

[@ladynikkie]

also I don't know if people knew this but there was a cute little Japanese Coca-Cola commercial with the Final Fantasy 9 characters

[@dcrediah]

ladynikkie I just found it after watching this vid and reading this comment! Thanks for the heads up! More people need to know!!

[@silverwings21]

+ladynikkie I remember that commercial, had to find a website that hosted it because there was no KZbin back then.

[@ValmirSilvino]

That's true, I saw this news in a magazine but I didn't watch it back in the day.

[@alexgeorge3068]

They had little figures of characters too. I bought some on ebay years ago. I had Steiner, Garnet, Vivi, Red XIII and a "crystal" Vivi which was see-through red plastic lol.

[@evelyn4885]

i got the ps one for my birthday in 2000 when i was 11. i got final fantasy 9 for christmas. at the time it was the absolute peak of all things rpg and final fantasy. i got that exact same screen you held up not long after, i want to say for the birthday following that one. what a setup at the time. my friend and i played playstation on a road trip from wisconsin to florida that year. i once beat metal gear solid with that ps one setup sitting next to me in bed during a winter break night. the ps2 had just come out but playstation had such a nice library and ps one was a great affordable entertainment system that still had some solid years in it. great memories.

[@n64glennplant]

After living 7, hating 8, I was so glad I enjoyed 9 👍

[@Julia-hk9jp]

I hate 7 I love 8

[@n64glennplant]

brace yourself Julia....theyll be coming for you haha :)

[@tmaclabi]

I dunno whats the hate on 8. These three aremy big three of the FF series.

[@JerseySlayer]

1. You're at school 2. Draw system 3. Everybody forgot everything 4. Love story formost nahhhhh

[@darklash2496]

@@JerseySlayer every ff had different mechanics i like 8 but the story wasnt that great but for sure a great game

[@7dano523]

Best soundtrack ever... My kids fall to sleep to it every night. So much love & charm in these old titles. Remakes will never capture it again. Vivi ❤️

[@noside.foxhound]

Johnny I love your t-shirt! classic, so good memories.

[@jdgalloway2]

FFIX is among my all-time favorite games, and is definitely my favorite FF game. There's just something special about the characters in this one. More than any other, these guys came to feel like family by the end. The world design is jawdroppingly beautiful with its storybook aesthetic and loving attention to detail. The music is top notch work from Uematsu, I especially love Roses in May and A Place to Call Home. 18 years later and my love for Zidane and & Co. has only grown.

[@Migdo14]

I love Final fantasy 9, it got a great cast of characters to play with.

[@Oag1992]

This and 12 are my favorite 9 has such a special place in my heart. Vivi is hands down my favorite.

[@kevinlopez555]

Legend of dragoon should be remade... so many rpgs should be...

[@Duke_Togo_G13]

Legend of Dragoon is fine as it is. I wouldn't touch that one at all.

[@LeonExile05]

I agree, it hasn’t got enough shine. Such a good RPG. I have it on my Vita, the only thing I dislike it how you get stuck at the end, you should be able to go backward. They could build on it and make it so good if they pursued it.

[@budakbaongsiah]

Who owned the IP now anyway?

[@myth8065]

Chrono cross deserves a remake too!

[@Chicken_Inspector_kun]

first video of yours im seeing and your joy and enthusiasm is so contagious. The way you talk about your love for games is right up there with how i feel on the inside. It's so great to see you get so happy and positive about the happy memories games have given you! FFIX is totally my favorite in the whole series! Im way overdue for a replay.

[@kingdomheartsgamer8771]

I really love this game. God bless you for putting up a video about my ALL time fav Final fantasy games. This is as timeless as princess bride. I was very happy to beat this on my ps3, back in the day To this day, the music makes me cry tears of pure joy. Thank you so much for sharing you exp with us. :)

[@kingdomheartsgamer8771]

@@Grant-H2O 9 is FANTASY like the titale fantasy suggested not futuristic

[@TheInfiniteMiseryJumper]

Oh my God....that intro music, brings a tear to my eye...

[@Giablo1]

Not sure if I'd agree about how it doesn't take itself too seriously. It gets pretty insanely depressing by the second disc lol

[@JazGalaxy]

But even then, it managed to master it's tone by having Quinna and Steiner be so inherently comedic that they act as a foil to the depressing circumstances. It's extremely well done. The thing I like and miss most about Sakuguchi's FF games is that they never shied away from taking a break from circumstances to have some comedy. Often for no reason.

[@budakbaongsiah]

@@JazGalaxy Sakaguchi didn't direct this one, though. Hiroyuki Ito did, who also directed FFVI.

[@stevenrosscarpenter]

Disney does fun and sad too which i think was his point

[@anthonybuck1044]

I never played it, but my mom played it a lot when I was very little and the impact of that game still stays with me.

[@Feelin_DanDy]

FFIX is the best in the series, definitely the best on the PSX.

[@cencil6497]

bold

[@glidingfalcon4370]

nope FF7

[@AndrewHaddow]

I LOVE this game! I was 13 going on 14 when this game came out, delivering newspapers in a small suburban town in Ontario, and saw a Zellers ad showing off FFIX. I had received VII as a gift from my parents and loved it, borrowed VIII from friends and played the heck out of it, and was following IX pretty closely in the Official Playstation Magazine. Even though I was following development, for some reason the release date really snuck up on me and I was very surprised to see the game was already on sale. I immediately went out and bought it (with newspaper route money), making it the first Final Fantasy I bought with my own hard earned cash. Delivering papers doesn't sound that bad, but in a Canadian winter it's definitely not easy. A few months later I got a PS2 and that's what I primarily played through this game on throughout 2001. I've read studies that say that around the ages of 12-14, the brain is developing like crazy and cementing your sense of identity and self, and you tend to make a very strong emotional and life long connection with whatever you are really interested in at the time. So my feelings on this game may be a bi-product of this, but I think the game holds up very well. I might be wrong, but I don't believe IX had a demo that was massively available, so I went into the game pretty much blind other than preview images and maybe a trailer or two online (as you say in the video, the internet wasn't what it is today). I was totally blown away by the presentation, and something that just felt so right about the game. I know now that what really made the whole thing feel so cohesive and alive was the AMAZING localization of the English script. The dialogue felt natural, funny, and emotional without the forced melodrama of previous (and succeeding) titles. I still love FFVII but the English script was really a mess, although it seems like the translator was extremely overworked and not given enough support from the Japanese team. I look back on FFIX today as my favourite Final Fantasy by far. VII has the biggest nostalgic connection for me, but I can easily say IX is objectively the best game in terms of story, presentation, side content, and characters. Some balance issues, the frequency of random battles (high even for the time), and some questionable performance with the framerate in battle (jamming 4 characters in, having more detailed backgrounds) are the only nitpicks I have with this game, and those are fixed if you pick up the current gen port on your console of choice. I still love playing this on my CRT because it just feels so perfect, but you better believe I'm going to get the Switch port when it comes out. Thanks for the video as always.

[@GameSack]

Best Final Fantasy is still Mystic Quest. Everyone agrees... except those who don't.

[@VIRAL_DNA]

FF7

[@Symphony85p]

@@VIRAL_DNA FF 6

[@HappyConsoleGamer]

I agree Phantasy Star Gaiden Game Gear is the best!

[@FallicIdol]

Mystic Quest and FF2 japan

[@Direwoof]

FF tactics!

[@Mykaizer]

I remember getting this game christmas morning and I had a massive ear ache. This game helped go through the pain. It was an incredible journey I'll never forget.

[@ChristopherAOBoyle]

FF9 is my top fav FF and maybe game of all time. They mastered how to make each character on your team feel unique, the ability learning system was simple but had limitless potential, the story was so memorable and the music instilled so many emotions. It really is high art and surprises you with how great it is if you try and go back to it nowadays. I would buy a FFIX-2 in a heartbeat if it was the same world/mechanics :D

[@pellepelle8997]

I remember waking up easter morning and my mom had got me this game when I was 10 years old. I absolutely adored it from beginning to end. This is hands down my favourite game of all time. I love that you adore it just as much as I do. It is so nostalgic to me and it makes me happy to know that there are many others out there that love this game like I do. Thank you very much for making this video.

[@Flaris]

FF9 was one of the last few great FF games for me. They did such a nice job. It had some pretty awesome moments, Vivi rocks, and was just plain fun. A game worthy of celebration. Though it is also a bit "wow it came out that long ago?"

[@GameRatingReview]

Thank you! This is my favorite Final Fantasy game.

[@fredrik357]

Easily one of my top 3 ff-games, and yes Vivi

[@megaruhe6296]

Rally-ho!!

[@Ademious88]

I received this game on Christmas. I remember being extremely excited because I didn't know there was another Final Fantasy out yet (I was 12 and didn't have computer access). I was a little concerned about the style because the cartoony look seemed like a step back to me from 8, but I got into it anyway, and just from the opening cinematic alone I was just in awe. Pretty much everything about the game was perfect to me (aside from not being about to control the Trance, but I digress). It was a weird time for me, school wasn't going well, and my family had dumb drama that really made a lot of evenings awkward, so I was happy to have this in my life. The first time I beat it was by a fluke chance. As with everyone else, I wasn't expecting Necron and I didn't prepare properly for it. I also wasn't a huge fan of grinding lvls... so I was barely making it in Memoria as it was lol. So after the first inevitable wipe, I did the best I could to set up my team properly, but Necron still wiped the floor with everyone... except Zidane. However Necron ended up putting Berserk on Zidane before I could revive anyone. I left the room thinking that was it and I would come back to a gameover screen but instead I walked back in just as Zidane delivered the final blow. XD My 12 yr old self was ecstatic, and then the ending killed me. lol

[@Huddy40]

my 2nd favorite only beaten by 6. 9 is amazing!

[@seanwegner9925]

This was my first Final Fantasy game I ever played. My friend in school told me to go play Final Fantasy VII since it was 2000 and that was still a huge hit even 3 years after release. Since I was in 4th grade and very young, I did not understand Roman numerals at all...so when my mom and I went to the local K-Mart or wherever and went to the counter, this old lady went ahead and grabbed the newest released FF which was IX and gave it to me proudly like oh nice this kid is coming in for the newest one and I didn’t grab him a different mistake which she probably did a few times since she was way too old to be working in the electronics section lol. I took it home and found no giant blade with big spiky hair or a black guy with a gun arm or a red tiger but I did hear some of the best music ever and saw an airship flying across this beautiful backdrop and I had never ever seen anything like this before ever in my life. I was playing on a 60 inch TV that also had an HD input at the time and in the pitch black and for the next 6 hours I played this game all the way until getting out of the forest and I was so hooked for life. A year later Final Fantasy X came out and my mom and dad got my brother and I a PS2 console. I certainly have many treasured memories with this title. It’s now been 20 years and I’m wayyyyy past 4th grade. Time flies. Fun fact I am still best friends with the kid at school who told me all about FF and to go get it!

[@TH3USUALSUSPECT]

My favorite FF!

[@rpgaddiction5374]

One of my favorite games of all time. Even in tough times this game could take you away to another world and bring you joy.

[@ZoomingOut402]

Best in the series, hands down. Sadly it went downhill from there.

[@JazGalaxy]

It's so funny to hear people saying this now. FF9 was panned HARD when it came out. Most gamers started playing FF with Final Fantasy 7 and were perpetually mad that they weren't getting traditional sequels of that game. I was even on a message board at the time where a guy was angrily complaining about why they gave Cloud a tail. As time goes on, people begin to see the MANY flaws in FFVII and the virtues in FFIX

[@ZoomingOut402]

@@JazGalaxy Not really. At the time this game was a HUGE critical sucess and a massive hit, specially in japan. But it came in the end of ps1 lifespam and so it quickly faded because of final fantasy X. Only people who diss this game are edgy weaboos who just think its childish because of the super deform models. Their loss. This is much better written than viii and x.

[@Symphony85p]

FF6 is much better no competition . But FF 9 is awesome too.

[@Joe_334]

I think this was the last one Sakaguchi was involved with.

[@budakbaongsiah]

@@Joe_334 No. He's still the executive producer of FFX and FFXI which were still made by Squaresoft.

[@robertb67]

Time really does fly by fast. Seems like it's going faster and faster as I get older.

[@patrickdelaurentiis6752]

Best game best game 10/10.

[@ValmirSilvino]

I love when you talk about the games that I played a while ago. It's like I'm revisiting my memories.

[@MaskedGuyCh]

IX is my favorite game in the series after V, and objectively it is the best game in the series.

[@JazGalaxy]

5? Really? I'd be curious to hear why you think 5 is the best. I like it alright, but it's nowhere near my top. It's my least favorite Sakuguchi FF game, which is above all non-sakaguchi FF games.

[@MaskedGuyCh]

I didn't say V is the best, but it _is_ my favorite, and that's thanks to the amazing job system the game has, which Bravely Default's was based on. The progression and reward in FFV is very compelling, as your characters learn all sorts of cool abilities and it's up to you which kind of abilities and skills they learn. The game never feels boring. There are 3 worlds, and you get a ship, an airship, a submarine, and even a flying dragon throughout the journey. Plus, it's got that classic fantasy setting, which is always a plus in my book.

[@deathknell609]

Ah, I have such fond memories of FF9. I loved the game. Love the card system, even though it seems to be hated by most people. Love the characters (Freya kicks ass, especially when you get dragon's crest maxed out). Miss the fantasy part of the Final Fantasy series. I also miss the battle system of the older games (the way that it works today is more like an action game instead of a RPG game in my opinion. The transition into what is a one on one fighting game with other people doing stuff. I kind of stopped playing after FF10). I should replay it someday. Such good times.

[@truetaru]

Final Fantasy needs to go back to medieval fantasy... hate the whole modern, road trip stuff. Pretty soon we'll be shooting guns in first person.

[@JazGalaxy]

I feel like Square has learned it's lesson. In some ways, it's hard to blame them. Final Fantasy 7 sold SO many copies and turned Square into a major player. It's hard not to fault them with trying to double down on what made FFVII such a success. That is to say, cutting edge graphics and lots of attitudes. And if you want to sell big numbers in the games industry, you have to be "accessible". The reason why mainstream kids didn't like FF 1, 4 and 6? They required reading. They required math. They required strategy. They required management. As Square eliminated those things from the formula, the games attracted more mainstream attention.

[@Jordan3DS]

I mean, Episode Prompto has you shooting guns in third person, as did Dirge of Cerberus, so it's only a matter of time xD

[@bersey20]

My favourite/most nostalgic video game of all time. It came out when I was 11 years old and being one of the only games I had for my playstation at the time (damn parents, buy me more games) I played it to absolute death. I've played it from start to finish easily 10+ times. This game oozes charm and absolutely typifies what the Final Fantasy series was all about back when it was firing on all cylinders. Great review John. I know i'll be coming back to this video more than once.

[@DATSgroup]

Love FFIX but.... still my fav would be FFX.. Yuna ftw!!

[@Jordan3DS]

I just beat X for the first time recently, and I will have to say that it wasn't as good as I was expecting it to be. IX, X, and XI were all developed at the same, and you can definitely tell that IX had more of the main team focused on it while X was an experimental project made by less experienced developers and writers. I really enjoy the gameplay and party in X, but the story legitimately made be laugh at times because of how goofy it was, despite how seriously the game wanted to be taken. However, I had a blast playing through it due to the sheer entertainment factor that it provided.

[@demonsangells]

Best Final Fantasy to date and the only one from the series that I have completed multiple times. Vivi remains my all time favorite character, so much so that one of my friends actually drew a portrait of him and gave it to me as a birthday present - one of the best presents I've ever gotten.

[@leftymu]

FFIX is my favourite game of all time...I too fell in love with the characters, the world, the story, the music. Everything about this game is incredibly special, I have never experienced anything quite like it. So many moments throughout it send shivers down my spine or make me tear up. I don't really get bored of the game, I have played through it easily a dozen times and I even booted it up recently and just had a chill time playing some Chocobo Hot n Cold.

[@ShigKirby]

I only played FFIX a year or so ago and I have to say it's become a personal favourite of mine. Many JRPGs have come out since but IX is such a delightful fantasy tale with such a charming set of characters, amazing music, beautiful environments and great mechanics that kept me truly hooked. While I was fond of VII and unfortunately VIII wasn't quite for me, IX captured my attention and hooked me in. It's sort of not talked about much in the grand scheme of the series but it really is such an essential play for any Final Fantasy fan. It's a game that just makes you feel good and look forward to what happens next. Looking forward to seeing it come to Switch soon for a whole new audience to enjoy and play on the go.

[@CoffinSkate]

I haven't played and beaten many Final Fantasy games. At the time, I had only finished Final Fantasy 1, and Final Fantasy XIII, as well as Dissidia Final Fantasy and Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII. That being said, this past Summer, I went to a local game store, and saw a copy of Final Fantasy IX, black label, and complete, for $13, in which I snagged it in an instant. That day, I decided to play it for an hour just to see what I would be getting myself into... that hour turned into a 5 or 6 hour long play session. This game drew me in from the very start of the game. Needless to say, I finished the game over the Summer, and I gotta say, Final Fantasy IX is now my current favorite Final Fantasy game, and one of the best RPG's, hell, one of the best games I've ever played in my life. I loved the story, the characters, the battle system, the music, the graphics, I just fell in love with the game. I love this game so much, I'm gonna be writing a song inspired by the game. Such an incredible game, and it amazes me that 18 years after the games release, the game can still draw new players of the series in.

[@SeiferAlmasiz]

Not only my favourite FF game but my favourite game in general. What an epic game, music story, characters. I have lost track of how many times I have played

[@TarahWolf]

This review took me back. I was in high school when this came out. My mom knew I was a FF nut and asked me if I wanted the game. I rushed to the mall and grabbed my copy. As a kid I played and beat it, but after replaying it a few years back, the storyline had me in tears. For me the story was all about Vivi even though you play as Zidane most of the time. His journey was so relate-able and I really felt his fears as he sought out to find his identity. Each of the characters had their own stories which I loved. Replaying it is like meeting up with old friends, and I love the music, especially the world map theme and Ukulele de Chocobo. I bought the Zidane x Vivi figures and gave Vivi to a friend as a nerdy bff thing, I still have Zidane, standing proudly on my shelf, the art book sadly is in tatters after multiple years of flipping through it. Can't believe it's been 18 years. Thank you for reviewing. Seems at the time more people were hyped for the PS2 and FFX so this game didn't get as much love as it deserved.

[@robertojimenez721]

I’m 39.. i freaking loved it is so beautifully made and happy game..Amazing game , Is One of those games you do not wanted to end..

[@GamingWithSpoons]

Thank you for this video Final Fantasy IX was my introduction to the series. It was the game tht got me into RPGs

[@TheBloodyNights]

This was my favorite Final Fantasy on the Playstation. Such a good game with great characters. Watching this video makes me want to go back and play my old copy again. lol

[@zombieassassin3178]

Such a gem of a game. I still remember playing it coming from VIII. I loved IX so much.

[@sirsmok3salot428]

I find myself thumbs up more and more of your videos the more I watch!

[@christoskokolios1952]

I am replaying this now, and it still blows my mind. Thanks for the video!

[@burningpapersun1]

My cousin and I played this game so much during my junior year. We were such a hoodlums back then but we'd always take time out of our week to play this for 2 or 3 days at a time.

[@TheStrahl]

Not only is this my favorite Final Fantasy game, It's my Favorite game ever! Perfect story, music, characters, I just love everything about it!

[@Fromheroestoicons]

Bro, you're going to make me cry. I just had a crazy flashback. That game was such a comfort to me in a bad time of my life. FF IX is one of THE BEST FF ever. Maybe I'll start it again. Great memories. Your awesome!!!

[@trullikoi]

My favorite Final Fantasy game OF ALL TIME! This was the first game I bought for myself after getting my first job

[@jjc4924]

Final Fantasy 9 is not only my favorite Final Fantasy game & my favorite RPG game next to Chrono Trigger; but along with Chrono Trigger, it's also one of my absolute favorite games of all time. This game is phenomenal. This is the first Final Fantasy game I've ever played & I fell in love with it. I love the story. The characters are remarkable ( Vivi, Steiner & Garnet are my top favorites. ).The music is great. The environment looks gorgeous. The gameplay; while can be slow often at times from the load times to the battle speed in battle if you didn't have an option to raise up the battle speed; is really well structured, very simple & alot of fun. The atmosphere & aesthetics are wonderful in sights of to behold. The adventure was amazing. There's alot of sidequest to do. And for an anniversary celebration, this game did it an wonderful job referencing alot of the previous Final Fantasy games. This game was the reason that I'm becoming an Final Fantasy fan. And while I enjoyed every other Final Fantasy games that I've played, Final Fantasy 9 delivers alot of expectations for me. This game definitely rocks.

[@shadowslash932]

The first game i played the series and was the game that sparked my interest in JRPGS. I was 17 and little late to the genre but this game means so much to me.

[@amarg7657]

. wow my favorite final fantasy is getting a video?? automatic subscribe i hate how this game was released during the console jump from ps1 to the 2 its what caused it to be under rated this game was soooo enchanting im 23 and i played it for the first time last year on ps4 and i would have my eyes glued to the screen because of how much i loved the characters, the world the story etc it was just so wonderfulplaying the game. i loved how throughout the story characters dealt with sadness, happiness etc and they all grew emotionally and ended up winning in the end. the character development of steiner, and amarant were amazing hands down, i loved how each city was something new while playing the game running into eiko in that desert town and seeing her have a crush on zidane and getting jealous of the princess was so cute and then later on seeing her realize zidane loves the princess and shes ok with that, seeing vivi come to terms with his mortality even though he was paranoid of it from the start etc this game was just so wonderful and to think i almost skipped it oh man this game was just perfect it had so much charm i cant help but ramble on i apologize for the long paragraph but thank you for reviewing my favorite game youre a good man

[@2smileystudios205]

This is probably my favourite game of all time. It’s what first got me into vide gaming. And I have such a love for it!

[@HotTakeHQ]

I loved this video!! Your nostalgia for a beloved game is something everyone of us can identify with.

[@More_BRAAAINS]

18 years already!?!? It just seems like yesterday when I convinced my mom to get me this on day one. I was 15 and now I feel old. 😥😥😥

[@Zyrek1]

This is one of my favorite games of all-time. I loved the music, the story, the environments, and especially the characters. Vivi was incredible.

[@АндрейЧмыхалов-ф8ц]

Just started to play this FF a couple days ago. Never played it before and omg how cool and beautifull this game!!

[@InventiveRC]

2021 now,and wow,you just described everything i feel about FF 9,i remember back then,i stay a very long time at Dali just because i love the BGM

[@Spec0110x]

This is my childhood game ^.^ spend SO many hours in love trying to complete this game

[@Rouge_Raven_]

My Favorite FF!! I still listen to the music to this day. Vivi forever!!!

[@guyinapandasuit2691]

I remember this game fondly. I used to sit on the floor, in front of the tv in the family room for hours and hours. I was like , 9 or 10 maybe when I got this and actually beat it. Zero help from the outside lol. I had played 7&8 as well but I hadn't completed either of those yet. Please do a video about legend of the dragoon. That is one of my most treasured games from back then. And I really enjoy your videos and your points of view. Heck, I'd be happy if the game atlwast gets a mention in a different video. I literally played FF9 and LOTD back to back. Those were good times.

[@Motavian]

This is going to sound really stupid, but I just finished this game and it gave me closure for a part of my life that held me back for years. I love how the characters are all just reflections of the choices of how we live at different parts of our lives, we can all be obstinate and a stubborn slave to expectations like Steiner or a weird and difficult outsider like Amarant, or maybe just painfully shy, introspective and unsure of ourselves like Vivi. We just have to chose to live well.

[@Donjosue]

This game... Is simply happy feels.. I love this game so friggin much. The music , characters.and story blew me away

[@TheBitacora]

Im playing FF9 for the first time and all I can say is that I love it! I was playing it without noticing the time until it was too late. Amazing.

[@jollysword]

My first Final Fantasy game and my personal best one. Now a proud owner of a used but not abused Japanese PS1 version that I completed last year with only the firsthand memories of playing the English version beforehand.

[@Youkaikaze]

FFIX is definitely my favorite game in the series. I was 20 when it came out; bought the game guide and spent many countless hours trying to get 100% completion (the coffee sidequest really screwed you over in the beginning of the game if you didn't know about it). I was in a decently popular band at the time and had to balance my time between playing FFIX and living my rock & roll lifestlye. It was a really amazing time to be alive. I wish kids today could experience magic like that. Most contemporary games are kind of trash compared to the love and labor that went into FFIX. FFVII was pretty close, but only because it was such a huge break in what games had to offer at the time. 7 was to the FF series what Morrowind was to the TES series: something tremendously different and bold that took a lot of risks and had a huge payoff, but ultimately couldn't stand the test of time. 9 still stands up today in 2021 as an amazing game worth replaying if at all possible.