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{{Short description|2000 video game}}
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{{Infobox video game
| title = Final Fantasy IX | title = Final Fantasy IX
| image = ] | image = Ffixbox.jpg{{!}}border
| caption = North American box art | caption = North American box art
| developer = ] | developer = ]
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP=Square|NA=]|PAL=Square Europe|EU=] <small>(Platinum)</small>}} | publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|Square|NA|]|EU|Square Europe|WW|]{{efn|Published Android, iOS, Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One versions.}}}}
| director = ] | director = ]
| producer = ]<br />] | producer = {{ubl|]|]}}
| designer = {{ubl|]|Yasushi Kurosawa}}
| designer = Hiroyuki Itō
| programmer = Hiroshi Kawai | programmer = Hiroshi Kawai
| writer = ]<br />] | artist = {{ubl|Hideo Minaba|]|Toshiyuki Itahana}}
| writer = Hironobu Sakaguchi
| artist = ]<br />]<br />Hideo Minaba
| composer = ] | composer = ]
| series = '']'' | series = '']''
| engine =
| released = '''PlayStation'''<br />{{vgrelease|JP=July 7, 2000|NA=November 14, 2000|EU=February 16, 2001|AUS=February 22, 2001}}'''PlayStation Network'''<br />{{vgrelease|JP=May 20, 2010|NA=June 15, 2010|EU=May 26, 2010}}
| platforms = {{ubl|]|]|]|]|]|
| genre = ]
]|]}}
| modes = ], limited ]
| released = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|July 7, 2000}}|{{ubl|'''PlayStation'''{{vgrelease|JP|July 7, 2000|NA|November 14, 2000|EU|February 16, 2001}}|'''Android''', '''iOS'''{{vgrelease|WW|February 10, 2016}}|'''Windows'''{{vgrelease|WW|April 14, 2016}}|'''PlayStation 4'''{{vgrelease|WW|September 19, 2017}}|'''Switch''', '''Xbox One'''{{vgrelease|WW|February 13, 2019}}}}}}
| ratings = {{vgratings|CERO=A|ELSPA=11+|ESRB=T|OFLC=M|USK=6+}}
| genre = ]
| platforms = ], ]
| media = 4 ]s | modes = ], ]
| input = ]
}} }}
{{FixBunching|mid}}] battle, Steiner attacks the enemy while Zidane awaits the player's input.]]
{{FixBunching|end}}
{{nihongo title|Final Fantasy IX|ファイナルファンタジーIX|Fainaru Fantajī Nain}} is a ] developed and published by ] (now ]) for the ]. Released in 2000, it is the ninth title in the '']'' series. The game introduced new features to the series, such as the "Active Time Event", "Mognet", and a revamped equipment and skill system.


{{Nihongo foot|'''''Final Fantasy IX'''''|ファイナルファンタジーIX|Fainaru Fantajī Nain|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 2000 ] developed and published by ] for the ] video game console. It is the ninth game in the main '']'' series. The plot focuses on a war between nations in a medieval fantasy world called Gaia. Players follow a thief named ] who kidnaps princess ] as part of a ploy by the neighboring nation of Lindblum. He joins Garnet and a growing cast of characters on a quest to take down her mother, ] of Alexandria, who started the war.
Set in the fantasy world of Gaia, ''Final Fantasy IX''{{'}}s plot centers on a war between several nations. Players follow a young thief named ], who joins with several others to defeat ] of Alexandria, who started the war. The plot shifts, however, when the characters realize that Brahne is a puppet for an arms dealer called ].


''Final Fantasy IX'' was developed alongside '']'', but took a different path to return to the style of the early ''Final Fantasy'' games with a more traditional fantasy setting; consequently, ''Final Fantasy IX'' was influenced heavily by the original '']'' game, and features allusions to other titles in the series. The music was scored by the then regular series composer ]. The game has been subject to generally positive reviews, but received mixed opinions for being similar to the older ''Final Fantasy'' games in style. ''Final Fantasy IX'' was commercially successful, selling 5.30 million units worldwide as of March 31, 2003. Game development occurred in parallel with '']''. Envisioned by developers as a retrospective for the series, it departed from the futuristic settings of '']'', '']'', and '']'' by returning to the medieval style of the earlier games. Consequently, it draws heavy influence from the original '']'' and features allusions to the rest of the series. The game introduced new features to the series despite this approach, such as "Active Time Event" cutscenes, "Mognet", and skill systems. ''Final Fantasy IX'' was the last game in the main series whose ] was composed solely by ].

''Final Fantasy IX'' was released to critical acclaim and commercial success, selling more than 5.5 million copies on PlayStation by March 2016. It was re-released in 2010 as a PS1 Classic on the ]—this version was compatible with ] and ]; ] support arrived in 2012. In 2016 Square Enix released an enhanced ] featuring minor gameplay and graphical enhancements, which would be released on several platforms. An animated series adaptation by Square Enix and ] was announced in 2021.


==Gameplay== ==Gameplay==
{{See also|Gameplay of Final Fantasy}}
]
]
In ''Final Fantasy IX'', the player navigates a character throughout the game world, exploring areas and interacting with ]s. Most of the game occurs in towns, dungeons, caves, and similar areas, which are referred to as "field screens".<ref name="gameguide">{{cite book | year=2000 | editor=Square Enix staff | title=Final Fantasy IX instruction manual | page=29 | publisher=Square Co. | id=SLUS-01251}}</ref> To aid exploration on the field screen, ''Final Fantasy IX'' introduces the "field icon", an exclamation mark appearing over their lead character's head, signaling that an item or sign is nearby.<ref name="gameguide" /><ref>{{cite web | author = Square Nation | url = http://www.squarenation.com/ffix/ | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20061212043620/http://www.squarenation.com/ffix/ | archivedate=2006-12-12 | title = INFORMATION & REVIEWS | publisher = Square Nation | accessdate = 2006-08-19}}</ref> Players speak with ]s to record their progress, restore life energy with a tent, and purchase items<ref>{{cite web | author = Cuellar, Jose | date= 2001-02-07 | url = http://www.nd.edu/~observer/02072001/Scene/2.html | title = Magic of `Final Fantasy IX' creates best in series | publisher = ''The Observer'' (Notre Dame) | accessdate = 2006-08-19}}</ref> &mdash; a deviation from previous installments, which used a save point to perform these functions. Moogles may request that the playable character deliver letters to other Moogles via "Mognet".<ref name="gameguide"/>


In ''Final Fantasy IX'', the player navigates a character through the game world, exploring areas and interacting with ]s. Most of the game occurs on "field screens" consisting of ] representing towns and dungeons.<ref name="gameguide">{{Cite book |title=Final Fantasy IX instruction manual |publisher=Square Co. |year=2000 |editor-last=Square Enix staff |page=29 |id=SLUS-01251}}</ref> To aid exploration on the field screen, ''Final Fantasy IX'' introduces the "field icon", an exclamation mark appearing over the lead character's head, indicating a point of interest.<ref name="gameguide" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Square Nation |title=Information & Reviews |url=http://www.squarenation.com/ffix/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212043620/http://www.squarenation.com/ffix/ |archive-date=December 12, 2006 |access-date=August 19, 2006 |publisher=Square Nation}}</ref> Players speak with ]s to ], recover their energy, and purchase items.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cuellar, Jose |date=February 7, 2001 |title=Magic of 'Final Fantasy IX' creates best in series |url=http://www.nd.edu/~observer/02072001/Scene/2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090716012812/http://www.nd.edu/~observer/02072001/Scene/2.html |archive-date=July 16, 2009 |access-date=August 19, 2006 |publisher=The Observer (Notre Dame)}}</ref> An extensive ] involves sending and receiving letters from Moogles and other non-playable characters via Mognet, an in-game postal service.<ref name="gameguide" />
Players journey between field screen locations via the ], a three dimensional, downsized representation of ''Final Fantasy IX''{{'}}s world presented from a ].<ref name="gameguide"/> Players can freely navigate around the world map screen unless restricted by terrain, such as water or mountains. To overcome geographical limitations, players can ride ]-like ]s, sail on a boat, or pilot ]. Like previous ''Final Fantasy'' installments, travel across the world map screen and hostile field screen locations is interrupted by ]s.<ref name="gameguide" /><ref name="RevIGN" />


Players journey between field screen locations on the ], a three-dimensional representation of ''Final Fantasy IX''{{'}}s world presented from a ].<ref name="gameguide" /> Players can freely navigate around the world map unless restricted by obstacles such as bodies of water or mountain ranges. To traverse these impediments, players can ride ]s, sail on a boat, or pilot ]. Like previous ''Final Fantasy'' games, players enter battles caused by ]s with enemies while traveling across the world map or hostile field screens.<ref name="gameguide" /><ref name="RevIGN" /> ''Final Fantasy IX'' offers a new approach to town exploration with Active Time Events (ATE). These allow the player to view events unfolding at different locations, providing character development, unique items, and prompts for story-altering decisions. ATEs are occasionally used to simultaneously control two teams when the party divides to solve puzzles and navigate mazes.<ref name="gameguide" />
''Final Fantasy IX'' offers a new approach to town exploration with Active Time Events (ATE), which provide character development, special items, and prompts for key story-altering decisions.<ref name="gameguide" /> At specific points, the player may view events that are occurring simultaneously. ATE is occasionally used to simultaneously control two teams when the party is divided to solve puzzles and navigate mazes.


===Combat=== ===Combat and character progression===
] battle, Steiner attacks the enemy while Zidane awaits the player's menu input.]]
Whenever the playable character encounters an enemy, the map changes to the "battle screen". On the battle screen, the enemy appears on the opposite side of the characters; each battle uses the familiar ] system that was first featured in '']''.<ref name="RevIGN"/> The character's command list is presented in a ] opposite the ATB gauge list; while all characters can physically attack the enemy or use an item from the player's inventory, they also possess unique abilities. For instance, the thief Zidane can steal items from the enemy, Eiko and Garnet can summon "eidolons" to aid the party, and Vivi can use ] to damage the opposition.<ref name="gameguide"/>


These character-specific commands change when the player goes into "] mode", which is activated for a short duration when an uncontrollable gauge fills as character sustains damage in a style similar to the Limit Breaks used in '']''. When the gauge is full, the character's strength is amplified, and the player can select special attack commands.<ref name="RevGS"/> Zidane's "Skill" command list, for example, changes to "Dyne", allowing him to execute powerful attacks; Vivi's "Black Magic" command evolves into "Double Black", allowing him to cast two magic spells simultaneously.<ref name="gameguide"/> Through the Configuration screen, the player can change the Battle Style from Normal to Custom, which allows two players to control any combination of characters during battle. However, two controllers must be plugged into the PlayStation.<ref name="RevGS"/> When the player encounters an enemy, the map changes to a battle screen. The player issues commands to characters from an on-screen menu on the battle screen, including physically attacking, using items from the inventory, and unique character-specific abilities that define their role in battle.<ref name="gameguide" /><ref name="RevGS" /> For example, the thief Zidane can steal items, Eiko and Garnet can summon "eidolons" to aid the party, and Vivi can use ] to damage the opposition.<ref name="gameguide" /> The speed and order in which the characters and enemies ] varies according to their ], an implementation of the ] system first featured in '']''.<ref name="RevIGN" /> Character-specific commands change when the character goes into "] mode", which is activated for a short duration when the character sustains a specified amount of damage similar to the Limit Breaks in '']''. Trance mode amplifies the character's strength and allows the player to select more powerful attack commands.<ref name="RevGS" /> For example, Vivi's "Black Magic" command changes into "Double Black", allowing him to cast two magic spells at once.<ref name="gameguide" /> Winning battles awards money, items, "]s", and "ability points".<ref name="gameguide" />


Experience points determine a character's combat attributes like agility, strength, and magical power. Accumulating sufficient experience points results in a "level up", which permanently increases combat attributes. Equipment worn by a character may also amplify their attributes. Certain weapons and armor also bestow special abilities, which the character may use when equipped. When the character earns enough ability points, it becomes usable without the item equipped.<ref name="gameguide" /> There are two types of abilities: action and support. Action abilities require ]s to use and include magical spells and special moves used in battle. Support abilities provide functions that remain in effect passively, such as increasing power against certain types of enemies. The maximum number of effects characters can equip at once is determined by level.<ref name="gameguide" /><ref name="RevGS" />
A character's performance in battle is determined by numerical values ("statistics") for categories such as speed, strength, and magical power. Character statistics are driven by experience; when players win battles, they are awarded "]s", which accumulate until characters gain "experience levels". When characters "level up", the statistics for their attributes permanently increase, which may also be amplified by the types of equipment the character is wearing. Winning battles also awards the player money (]), ] playing cards, and ability points (AP).<ref name="gameguide"/>

===Abilities and equipment===
''Final Fantasy IX'' deviates from the style of customizable characters featured in the last two titles by reviving the character class concept, which designates a character to a certain role in battle.<ref>{{cite book | year=1997 | editor=Square Electronic Arts | title=Final Fantasy VII North American instruction manual | pages=20–25 | publisher=Square Electronic Arts | id=SCUS-94163}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | year=1999 | editor=Square Electronic Arts | title=Final Fantasy VIII North American instruction manual | pages=20, 24, 36 | publisher=Square Electronic Arts | id=SLUS-00892GH}}</ref> For instance, Vivi is designated as a black mage and is the only character who can use black magic, and Steiner is a knight and is the only character who can use sword skills.<ref name="gameguide"/><ref name="RevGS"/>

The basic function of equipment in ''Final Fantasy'' games is to increase character attributes; arming Zidane with a Mythril Vest, for example, increases his base defense statistic. In ''Final Fantasy IX'', weapons and armor include special character abilities, which the character may use once the item is equipped (permitting that the ability matches their class). Once the character accumulates enough ability points in battle, the ability becomes usable without having to keep the item equipped.<ref name="gameguide"/> In addition to granting abilities the equipment in ''Final Fantasy IX'' determines the statistical growth of the characters at the time of level up. Armor not only raises base defense or evasion statistics but raises defense and/or other statistics at level up.<ref>{{cite web | date= 2004-11-20 | url = http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/psx/file/197338/20745 | title = Final Fantasy IX Max Stats Guide by FADFC | publisher = ] | accessdate = 2008-07-01}}</ref>

Abilities are classified into action and support categories. Action abilities consume ]s (MP) and include magic spells and special moves that are used in battle. Support abilities provide functions that remain in effect indefinitely (e.g., the support ability "Antibody" nullifies poisonous attacks), and must be equipped with magic stones to be functional. The maximum number of these stones increases as the characters level up.<ref name="gameguide"/><ref name="RevGS"/>


==Plot== ==Plot==
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===Setting===
''Final Fantasy IX'' takes place primarily on the four continents of a world named Gaia (homonymous with ], but not the same world). Most of Gaia's population reside on the Mist Continent, named so because the entire continent is blanketed in thick Mist. Lands outside the Mist Continent—the Outer, Lost and Forgotten continents—are uncharted territories not explored until midway through the game. Several locations on the parallel world of Terra and the dream land of Memoria round out the game's areas. The Mist Continent features four factions: Alexandria, Lindblum, Burmecia, and Cleyra. Each country is separated by mountain ranges; the isolated Cleyran civilization, nestled in a giant tree in the desert, is protected by a sandstorm summoned by the village elders.


===Setting and characters===
Gaia is inhabited by humans and various non-human races. Alexandria and Lindblum are both populated by a mix of humans and anthropomorphic animals. The Burmecians are ] ]s who live in both Burmecia and Cleyra. The Cleyrans, who value dance, split from the Burmecians when the latter started to appreciate "the art of war". The dwarves are short humanoid creatures who appear as inhabitants of the village of Conde Petie on the Outer Continent. There is also a village of black mages that have gained sentient thought which reside in the Outer Continent as well. The Genomes, an artificial race of soulless vessels, inhabit Terra; they will house the once-dormant Terran souls when Terra assimilates Gaia. ] are similar to other humans, but with a horn on their forehead. In the story, only two summoners remain (Garnet and Eiko); the others were exterminated when the Terran warship Invincible destroyed their homeland of Madain Sari. Lastly, the Qu are large, seemingly ] humanoids,<ref name="mainsite">{{cite web|url=http://na.square-enix.com/games/FFIX-gamesite/|title=Final Fantasy IX|publisher=North American Square Enix|accessdate=2007-06-09}}</ref> who are recognized as fine ]s. They inhabit marshlands throughout the world where they catch their main source of nutrition: frogs.
{{Main|Characters of Final Fantasy IX}}
''Final Fantasy IX'' takes place primarily in a world named Gaia. Most of Gaia's population lives on the Mist Continent, named after the thick Mist that blankets the lowlands. Large mountain ranges act as natural borders that separate its four nations: Alexandria, Lindblum, Burmecia, and Cleyra. Alexandria is a warmongering monarchy that controls the eastern half of the continent. One of its cities is Treno, a cultural nexus under perpetual starlight that is home to many aristocrats and paupers alike. The technologically advanced Lindblum, a hub of airship travel, is nestled on a plateau to the southwest. Both countries feature a mix of humans, humanoids, and ] animals. Burmecia, a kingdom showered by endless rain, is in the northwest. Cleyra, a neighboring settlement that seceded from Burmecia due to its appreciation for war, is situated in a giant tree in the desert, protected by a sandstorm. Both are inhabited by anthropomorphic rats with a fondness for dance and spear fighting.


Players eventually explore the Outer, Lost, and Forgotten Continents as well. Civilizations on the Outer Continent include Conde Petie, home of the dwarves; Black Mage Village, a secret settlement of sentient magician drones; and Madain Sari, once home to a near-extinct race of horned humanoid ] who conjure powerful magical beings called eidolons. Also on the Outer Continent is the Iifa Tree, which disperses the Mist to other continents through its roots. This Mist stimulates the fighting instinct in humanoids and contributes to Gaia's bloody history. The Lost and Forgotten continents are littered mostly with ancient ruins. Scattered throughout the marshes of Gaia are the Qu: large, frog-eating, and seemingly ] humanoids<ref name="mainsite">{{Cite web |title=Final Fantasy IX |url=http://na.square-enix.com/games/FFIX-gamesite/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070204065620/http://na.square-enix.com/games/FFIX-gamesite/ |archive-date=February 4, 2007 |access-date=June 9, 2007 |publisher=North American Square Enix}}</ref> who are considered great ]s. Late in the game, players briefly travel to the parallel world of Terra and the dream realm of Memoria.
In ''Final Fantasy IX'', the game's developers sought to make the game's environment more "fantasy-oriented" than its PlayStation predecessors. Since the creators wanted to prevent the series from following a redundant setting, ''Final Fantasy IX'' distinctly breaks from the futuristic styles of '']'' and '']'' by reintroducing a medieval setting.<ref name="RevIGN" /> In the game, steam technology is just beginning to become widely available; the population relies on ] or ] for energy sources, but sometimes harness Mist or steam to power more advanced engines.<ref group="q">'''Man:''' I'll be joining a team of engineers who are developing a new engine that runs without Mist. The world outside the Mist Continent is uncharted territory, but there's no need to worry about our safety if we can explore it on an airship. Regent Cid is an advocate of technological advancement. Oh, sorry. I talked your ear off."</ref> Continuing with the medieval theme, the game's setting is inspired by ] and ]an mythology. According to director ], " attracted to European history and mythology because of its depth and its drama".<ref name="IGNInterview1">{{cite web|date=2000-09-20|url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/085/085276p1.html|title=The Final Fantasy IX Team Spills All|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-06-16}}</ref> The main ''Final Fantasy IX'' website says the development of the game's world serves as a culmination of the series by blending the "successful elements of the past, such as a return to the fantasy roots," with newer elements.<ref name="mainsite"/>
{{-}}


The main playable characters are: ], a member of a group of bandits called Tantalus who are masquerading as a theater troupe; ] (alias Dagger), the Princess of Alexandria who runs away with Zidane; ], a young, timid, and kind black mage with an unknown origin; ], a brash Alexandrian knight captain and loyal servant of Princess Garnet; ], a Burmecian dragoon searching for her lost love; ], a Qu whose master wants them to travel the world so that they will learn about cuisine; ], a young girl living in Madain Sari who is one of the last summoners; and ], a bounty hunter hired to return Garnet to Alexandria.<ref name="mainsite" /> Other important characters include Cid Fabool, the charismatic Regent of Lindblum; ], Garnet's adoptive mother and the power-hungry Queen of Alexandria; ], the general of Alexandria's all-female army; Garland, an elderly Terran male tasked with saving his world; and antagonist Kuja, an arms dealer and pawn of Garland who questions his own existence.
===Characters===
{{Main|Characters of Final Fantasy IX}}
The eight main playable characters in ''Final Fantasy IX'' are Zidane Tribal, a member of a group of bandits called Tantalus masquerading as a theater troupe; Garnet Til Alexandros XVII (''alias'' Dagger), the Princess of Alexandria who has a strange connection to "Eidolons", ], a young, timid, and kind black mage trying to find the meaning of his existence; Adelbert Steiner, the Captain of the Knights of Pluto and loyal servant of Alexandria and Princess Garnet; Freya Crescent, a dragon knight from the city of Burmecia looking for her lost love; Quina Quen, a Qu whose master wants him/her to travel the world so that s/he will learn about ]; Eiko Carol, a six-year-old girl living in Madain Sari, the lost village of the eidolon summoners, and along with Garnet, one of the last two remaining summoners; and Amarant Coral, a bounty hunter hired to return Garnet to Alexandria.<ref name="mainsite"/> Other main characters include Regent Cid Fabool, the charismatic leader of Lindblum; Queen Brahne, Garnet's mother and the power-hungry Queen of Alexandria; General Beatrix, the powerful leader of the female knights of Alexandria; and antagonist Kuja, an arms dealer and enemy of Gaia. Other minor characters and groups also appear, such as Blank, Zidane's good friend and band partner, but their significance and back-stories are revealed as the game progresses.

During development, the creators made the characters a high priority.<ref name="IGNInterview1"/> The return to the series' roots also affected the characters' designs, which resulted in characters with "comic-like looks".<ref name="IGNInterview1"/> Uematsu commented that the design staff attempted to give the characters realism while still appearing comic-like.<ref name="IGNInterview1"/> To accomplish this, and to satisfy fans who had become used to the realistic designs of ''Final Fantasy VIII'', the designers stressed creating characters with whom the player could easily relate.<ref name="IGNInterview1"/>
{{-}}


===Story=== ===Story===
''Final Fantasy IX'' begins with Zidane and the Tantalus Theater Troupe kidnapping Princess Garnet during her sixteenth birthday celebration. The group learns that Garnet, who is concerned about Queen Brahne's increasingly erratic behavior, actually wanted to escape to Lindblum to meet with Regent Cid,<ref group="q">'''Garnet''': I am actually... Princess Garnet Til Alexandros, heir to the throne of Alexandria. I have a favor I wish to ask of you... I wish to be kidnapped...right away.</ref> and had planned to stow away on the theater ship. The Troupe's airship, ''Prima Vista'', is damaged during the escape; it crashes in the Evil Forest, prompting Zidane to continue the trek to Lindblum without the rest of Tantalus.<ref group="q">'''Baku''': So, you're leaving, eh? / '''Zidane''': Yeah... I promised Garnet I'd kidnap her.</ref> Zidane and Garnet are accompanied by Vivi and Steiner, who became entangled with Tantalus during their escape from Alexandria. During their journey, Garnet adopts the alias "Dagger" and struggles to mingle with the locals.<ref group="q">'''Garnet''': I will be called Dagger from now on.</ref> The group learns of a factory inside the village of Dali, that manufactures soulless black mage warriors for Alexandria's use. Brahne dispatches three powerful ones called Black Waltzes to retrieve Garnet by force, but their mission ends in failure. In Alexandria, Zidane and Tantalus kidnap Princess Garnet by order of Cid. Garnet does not resist, for she was already planning to flee and warn Cid of Queen Brahne's increasingly erratic behavior.<ref group="q">'''Garnet''': I am actually&nbsp;... Princess Garnet til Alexandros, heir to the throne of Alexandria. I have a favour I wish to ask of you&nbsp;... I wish to be kidnapped&nbsp;...right away.</ref> Vivi and Steiner join the party during the escape. En route to Lindblum, the group discovers that Brahne is manufacturing soulless black mage soldiers that look similar to Vivi. In Lindblum, Cid confirms that he hired the group to protect Garnet from Brahne's newfound aggression. After learning that Alexandria has invaded Burmecia with the black mages, Zidane and Vivi join Freya to investigate. Garnet and Steiner secretly return to Alexandria to reason with Brahne.<ref group="q">'''Dagger''': I have to help Mother&nbsp;... I don't want to see anything happen to her&nbsp;... / '''Steiner''': Very well. Princess, I will follow you wherever you choose.</ref>


Zidane's team finds that the Alexandrian forces, headed by Beatrix, conquered Burmecia with help from Kuja and the refugees have fled to Cleyra. Brahne imprisons Garnet, extracts her eidolons,<ref group="q">'''Queen Brahne''': Zorn, Thorn! Prepare to extract the eidolons from Garnet.</ref> and uses the eidolon, Odin to destroy Cleyra while Zidane's group defends the city. The party escapes on Brahne's airship, rendezvous with Steiner, and rescues Garnet. Meanwhile, Brahne cripples Lindblum with another eidolon, Atomos.<ref group="q">'''Minister Artania''': Yes, Princess. The castle was spared. Regent Cid is alive.</ref> Cid explains that Kuja supplies Brahne with black mages and the knowledge to use eidolons. The party befriends Quina and tracks Kuja to the Outer Continent.<ref group="q">'''Regent Cid''': I believe Kuja is the only one supplying <gwok> Brahne with weapons.</ref><ref group="q">'''Minister Artania''': That he came from the north suggests he's from the Outer Continent.</ref> Brahne hires bounty hunters Lani and Amarant to capture Garnet. On the Outer Continent, the party defeats Lani and meets Eiko, a summoner who lives with a group of moogles in the village of Madain Sari. Eiko leads Zidane and the others to the Iifa Tree. Inside, they learn that Kuja uses Mist to create the black mages and that Vivi was a prototype.<ref group="q">'''Zidane''': What kind of weapons did Kuja make? / '''Soulcage''': Kuja called them black mages, dark spawn of the Mist.</ref> The party defeats the monster that generates the Mist within the Tree, which clears it from the Mist Continent. While waiting for Kuja's reprisal at Madain Sari, Lani and Amarant attempt to kidnap Eiko but Zidane and the moogles foil them. Amarant then challenges Zidane to a duel and loses. He joins the party and Garnet learns of her heritage as a summoner who was adopted by Brahne as a child. At the Tree, Brahne attempts to kill Kuja with an eidolon so she can rule unopposed, but he takes control of it and destroys her and her army.<ref group="q">'''Queen Brahne''': Kuja! So you finally decided to show your girly face here! You're all that stands between me and total domination!</ref><ref group="q">'''Kuja''': Excellent, Bahamut! Power, mobility&nbsp;... You truly are the best! You even hurt me&nbsp;... a little. And you, Brahne&nbsp;... Your tragic role in this drama now comes to an end!</ref>
In Lindblum, Zidane meets Freya and joins in Lindblum's Festival of the Hunt. Regent Cid has been turned into a bug-like oglop by his wife Hilda, for his womanizing behavior.<ref group="q">'''Regent Cid''': "When Hilda found out about my little affair, she used her magic and turned me into an oglop.</ref> Wishing to protect Garnet from Brahne's newfound aggression, he had ordered Tantalus to kidnap her.<ref group="q">'''Dagger''': Uncle Cid hired Tantalus out of concern for my safety.</ref> When the group learns that Alexandria has invaded Burmecia, Freya investigates the situation with Zidane and Vivi, while Dagger and Steiner head to Alexandria to ask Brahne to stop the war.<ref group="q">'''Dagger''': I have to help Mother... I don't want to see anything happen to her... / '''Steiner''': Very well. Princess, I will follow you wherever you choose.</ref> Both parties are powerless to stop her, and Dagger has her ] forcibly extracted from her body.<ref group="q">'''Queen Brahne''': Zorn, Thorn! Prepare to extract the eidolons from Garnet.</ref> Brahne uses one of Dagger's eidolons, Odin to destroy Cleyra, escaping on Brahne's ship the Red Rose, they head to Alexandria to save Dagger. Escaping from capture Steiner meets up with the others. They find Dagger and escape but not before gaining an ally in Beatrix. She stays behind with Freya and Steiner to help the retreat of Zidane, Dagger and Vivi. Their initial plan of going to Treno failed and they crashed into Pinnicle Rocks. Restoring her faith in herself and receiving the Eidolon Ramuh they continue towards Lindblum. Only to find that Brahne is attacking, destroying one of the districts with another of Dagger's stolen Eidolon, Atomos forcing Cid to surrender.<ref group="q">'''Minister Artania''': Yes, Princess. The castle was spared. Regent Cid is alive.</ref>


After Garnet's coronation, Kuja attacks Alexandria Castle.<ref group="q">'''Kuja''': What an auspicious day for Alexandria. Dagger's accession to the throne has brought hope and peace to this kingdom. The people are overjoyed; they believe a wonderful future is ahead of them&nbsp;... But the celebration isn't over yet. It's time to really light things up! Your former master is here, Bahamut. Play a requiem for her and all of Alexandria!</ref> Garnet and Eiko summon an extremely powerful eidolon in defense; Kuja attempts to steal the eidolon as a means to kill his master, Garland, but the latter arrives and destroys it.<ref group="q">'''Garland''': You have gone too far, Kuja. I granted you the freedom to do as you wish in Gaia for one purpose alone. Now that you have lost sight of your mission, I will no longer tolerate your actions.</ref><ref group="q">'''Kuja''': I need an eidolon more powerful than Alexander! An eidolon with the power to bury Garland! His powers are so incredible; I cannot even come close. I must destroy him before Terra's plan is activated, or my soul will no longer be my own!</ref> The party chases Kuja through a portal to Terra, where the antagonists' goals become clear. The Terrans created Garland to merge their dying world with Gaia; Garland, in turn, created self-aware, soulless vessels called Genomes.<ref group="q">'''Garland''': I constructed the Genomes to be vessels for the souls of the people of Terra when they awaken.</ref> For millennia, Garland has been using the Iifa Tree to replace deceased Gaian souls with the hibernating Terran souls, turning the former into Mist in the process; this will allow the Terrans to be reborn into the Genomes after the planetary merge.<ref group="q">'''Garland''': the Iifa Tree blocks the flow of Gaia's souls, while it lets those of Terra flow freely.</ref><ref group="q">'''Garland''': The role of the Iifa Tree is that of Soul Divider. The Mist you see comprises the stagnant souls of Gaia&nbsp;...</ref> Kuja and Zidane are Genomes created to accelerate this process by bringing war and chaos to Gaia.<ref group="q">'''Zidane''': So&nbsp;... Kuja is just an angel of death who sends souls to the Tree of Iifa. / '''Garland''': Yes, my angel of death. But only until you came of age.</ref> Kuja had betrayed Garland to avoid becoming occupied by a Terran soul. Kuja defeats Garland, who reveals before dying that the former has a limited lifespan anyhow: Garland designed Zidane to be his replacement.<ref group="q">'''Garland''': There's a limit to your life&nbsp;... You'll be dead soon&nbsp;... Even as I die, you'll have died without ever leaving your mark on the world&nbsp;...</ref> Enraged, Kuja destroys Terra and escapes to the Iifa Tree.
Afterward, Cid tells the party about Brahne's arms dealer, Kuja.<ref group="q">'''Regent Cid''': I believe Kuja is the only one supplying <gwok> Brahne with weapons.</ref> The party travels to the Outer Continent, the location of Kuja's headquarters, through an underground tunnel with the help of Quina.<ref group="q">'''Minister Artania''': That he came from the north suggests he's from the Outer Continent.</ref> There, the party meets a young summoner named Eiko, who assumes herself to be the last survivor of Madain Sari. They also discover a village inhabited by self-aware Black Mages. Their pursuit of Kuja leads them to the nearby Iifa Tree, an entity that dissipates fighting-stimulant Mist.<ref group="q">'''Soulcage''': I contaminate the other continents with Mist to stimulate the fighting instinct.</ref> They also learn that Kuja uses Mist to create the Black Mages.<ref group="q">'''Zidane''': What kind of weapons did Kuja make? / '''Soulcage''': Kuja called them black mages, dark spawn of the Mist.</ref> The party defeats the Iifa Tree's core and stops the Mist from flowing. When the party returns to Madain Sari, they confront Amarant, who was hired by Brahne to apprehend Dagger. Dagger slowly realizes that she is also a Summoner from Madain Sari. Amarant joins the party for his own reasons. At the Iifa Tree, Brahne turns against Kuja and intends to kill him with the eidolon Bahamut.<ref group="q">'''Queen Brahne''': Kuja! So you finally decided to show your girly face here! You're all that stands between me and total domination!</ref> However, Kuja uses the airship Invincible to gain control of Bahamut, killing Brahne and defeating her army.<ref group="q">'''Kuja''': Excellent, Bahamut! Power, mobility... You truly are the best! You even hurt me...a little. And you, Brahne... Your tragic role in this drama now comes to an end!</ref>


At the Iifa Tree, the party enters Memoria and reaches the origin of the universe: the Crystal World. They defeat Kuja, preventing him from destroying the original crystal of life and thus the universe.<ref group="q">'''Kuja''': It's the original crystal&nbsp;... This is where it all began&nbsp;... The birthplace of all things&nbsp;... Once I destroy it, everything will be gone. Gaia, Terra, the universe, everything&nbsp;...</ref> After defeating Necron, a force of death,<ref group="q">'''Necron''': I exist for one purpose&nbsp;... To return everything back to the zero world, where there is no life and no crystal to give life.</ref> the Tree collapses; the party flees, while Zidane stays behind to rescue Kuja.<ref group="q">'''Zidane''':&nbsp;... Kuja's still alive. I can't just leave him.</ref> One year later, the game reveals the cast's fate: Tantalus arrives in Alexandria to put on a show; Vivi has implicitly died as Black Mages only live for a year, but he has left behind several identical "sons," as well as grown to understand the meaning of life; Freya and Fratley are rebuilding Burmecia; Cid has adopted Eiko; Quina works in the castle's kitchen; Amarant and Lani are travelling together; and Garnet presides as queen of Alexandria, with Steiner and Beatrix as her guards. In the climax of Tantalus's performance, the lead actor reveals himself as Zidane in disguise and reunites with Queen Garnet.<ref group="q">'''Robed performer''': I beseech thee, wondrous moonlight, grant me my only wish! '''' '''Zidane''': Bring my beloved Dagger to me!</ref>
The party returns to Alexandria, and Garnet is crowned Queen. Afterward, Kuja assaults Alexandria with Bahamut. Eiko and Garnet summon the legendary eidolon Alexander, who overpowers Bahamut. Kuja attempts to control Alexander using the Invincible, but is foiled by a mysterious old man named Garland, who destroys Alexander and parts of Alexandria.<ref group="q">'''Garland''': You have gone too far, Kuja. I granted you the freedom to do as you wish in Gaia for one purpose alone. Now that you have lost sight of your mission, I will no longer tolerate your actions.</ref> Kuja, still intent on mastering a powerful eidolon to defeat Garland, shifts his attention to Eiko.<ref group="q">'''Kuja''': I sense power from within her. Continue the extraction!"</ref> The party learns of Kuja's Desert Palace and attempts an assault. However, Kuja imprisons the party and escapes with Eiko to extract her eidolons. During the extraction attempt, Eiko's guardian moogle Mog uses Trance to transform into her true form, the eidolon Madeen, disrupting the process.<ref group="q">'''Eiko''': Mog saved me... I never knew that Mog was an eidolon. She always looked after me...disguised as a moogle.</ref> Learning of the powers of Trance,<ref group="q">'''Kuja''': How can that--That moogle went into a Trance!? So...an eruption of anger against one's surroundings induces a complete Trance! It's not the will to live, nor is it the desire to protect another!</ref> Kuja escapes to further his aim of defeating Garland.<ref group="q">'''Kuja''':I need an eidolon more powerful than Alexander! An eidolon with the power to bury Garland! His powers are so incredible; I cannot even come close. I must destroy him before Terra's plan is activated, or my soul will no longer be my own!</ref> The party rescues Eiko and also finds Hilda, who turns Cid back into a human. He is now able to design an airship for the party that does not need Mist for power.<ref group="q">'''Hilda''': Alright. I'll turn you back. But it's going to be much worse if you ever cheat on me again! / '''Regent Cid''': I...I understand. Now turn me back!</ref>


==Development==
With Hilda's aid,<ref group="q">'''Hilda''': You may find a clue if you go to Ipsen's Castle. / '''Eiko''': Did you ask Kuja about all of this? / '''Hilda''': These are things he discussed voluntarily.</ref> the party pursues Kuja to Terra by opening a portal. In the Terran town of Bran Bal, it is revealed that Garland was created by the people of Terra to orchestrate the process of assimilating Terra into Gaia, as Terra was a dying world. Garland created Genomes &mdash; intelligent, sentient beings who lack souls &mdash; to become future vessels for the souls of the Terrans.<ref group="q">'''Garland''': I constructed the Genomes to be vessels for the souls of the people of Terra when they awaken.</ref> The Iifa Tree's existence,<ref group="q">'''Garland''': the Iifa Tree blocks the flow of Gaia's souls, while it lets those of Terra flow freely.</ref> the phenomenon of Mist,<ref group="q">'''Garland''': The role of the Iifa Tree is that of Soul Divider. The Mist you see comprises the stagnant souls of Gaia...</ref> the eidolon's destruction,<ref group="q">'''Garland''': I feared Gaia's eidolons more than anything... However, I decided to deal with them before they became a major problem.</ref> and even Kuja and Zidane's true purpose of existence,<ref group="q">'''Zidane''': So...Kuja is just an angel of death who sends souls to the Tree of Iifa. / '''Garland''': Yes, my angel of death. But only until you came of age.</ref> were part of the process. Angered by Garland's motives, the party confronts him. However, Kuja has now obtained enough souls to achieve Trance.<ref group="q">'''Kuja'''': The Invincible is mine! Now, I have the power to control all souls! Garland gave me everything without a fight. The old fool was too busy dealing with him.</ref> Trance Kuja ends Garland's life, but not before Garland warns him of his limited lifespan, and that Zidane was created to replace him.<ref group="q">'''Garland's voice''': Do you think a defect like you could last forever...? / '''Kuja''': ...What? What do you mean!?" / '''Garland's voice''': I built you to last only until the worthy Genome, Zidane, grew. It was too dangerous to let you last any longer than that.</ref> Enraged by this revelation, Kuja destroys Terra while the party rescues the Genomes and returns to Gaia on the Invincible.
Early planning for ''Final Fantasy IX'' began in July 1998 before Square had finished development on '']''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sakaguchi, Hironobu |date=November 22, 2010 |title=From the old back up file |url=http://www.mistwalkercorp.com/en/column/pg187.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330061928/http://www.mistwalkercorp.com/en/column/pg187.html |archive-date=March 30, 2012 |access-date=April 14, 2013 |publisher=Mistwalker}}</ref><ref name="IGNInterview1" /> The game was developed in Hawaii as a compromise to developers living in the United States.<ref name="IGNInterview1" /> As the series' last game on the PlayStation, Sakaguchi envisioned a "reflection" on the older games of the series. Leading up to its release, Sakaguchi called ''Final Fantasy IX'' his favorite ''Final Fantasy'' game as "it's closest to ideal view of what ''Final Fantasy'' should be".<ref name="IGNInterview2">{{Cite web |last=IGN Staff |date=April 5, 2000 |title=Interview with Hironobu Sakaguchi |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/06/interview-with-hironobu-sakaguchi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331044811/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/06/interview-with-hironobu-sakaguchi |archive-date=March 31, 2013 |access-date=June 16, 2007 |website=IGN}}</ref> This shift was also a response to demands from fans and other developers.<ref name="IGNInterview1" /> Additionally, the team wanted to create a coherent story with deep character development; this led to the creation of Active Time Events which showcase the character's individual exploration away from the protagonist.<ref name="IGNInterview1" /> Sakaguchi wrote the ] for the game, with further contributions from ] and Nobuaki Komoto.<ref name="writer">{{Cite web |date=November 28, 2009 |title=Interview: FFCC The Crystal Bearers |url=http://www.ffworld.com/?page=article&id=35 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216021833/http://ffworld.com/?page=article&id=35 |archive-date=December 16, 2010 |access-date=January 25, 2011 |publisher=Final Fantasy World |language=fr |quote='''Toshiyuki Itahana:''' Je ne suis pas sûr, car le scénario a été écrit par Hironobu Sakaguchi / I am not sure because the scenario was written by Hironobu Sakaguchi}}</ref><ref name="IXmakingof">{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdsqEurMd2I| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/FdsqEurMd2I|archive-date=2021-11-17| url-status=live|author=]|date=2019-03-21|title=Inside Final Fantasy IX|medium=Video|website=]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


] sequence]]
The party discovers that Mist has returned and now envelops all of Gaia. Assisted by the combined forces of Burmecia, Lindblum, and Alexandria, they travel to the Iifa Tree, where they are teleported to a mysterious location called Memoria. The spirit of Garland guides the party to Kuja. When Kuja is defeated, he uses his Trance abilities to destroy the Crystal, the source of life,<ref group="q">'''Kuja''': It's the original crystal... This is where it all began... The birthplace of all things... Once I destroy it, everything will be gone. Gaia, Terra, the universe, everything...</ref> prompting the appearance of Necron, the "Eternal Darkness" bent on destroying life.<ref group="q">'''Necron''': I exist for one purpose... To return everything back to the zero world, where there is no life and no crystal to give life.</ref> After Necron is defeated, Memoria and the Iifa Tree collapse. Although Kuja teleports the party to safety, Zidane returns to save him, and is later assumed to have died with Kuja in the collapse.<ref group="q">'''Zidane''': ...Kuja's still alive. I can't just leave him.</ref>
In the game's conceptual stage, the developers made it clear that the title would not necessarily be ''Final Fantasy IX'', as its break from the realism of '']'' and ''VIII'' may have alienated audiences. This idea led fans to speculate that it would be a "]" (side story) to the main series.<ref name="GIA">{{Cite web |last=NGO Staff |date=May 24, 1999 |title=New Final Fantasy revealed |url=http://archive.thegia.com/news/n990524a.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212104/http://archive.thegia.com/news/n990524a.html |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=June 16, 2007 |publisher=Gaming Intelligence Agency}}</ref> By late 1999, however, Square had confirmed that the game would indeed be titled ''Final Fantasy IX'', and by early 2000, they had almost finished the game. The developers made several adjustments to the game, such as changing the ending seven times.<ref name="IGNInterview1" /> Director ] had designed the battle system.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Studio BentStuff |title=Final Fantasy IX Ultimania |publisher=] |pages=578–582 |language=ja}}</ref>


The game's developers sought to make the game's environment more "fantasy-oriented" than its PlayStation predecessors by reintroducing a medieval setting.<ref name="RevIGN" /> In the game world, steam technology is just beginning to become widely available. The population relies on ] or ] for energy sources but sometimes harness Mist or steam to drive more advanced engines. ] and Northern European mythology also inspired the game's setting. According to Ito, " attracted to European history and mythology because of its depth and its drama".<ref name="IGNInterview1">{{Cite web |date=September 20, 2000 |title=The Final Fantasy IX Team Spills All |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/09/21/the-final-fantasy-ix-team-spills-all |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215050854/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/09/21/the-final-fantasy-ix-team-spills-all |archive-date=December 15, 2012 |access-date=June 16, 2007 |website=IGN}}</ref> The game's art director was Hideo Minaba,<ref name="IGNInterview1" /> while the characters were designed by ] and Toshiyuki Itahana.<ref name="IXstaffFam">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/202007/14202111.html|script-title=ja:『FF9』20周年を祝うのに理由がいるかい? 坂口博信氏を始めとするクリエイター陣や、ファンの記憶を集めた28ページ特集【先出し週刊ファミ通】|language=ja|magazine=]|date=2020-07-14|access-date=2023-06-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716022901/https://www.famitsu.com/news/202007/14202111.html|archive-date=2020-07-16|url-status=live}}</ref> Recurring artist ] created promotional concept art of the characters and world, and designed the logo.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Sky: The Art of Final Fantasy|publisher=]|isbn=978-1-6165-5160-5|volume=3|date=June 28, 2013}}</ref><ref name="GSamanoIX">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/qanda-final-fantasy-concept-artist-yoshitaka-amano/1100-2662315/ |title=Q&A: Final Fantasy Concept Artist Yoshitaka Amano |website=] |date=2000-12-07 |access-date=2014-02-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328151138/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/qanda-final-fantasy-concept-artist-yoshitaka-amano/1100-2662315/|archive-date=2016-03-28|url-status=live}}</ref> The main ''Final Fantasy IX'' website says the development of the game's world serves as a culmination of the series by blending the "successful elements of the past, such as a return to the fantasy roots", with newer elements.<ref name="mainsite" /> To accomplish this and satisfy fans who had become used to the realistic designs of ''Final Fantasy VIII'', the designers stressed creating characters with whom the player could easily relate.<ref name="IGNInterview1" /> The characters had "comic-like looks" as a result.<ref name="IGNInterview1" /> In addition, '']'' was used as inspiration for the design of the world and characters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The making of FINAL FANTASY IX {{!}} Square Enix Blog |url=https://square-enix-games.com/en_GB/news/making-final-fantasy-ix |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=square-enix-games.com |language=en |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019145841/https://square-enix-games.com/en_GB/news/making-final-fantasy-ix |url-status=live }}</ref> Ito suggested that the protagonist Zidane should be flirtatious towards women.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coxon |first=Sachi |date=March 24, 2000 |title=Interview with Square: Part 3 |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q1-2000/032400b.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403230030/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q1-2000/032400b.html |archive-date=April 3, 2013 |access-date=April 14, 2013 |publisher=RPGamer}}</ref>
Some time later, Alexandria has been rebuilt, and Tantalus arrives in Alexandria to perform "I Want To Be Your Canary" for Queen Garnet. Early scenes reveal what has happened to many of the main characters. Steiner and Beatrix have returned to their old posts as royal bodyguards and have also become romantically involved; Eiko has been adopted by Regent Cid and Lady Hilda; Freya is attempting to start over with her former love, Sir Fratley; Amarant is reunited with Lani while on his way to Alexandria; Quina has now become the head chef of the Alexandria Castle kitchen; and black mages looking identical to Vivi are identified as Vivi's sons. In between these scenes a monologue is given by Vivi where he reminisces about the adventures they had together and bids farewell to everyone, implying his death due to his limited lifespan. The game reaches its final moments with the play being performed. During the performance, one of the performers removes his robe and reveals himself to be Zidane, saved by Kuja's barrier from the collapsing Iifa tree. Garnet rushes onto the stage and embraces Zidane and the credits roll.
{{-}}


===Music===
==Development and release==
{{Main|Music of Final Fantasy IX}}
Development of ''Final Fantasy IX'' began before Square had finished development on its predecessor, '']''.<ref name="IGNInterview1"/> The game was developed in ] as a compromise to developers living in the United States.<ref name="IGNInterview1"/> As the series' last game on the PlayStation, Sakaguchi envisioned a "reflection" on the older titles of the series. Leading up to its release, Sakaguchi called ''Final Fantasy IX'' his favorite ''Final Fantasy'' game as "it's closest to ideal view of what ''Final Fantasy'' should be".<ref name="IGNInterview2">{{cite web| author=IGN Staff | date=2000-04-05 |url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/077/077571p1.html| title=Interview with Hironobu Sakaguchi| publisher=IGN| accessdate=2007-06-16}}</ref> This shift was also a response to demands from fans and other developers.<ref name="IGNInterview1"/> Additionally, the team wanted to create an understandable story with deep character development; this led to the creation of Active Time Events.<ref name="IGNInterview1"/>
Regular series composer ] wrote the music of ''Final Fantasy IX''. In early discussions about the game, Ito asked him to compose themes for the eight main characters along with "an exciting battle track, a gloomy, danger-evoking piece, and around ten other tracks". Uematsu spent a year composing and producing "around 160" pieces, with 140 appearing in the game.<ref name="fami-interview">{{Cite web |title=Nobuo Uematsu Interview by Weekly Famitsu |url=http://www.nobuouematsu.com/nobrpg.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920025801/http://www.nobuouematsu.com/nobrpg.html |archive-date=September 20, 2012 |access-date=June 17, 2007 |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name="ign-interview">{{Cite web |last=Zdyrko, Dave |date=September 21, 2000 |title=The Final Fantasy IX Team Spills All |url=http://psx.ign.com/news/25276.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001203212500/http://psx.ign.com/news/25276.html |archive-date=December 3, 2000 |access-date=June 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |website=IGN}}</ref> During writing sessions, Square gave him a travel break in Europe for inspiration, where he spent time admiring ancient architecture in places like Germany. Uematsu cited ] as a significant influence on the score of ''IX''. He aimed for a "simple" and "warm" atmosphere and incorporated uncommon instruments like the ] and ]. Unlike the stark realism of its predecessors, the high fantasy undertones of ''IX'' allowed for a broader spectrum of musical styles and moods. Uematsu composed with a piano and used two contrasting methods: "I create music that fits the events in the game, but sometimes, the will adjust a game event to fit the music I've already written".<ref name="ign-interview" />


Uematsu incorporated several motifs from older ''Final Fantasy'' games into the score, such as the original battle music intro, a reworked ''Volcano Theme'' from '']'' and the Pandemonium theme in '']''.<ref name="fami-interview" /><ref name="ign-interview" /> Tantalus' band plays "Rufus' Welcoming Ceremony" from '']'' near the beginning of the game. Uematsu has stated on several occasions that ''Final Fantasy IX'' is his favorite score.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor, Stu |title="Smile, Please!": Neo Interviews Final Fantasy Composer, Nobuo Uematsu |url=http://www.neomag.co.uk/article.asp?IntID=14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216201125/http://www.neomag.co.uk/article.asp?IntID=14 |archive-date=February 16, 2008 |access-date=June 17, 2007 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fahey, Rob |date=February 2, 2005 |title=Focus On: Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/focus-on-final-fantasy-composer-nobuo-uematsu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829145306/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/focus-on-final-fantasy-composer-nobuo-uematsu |archive-date=August 29, 2012 |access-date=June 18, 2007 |publisher=]}}</ref> "Melodies of Life" is the theme song of ''IX'' and shares its main melody with pieces frequently used in the game itself, such as the ] theme and a lullaby that Garnet sings.<ref name="ign">{{Cite web |last=Smith, David |year=2007 |title=Final Fantasy IX 'Melodies of Life' Single |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/15/final-fantasy-ix-melodies-of-life-single |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206021656/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/15/final-fantasy-ix-melodies-of-life-single |archive-date=February 6, 2013 |access-date=April 28, 2007 |website=]}}</ref> ] performed this piece in both the Japanese and English versions with arrangement by ].<ref name="ign" />
] sequence; their features are comically exaggerated compared to the realistic style of '']''.]]
In the game's conceptual stage, the developers made it clear that the title would not necessarily be ''Final Fantasy IX'', as its break from the realism of '']'' and ''Final Fantasy VIII'' may have alienated audiences. This led fans to speculate that it would be released as a "]" to the main series.<ref name="GIA">{{cite web| author=NGO Staff | date=1999-05-24|url=http://rca.vnm.zhdk.ch/mirrors/thegia/sites/www.thegia.com/news/n990524a.html|title=New Final Fantasy revealed|publisher=Gaming Intelligence Agency|accessdate=2007-06-16}}</ref> By late 1999, however, Square had confirmed that the game would indeed be published as ''Final Fantasy IX'', and by early 2000, the game was nearly finished. The developers made several adjustments to the game, such as changing the ending seven times.<ref name="IGNInterview1"/>


==Release==
''Final Fantasy IX''{{'}}s release was delayed to avoid a concurrent release with then rival ]'s '']''. On October 7, 2000, a demo day for the North American version of ''Final Fantasy IX'' was held at the ] in ], ].<ref name="DemoDay">{{cite web|author=IGN Staff|date=2000-10-02|url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/085/085810p1.html|title=Square EA Holds FFIX Demo Day|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-06-15}}</ref> The first American release of the game was also at the Metreon; limited edition merchandise was included with the game, and fans ]ed as ''Final Fantasy'' characters in celebration of the release.<ref name="FirstAmerican">{{cite web|author=IGN Staff|date=2000-11-13|url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/087/087740p1.html|title=Final Fantasy IX Goes on Sale Early|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-06-15}}</ref> In ], a production error left copies of ''Final Fantasy IX'' without an English version of the instruction manual, prompting Square to ship copies of the English manual to Canadian stores several days later.<ref name="CanadianManual">{{cite web|author=IGN Staff|date=2000-11-20|url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/088/088111p1.html|title=Canadian Customers Get FFIX in French|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-06-15}}</ref>
''Final Fantasy IX''{{'}}s release was delayed to avoid a simultaneous release with then-rival ]'s '']''.<ref name="Delay">{{Cite web |last=Ike Sato |first=Yukiyoshi |date=November 29, 1999 |title=Dragon Quest VII Delays Final Fantasy IX |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dragon-quest-vii-delays-final-fantasy-ix/1100-2447050/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526043539/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dragon-quest-vii-delays-final-fantasy-ix/1100-2447050/ |archive-date=May 26, 2016 |access-date=September 17, 2015 |website=] |publisher=]}}</ref> On October 7, 2000, a demo day for the North American version of ''IX'' was held at the ] in San Francisco, California.<ref name="DemoDay">{{Cite web |last=IGN Staff |date=October 2, 2000 |title=Square EA Holds FFIX Demo Day |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/03/square-ea-holds-ffix-demo-day |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017191144/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/03/square-ea-holds-ffix-demo-day |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2007 |website=IGN}}</ref> The first American release of the game was also at the Metreon; limited-edition merchandise was included with the game and fans ]ed as ''Final Fantasy'' characters in celebration of the release.<ref name="FirstAmerican">{{Cite web |last=IGN Staff |date=November 13, 2000 |title=Final Fantasy IX Goes on Sale Early |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/14/final-fantasy-ix-goes-on-sale-early |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017191202/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/14/final-fantasy-ix-goes-on-sale-early |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2007 |website=IGN}}</ref> In Canada, a production error left copies of ''Final Fantasy IX'' without an English version of the instruction manual, prompting Square to ship copies of the English manual to Canadian stores several days later.<ref name="CanadianManual">{{Cite web |last=IGN Staff |date=November 20, 2000 |title=Canadian Customers Get FFIX in French |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/21/canadian-customers-get-ffix-in-french |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017191315/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/21/canadian-customers-get-ffix-in-french |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2007 |website=IGN}}</ref> Square heavily promoted the game both before and after its release. Starting on March 6, 2000, the game's characters appeared in a line of ] ] commercials. Figurines of several characters were also used as prizes in Coca-Cola's marketing campaign.<ref name="Coke">{{Cite web |last=IGN Staff |date=March 31, 2000 |title=TGS: Final Fantasy IX Characters Do Coke |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/01/tgs-final-fantasy-ix-characters-do-coke |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017191352/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/01/tgs-final-fantasy-ix-characters-do-coke |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2007 |website=IGN}}</ref> That same year, '']'' awarded ''Final Fantasy'' dolls and figurines for prizes in several of their contests.<ref name="ViviDoll">{{Cite web |last=IGN Staff |date=November 27, 2000 |title=Win Vivi from FFIX! |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/28/win-vivi-from-ffix |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017191444/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/28/win-vivi-from-ffix |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2007 |website=IGN}}</ref>


''Final Fantasy IX'' was released on Sony's Greatest Hits on June 30, 2003.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.giantbomb.com/final-fantasy-ix/3030-8825/releases/ | title=Final Fantasy IX International Releases | access-date=January 15, 2023 | archive-date=July 6, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706203248/https://www.giantbomb.com/final-fantasy-ix/3030-8825/releases/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
The game was heavily promoted both before and after its release. Starting on March 6, 2000, ''Final Fantasy IX'' characters were used in a line of ] ] commercials. Figurines of several characters were also used as prizes in Coca-Cola's marketing campaign.<ref name="Coke">{{cite web|author=IGN Staff|date=2000-03-31|url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/077/077377p1.html|title=TGS: Final Fantasy IX Characters Do Coke|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-06-15}}</ref> That same year, ] awarded ''Final Fantasy'' dolls and figurines for prizes in several of their contests.<ref name="ViviDoll">{{cite web|author=IGN Staff|date=2000-11-27|url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/088/088315p1.html|title=Win Vivi from FFIX!|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-06-15}}</ref>


''Final Fantasy IX'' was also the benchmark of Square's interactive ] service. PlayOnline was originally developed to interact with ''Final Fantasy X'', but when those plans fell through it became a strategy site for ''Final Fantasy IX''. The site was designed to complement BradyGames' and Piggyback Interactive's official strategy guides for the game, where players who bought the print guide had access to "keywords" that could be searched for on PlayOnline's site for extra tips and information. This caused fury among buyers of the guide, as they felt cheated for the expensive print guide. The blunder made GameSpy's "Top 5 Dumbest Moments in Gaming" list,<ref>{{cite web | date= 2003-06-14 | url = http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/june03/dumbestmoments/readers/ | title = The 25 Dumbest Moments in Gaming - Readers' Top 5 | publisher = ] | accessdate = 2006-11-23}}</ref> and Square dropped the idea for ''Final Fantasy X'', which was under development at the time. ''Final Fantasy IX'' was also the benchmark of Square's interactive ] service. PlayOnline was initially developed to interface with ''Final Fantasy X'' but became a strategy site for ''IX'' when those plans fell through. Square designed the website to complement BradyGames' and Piggyback Interactive's official ]s for the game, where players who bought the print guide had access to "keywords" that they could search for on PlayOnline's site for extra tips and information. This design caused anger among buyers of the guide who felt cheated by the expensive print version's omissions. The blunder made ''GameSpy'''s "Top 5 Dumbest Moments in Gaming" list, and Square dropped the idea for ''Final Fantasy X'', which was under development at the time.<ref name=dumb>{{Cite web |date=June 14, 2003 |title=The 25 Dumbest Moments in Gaming – Readers' Top 5 |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/june03/dumbestmoments/readers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040704072809/http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/june03/dumbestmoments/readers/ |archive-date=July 4, 2004 |publisher=]}}</ref>


Square Enix re-released the game as part of the ''Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box'' Japanese package in December 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jonathan Toyad |date=August 31, 2012 |title=Final Fantasy 25th anniversary Ultimate Box collection announced |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/final-fantasy-25th-anniversary-ultimate-box-collection-announced/1100-6394062/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109155141/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/final-fantasy-25th-anniversary-ultimate-box-collection-announced/1100-6394062/ |archive-date=November 9, 2015 |access-date=July 19, 2013 |website=] UK}}</ref> A remastered version was released for ] and ] in February 2016.<ref name="iOS/Android">{{Cite web |last=Souppouris |first=Aaron |title='Final Fantasy IX' is now on iOS and Android |url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/02/10/final-fantasy-ix-mobile-release/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315171719/http://www.engadget.com/2016/02/10/final-fantasy-ix-mobile-release/ |archive-date=March 15, 2016 |access-date=March 16, 2016 |work=Engadget|date=February 10, 2016 }}</ref> The remaster features HD movies and character models, an auto-save feature, seven different game boosters (cheats), including high speed and no encounter modes, and achievements. A port for ] was released on April 14 the same year. In September 2017, the Windows port was released on ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ashcraft |first=Brian |title=Final Fantasy IX Is Out Now For PlayStation 4 |url=https://kotaku.com/final-fantasy-ix-is-headed-to-playstation-4-1818535442 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919182519/https://kotaku.com/final-fantasy-ix-is-headed-to-playstation-4-1818535442 |archive-date=September 19, 2017 |access-date=September 19, 2017 |website=Kotaku|date=September 19, 2017}}</ref> It was also released on the ], Xbox One, and ] in North America on February 13, 2019, and in other regions a day later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Fantasy IX Available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Windows 10 Today! |url=https://na.finalfantasy.com/news/1008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214174231/https://na.finalfantasy.com/news/1008 |archive-date=February 14, 2019 |access-date=February 13, 2019 |website=Final Fantasy Portal Site}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Fantasy IX Available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Windows 10 Today! UK |url=https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/FINAL-FANTASY-IX-1438973.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505184434/https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/FINAL-FANTASY-IX-1438973.html |archive-date=May 5, 2021 |access-date=February 14, 2019}}</ref>
===PlayStation Network Release===


==Reception==
On 2 April 2010, Square Enix announced that ''Final Fantasy IX'' would be released as a PSOne Classic on the Japanese PlayStation Network, like its predecessors ''Final Fantasy VII'' and ''Final Fantasy VIII'', on May 20. Ami Blaire, the Vice President of Marketing for Square Enix posted on the PlayStation Blog May 7, 2010 that the game would be released in North America. It was released on the PlayStation Network on May 26, 2010 in Europe. It was released on the North American PlayStation Network on June 15, 2010.
{{Video game reviews
| GR = PS: 93%<ref name="gamerankings">{{Cite web |title=Final Fantasy IX for PlayStation |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197338-final-fantasy-ix/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110730191211/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197338-final-fantasy-ix/index.html |archive-date=July 30, 2011 |access-date=July 9, 2010 |website=] |publisher=]}}</ref>
| MC = PS: 94/100<ref name="MC_PS">{{Cite web |title=Final Fantasy IX for PlayStation Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/final-fantasy-ix/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028043133/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation/final-fantasy-ix |archive-date=October 28, 2011 |access-date=April 28, 2007 |publisher=]}}</ref><br />iOS: 88/100<ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Fantasy IX for iPhone/iPad Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/final-fantasy-ix/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807162402/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/final-fantasy-ix |archive-date=August 7, 2018 |access-date=August 4, 2018 |publisher=]}}</ref><br />PC: 84/100<ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Fantasy IX for PC Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/final-fantasy-ix/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719194450/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/final-fantasy-ix |archive-date=July 19, 2018 |access-date=August 4, 2018 |publisher=]}}</ref><br />PS4: 85/100<ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Fantasy IX for PlayStation 4 Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/final-fantasy-ix/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721124936/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/final-fantasy-ix |archive-date=July 21, 2018 |access-date=August 4, 2018 |publisher=]}}</ref><br />NS: 76/100<ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Fantasy IX for Switch Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/final-fantasy-ix/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410113556/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/final-fantasy-ix |archive-date=April 10, 2019 |access-date=April 18, 2019 |publisher=]}}</ref>
| Fam = 38/40<ref>プレイステーション – ファイナルファンタジーIX. Weekly Famitsu. No. 915 Pt. 2. p. 16. June 30, 2006.</ref><ref name="Fami">{{Cite web |title=Final Fantasy – Famitsu Scores Archive |url=http://fs.finalfantasytr.com/search.asp?query=final+fantasy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080714074152/http://fs.finalfantasytr.com/search.asp?query=final+fantasy |archive-date=July 14, 2008 |access-date=July 16, 2008 |publisher=Famitsu Scores Archive}}</ref>
| GI = 9.75/10<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=McNamara, Andy |title=Final Fantasy IX review |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200212/R03.0620.1355.35250.htm |magazine=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314223038/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200212/R03.0620.1355.35250.htm |archive-date=March 14, 2008 |access-date=March 23, 2008}}</ref>
| GamePro = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="RevGP" />
| GSpot = 8.5/10<ref name="RevGS" />
| Hyper = 95%<ref name="Hyper90">{{cite magazine |title=R.I.P. PlayStation: The best of 1995-2001 |magazine=] |date=28 February 2001 |issue=90 (April 2001) |pages=44–51 |url=https://archive.org/details/hyper-090/page/44/mode/2up}}</ref>
| IGN = 9.2/10<ref name="RevIGN" />
| NGen = {{rating|5|5}}<ref name="NG" />
| rev1 = '']''
| rev1Score = iOS: {{rating|5|5}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Musgrave |first=Shaun |date=February 15, 2016 |title='Final Fantasy 9' Review – Celebrating The Series in Style |url=https://toucharcade.com/2016/02/15/final-fantasy-9-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528094544/https://toucharcade.com/2016/02/15/final-fantasy-9-review/ |archive-date=May 28, 2019 |access-date=August 4, 2018 |website=]}}</ref>
| award1Pub = ]<ref>{{Cite web |title=4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards: Winners |url=http://www.interactive.org/awards/2001_4th_awards.asp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023023549/http://www.interactive.org/awards/2001_4th_awards.asp |archive-date=October 23, 2010 |access-date=March 11, 2006 |publisher=interactive.org}}</ref>
| award1 =
{{ulist|]
| ]
| ]}}
| award2Pub = 6th Annual ]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Witham, Joseph |date=January 23, 2002 |title=Final Fantasy IX wins Golden Satellite Award |url=http://rpgamer.com/news/Q1-2002/012302c.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061106174209/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q1-2002/012302c.html |archive-date=November 6, 2006 |access-date=August 27, 2006 |publisher=RPGamer}}</ref>
| award2 =
{{ulist|Best Interactive Product/Video Game}}
}}


''Final Fantasy IX'' sold over 2.65 million copies in Japan by the end of 2000, making it the second-highest selling game of the year in the region.<ref name="EBsales">{{Cite book |url=http://geimin.net/da/db/2000_ne_fa/index.php |title=Famitsū Gēmu Hakusho 2001 |publisher=] |year=2001 |location=Tokyo |language=ja |script-title=ja:ファミ通ゲーム白書2001 |trans-title=Famitsu Game Whitebook 2001 |chapter=2000年ゲームソフト年間売上TOP100 |trans-chapter=2000 Game Software Annual Sales Top 300 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627095816/http://geimin.net/da/db/2000_ne_fa/index.php |archive-date=June 27, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Although it was a top-seller in Japan<ref>] sales chart, October 2000, published in ] issue 63.</ref> and America,<ref>{{Cite web |last=IGN Staff |date=December 19, 2000 |title=Final Fantasy IX Is Number One |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/12/20/final-fantasy-ix-is-number-one |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017191718/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/12/20/final-fantasy-ix-is-number-one |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |access-date=March 7, 2006 |website=IGN}}</ref> ''Final Fantasy IX'' did not sell as many copies as ''VII'' or ''VIII'' in either Japan or the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Japan Platinum Game Chart |url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-JPPlatinum.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017061224/http://the-magicbox.com/Chart-JPPlatinum.shtml |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |access-date=March 7, 2006 |publisher=the-magicbox.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=US Platinum Videogame Chart |url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070421003854/http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml |archive-date=April 21, 2007 |access-date=March 7, 2006 |publisher=the-magicbox.com}}</ref> In 2001, the game received a "Gold" certification from the Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland (VUD),<ref name="deutschgold">{{Cite web |date=August 2001 |title=VUD-Sales-Awards August 2001 |url=http://www.vud.de:80/presse/august2001.php3 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021231013457/http://www.vud.de/presse/august2001.php3 |archive-date=December 31, 2002 |access-date=July 29, 2018 |publisher=Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland}}</ref> for sales of at least 100,000 units across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.<ref name="GameProGold">{{Cite magazine |last=Horn, Andre |date=January 14, 2004 |title=VUD-Gold-Awards 2003 |url=https://www.gamepro.de/artikel/vud-gold-awards-2003,1290773.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718145345/https://www.gamepro.de/artikel/vud-gold-awards-2003,1290773.html |archive-date=July 18, 2018 |magazine=GamePro}}</ref> The original PlayStation version sold over 5.5 million copies by March 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 9, 2004 |title=Titles of game software with worldwide shipments exceeding 1 million copies |url=http://www.jp.square-enix.com/ir/e/explanatory/download/0404-200402090000-01.pdf#page=27 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109063558/http://www.jp.square-enix.com/ir/e/explanatory/download/0404-200402090000-01.pdf |archive-date=November 9, 2013 |access-date=February 23, 2021 |publisher=] |page=27}}</ref><ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205131844/https://venturebeat.com/2016/03/06/the-challenges-of-porting-final-fantasy-ix-to-android-and-ios/ |date=December 5, 2019}} VentureBeat (March 6, 2016)</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Fantasy IX |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/final-fantasy/id1041260001?mt=8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402162531/https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/final-fantasy/id1041260001?mt=8 |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |access-date=April 23, 2019 |website=App Store}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=February 9, 2016 |title=Final Fantasy 9 Available Now on iOS and Android |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/02/09/final-fantasy-9-available-now-on-ios-and-android |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402182441/https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/02/09/final-fantasy-9-available-now-on-ios-and-android |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |access-date=April 23, 2019 |website=Ign.com}}</ref>
==Music==
{{Main|Music of Final Fantasy IX}}
The music of ''Final Fantasy IX'' was created by ], his last exclusive ''Final Fantasy'' score. In discussions with Itō, Uematsu was told "It'd be fine if you compose tracks for the eight characters, an exciting battle track, a gloomy, danger-evoking piece, and around ten tracks or so." However, Uematsu spent an estimated year composing and producing "around 160" pieces for ''Final Fantasy IX'', with 140 appearing in the game.<ref name="fami-interview">{{cite web |title=Nobuo Uematsu Interview by Weekly Famitsu | url=http://www.nobuouematsu.com/nobrpg.html | publisher=] | accessdate=2007-06-17}}</ref><ref name="ign-interview">{{cite web | title=The Final Fantasy IX Team Spills All | date=2000-09-21 | author=Zdyrko, Dave | url=http://psx.ign.com/news/25276.html | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20001203212500/http://psx.ign.com/news/25276.html | archivedate=2000-12-03 | publisher=IGN | accessdate=2007-06-17}}</ref>


''Final Fantasy IX'' was released to critical acclaim both in Japan and abroad. It achieved a 94/100 on the review aggregator ] making it their highest-scoring ''Final Fantasy'' game.<ref name="MC_PS" /> The game was voted the 24th-best game of all time by readers of the Japanese magazine '']''.<ref name="Famitsu">{{Cite web |last=Campbell, Colin |date=March 3, 2006 |title=Japan Votes on All Time Top 100 |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/japan-votes-all-time-top-100/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216184125/http://www.edge-online.com/features/japan-votes-all-time-top-100/ |archive-date=February 16, 2015 |access-date=August 26, 2006 |publisher=Next Generation}}</ref> Francesca Reyes of '']'' called it "an imaginative return to the roots of the ''Final Fantasy'' series that hits the RPG mark dead-on".<ref name="NG">{{Cite magazine |last=Reyes |first=Francesca |date=December 2000 |title=Finals |magazine=] |publisher=] |volume=3 |issue=12 |page=120}}</ref>
Nobuo Uematsu composed with a piano and used two contrasting methods: "I create music that fits the events in the game, but sometimes, the event designer will adjust a game event to fit the music I've already written."<ref name="ign-interview"/> Uematsu felt '']'' and '']'' had a mood of realism, but ''Final Fantasy IX'' was fantasy, so "a serious piece as well as silly, fun pieces could fit in." He felt the theme was ], and was given a break to travel in ] for inspiration—"looking at old castles in ] and so on". The music was not entirely composed in the medieval mode; Uematsu claims that "it would be unbalanced" and "a little boring". He aimed for a "simple, warm" style and included uncommon instruments such as a ] and ]. Uematsu also included motifs from older ''Final Fantasy'' games "because ''Final Fantasy IX'' was returning to the roots, so to speak" and incorporated ideas such as "the old intro for battle music" and arranged the Volcano theme from '']'' and the Pandemonium theme from '']''.<ref name="fami-interview" /><ref name="ign-interview"/> Tantalus' band is also heard playing "Rufus' Welcoming Ceremony" from ''Final Fantasy VII'' near the beginning of the game.


Critics generally praised the title's gameplay and combat system. ''GameSpot'' approved of the simple learning curve and that the ability system is not as complex as in ''VII'' or ''VIII''.<ref name="RevGS">{{Cite web |last=Vestal, Andrew |date=July 19, 2000 |title=Final Fantasy IX Review |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/final-fantasy-ix-review/1900-2605459/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118184702/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/final-fantasy-ix-review/1900-2605459/ |archive-date=November 18, 2015 |access-date=June 13, 2007 |website=]}}</ref> Each character possesses unique abilities, which prevents one character from overpowering the others. ''GameSpot'' describes the battle system as having a tactical nature and notes that the expanded party allows for more interaction between players and between enemies.<ref name="RevGS" /> Nevertheless, '']'' disliked the lengthy combat pace and the repeated battles, describing it as "aggravating".<ref name="RevIGN">{{Cite web |last=Smith, David |year=2000 |title=Final Fantasy IX Review |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/23/final-fantasy-ix |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023015554/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/23/final-fantasy-ix |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |access-date=June 13, 2007 |website=IGN}}</ref> ''RPGFan'' felt the Trance system was ineffective because the meter buildup is slow and unpredictable, with characters Trancing just before the enemy dies.<ref name="RevRPGF">{{Cite web |last=Sensei Phoenix |year=2000 |title=Final Fantasy IX Review |url=https://www.rpgfan.com/review/final-fantasy-ix/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011115840/http://rpgfan.com/reviews/finalfantasy9/Final_Fantasy_9-2.html |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=June 16, 2007 |publisher=RPGFan}}</ref>
Uematsu was twice reported claiming without hesitation that ''Final Fantasy IX'' was his favorite score.<ref>{{cite web | title=“SMILE, PLEASE!”: NEO INTERVIEWS FINAL FANTASY COMPOSER, NOBUO UEMATSU | url=http://www.neomag.co.uk/article.asp?IntID=14 | work=] | author=Taylor, Stu | accessdate=2007-06-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Focus On: Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu | url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/focus-on-final-fantasy-composer-nobuo-uematsu | date=2005-02-02 | author=Fahey, Rob | publisher=] | accessdate=2007-06-18}}</ref> The original ] for the game has 110 tracks; an additional soundtrack, ''Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack PLUS'', was released with 42 more new tracks. Like ''Final Fantasy VIII'' and ''Final Fantasy X'', ''Final Fantasy IX'' features a ] ], ''Melodies of Life''. The song was composed by Uematsu, written by ] (as Shiomi) in Japanese and ] in English, and performed by ]. The song itself was sung in Japanese for the Japanese release of the game, and in English for the North American and European releases.


The characters and graphics also received positive reviews. Although ''IGN'' felt that the characters were similar to those in other ''Final Fantasy'' games, the characters were still engaging and sympathetic.<ref name="RevIGN" /> ''GameSpot'' found the characters amusing and full of humor.<ref name="RevGS" /> ''IGN'' also noted that even the Active Time Event system helps expand the player's understanding of the characters' personalities as they grapple with many ideas and emotions.<ref name="RevIGN" /> ''RPGFan'' enjoyed the detailed animation and design of the semi-deformed graphical style. They also praised the pre-rendered backgrounds, noting the careful attention given to the artwork, movement in animations, and character interactivity. They commended the cutscenes for being emotionally compelling and highlighted the seamless transition between cutscenes and in-game graphics.<ref name="RevRPGF" /> The music also received praise, with '']'' listing it the best soundtrack on their list of top five original soundtracks,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=An Introduction to Game Soundtracks: EGMs Current Top 5 Soundtracks |magazine=] |date=5 December 2000 |issue=138 (January 2001) |page=60 |url=https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20138%20%28January%202001%29/page/n59}}</ref> while ''GamePro'' praised the audio for evoking "emotions throughout the story, from battles to heartbreak to comedy".<ref name="RevGP">{{Cite magazine |last=Uncledust |date=November 15, 2000 |title=Review: Final Fantasy IX |url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/7357/final-fantasy-ix/ |magazine=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215084526/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/7357/final-fantasy-ix/ |archive-date=December 15, 2008 |access-date=January 6, 2008}}</ref>
==Reception==
Although a top-seller at the time,<ref>{{cite web | author = IGN Staff | title = Final Fantasy IX Is Number One | date=2000-12-19 | url = http://psx.ign.com/articles/089/089238p1.html | publisher = IGN | accessdate = 2006-03-07}}</ref> ''Final Fantasy IX'' did not sell as well as '']'' or '']'' in either Japan or the United States.<ref>{{cite web | title = Japan Platinum Game Chart | url = http://www.the-magicbox.com/topten2.htm | publisher = the-magicbox.com | accessdate = 2006-03-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = US Platinum Videogame Chart | publisher = the-magicbox.com | url = http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml | accessdate = 2006-03-07}}</ref> As of March 31, 2003, the game had sold 5.30 million copies worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.square-enix.com/jp/ir/e/explanatory/download/0404-200402090000-01.pdf#page=27 |title= Titles of game software with worldwide shipments exceeding 1 million copies |date=2004-02-09 |accessdate=2008-03-01 |publisher=] |pages=27}}</ref> The game was voted the 24th-best game of all time by readers of the Japanese magazine '']''<ref name="Famitsu">{{cite web | title=Japan Votes on All Time Top 100 | url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/japan-votes-all-time-top-100 | publisher=Next Generation | date=2006-03-03 | author=Campbell, Colin | accessdate=2006-08-26}}</ref> and 42nd by the users of the website ].<ref>{{cite web | author=GameFAQs Site Staff | year=2005 | title=Fall 2005: 10-Year Anniversary Contest - The 10 Best Games Ever | url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/top10 | publisher=] | accessdate=2007-06-21}}</ref> ''Final Fantasy IX'' also achieved an average review score of 94% on ], the highest score a ''Final Fantasy'' game has received on the site.<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web | title=Final Fantasy IX | url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/psx/finalfantasy9 | publisher=] | accessdate=2007-04-28}}</ref> It also received 93% on Gamerankings, the second highest of any Final Fantasy title, behind Final Fantasy III for SNES.<ref name="gamerankings">{{cite web | title=Final Fantasy IX | url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197338-final-fantasy-ix/index.html | publisher=] | accessdate=2010-07-09}}</ref>


Critics acknowledged that Square primarily built the storyline upon elements found in previous ''Final Fantasy'' installments, such as evil empires and enigmatic villains.<ref name="RevRPGF" /> The main villain, although considered by ''GameSpot'' to be the least threatening in the series,<ref name="RevGS" /> was seen by ''IGN'' as an impeccable combination of "]'s cackling villainy" and "plenty of the ] that made ] such a hit with the ladies".<ref name="RevIGN" /> ''RPGFan'' felt that the music was "uninspired and dull" compared to previous ''Final Fantasy'' titles and criticized composer Uematsu for reusing some tracks from past iterations of the series.<ref name="RevRPGF" /> Still, reviewers have concluded that this and many other elements are part of the overall effort to create a nostalgic game for fans of the older ''Final Fantasy'' games.<ref name="RevIGN" /><ref name="RevGS" /><ref name="RevRPGF" />
===Critical response===
{{VG Reviews
|title =
|state = plain
|Fam = 38 out of 40<ref name="Fami">{{cite web | title=Final Fantasy - Famitsu Scores Archive | url=http://fs.finalfantasytr.com/search.asp?query=final+fantasy | publisher=Famitsu Scores Archive | accessdate=2008-07-16}}</ref>
|GamePro = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="RevGP"/>
|GI = 9.75 out of 10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200212/R03.0620.1355.35250.htm|title=Final Fantasy IX review|publisher=]|author=McNamara, Andy|accessdate=2008-03-23}}</ref>
|GSpot = 8.5 out of 10<ref name="RevGS"/>
|IGN = 9.2 out of 10<ref name="RevIGN"/>
|GR = 93% (51 reviews)<ref>{{cite web | title=Final Fantasy IX Reviews | publisher=] | url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197338-final-fantasy-ix/index.html | accessdate=2006-03-11}}</ref>
|MC = 94 out of 100 (22 reviews)<ref name="metacritic"/>
|award1 = 4th Annual ]:
*Console RPG of the Year<ref>{{cite web | title=4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards: Winners | publisher=interactive.org | url=http://www.interactive.org/awards/annual_awards.asp?idAward=2001 | accessdate=2006-03-11}}</ref>
*Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
*Outstanding Achievement in Animation
|award2 = 6th Annual ]:
*Best Interactive Product/Videogame<ref>{{cite web | title=Final Fantasy IX wins Golden Satellite Award | publisher=] | date=2002-01-23 | author=Witham, Joseph | url=http://rpgamer.com/news/Q1-2002/012302c.html | accessdate=2006-08-27}}</ref>
}}
Reviews for the game were generally positive, with praise to the graphics and nostalgic elements. Critics pointed out that the strength of the game lies on the gameplay, character development, and visual representation. GameSpot noted that the learning curve is easily grasped, and the ability system is not as complex as in ''Final Fantasy VII'' or ''Final Fantasy VIII''.<ref name="RevGS">{{cite web | author=Vestal, Andrew | date=2000-07-19 | title=Final Fantasy IX Review | url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/finalfantasy9/review.html | publisher=] | accessdate=2007-06-13}}</ref> Each player character possesses unique abilities, which hinders the development of an over-powered character. GameSpot describes the battle system as having a tactical nature and the expanded party allowing for more interaction between players and between enemies.<ref name="RevGS"/> Nevertheless, ] disliked the lengthy combat pace and the repeated battles, describing it as aggravating, and RPGFan feels the Trance system to be ineffective as the meter buildup is slow and unpredictable, with characters Trancing just before the enemy is killed.<ref name="RevIGN">{{cite web | author=Smith, David| year=2000 | title=Final Fantasy IX Review | url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/162/162190p1.html | publisher=IGN | accessdate=2007-06-13}}</ref><ref name="RevRPGF">{{cite web | author=Sensei Phoenix | year=2000 | title=''Final Fantasy IX Review'' | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/finalfantasy9/Final_Fantasy_9-2.html | publisher=] | accessdate=2007-06-16}}</ref>


The strategy guide also received criticism; it urged buyers to log onto an online site to gain the information instead of providing it within the actual guide. The book's given links are no longer accessible on the ] website. The minigame "Tetra Master" was seen by ''GameSpot'' as inferior and confusing compared to ''Final Fantasy VIII''{{'}}s minigame "Triple Triad" as the rules are vaguely explained and offered few rewards despite its expansive nature.<ref name="RevGS" />
The characters and graphics received positive reviews. Although IGN feels the in-depth character traits in ''Final Fantasy IX'' could be generally found in other ''Final Fantasy'' games, they are nevertheless engaging and sympathetic.<ref name="RevIGN"/> GameSpot finds the characters, up to their dialogue and traits, amusing and full of humor.<ref name="RevGS"/> IGN also noted that the Active Time Event system helps to expand the player's understanding of the characters' personalities as they question many ideas and emotions.<ref name="RevIGN"/> Their super-deformed appearance, which also covers monsters of every size, contain detailed animation and design. They gave praise to the pre-rendered backgrounds, noting the careful attention given to the artwork, movement and animations as well as character interactivity. The movies are seen as emotive and compelling, and the seamless transition and incorporation to the in-game graphics helped to move the plot well.<ref name="RevRPGF"/>


During the ], the ] honored ''Final Fantasy IX'' with the "]", "]" and "]" awards, as well as received nominations for "]", "Console Game of the Year", "]", and "]".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2001&idGame=576 |title=D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Final Fantasy IX |publisher=] |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=July 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724170539/https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2001&idGame=576 |url-status=live }}</ref>
On the other hand, critics acknowledged that the overall story is recycled from previous ''Final Fantasy'' installments and other role-playing games. However, the repeated elements such as evil kingdoms and enigmatic villains are believed by RPGFan as an attempt to emulate the elements of previous ''Final Fantasy'' plot and storyline.<ref name="RevRPGF"/> The main villain, though considered by GameSpot to be the least threatening in the series,<ref name="RevGS"/> is seen by IGN as a mixture of past villains through behavior and appearance.<ref name="RevIGN"/> Mixed reactions were given to the audio aspects of the game. Some reviewers, such as RPGFan feels the sound effect and music "uninspired, dull and annoying"; IGN and GameSpot acknowledges that only a handful of the tracks are memorable, while ''GamePro'' praised the audio for evoking "emotions throughout the story, from battles... to comedy".<ref name="RevIGN"/><ref name="RevGS"/><ref name="RevGP">{{cite web| url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/7357/final-fantasy-ix/ | author=Uncledust| title=Review: Final Fantasy IX | date=2000-11-15 | publisher= ] | accessdate=2008-01-06}}</ref> They leveled criticism on composer ] who seemed to have only reused and simplified the scores of past series. Nevertheless, reviewers have come to agree that this and many other elements are part of the overall effort to create a nostalgic title for fans of the older ''Final Fantasy'' titles.<ref name="RevIGN"/><ref name="RevGS"/><ref name="RevRPGF"/>


The strategy guide also gained criticism; it urged buyers to log on to an online site to gain the information, instead of providing it within the actual guide. The book's given links are no longer accessible on the PlayOnline website. ] was seen by GameSpot as inferior and confusing compared to ''Final Fantasy VIII''{{'}}s minigame ], as the rules for it were only vaguely explained in the game and there were very few rewards earned from playing it despite its expansive nature.<ref name="RevGS"/>
<!--
===Legacy=== ===Legacy===
''Final Fantasy IX'' was voted the 4th best ''Final Fantasy'' game in a poll by Japan's national broadcasting organization NHK.<ref name=nhk>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2020/03/japan_says_final_fantasy_x_is_the_best_game_in_the_series|publisher=Push Square|access-date=May 22, 2021|date=May 4, 2020|last=Ramsey|first=Robert|title=Japan Says Final Fantasy X Is the Best Game in the Series|archive-date=May 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522202322/https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2020/03/japan_says_final_fantasy_x_is_the_best_game_in_the_series|url-status=live}}</ref> ''IGN'' named it the 14th best game on the original PlayStation, calling it an "incredible" way to close out the ''Final Fantasy'' series's first nine games and complimented its reverence for those titles.<ref name=IGNreverence>{{Cite web|publisher=IGN|access-date=May 22, 2021|date=June 22, 2020|title=The Best PlayStation Games Of All Time|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/best-ps1-games-playstation|archive-date=May 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522202324/https://www.ign.com/articles/best-ps1-games-playstation|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Rock Paper Shotgun'' named the title their 4th best ''Final Fantasy'' game available on ], praising the cast and its eclectic group of heroes.<ref name=rock>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/best-final-fantasy-games-pc|journal=]|access-date=May 22, 2021|date=March 2, 2018|title=The Best of Final Fantasy|author=Hivemind|archive-date=May 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522204208/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/best-final-fantasy-games-pc|url-status=live}}</ref> Though overshadowed during its initial release by other ''Final Fantasy'' titles, the game has been recognized for its mature themes, including mortality and handling death and is considered a JRPG masterpiece.<ref name=handling>{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2020/11/13/the-retrobeat-20-years-of-final-fantasy-ix-the-best-final-fantasy/|publisher=Venturebeat|access-date=May 22, 2021|title=The RetroBeat: 20 years of Final Fantasy IX, the best Final Fantasy|first=Mike|last=Minotti|date=November 13, 2020|archive-date=May 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522013131/https://venturebeat.com/2020/11/13/the-retrobeat-20-years-of-final-fantasy-ix-the-best-final-fantasy/|url-status=live}}</ref> The music has also been called one of Uematsu's greatest scores.<ref name=Tracks>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/final-fantasy-ix-is-20-years-old-today-and-its-soundtrack-is-still-absolutely-bangin|journal=]|title=Final Fantasy IX is 20 years old today and its soundtrack is still absolutely bangin'|first=Katharine|last=Castle|access-date=May 22, 2021|date=July 7, 2020|archive-date=May 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522204655/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/final-fantasy-ix-is-20-years-old-today-and-its-soundtrack-is-still-absolutely-bangin|url-status=live}}</ref> The game has inspired a number of ] such as '']'', which is an unofficial remaster project developed by fans which saw its initial release in 2018.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Fenlon|first=Wes|date=2020-07-07|title=For Final Fantasy 9's 20th anniversary, play it with the beautiful Moguri AI upscale mod|language=en|work=PC Gamer|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/for-final-fantasy-9s-20th-anniversary-play-it-with-the-beautiful-moguri-ai-upscale-mod/|access-date=2021-12-09|archive-date=December 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209103718/https://www.pcgamer.com/for-final-fantasy-9s-20th-anniversary-play-it-with-the-beautiful-moguri-ai-upscale-mod/|url-status=live}}</ref>
There are a few more references to FFIX now than there were before, possibly justifying a legacy section. The Famitsu and GFAQs polls can be placed here, as well as stuff from Dissidia. For now, this is just a placeholder, though.-->


In 2015, ] released a four-disc collection called "Worlds Apart" with 120 songs to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the game's release.<ref name=OCR>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/oc-remix-gives-final-fantasy-ixs-soundtrack-a-masterful-rearrangement|publisher=US Gamer|access-date=May 22, 2021|title=OC Remix Gives Final Fantasy IX's Soundtrack a Masterful Rearrangement|first=Bob|last=Mackey|date=September 10, 2015|archive-date=May 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522205248/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/oc-remix-gives-final-fantasy-ixs-soundtrack-a-masterful-rearrangement|url-status=dead}}</ref> In June 2021, ] and Square Enix announced plans to develop an animated television series based on ''Final Fantasy IX''.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/cyber-group-to-create-first-final-fantasy-ix-animated-series/|title = Cyber Group to Create First 'Final Fantasy IX' Animated Series|date = June 21, 2021|access-date = June 21, 2021|archive-date = June 21, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210621183105/https://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/cyber-group-to-create-first-final-fantasy-ix-animated-series/|url-status = live}}</ref>
==See also==
{{Misplaced Pages-Books|Final Fantasy series}}
{{-}}
==References==
{{reflist|2}}


===Game quotes=== ==Notes==
{{refbegin}} {{Notelist}}

{{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy IX |developer=Square |publisher=Square |date=2000-11-14 |platform=PlayStation}}
'''Story notes'''
<references group="q"/> <references group="q"/>

{{refend}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book | title=Final Fantasy Ultimania Archive | publisher=] | year=2018 | isbn=978-15-0670-662-7 | volume=2 | publication-place=Milwaukie}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Final Fantasy IX|''Final Fantasy IX''}}
{{wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Final Fantasy IX|''Final Fantasy IX''}}
{{commonscat}}
* {{Official website|https://finalfantasy-ix.square-enix-games.com/en-us/home/}}
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* {{moby game|id=/final-fantasy-ix}}
* at ]
* {{IMDb title|tt0249510}}


{{featured article}}
{{Final Fantasy series|FF=FFIX}} {{Final Fantasy series|FF=FFIX}}
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Latest revision as of 04:06, 6 December 2024

2000 video game

2000 video game
Final Fantasy IX
North American box art
Developer(s)Square
Publisher(s)
Director(s)Hiroyuki Ito
Producer(s)
Designer(s)
Programmer(s)Hiroshi Kawai
Artist(s)
Writer(s)Hironobu Sakaguchi
Composer(s)Nobuo Uematsu
SeriesFinal Fantasy
Platform(s)
Release July 7, 2000
    • PlayStation
      • JP: July 7, 2000
      • NA: November 14, 2000
      • EU: February 16, 2001
    • Android, iOS
      • WW: February 10, 2016
    • Windows
      • WW: April 14, 2016
    • PlayStation 4
      • WW: September 19, 2017
    • Switch, Xbox One
      • WW: February 13, 2019
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Final Fantasy IX 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. The plot focuses on a war between nations in a medieval fantasy world called Gaia. Players follow a thief named Zidane Tribal who kidnaps princess Garnet Til Alexandros XVII as part of a ploy by the neighboring nation of Lindblum. He joins Garnet and a growing cast of characters on a quest to take down her mother, Queen Brahne of Alexandria, who started the war.

Game development occurred in parallel with Final Fantasy VIII. Envisioned by developers as a retrospective for the series, it departed from the futuristic settings of Final Fantasy VI, VII, and VIII by returning to the medieval style of the earlier games. Consequently, it draws heavy influence from the original Final Fantasy and features allusions to the rest of the series. The game introduced new features to the series despite this approach, such as "Active Time Event" cutscenes, "Mognet", and skill systems. Final Fantasy IX was the last game in the main series whose music was composed solely by Nobuo Uematsu.

Final Fantasy IX was released to critical acclaim and commercial success, selling more than 5.5 million copies on PlayStation by March 2016. It was re-released in 2010 as a PS1 Classic on the PlayStation Store—this version was compatible with PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable; PlayStation Vita support arrived in 2012. In 2016 Square Enix released an enhanced port featuring minor gameplay and graphical enhancements, which would be released on several platforms. An animated series adaptation by Square Enix and Cyber Group Studios was announced in 2021.

Gameplay

See also: Gameplay of Final Fantasy
The field icon indicates an object is inspectable, such as this ticket booth.

In Final Fantasy IX, the player navigates a character through the game world, exploring areas and interacting with non-player characters. Most of the game occurs on "field screens" consisting of pre-rendered backgrounds representing towns and dungeons. To aid exploration on the field screen, Final Fantasy IX introduces the "field icon", an exclamation mark appearing over the lead character's head, indicating a point of interest. Players speak with Moogles to record their progress, recover their energy, and purchase items. An extensive optional quest involves sending and receiving letters from Moogles and other non-playable characters via Mognet, an in-game postal service.

Players journey between field screen locations on the world map, a three-dimensional representation of Final Fantasy IX's world presented from a top-down perspective. Players can freely navigate around the world map unless restricted by obstacles such as bodies of water or mountain ranges. To traverse these impediments, players can ride chocobos, sail on a boat, or pilot airships. Like previous Final Fantasy games, players enter battles caused by random encounters with enemies while traveling across the world map or hostile field screens. Final Fantasy IX offers a new approach to town exploration with Active Time Events (ATE). These allow the player to view events unfolding at different locations, providing character development, unique items, and prompts for story-altering decisions. ATEs are occasionally used to simultaneously control two teams when the party divides to solve puzzles and navigate mazes.

Combat and character progression

In this early boss battle, Steiner attacks the enemy while Zidane awaits the player's menu input.

When the player encounters an enemy, the map changes to a battle screen. The player issues commands to characters from an on-screen menu on the battle screen, including physically attacking, using items from the inventory, and unique character-specific abilities that define their role in battle. For example, the thief Zidane can steal items, Eiko and Garnet can summon "eidolons" to aid the party, and Vivi can use black magic to damage the opposition. The speed and order in which the characters and enemies take their turn varies according to their agility, an implementation of the Active Time Battle system first featured in Final Fantasy IV. Character-specific commands change when the character goes into "Trance mode", which is activated for a short duration when the character sustains a specified amount of damage similar to the Limit Breaks in Final Fantasy VII. Trance mode amplifies the character's strength and allows the player to select more powerful attack commands. For example, Vivi's "Black Magic" command changes into "Double Black", allowing him to cast two magic spells at once. Winning battles awards money, items, "experience points", and "ability points".

Experience points determine a character's combat attributes like agility, strength, and magical power. Accumulating sufficient experience points results in a "level up", which permanently increases combat attributes. Equipment worn by a character may also amplify their attributes. Certain weapons and armor also bestow special abilities, which the character may use when equipped. When the character earns enough ability points, it becomes usable without the item equipped. There are two types of abilities: action and support. Action abilities require magic points to use and include magical spells and special moves used in battle. Support abilities provide functions that remain in effect passively, such as increasing power against certain types of enemies. The maximum number of effects characters can equip at once is determined by level.

Plot

Setting and characters

Main article: Characters of Final Fantasy IX

Final Fantasy IX takes place primarily in a world named Gaia. Most of Gaia's population lives on the Mist Continent, named after the thick Mist that blankets the lowlands. Large mountain ranges act as natural borders that separate its four nations: Alexandria, Lindblum, Burmecia, and Cleyra. Alexandria is a warmongering monarchy that controls the eastern half of the continent. One of its cities is Treno, a cultural nexus under perpetual starlight that is home to many aristocrats and paupers alike. The technologically advanced Lindblum, a hub of airship travel, is nestled on a plateau to the southwest. Both countries feature a mix of humans, humanoids, and anthropomorphic animals. Burmecia, a kingdom showered by endless rain, is in the northwest. Cleyra, a neighboring settlement that seceded from Burmecia due to its appreciation for war, is situated in a giant tree in the desert, protected by a sandstorm. Both are inhabited by anthropomorphic rats with a fondness for dance and spear fighting.

Players eventually explore the Outer, Lost, and Forgotten Continents as well. Civilizations on the Outer Continent include Conde Petie, home of the dwarves; Black Mage Village, a secret settlement of sentient magician drones; and Madain Sari, once home to a near-extinct race of horned humanoid summoners who conjure powerful magical beings called eidolons. Also on the Outer Continent is the Iifa Tree, which disperses the Mist to other continents through its roots. This Mist stimulates the fighting instinct in humanoids and contributes to Gaia's bloody history. The Lost and Forgotten continents are littered mostly with ancient ruins. Scattered throughout the marshes of Gaia are the Qu: large, frog-eating, and seemingly androgynous humanoids who are considered great gourmands. Late in the game, players briefly travel to the parallel world of Terra and the dream realm of Memoria.

The main playable characters are: Zidane Tribal, a member of a group of bandits called Tantalus who are masquerading as a theater troupe; Garnet Til Alexandros XVII (alias Dagger), the Princess of Alexandria who runs away with Zidane; Vivi Ornitier, a young, timid, and kind black mage with an unknown origin; Adelbert Steiner, a brash Alexandrian knight captain and loyal servant of Princess Garnet; Freya Crescent, a Burmecian dragoon searching for her lost love; Quina Quen, a Qu whose master wants them to travel the world so that they will learn about cuisine; Eiko Carol, a young girl living in Madain Sari who is one of the last summoners; and Amarant Coral, a bounty hunter hired to return Garnet to Alexandria. Other important characters include Cid Fabool, the charismatic Regent of Lindblum; Brahne, Garnet's adoptive mother and the power-hungry Queen of Alexandria; Beatrix, the general of Alexandria's all-female army; Garland, an elderly Terran male tasked with saving his world; and antagonist Kuja, an arms dealer and pawn of Garland who questions his own existence.

Story

In Alexandria, Zidane and Tantalus kidnap Princess Garnet by order of Cid. Garnet does not resist, for she was already planning to flee and warn Cid of Queen Brahne's increasingly erratic behavior. Vivi and Steiner join the party during the escape. En route to Lindblum, the group discovers that Brahne is manufacturing soulless black mage soldiers that look similar to Vivi. In Lindblum, Cid confirms that he hired the group to protect Garnet from Brahne's newfound aggression. After learning that Alexandria has invaded Burmecia with the black mages, Zidane and Vivi join Freya to investigate. Garnet and Steiner secretly return to Alexandria to reason with Brahne.

Zidane's team finds that the Alexandrian forces, headed by Beatrix, conquered Burmecia with help from Kuja and the refugees have fled to Cleyra. Brahne imprisons Garnet, extracts her eidolons, and uses the eidolon, Odin to destroy Cleyra while Zidane's group defends the city. The party escapes on Brahne's airship, rendezvous with Steiner, and rescues Garnet. Meanwhile, Brahne cripples Lindblum with another eidolon, Atomos. Cid explains that Kuja supplies Brahne with black mages and the knowledge to use eidolons. The party befriends Quina and tracks Kuja to the Outer Continent. Brahne hires bounty hunters Lani and Amarant to capture Garnet. On the Outer Continent, the party defeats Lani and meets Eiko, a summoner who lives with a group of moogles in the village of Madain Sari. Eiko leads Zidane and the others to the Iifa Tree. Inside, they learn that Kuja uses Mist to create the black mages and that Vivi was a prototype. The party defeats the monster that generates the Mist within the Tree, which clears it from the Mist Continent. While waiting for Kuja's reprisal at Madain Sari, Lani and Amarant attempt to kidnap Eiko but Zidane and the moogles foil them. Amarant then challenges Zidane to a duel and loses. He joins the party and Garnet learns of her heritage as a summoner who was adopted by Brahne as a child. At the Tree, Brahne attempts to kill Kuja with an eidolon so she can rule unopposed, but he takes control of it and destroys her and her army.

After Garnet's coronation, Kuja attacks Alexandria Castle. Garnet and Eiko summon an extremely powerful eidolon in defense; Kuja attempts to steal the eidolon as a means to kill his master, Garland, but the latter arrives and destroys it. The party chases Kuja through a portal to Terra, where the antagonists' goals become clear. The Terrans created Garland to merge their dying world with Gaia; Garland, in turn, created self-aware, soulless vessels called Genomes. For millennia, Garland has been using the Iifa Tree to replace deceased Gaian souls with the hibernating Terran souls, turning the former into Mist in the process; this will allow the Terrans to be reborn into the Genomes after the planetary merge. Kuja and Zidane are Genomes created to accelerate this process by bringing war and chaos to Gaia. Kuja had betrayed Garland to avoid becoming occupied by a Terran soul. Kuja defeats Garland, who reveals before dying that the former has a limited lifespan anyhow: Garland designed Zidane to be his replacement. Enraged, Kuja destroys Terra and escapes to the Iifa Tree.

At the Iifa Tree, the party enters Memoria and reaches the origin of the universe: the Crystal World. They defeat Kuja, preventing him from destroying the original crystal of life and thus the universe. After defeating Necron, a force of death, the Tree collapses; the party flees, while Zidane stays behind to rescue Kuja. One year later, the game reveals the cast's fate: Tantalus arrives in Alexandria to put on a show; Vivi has implicitly died as Black Mages only live for a year, but he has left behind several identical "sons," as well as grown to understand the meaning of life; Freya and Fratley are rebuilding Burmecia; Cid has adopted Eiko; Quina works in the castle's kitchen; Amarant and Lani are travelling together; and Garnet presides as queen of Alexandria, with Steiner and Beatrix as her guards. In the climax of Tantalus's performance, the lead actor reveals himself as Zidane in disguise and reunites with Queen Garnet.

Development

Early planning for Final Fantasy IX began in July 1998 before Square had finished development on Final Fantasy VIII. The game was developed in Hawaii as a compromise to developers living in the United States. As the series' last game on the PlayStation, Sakaguchi envisioned a "reflection" on the older games of the series. Leading up to its release, Sakaguchi called Final Fantasy IX his favorite Final Fantasy game as "it's closest to ideal view of what Final Fantasy should be". This shift was also a response to demands from fans and other developers. Additionally, the team wanted to create a coherent story with deep character development; this led to the creation of Active Time Events which showcase the character's individual exploration away from the protagonist. Sakaguchi wrote the scenario for the game, with further contributions from Kazuhiko Aoki and Nobuaki Komoto.

Vivi, Zidane, Garnet, and Steiner in a full-motion video sequence

In the game's conceptual stage, the developers made it clear that the title would not necessarily be Final Fantasy IX, as its break from the realism of VII and VIII may have alienated audiences. This idea led fans to speculate that it would be a "gaiden" (side story) to the main series. By late 1999, however, Square had confirmed that the game would indeed be titled Final Fantasy IX, and by early 2000, they had almost finished the game. The developers made several adjustments to the game, such as changing the ending seven times. Director Hiroyuki Ito had designed the battle system.

The game's developers sought to make the game's environment more "fantasy-oriented" than its PlayStation predecessors by reintroducing a medieval setting. In the game world, steam technology is just beginning to become widely available. The population relies on hydropower or wind power for energy sources but sometimes harness Mist or steam to drive more advanced engines. Norse and Northern European mythology also inspired the game's setting. According to Ito, " attracted to European history and mythology because of its depth and its drama". The game's art director was Hideo Minaba, while the characters were designed by Shūkō Murase and Toshiyuki Itahana. Recurring artist Yoshitaka Amano created promotional concept art of the characters and world, and designed the logo. The main Final Fantasy IX website says the development of the game's world serves as a culmination of the series by blending the "successful elements of the past, such as a return to the fantasy roots", with newer elements. To accomplish this and satisfy fans who had become used to the realistic designs of Final Fantasy VIII, the designers stressed creating characters with whom the player could easily relate. The characters had "comic-like looks" as a result. In addition, The Dark Crystal was used as inspiration for the design of the world and characters. Ito suggested that the protagonist Zidane should be flirtatious towards women.

Music

Main article: Music of Final Fantasy IX

Regular series composer Nobuo Uematsu wrote the music of Final Fantasy IX. In early discussions about the game, Ito asked him to compose themes for the eight main characters along with "an exciting battle track, a gloomy, danger-evoking piece, and around ten other tracks". Uematsu spent a year composing and producing "around 160" pieces, with 140 appearing in the game. During writing sessions, Square gave him a travel break in Europe for inspiration, where he spent time admiring ancient architecture in places like Germany. Uematsu cited medieval music as a significant influence on the score of IX. He aimed for a "simple" and "warm" atmosphere and incorporated uncommon instruments like the kazoo and dulcimer. Unlike the stark realism of its predecessors, the high fantasy undertones of IX allowed for a broader spectrum of musical styles and moods. Uematsu composed with a piano and used two contrasting methods: "I create music that fits the events in the game, but sometimes, the will adjust a game event to fit the music I've already written".

Uematsu incorporated several motifs from older Final Fantasy games into the score, such as the original battle music intro, a reworked Volcano Theme from Final Fantasy and the Pandemonium theme in Final Fantasy II. Tantalus' band plays "Rufus' Welcoming Ceremony" from Final Fantasy VII near the beginning of the game. Uematsu has stated on several occasions that Final Fantasy IX is his favorite score. "Melodies of Life" is the theme song of IX and shares its main melody with pieces frequently used in the game itself, such as the overworld theme and a lullaby that Garnet sings. Emiko Shiratori performed this piece in both the Japanese and English versions with arrangement by Shirō Hamaguchi.

Release

Final Fantasy IX's release was delayed to avoid a simultaneous release with then-rival Enix's Dragon Quest VII. On October 7, 2000, a demo day for the North American version of IX was held at the Metreon in San Francisco, California. The first American release of the game was also at the Metreon; limited-edition merchandise was included with the game and fans cosplayed as Final Fantasy characters in celebration of the release. In Canada, a production error left copies of Final Fantasy IX without an English version of the instruction manual, prompting Square to ship copies of the English manual to Canadian stores several days later. Square heavily promoted the game both before and after its release. Starting on March 6, 2000, the game's characters appeared in a line of computer-generated Coca-Cola commercials. Figurines of several characters were also used as prizes in Coca-Cola's marketing campaign. That same year, IGN awarded Final Fantasy dolls and figurines for prizes in several of their contests.

Final Fantasy IX was released on Sony's Greatest Hits on June 30, 2003.

Final Fantasy IX was also the benchmark of Square's interactive PlayOnline service. PlayOnline was initially developed to interface with Final Fantasy X but became a strategy site for IX when those plans fell through. Square designed the website to complement BradyGames' and Piggyback Interactive's official strategy guides for the game, where players who bought the print guide had access to "keywords" that they could search for on PlayOnline's site for extra tips and information. This design caused anger among buyers of the guide who felt cheated by the expensive print version's omissions. The blunder made GameSpy's "Top 5 Dumbest Moments in Gaming" list, and Square dropped the idea for Final Fantasy X, which was under development at the time.

Square Enix re-released the game as part of the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box Japanese package in December 2012. A remastered version was released for Android and iOS in February 2016. The remaster features HD movies and character models, an auto-save feature, seven different game boosters (cheats), including high speed and no encounter modes, and achievements. A port for Windows was released on April 14 the same year. In September 2017, the Windows port was released on PlayStation 4. It was also released on the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Windows 10 in North America on February 13, 2019, and in other regions a day later.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankingsPS: 93%
MetacriticPS: 94/100
iOS: 88/100
PC: 84/100
PS4: 85/100
NS: 76/100
Review scores
PublicationScore
Famitsu38/40
Game Informer9.75/10
GamePro
GameSpot8.5/10
Hyper95%
IGN9.2/10
Next Generation
TouchArcadeiOS:
Awards
PublicationAward
4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards
6th Annual Golden Satellite Awards
  • Best Interactive Product/Video Game

Final Fantasy IX sold over 2.65 million copies in Japan by the end of 2000, making it the second-highest selling game of the year in the region. Although it was a top-seller in Japan and America, Final Fantasy IX did not sell as many copies as VII or VIII in either Japan or the United States. In 2001, the game received a "Gold" certification from the Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland (VUD), for sales of at least 100,000 units across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The original PlayStation version sold over 5.5 million copies by March 2016.

Final Fantasy IX was released to critical acclaim both in Japan and abroad. It achieved a 94/100 on the review aggregator Metacritic making it their highest-scoring Final Fantasy game. The game was voted the 24th-best game of all time by readers of the Japanese magazine Famitsu. Francesca Reyes of Next Generation called it "an imaginative return to the roots of the Final Fantasy series that hits the RPG mark dead-on".

Critics generally praised the title's gameplay and combat system. GameSpot approved of the simple learning curve and that the ability system is not as complex as in VII or VIII. Each character possesses unique abilities, which prevents one character from overpowering the others. GameSpot describes the battle system as having a tactical nature and notes that the expanded party allows for more interaction between players and between enemies. Nevertheless, IGN disliked the lengthy combat pace and the repeated battles, describing it as "aggravating". RPGFan felt the Trance system was ineffective because the meter buildup is slow and unpredictable, with characters Trancing just before the enemy dies.

The characters and graphics also received positive reviews. Although IGN felt that the characters were similar to those in other Final Fantasy games, the characters were still engaging and sympathetic. GameSpot found the characters amusing and full of humor. IGN also noted that even the Active Time Event system helps expand the player's understanding of the characters' personalities as they grapple with many ideas and emotions. RPGFan enjoyed the detailed animation and design of the semi-deformed graphical style. They also praised the pre-rendered backgrounds, noting the careful attention given to the artwork, movement in animations, and character interactivity. They commended the cutscenes for being emotionally compelling and highlighted the seamless transition between cutscenes and in-game graphics. The music also received praise, with Electronic Gaming Monthly listing it the best soundtrack on their list of top five original soundtracks, while GamePro praised the audio for evoking "emotions throughout the story, from battles to heartbreak to comedy".

Critics acknowledged that Square primarily built the storyline upon elements found in previous Final Fantasy installments, such as evil empires and enigmatic villains. The main villain, although considered by GameSpot to be the least threatening in the series, was seen by IGN as an impeccable combination of "Kefka's cackling villainy" and "plenty of the bishonenosity that made Sephiroth such a hit with the ladies". RPGFan felt that the music was "uninspired and dull" compared to previous Final Fantasy titles and criticized composer Uematsu for reusing some tracks from past iterations of the series. Still, reviewers have concluded that this and many other elements are part of the overall effort to create a nostalgic game for fans of the older Final Fantasy games.

The strategy guide also received criticism; it urged buyers to log onto an online site to gain the information instead of providing it within the actual guide. The book's given links are no longer accessible on the PlayOnline website. The minigame "Tetra Master" was seen by GameSpot as inferior and confusing compared to Final Fantasy VIII's minigame "Triple Triad" as the rules are vaguely explained and offered few rewards despite its expansive nature.

During the 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences honored Final Fantasy IX with the "Console Role-Playing", "Art Direction" and "Animation" awards, as well as received nominations for "Game of the Year", "Console Game of the Year", "Original Musical Composition", and "Character or Story Development".

Legacy

Final Fantasy IX was voted the 4th best Final Fantasy game in a poll by Japan's national broadcasting organization NHK. IGN named it the 14th best game on the original PlayStation, calling it an "incredible" way to close out the Final Fantasy series's first nine games and complimented its reverence for those titles. Rock Paper Shotgun named the title their 4th best Final Fantasy game available on PC, praising the cast and its eclectic group of heroes. Though overshadowed during its initial release by other Final Fantasy titles, the game has been recognized for its mature themes, including mortality and handling death and is considered a JRPG masterpiece. The music has also been called one of Uematsu's greatest scores. The game has inspired a number of mods such as Moguri Mod, which is an unofficial remaster project developed by fans which saw its initial release in 2018.

In 2015, OverClocked ReMix released a four-disc collection called "Worlds Apart" with 120 songs to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the game's release. In June 2021, Cyber Group Studios and Square Enix announced plans to develop an animated television series based on Final Fantasy IX.

Notes

  1. Published Android, iOS, Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One versions.
  2. Japanese: ファイナルファンタジーIX, Hepburn: Fainaru Fantajī Nain

Story notes

  1. Garnet: I am actually ... Princess Garnet til Alexandros, heir to the throne of Alexandria. I have a favour I wish to ask of you ... I wish to be kidnapped ...right away.
  2. Dagger: I have to help Mother ... I don't want to see anything happen to her ... / Steiner: Very well. Princess, I will follow you wherever you choose.
  3. Queen Brahne: Zorn, Thorn! Prepare to extract the eidolons from Garnet.
  4. Minister Artania: Yes, Princess. The castle was spared. Regent Cid is alive.
  5. Regent Cid: I believe Kuja is the only one supplying <gwok> Brahne with weapons.
  6. Minister Artania: That he came from the north suggests he's from the Outer Continent.
  7. Zidane: What kind of weapons did Kuja make? / Soulcage: Kuja called them black mages, dark spawn of the Mist.
  8. Queen Brahne: Kuja! So you finally decided to show your girly face here! You're all that stands between me and total domination!
  9. Kuja: Excellent, Bahamut! Power, mobility ... You truly are the best! You even hurt me ... a little. And you, Brahne ... Your tragic role in this drama now comes to an end!
  10. Kuja: What an auspicious day for Alexandria. Dagger's accession to the throne has brought hope and peace to this kingdom. The people are overjoyed; they believe a wonderful future is ahead of them ... But the celebration isn't over yet. It's time to really light things up! Your former master is here, Bahamut. Play a requiem for her and all of Alexandria!
  11. Garland: You have gone too far, Kuja. I granted you the freedom to do as you wish in Gaia for one purpose alone. Now that you have lost sight of your mission, I will no longer tolerate your actions.
  12. Kuja: I need an eidolon more powerful than Alexander! An eidolon with the power to bury Garland! His powers are so incredible; I cannot even come close. I must destroy him before Terra's plan is activated, or my soul will no longer be my own!
  13. Garland: I constructed the Genomes to be vessels for the souls of the people of Terra when they awaken.
  14. Garland: the Iifa Tree blocks the flow of Gaia's souls, while it lets those of Terra flow freely.
  15. Garland: The role of the Iifa Tree is that of Soul Divider. The Mist you see comprises the stagnant souls of Gaia ...
  16. Zidane: So ... Kuja is just an angel of death who sends souls to the Tree of Iifa. / Garland: Yes, my angel of death. But only until you came of age.
  17. Garland: There's a limit to your life ... You'll be dead soon ... Even as I die, you'll have died without ever leaving your mark on the world ...
  18. Kuja: It's the original crystal ... This is where it all began ... The birthplace of all things ... Once I destroy it, everything will be gone. Gaia, Terra, the universe, everything ...
  19. Necron: I exist for one purpose ... To return everything back to the zero world, where there is no life and no crystal to give life.
  20. Zidane: ... Kuja's still alive. I can't just leave him.
  21. Robed performer: I beseech thee, wondrous moonlight, grant me my only wish! Zidane: Bring my beloved Dagger to me!

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Further reading

External links

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