Final Fantasy IX was the third and last game of the Final Fantasy series for the Playstation. Created at the end of the platform lifecycle of course would be a game with stunning graphics for its time and one of the longest, which made its copies had no fewer than four discs.
Let us remember and discuss the most striking and frustrating moments of the game that finished the season one of the most beloved video games of the players?
Rescuing the origins
Castle Final Fantasy IXFinal Fantasy IX had initiated its development by Square (now Square Enix) in 1998, even before the completion of its predecessor, Final Fantasy VIII (1999). However, it was not known whether the game would actually be one of the games in the main series or a spin-off. The reason for this is due to the fact that this new Final Fantasy break the futuristic spirit and less fanciful than its two predecessors created. However, for the series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, the game should rescue the "Fantasy" name, returning to the roots of the series.
With the focus on the Fantasy, a world where steam to similar technology is starting to develop and a war between the major kingdoms is imminent was created. Meanwhile, a group of thieves plan to kidnap a princess, which want to discover the truth about his mother, the queen who want to conquer the world. The story was written with a lot of inspiration in European mythologies, mainly Nordic (who remembers Odin destroying Cleyra?). Another point is that the characters should have a deeper development. One solution to this was the creation of ATE (Active Time Event), where the player can follow in parallel the history of the characters who are not with him at the time, and even influence some decisions that they take.
The development of the soundtrack was taken by Nobuo Uematsu, inspired by the European average age of composition. However, an element was added so that the music would not become tedious, is an instrument with greater impact or a livelier pace. Nobuo Uematsu has created 160 pieces of music, of which 140 were for the game. The game's theme song is "Melodies of Life", where many of the other tracks were remixed as the environment or the impact that the soundtrack wanted to make.
At launch, one way to promote the game was the use of the characters in a Coca-Cola. However, a misstep that Square was made with the test that tried to get the newly released PlayOnline, a portal tips from Square. For those unaware, it is very common the launch of the game official guides in the US, Europe and Japan, which has everything about the game, since the functioning of mechanisms to a step by step to 100%. At the time, many who bought the official guide, rather than find a complete guide, found access codes for PlayOnline website. Of course, buyers felt cheated, tarnishing the reputation of the Square and its portal, since that time, it was not everyone who had a laptop, a smartphone or a computer near the video game.
Techniques which go beyond technology
Battles Final Fantasy IXPara the graphics, the game uses pre-rendered scenes, and only the characters are 3D models themselves in the game. This guarantee superior graphics to the standards of the games of the season. For example, the city of Treno is a city where you have plenty of light and shadows because it is always night, but many of these lights would be impossible for a single Playstation without such a technique.
The battles use the classic game system, the ATB (Active Time Battle), used since Final Fantasy IV. However, an interesting observation was a game design technique would utilize the hardware limitations. It is true that to load a 3D model is time consuming for a machine like Playstation. So as not to become annoying with so many screens of "carrying" every battle, they have chosen to use cinematic techniques: when a battle occurs, the screen usually goes black and the entrance music begins. Music has a more alarming beginning to draw the player's attention. Then appears the scene, with the camera turning around, giving an overview. Then come the monsters and the camera provides a focus on them. Then the camera is positioned so that both the characters and the monsters are displayed and begin the battle. With a short introduction presenting those involved in the battles, the game designer managed to create a time so that the resources used during the battle were loaded.
For better understanding, see one of the video during the battles:
Some things are secret, secret too much
Now we speak of the development of Final Fantasy IX as a player, let's see what went right or wrong in it. The main weakness of Final Fantasy IX concentrates on its side missions. Ie for that casual player will not influence much, but for a more hardcore eventually becomes frustrating. One is the fact that some missions, mini-games and items can only be caught in just a moment of the game. No problem, if it were really necessary. For example, the minigame Hippaul's Race can be played only when you return to Alexandria for the second time and can not be played after the attack Kuja with Bahamut.
The situation is different minigame Jump Rope for that before the attack, is located in the main square and then is relocated to the bell tower. Something similar happens with a chest in Dali Village, which can only be opened when you control Dagger and instead you go to Treno, you go to the village. The only problem is that you have no reason to go to Dali. Therefore, the player does not even notice that lost such an opportunity and will try forever trying to get to this chest.
A recent case has drawn attention in May this year (2013), which was the discovery of a new secondary mission. That's right, 13 years after the game was released and still had a mission that no one knew. But what was the reason to have stayed so long? Simple as you are in the last dungeon, will be several events. For every event that occurs, you should go back to Lindblum and find, on the basis of Tantalus, a member of the Family Enero. Then proceed to the next event and come back to find another family member, so to get to the last member. But who comes to the last dungeon, usually either soon close the game, so easily lost the opportunity to get the reward of that mission.
It's not worth my effort
Another flaw in the mini-games are the rewards are not worth the effort. Let's look at the score required to earn the rewards of mini-game: 20, 50, 100, 200, 300 and 1000. Ok, the effort to get the jump rope 1,000 times without missing, it is assumed that the reward is good. Therein lies: you only get one item of "Congratulations on your achievement," useless at stake. To get an idea of ​​the effort, the guy has to hit the "X" button rhythmically for at least eight minutes without stopping. I think for a reward of these, 500 are already very good size.
Another secondary mission that there were failures is the Mognet, a large secondary mission introduced in the first game disc. It can be completed in the third disk. It is to pick up and deliver letters to Moogles that are around the world. However, some Moogles are located in areas where, in the fourth disc, are no longer available and therefore is the same for Moogles these areas. Logo on the disc that is when the climax of the story of the game takes place. One solution to this would simply relocate to an available area, but not have to carry the cards not delivered to the rest of the life of my save.
Mission Excalibur II - Final Fantasy IX
However, I think the biggest flaw they had the game design of the side missions was the mission of the Excalibur II. The mission is simple (ok, not so much): reach the end of the dungeon rooms in less than 12 hours, being rewarded with the best sword in the game. It's an interesting challenge that requires a lot of knowledge of the game and skill, since you can save time by increasing the levels of your characters. However, to be able to do this mission, you should basically open all the side missions in the game. So for those who want a perfect game, one must choose between doing all the missions or get the sword. Ok, you must decide between one or the other, but this task is impossible in the European version. Because? Because the FPS (frames per second) used in European games are smaller: 50Hz to 60Hz from the outside world. And what does this have to do? The speed of the character the player controls on the map is determined by the SPF and not by time. Less FPS, the character walks at a slower speed, in this case 83% of the original speed, which means that at 12 hours, the European player would be about where the American player is in the 10th hour, preventing the mission. But there is a bug for those who can not and can not complete this mission: every 100 hours of play, the clock is reset, but the clock changes color to indicate the real time. Only when the color is changed by 255 time, there is an overflow in the memory location that manages the clock and it is reset to 00:00:00, allowing purchasing the Excalibur II again. However, do the math: 100 hours x 255 = 25,500 hours of games = 1062.5 days = 2.91 years set to get catch a single item.
Ozma, Boko and Friendly Monsters
Ozma - Final Fantasy IXSe many flaws in the game design can lead to frustration, there are some notable side quests highlighting and all related to each other. Let me explain, it is customary in the Final Fantasy series to create a mega-boss, harder than the very final boss and in the case of Final Fantasy IX, is the Ozma. However, for you to have the dignity to face this boss, you should get to Chocobo's Air Garden. But in order to get there you must evolve Boko, your chocobo, until he can fly. And as it does to evolve your chocobo? Making the secondary mission of Chocograph, which consists of a minigame Hot Or where finds a chocograph with a photo of the site. It can be anywhere in the world, which is a treasure, and certain treasures allow the evolution of our friend full of pity.
So you could get there, but Ozma is strong: you can not physically attack him and he has an attack (Doomsday) that deals damage to all allies and still recovering his life. However, during your journey, you will find some monsters who are friendly, who want only one item. Finding all of these friendly monsters and giving the items they ask for, besides giving a high amount of AP (ability points) for each monster, they take physical invulnerability Ozma and makes Doomsday cause harm to himself instead to heal. After that, just use correct equipment and a good strategy to beat him.
The addictive Tetra Master
Tetra Master - Final Fantasy IXOutro secondary objective is the Tetra Master, the mini-game of cards became so famous that an online version of the game was developed and maintained by Square since 28 October 2003 and closed on December 31, 2010 . The game is the Triple Triad's successor Final Fantasy VIII and even if you do not like the game itself, you'll want at least all the cards. The letters are mainly based on the game monsters, but there are also cards representing items, spells, invocations, towns and even elements or characters from previous games. The most common letters can be found as rewards battles, while those more rare are found as a reward missions, winning matches in the game or find them hidden in his room. The dynamic is simple: each player chooses five cards to put in a 4 × 4 board in order to have more cards in your domain. Each card has a number of arrow going try to turn the adjacent letters in which they point. Adjacent letters that do not have a contrary are simply facing arrow, but those that have come into combat mode, in which the winner dominates the letters involved. The winner can choose one of the cards of the opponent who dominated to add to your collection. If you can turn all the letters, takes all. Interestingly this mini-game is that it is available from the beginning of the game. You can simply ignore it or you can try to get the most out of the game ranks when you want. I believe that the developers thought no one would get, as it causes a visual bug, but nothing incriminating.
Strong points:
- The return to the roots of the game, emphasizing the word "Fantasy" Going to name the series;
- Stunning graphics obtained with good techniques;
- The adrenaline-fueled battle with the mega-bosses Hades and Ozma;
- Plenty of fun mini-games like Chocobo Hot and Cold and Tetra Master.
Opportunities for Improvement:
- Rebalance the rewards and difficulties in some mini-games and side quests;
- Avoid the "unique opportunities" that does not allow the player to run them whenever he wants;
- Relocate the Moogles involved in Mognet that are in inaccessible places in fourth album, after all it's frustrating to care for a mission that begins on the first drive to the end may not complete 100%.
It is a very well done game, however there are game design flaws in side missions and mini-games. However, except the mission of Mognet are not missions that cause extreme frustration. Even with some flaws, the side missions involving Ozma are very entertaining and can fit with other player's goals. If you want to be distracted, go play Chocobo Hot and Cold. If you want to train your characters can do it in places where they appear friendly monsters.

I love final fantasy 9 too. I am a fan of final fantasy games. But this doesn't look like  a review more like a game discussion thread. Remember your chrono trigger review? That is how this review was meant to be done. I do hope you see what you mean and grow. I can see you are building up your talent for reviewing.