Video: Square Enix Staff Share Secrets And Memories Of Final Fantasy IX's Development

The "Final Fantasy fan's dream console" moniker is, sadly, still taken by the PS Vita, but if Square keeps delivering that might well not be the case anymore. Here's hoping.

Oh, and also, cue obligatory ProZD clip which I had embedded before.

One left off the list: Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition. I suspect it wasn't an accident...

Eh? I'm not seeing subtitles. Better get on the app, I guess.

If I can clear enough backlog, I hope to play this game as soon as I can.

I have my problems with the game (Stealing, Lack of character customization, slow animations, Chocobo minigame), but FF9 is still quite good and you can clearly tell that it was a game made with passion.

I enjoyed my recent playthrough of it a lot.

It's my least favorite of the PSX FF games, but it's not a bad game in and of itself. Its character designs just don't hold my attention the way they did in IV, VI, VII and VIII.

I want FF IX Switch version in Physical !

It's been weird playing FF IX again, the cut scenes still look absolutely fabulous, but it is really jarring the what seems like flat backgrounds with the 3d models feeling like they are running around on a paper background lol. I still plan to play through it, but right now been playing a bunch of the division 2. I'm still interested in the full replay through.

@Expa0 stealing is about luck and that is ok, the chocobo minigame is one of the greatest in the franchise, lack of character customisation? there are tons of armours or weapons... so, what?!

@dougphisig is that background problem still a big deal even in handheld mode?

@BlackenedHalo
Giving valuable equipment to every single boss is the problem, idling 10-15 minutes watching Zidane try to steal over and over from every single boss battle is not my idea of good time. You can NOT do it if you want, but you're basically just handicapping yourself if you're not.

The minigame isn't quite as terrible as some of the others in the series, but the problem is that so much content (including the secret boss) is hidden behind it and you have to spend like 3-4 hours on it every playthrough, I play RPGs for the RPG gameplay, not to waste my time grinding on some depressingly simple hot & cold treasure hunt. It's not fun.

Armours, weapons fine. But I was referring to changing of skills and such. The characters are depressingly preset in how they function in battle.

@dougphisig
Yeah, the updated 3D models make this more apparent than ever sadly.

I wish they'd share the secret of a discount.

Seriously, though, it IS a great game! I would place it easily in the top three of the entire series, but I have such a huge backlog right now that I can wait for a good sale! It will be my third time buying it.

@dougphisig

It IS crazy, though, how far of a leap they made from Final Fantasy VII to IX!

@Expa0 but this is a JRPG, not an RPG ...JRPGs had always such things ...i do not think Final Fantasy is for you, if you want a real RPG just play Baldurs Gate Minigames are a common thing in FF and in some games they have a bigger role than in others YES FF is a JRPG but also it focuses on minigames pretty "heavily" sometimes and that is why i love it

The absolute shining jewel of the entire FF series. I love the series. I still feel 7 is overrated even though I have a sentimental soft spot for it in some ways, the story was an incomprehensible, illogical mess, even when compared to KH. But IX....is just beautiful in every way.

@BlackenedHalo
Yes, clearly the series is not for me despite enjoying pretty much all of them up to 12, including this one as I said. Just because there are a few things about the game I don't like doesn't mean I hate the game. The minigames really are only prevalent in FF7-10, it's not exactly a series wide tradition and unfortunately in this game you're kinda forced to do it if you want the full experience.

@Yorumi
I think beating the super boss is a big part of the experience, plus the fight in general is easily one of the most fun in the game.

@Expa0 But those mini games are also a part of the full experience! minigames were also in Final Fantasy VI so it is a pretty common thing for FF ...mini games were also in 11,12, 13 trilogy and 14 and 15...so mini games have been Final Fantasy already 25 years. You are clearly wrong. You may have beaten a whole bunch of the FF games but you are not a real fan.

I want 13,13.2, Lightning Returns on the Switch. Or at least all the Square Enix games that are on Google Play. The ones on Google Play should be easier to port.

I had never played 9 before, really enjoying it. Was puzzled to notice that 8 seems to have only had a reissue for PC...

Awesome video! Cant wait for the others. I wish I could hug everyone in this video. FF9 is my favorite game of all time and absolutely changed my life back in middle school. Replaying it on Switch was pure heaven.

I would so buy an N64 just for this game, it's such as an awesome RPG that should had originate on a Nintendo system.

@retro_player_22 it would not have fitted.

@BlackenedHalo Haven't tried playing it in handheld mode yet, I mainly play docked wick the occasional handheld.

@BanjoPickles yeah definitely still better looking than VII, however one was beginning of PS cycle and other was closer to the end so it makes sense. Though it's even more insane when you look at the leap from PS to PS2 with FFX man that was a huge graphical upgrade lol. I'm looking forward to replaying that next month when I pickup FFX & X-2.

does this have any spoilers ? FF 9 is one of my favorite games ever (that I haven't yet finished)

@dougphisig

Oh man, that was the game that sold me on the PS2! I’ve never played XII, so I’m excited for The Zodiac Age.

VII was definitely still a jaw dropper for its time. I was originally going to buy an N64 for that game alone....and then when Squaresoft shifted gears, I went with Sony.