I always felt like this game was a response to the lackluster feedback for Final Fantasy 8. “Oh, you don’t want it to be too realistic or gritty or whatever?! Time for wacky fantasy everything!”
I know my circle of friends was disappointed in 8, but 9 didn’t even ping their radars.
I never finished 8 or 9, but it wasn’t the setting or character design, I just didn’t care about the characters the same way I used to. Cloud, Tifa and Aeris were instantly my posse. Locke and Terra were a wonderful mix of sorrow and compassion set against the backdrop of a ruthless and intriguing empire.
The later games never connected with my emotions in the same way and, eventually, I just stopped caring.
9 is my favorite in the series and I still go back and replay every few years.
I watched a making of video on youtube a few years back that talked about how it was the original Final Fantasy series dev’s final love letter to the JRPG genre before they retired.
Edit: plus Chocobo Hot & Cold is just about the most addictive minigame I have ever played.
FF8 wasn’t bad because of the gritty sci-fi setting. It was bad because of the terrible teen angsty emo writing. The problem with all the FFs after 7 is just the bad writing. It’s a problem lot’s of modern Japanese media has. Way too much exposition and info dumping bull shit with cringe inducing dialogues clearly inspired by shonen manga these otaku writers grew up with. It’s like these Japanese writers don’t know how normal people, who aren’t manga obsessed geeks, communicate with each other.
Dang I love 8 and 9. 8 definitely feels unfinished, but there are story moments that stick with me more from that game than almost any other. I played through all of the games in order so 9 was like a return to form for me. The first 6 games are much more of a fantasy setting so while I enjoy 7 and 8 it was nice to go back to the main setting of the series. I’m on X-2 right now so I cant comment on the later games.
I loved 9 and didn’t finish 8, but i grew up playing the first. You are right, though, I barely remember the story, but as soon as I saw this picture i remembered every characters name and abilities except the red haired guy. I can’t seem to remember anything about him.
I definitely got further into 9 than 8, but don’t know that I ever met the entire cast. The only name I remember for sure is Vivi. Is the main guy Zidane, maybe?
I remember being so excited for 9, thinking it would take me back to 3, which was my rpg touchstone. I tried to really sell myself on it, but ultimately lost interest. I’d love to go back and try it again at some point and see how I feel.
If you liked 3/6 you probably should try it again. The story wasn’t as captivating, but the characters were almost as good. Nobody will ever best Celes though, she is bae. Yes Zidane is the main character. From top to bottom in this art is Freya, Vivi, Steiner, Garnet, Zidane, Eiko, idk, and Quina
Apparently his name is Amarant Coral. I can never remember his name either.
8 was terrible.
9 was completely unrememberable.
I’m very glad they went back to the cartoony roots, instead of the realistic humans. But I beat it, and I just don’t remember anything about it.
Agreed, I remember feeling like 9 was a good move and bring excited to dig into something more like FF2/3 (US), but it wasn’t what I was hoping for at all.
This is really awesome art.
I just want to express how much I hate the swamp frog eating Que character. I tried hard to skip it, but it’s required to join your party.
