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RPGamer Preview: Final Fantasy IX
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Hotly anticipated,
the ninth installment makes a return to the roots of the Final Fantasy series.
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Screens
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The introduction
Phoenix Down: always good in a pinch
Sunglasses,anyone?
Odin rides in on Slepnir
Toasty spell effects
Giant flaming burger or Ifrit's summon? You decide.
View
Photo Gallery
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Platform:
Sony PlayStation
Developer: Square
Publisher: Square EA (North America)
Rated Teen for violent content. |
Though Playstation 2 is stealing most of the gaming headlines these days,
its predecessor is going to get at least one more kick at the proverbial
RPG can before things are said and done. On November 14th, Squaresoft
will release the 9th installment of its beloved Final Fantasy series,
and the last to appear on the PSX. Unlike the previous two titles
for this system, however, Square has opted for a more conventional
approach to Final Fantasy IX;
namely, they have reverted to a fantasy setting. This will doubtlessly
come as a delight to the older fans of the series, and offer a new
perspective for those that started out with Final
Fantasy VII. Whatever the case, the game offers much
to fans of both stripes.
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In the game, you get to play as Zidane, a dubious character who, as a
member of the rogue group Tantalus, is out to do roguish things, namely
kidnapping the princess Garnet. As is to be expected, things don't turn
out as expected, and before too long, Zidane, Garnet, a young black mage
by the name of Vivi and an assortment of other characters are flying around
the divided world of Gaia. Gaia is a series of continents, so expect
to spend some time in an airship; expect also to do some exploring, because
there's a fair number of them.
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Final Fantasy IX
follows in the footsteps of its predecessors in terms of gameplay. There is
the usual exploration, a wide variety of towns, and an array of mini-games rivalling
any of the previous entries in the series. Featured prominently here is QuadMist, a revamped
version of the card game Triple Triad from Final
Fantasy VIII. If the other mini-games aren't enough to sate your need for additional fun,
QuadMist should do the trick.
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The story in Final Fantasy IX
is portrayed through both gameplay and FMV sequences, following in the footsteps of later
entries in the series. As with other elements of the game, however,this commitment to the
new is coupled with respect for the roots of the series, and the same basic messages inherent
in each Final Fantasy game will be presented here again. The FMV itself
is of excellent quality, as is evident in the screenshots that have been released; the artistic
style of the game, however, gives it a less realistic look than
Final
Fantasy VIII.
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Rather than the excessive customizability that both the junction and materia systems offered,
Final Fantasy IX has
a new and somewhat more constrained system. Dubbed the "Item-Creation" system,
it makes use of ability crystals to build up the character's powers without allowing them to become
omnipotent. In this way, character classes are reinstituted into the battle system, a definite
throwback to earlier days. |
The combat system sees the return of four character parties in battle. The usual assortment of
attacks, spells, and abilities return, as well as the limit break system, this time under the
name trance system. The summon spells return, although there is mercifully an option to shorten them,
so the misery of watching Eden take a full minute to deal damage will happily not be repeated. As there
are now four characters fighting, the level of detail in the battle graphics is of necessity slightly
lower than Final
Fantasy VIII; however, the spell effects are still more than adequate, and the graphics do not really
suffer.
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Final Fantasy IX is scheduled for release on the PlayStation
on November 14. |
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