Final Fantasy IX

When most of the world expected another leap into the future, Squaresoft decided to go against the current and return home. Final Fantasy IX from 2000 is a deliberate return to the series' medieval fantasy roots - after the futuristic tones of installments VII and VIII, it is a loving tribute to what Final Fantasy once began as.

It is no coincidence that this particular installment is often named as the favorite of Hironobu Sakaguchi himself, the father of the entire series. Instead of technology and sci-fi, here it is knights, mages, airships and a fairy-tale atmosphere that reign. The hero is the likable thief Zidane, but the real heart of the game is, for many, the black mage Vivi - a small character whose story about mortality, identity and the meaning of existence ranks among the most touching things the series has ever offered. His theme resonates long after the game is over.

On the gameplay side, IX returns to time-tested principles: four-member parties, classic summoned beings and a system of abilities learned from equipment. The game came out at the very end of the PlayStation's life, and so it squeezed everything it could out of the console - the result is a technically polished, visually rich title full of both charming and grand moments. The characterful cast and warm tone make the journey an experience that is more of an embrace than a trial.

It is precisely this „heartfelt“ quality that earned IX a special place in the hearts of fans. While other installments dazzle with ambition or controversy, the ninth bets on the pure joy of storytelling and on emotions that need no grand gestures. Many therefore consider it the most „human“ and most tender installment of the whole series.

Today Final Fantasy IX is often remembered as one of the peaks of the PS1 era - a title that proved a step back toward tradition can also be a step forward in quality. For anyone who wants to know the soul of the series, it is an ideal starting point.

Why play it: For the most heartfelt and warm installment of the series - a return to fantasy roots with the unforgettable Vivi and a story that will not leave you for a long time.