Final Fantasy IX

This game feels like a home run after almost two decades. The look may be a bit dated, but the gameplay still holds up, and the story still resonates. Final Fantasy IX is certainly worth the time of a first-timer or a nostalgic fan like myself. It’s always a pleasant surprise to see how well a complex RPG can hold up almost 20 years later and a joy to have one of my favorite games easily accessible on a modern console.

The modern ports of Final Fantasy IX are a great way to play the game, despite a few technical shortcomings that weren’t present in the original.

While many more years will likely go by before the remake of Final Fantasy VII comes out, a slightly enhanced version of Final Fantasy IX is available now on consoles. Do touched-up character models and combat cheats make a twenty-year-old game new again?

Reviewing a new Final Fantasy game is tough. Final Fantasy 16 bears the weight of expectation, a burden that comes with the territory of its iconic name. Each loosely associated entry redefines what it means to be a Final Fantasy, and every fan has a checklist of what aspects of the series need to come together to make the perfect experience. So, can it live up to the titans that came before it while carving out a distinct identity of its own?

Final Fantasy IX still holds true as being an amazing entry in the series for JRPG lovers but be prepared for a lackluster porting of the classic experience.

A bold change of direction for the Final Fantasy series that almost manages to pull it off. Grandiose combat and great performances are the highlights, but a largely funneled story and underdeveloped environments sour the spectacle.

Should you buy this game on Steam? Considering the amount of work that has been put into making the game accessible, functional, and more visually appealing, it’s an easy recommendation to make. Not to mention, having an electronic copy always available eliminates the needs to buy more copies when your physical media wears out.