Final Fantasy IX

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. DualShockers
    Oct 3, 2017
    95
    Final Fantasy IX on PlayStation 4 has rekindled my imagination that for years I thought I had lost, giving me a reason to return to these characters and story that deserve to be experienced by any fan of the genre. Final Fantasy IX on PlayStation 4 is upgraded and re-rendered up to the best possible version for every fan of Final Fantasy, new and old.
  2. Cubed3
    Dec 21, 2017
    90
    It's a bold claim, but Final Fantasy IX is the best PS1 era Final Fantasy, and easily one of the best the series has ever produced. With it being on PS4 and PC, even if you don't want to visit a garage sale or local game shop to grab a PS1, you can now play one of the best RPGs ever created. While it manages to only just fall short of greatness, it does so with a level of grace so memorizing, it's hard to believe sometimes. If you still aren't convinced, just play to the final cutscene. That should convince you just fine.
  3. Destructoid
    Oct 5, 2017
    90
    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.
  5. Push Square
    Sep 27, 2017
    90
    Not all aspects of Final Fantasy IX hold up perfectly in 2017, but the PSone swansong is still a stone cold classic. Although you could argue that the PS4 port should do more to enhance the experience, the adventure's core strengths in world building and storytelling remain, and they're as flawless as ever. When all's said and done, masterpiece is still a word that we'd use to describe Final Fantasy IX.
  6. Vandal
    Sep 22, 2017
    90
    An unforgettable RPG now available on PS4. There are some new features, but what’s important is that the core remains unchanged, and the adventure still is as incredible as it has always been.
  7. IGN Spain
    Sep 20, 2017
    90
    Playing Final Fantasy once more, this time in Ps4, is one of the most nostalgic and happy things. The renewed version looks nice and smooth and allows new players to enjoy one of the best game for PsOne.
  8. 3DJuegos
    Oct 3, 2017
    85
    A direct port for PS4 of one of the best Final Fantasy games ever… and one of the more complex, unique and deep JRPG ever made.
  9. GamingTrend
    Sep 26, 2017
    85
    Seventeen years after its original release, Final Fantasy IX continues to bring lovable characters full of whimsy. The new boosts ensure that the game can be played in its normal state, or with boosts that are respectful of the player’s time. While the graphical upgrade is a bit of a mixed bag, it’s amazing just how well this PS1 classic holds up. It’s a welcome surprise for the PlayStation 4, and a nod to Square Enix’s continued efforts to bring the best of the Final Fantasy legacy to new generations of players.
  10. Impulsegamer
    Oct 3, 2017
    82
    Final Fantasy IX is an easy recommend for fans of classic JRPGs and should prove to serve as a reminder that, despite the pitfalls the series has navigated through the years, there was a reason why Final Fantasy was once the undisputed king of roleplaying games.
  11. DarkZero
    Oct 9, 2017
    80
    Though Final Fantasy IX’s PS4 port lacks the same love and care that was given to the recently released Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, it is still a solid enough re-release, and more importantly another modern source for players to experience this wonderful RPG classic, whether for the first time or the hundredth time. The timeless charm, characterization and content guarantees that this game will be the place you’ll return to someday, now and forever.
  12. SpazioGames
    Sep 28, 2017
    80
    We won't waste time in small chat: Final Fantasy IX is a timeless masterpiece. It's a nostalgic medieval ballad, that takes the player's hand to guide him into a fantasy world. The game was optimized for PlayStation 4, but the remaster suffers some little flaws such as old textures and pixelated pre-rendered environments. If you never experimented this videogame fantasy symphony you should buy it without thinking, but if you also bought it on PSX or PS3 you will not find any reason to take it again.
  13. Eurogamer Italy
    Sep 27, 2017
    80
    Quotation forthcoming.
  14. Hardcore Gamer
    Sep 20, 2017
    80
    For a seventeen-year-old game, Final Fantasy IX has aged incredibly well.

Awards & Rankings

22
#22 Best PS4 Game of 2017
87
#87 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2017

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 347 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 298 out of 347
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 347
  3. Negative: 38 out of 347
  1. deadlysilentbob
    Sep 23, 2017
    5
    To start this review I would like to say that I probably spent most of the time in my childhood playing this game above all others. I had atTo start this review I would like to say that I probably spent most of the time in my childhood playing this game above all others. I had at least 1000 hours over multiple save files and multiple playthroughs. So believe me when I say that this remaster is very, VERY disappointing.

    The nature of a remaster means that we cannot rate the game based on game content that was part of the previous iteration of the game as that would just be redundant circlejerking (if you want the original reviews they are still on metacritic). Instead we must only rate the new/remastered content and the content that should have received a remaster.

    1st off: Graphics. This has got to be some of the laziest s*** I have ever seen. The backgrounds in towns actually appear to be worse than the ps1 original. The only parts of the overworld that got an actual rework were the character/enemy models (to their credit those were actually well done). The battles are a disjointed mish mash of frame rate drops and awkward 60 fps damage pop ups that are actually quite distracting. The cutscenes are exact pulls from the ps1 version with no smoothing or even upscalling AT ALL. Finally I would like to know why the font is set to "I have the eyesight of a molerat" size for EVERYTHING.

    2nd: Music. The soundtrack received absolutely NO remaster at all. Take this as you will but if im gonna buy a remaster I like to have the soundtrack reworked with an option to switch to the original.

    and 3rd: Gameplay. There are built in cheats for the game that are accessible through the pause menu and the config menu. I understand that this was originally set up as an iOS game and as such cheats to speed progress would be a boon to people who just want a casual time waster while commuting. They do however drain all the fun from the game for people looking for an actual gameplay experience. I urge you to play without the cheats at least once. Other than the cheat menu there are no real changes to the battle system. The analogue movement has been removed which results in clunky overworld movement but that is more of a quality of life thing and not really a hindrance to gameplay. The addition of trophies however was nice and definitely increases replay-ability.

    As a person who wanted this game remastered for so long, I find myself very saddened by the cheap and heartless way this game was reborn. ESPECIALLY in light of how beautifully ff12 was done. If you are new to this game I urge you to play the original ps1 version (available for the psp, psvita and ps3 on the psn for 6 dollars). If you are an old fan then you may get some enjoyment out of it but don't go into it thinking that this is gonna be anywhere near as good as the ff12 or even the ffx/x-2 remakes were.

    Overall I give this game a 5.    … Full Review »
  2. 17_jrpg
    Sep 20, 2017
    10
    Square Einx first brought iOS and Android version of this game to Steam and now on the PS4. This new remaster version of Final Fantasy IXSquare Einx first brought iOS and Android version of this game to Steam and now on the PS4. This new remaster version of Final Fantasy IX contains the following: high-definition movies and character models, auto-save functionality, boosters (high speed mode and no encounter mode, master all abilities, maximize character levels, magic stone counts and gil, full ATB/Trance/HP/MP, 9999 damage), PS4 trophy support, share functionality and remote play with the PSV.

    It's nice to see Final Fantasy IX on the PS4, but I was expecting Square Enix to make a remake. I was hoping that they will completely rebuilt Final Fantasy IX from ground up for the PS4 as they do with Final Fantasy VII. I hope Final Fantasy IX and Final Fantasy VIII will get the same treatment as Final Fantasy VII, that we will soon see in the near future the remake of Final Fantasy IX and Final Fantasy VIII.

    Final Fantasy IX is the best-rated Final Fantasy game and one of the favorites to almost all players around the world, so it deserves remake for the PS4 with improved graphics and corrected minor error (for example Trance system).

    This is my favorite Final Fantasy game. It has a great story that featuring funny, happy, sad, dramatic and tragic moments. Also has great gameplay, interesting mini games like Tetra Master and Chocobo Hot and Cold, and has one of the toughest superbosses of Final Fantasy games. What I like the most in this game is the characters growth systems. Each character have their own class and abilities which allows the player to create his own strategy in the battle by balancing strengths and weaknesses of the characters. I also like ATB system because it is my favorite of all battle systems.

    Conclusion: Final Fantasy IX is one of the best JRPGs and deserves remake!    … Full Review »
  3. SaviorGaming
    Dec 6, 2017
    9
    This game as a kid felt amazing. Like it was an epic quest that could never be matched. Since than I am not sure it has, but I was happy toThis game as a kid felt amazing. Like it was an epic quest that could never be matched. Since than I am not sure it has, but I was happy to see it return. It has stood the test of time for any and all fans of the series, and for those new to role playing games this is a great place to jump in. The story is great, the graphics still hold up nice and the characters are lovable and well done. My only real issue is they used the IOS and Android version, and those huge grey blocks they used for the battle menu get in the way.… Full Review »
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