Final Fantasy IX is a jRPG game released in 2000. The development of the ninth installment was handled by Square. Final Fantasy IX became the last game released on the PlayStation platform. Moreover, it has been recognized as the best in the entire Final Fantasy series (millions of copies sold only confirm this).
The setting is the world with the melodious name Gaia, named after one of the goddesses of the pagan pantheon. Of course, for the inhabitants of Gaia, this means absolutely nothing, as the story unfolds in a fictional game universe. The planet is engulfed in a brutal war unleashed by a power-hungry figure named Brahne, who is also the queen. However, Brahne is not the only one responsible for the conflict – behind her back, a true villain named Kuja was pulling the strings, about whom nothing was known until a certain point in time. The player, controlling Zidane Tribal (a professional thief), must find and punish both the tyrant in a skirt and Kuja, as well as everyone who is trying to initiate a deadly war with subsequent destruction of all living things.
The ninth game in the Final Fantasy series differs significantly from the projects numbered VII and VIII. The developers decided not to experiment and tried to return to their roots. Thus, Final Fantasy IX resembles the early games in the series very closely, which explains the success of the project.
As before, the heroes travel across the world map, visiting various locations and interacting with computer inhabitants and NPCs. The places that can be visited and explored vary widely – there are cities, dungeons, and vast areas designed in the signature fantasy style of Final Fantasy. For the convenience of players, creatures called moogles were introduced, which allow saving during the game, trading, and replenishing mana and life bars. Moogle camps have become a very useful innovation, as during the journey, Zidane Tribal and his companions are periodically attacked by various enemies and monsters. If a long journey is ahead or if they need to visit a location that is not easy to reach, the heroes can use chocobo steeds, trains, or airships.
Each game character initially adheres to the abilities that are available to their class. For example, Eiko (as well as Garnet) can summon giant beings known as Eidolons. Vivi, on the other hand, uses black magic to fight against opponents, while Steiner is not particularly fond of magic in all its forms, so he prefers to cut down with his giant sword.