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25 years ago, Final Fantasy 9 crystalized the Final Fantasy identity

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Lengthy sequence should not frequent within the gaming panorama, because of a variety of things. Franchises that stand the take a look at of time face the problem of protecting new iterations related to fashionable audiences whereas staying true to what the video games imply. The Closing Fantasy sequence, which started 43 years in the past and remains to be operating, is moved by the power of the traditional titles that originated the sequence, but in addition attributable to by no means settling right down to the plain. Celebrating its twenty fifth anniversary this 12 months, Closing Fantasy 9 crystallized the sequence’ id by making a degree {that a} Closing Fantasy recreation is made out of the will to inform an excellent story and the braveness to inform an genuine and contemporary one.

Closing Fantasy 9 begins with a well-known feeling, a form of fantasy story you might need heard a few times. The dominion of Alexandria is in celebration. On this auspicious day, destiny places a princess, Garnet, who’s attempting to flee from her citadel, on the trail of thief Zidane, who was despatched to the citadel to kidnap her disguised as a member of the Tantalus Theatre Troupe. Steiner, an uptight knight, needs to desperately save the princess from being taken away from the security of her residence — which is strictly what she needs. Ignorant of those occasions, one other character, just a little boy carrying a sharp hat, Vivi, runs from guards who discovered him watching the exhibits within the citadel with out a ticket. The paths of all these characters converge on the primary stage the place Queen Brahne and the company are ready to look at a play. The commotion blends with the competition, making all of it appear to be a part of the present.

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A Final Fantasy 9 screenshot showing Zidane, Steiner, Eiko, and Garnet talking to Tot who’s explaining to them why the princess lost her voice.

Picture: Sq. Enix through todaysviralmedia

The goofiness of the beginning section of Closing Fantasy 9 establishes the sunshine tone the entire recreation could have, to some extent. Nonetheless, the journey of this group of iconic figures slowly unfolds into an intricate plot involving political conspiracies, militarization of countries, aeon-old civilizations hidden in plain sight, and a face-off with the materialization of “the darkness of eternity”. As I progressed via the 4 CDs of Closing Fantasy 9, it was inconceivable to not really feel awe at how the story grew extra grandiose with every act.

A Final Fantasy 7 Remake screenshot showing Cloud and Tifa when they were kids talking while sitting on the water tower.

Picture: Sq. Enix through todaysviralmedia

Dealing with the approaching finish of the world after experiencing an incredible journey with charismatic characters (possibly not all of them, proper, Squall?) was one thing Closing Fantasy video games had been already doing. However, as a result of the 2 earlier video games, Closing Fantasy 7 and 8, strongly shifted away from the standard narrative of medieval-esque fantasy that initially outlined the sequence in favor of a sci-fi impressed setting, it felt like such distancing meant development — as if sci-fi settings or life like fashions had been the pure step ahead that afforded extra severe and dramatic storytelling. Leaning towards cute character fashions and a easy fantasy setting gave many gamers the impression that Closing Fantasy 9 was a infantile recreation.

The success of Closing Fantasy 7 might have justified making the subsequent video games within the sequence across the identical idea, themes, or aesthetic. In Closing Fantasy Ultimania Archive Quantity 2, there’s a brief passage the place Toshiyuki Itahana, who labored on character design, background manufacturing, and minigame design in Closing Fantasy 9, tells that occasion designer Kazuhiko Aoki — identified for being the producer who put collectively the stellar crew behind Chrono Set off — stated to his crew that “there’s a magic in Closing Fantasy that stays with you to the very finish.”

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Would Sq. be capable to seize this magic if it stored following the identical recipe of Closing Fantasy 7? Really, doing so would go towards the beliefs behind these video games. Hironobu Sakaguchi, creator of the Closing Fantasy video games, stated in an interview with Eurogamer that, in his opinion, making a recreation for the sequence includes utilizing “cutting-edge expertise” and “having a really sturdy story as a spine,” but in addition the “want to problem the established order.”

A Final Fantasy 9 screenshot showing Eiko talking to other characters about Zidane and Garnet

Picture: Sq. Enix through todaysviralmedia

Closing Fantasy 9, by being accountable for returning to the sequence’ roots, made its mission to indicate the soul of the sequence. It did so not solely through the use of crystals and castles to inform a narrative, although. Closing Fantasy 9 seemed for technological enchancment, presenting a step as much as visuals in comparison with earlier video games with lovely cutscenes. Sq. used the PlayStation {hardware} potential and got here up with the Energetic Time Occasion (ATE) system, a brand new software to counterpoint the narrative, which gave us a peek at what different characters are doing whereas the primary occasions are going down. However on prime of all of that, Closing Fantasy 9 gathered the braveness to go towards expectations.

Closing Fantasy 9 marks the sequence’ historical past by cementing that what makes a Closing Fantasy recreation is a superb story, and that the builders behind them are able to creating such memorable experiences no matter how they select to do it. Like artists who mastered their craft after having pushed their limits by transferring out of their consolation zone, Sq. returned the sequence to its origins in Closing Fantasy 9 with the arrogance of figuring out what it’s, a transparent imaginative and prescient that opened the trail to all the brand new concepts and worlds we got here to know within the following video games.

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