Jul 072023
Today is the 23rd anniversary of Final Fantasy IX.
While it wouldn’t be released in North America until November (and not in Europe until the next February), July 7, 2000 was the date Final Fantasy IX first came out in Japan.
Final Fantasy IX holds a special place in my heart. It was my first Final Fantasy game, as well as one of my first JRPGs, although I might have already played Paper Mario and Pokémon.
I fell in love with it as soon as I started playing, and it got me hooked on the genre.
It’s been so long since I played Final Fantasy IX, I’ve probably forgotten a lot of details. Still, the parts I do remember are wonderful memories. The “You’re Not Alone” scene is one of the most powerful scenes in the series to me, along with a certain scene where two characters fight side-by-side.
So I keep wondering if we’ll see Final Fantasy IX return someday.
Most attention has been on Final Fantasy XVI and the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, but there have been some whispers of Final Fantasy IX news. For one thing, there’s supposedly an animated series being made… although the total silence about it makes me wonder if it will ever exist.
There also have been rumors of a Final Fantasy IX remake for a while now. It was part of the Nvidia leak, and further rumors have followed since then. Even Gematsu says it’s in development. If the remake does exist, could it be set for 2025 for the game’s 25th anniversary?
I don’t often replay games since there are so many games I have yet to play in my backlog, but a Final Fantasy IX remake is one I’d play for sure.
Many fans think the rumored Final Fantasy IX remake will feature turn-based combat, as a love letter to the classics just like the original Final Fantasy IX was. I would love that. It would be amazing, especially with recent games in the series switching to action combat instead.
There’s no real news to discuss today or anything like that. But after seeing that it was the anniversary of the game that really got me into the genre, I wanted to make a post remembering it. Have you played Final Fantasy IX? Would you play a remake if one came out?
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This is one of the games I feel bad about never finishing… I played it on PS3 but then never went back after getting my PS4 😅
You should! (Unless you want to wait for the theoretical remake.)
It’s been relatively recent that I’ve played through Final Fantasy IX, so I wouldn’t get a remake so soon.
I agree that “You’re Not Alone” is powerful… perhaps one of the most powerful moments in all of gaming!
If they do remake it, I hope they do that scene justice and adapt it well.
I loved FF9. I do hope they give it some love soon.
Here’s hoping! The remake rumors sound pretty promising if true.