Is there RPG life beyond this, though? Perhaps it's a consequence of how quickly it's followed on the heels of Final Fantasy VIII (just over a year passed between installments), but while the nostalgic appeal of Final Fantasy IX is undeniable, it's mirrored by a less pleasant sort of deja vu. In terms of its gameplay and structure, Final Fantasy may be showing its age, or perhaps more precisely a lack of evolution to suit that age, but the series' trademark formula has hooked fans on three generations of consoles now, and it looks prepped and ready to conquer a fourth in short order. In that regard, this game combines the finest of the past and present, the fantastic themes of the classic games brought to life by the technology of the PlayStation. This installment of the series has perhaps been the most anticipated among die-hard fans of the series, signalling as it does a brief return to some of the visual designs, gameplay elements and overall spirit of the FFs we grew up on, and they won't be disappointed in the slightest.
Square's developers have once again outdone themselves as far as technical execution and visual artistry, building a fantasy world that I could be content to simply stare at, remembering years past when all these things struck an internal chord for the first time and wondering how a game console could hold images this beautiful. Final Fantasy IX is here, and all that is old is new again.
