Rewrite the ending

[Rye]

If you were on the writing board when this game was creating and you had full authority, how would YOU change the ending from the point that Necron was killed? Be as creative and wild as you want. Any kind of ending is welcome. :cool:

[G13]

I don't like that they didn't show anything leaning towards the Black Mages finding a way to live. That's about the only thing I would change.

Picture this, Lindblum (after the seen with Garnet and Zidane embracing), Vivi is shaking hands with Cid, after he turned back to his normal self of course, and and walks out to the balcony (or returns to the Black Mage village, whichever you think is better) and addresses a crowd. Camera pans out to reveal the town square filled with Black Mages. He gives his speech and the crowd of Mages goes wild. Cut to the scene of the Mage manufacturing plant under Dali. A new machine has arrived and the Mages are being lined up before it. The first gives Vivi and Cid the thumbs up before going through. Vivi and Cid await anxiously on the other side for the results. When the Mage comes out the other side he comes out standing straight up, like the robot he used to be. A few seconds go by before life springs into him. He checks himself and gives the pair of onlookers another thumbs up, signifying success. Cut to scene where all Mages are being carted through the new machine. Fin~

Or

Vivi returns to the Black Mage village directly after shaking hands with Cid (no balcony scene) and walks to the center of the village. All the Black Mages come out of their huts and head over to where he is, surrounding him. Close in on his face and follow his hands up to show him holding a miracle cure in them. In turn all the onlooking Mages thro their hands up in ecstasy!

[Rye]

I like the Vivi ending a lot. It always made me sad that it seem implied that he died. :(

[Craig]

id have added a scene showing what happened to kuja

[NeoCracker]

I don't really like that Vivi ending. The implication that Vivi is dead is to central to his character, and the overall feeling of the Blackmages. They are faced with the fact that they have a limited time on this world to live, and have time and time again tried to mask their own mortality by covering up the word death with stopped moving.

To simply prolong their life with a machine is nothing more then them running away from the truth, and defeats a lot of the symbolic value held by the blackmages, if that makes any sense.

But yes, a scene a bit more descriptive on the Kuja/Zidane interaction at the end would be nice.

[Necronopticous]

Let's just remove Necron from the game and call it a day.

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

I hate endings where a bunch of people just stand around clapping, so Zidane should have found a way to disguise himself and quote Lord Avon at Garnet in private.

And then kidnap her again. :ffvitrouble:

[G13]

@NeoCracker

I wasn't saying give them eternal life, but I think they deserve to have a life that matches the longevity of a human being. They were made for war, but as soon as they became aware of what was going on around them they ceased being puppets and started being human. Don't all human beings deserve lead a full life?

[NeoCracker]

@NeoCracker

I wasn't saying give them eternal life, but I think they deserve to have a life that matches the longevity of a human being. They were made for war, but as soon as they became aware of what was going on around them they ceased being puppets and started being human. Don't all human beings deserve lead a full life?

Regardless, that still takes away from the symbolic nature of their mortality. Even to extend their life to that of a normal human would take away from that.

It's like calling a Mulligan in poker and getting a better hand. In a serious game, that just doesn't fly.

[Freya]

I dunno, The whole game you worry about the mortality of them. It's like on your mind even at the end as is. If you just show them living longer you can just let a sigh of relief go. I don't think that'd take away much at all.

[Dolentrean]

I am with NeoCracker, it may simply be the fact that I enjoy bittersweet endings, but I think that tying up everything in a nice way filled with sugar and ponies isn't a good way to go about doing things.

There was happiness, and uncertainty at the end, that adds a lot of life to the story in my opinion. And it added a lot of depth to Vivi as well. If you take away Vivi's main conflict (Or even resolve this conflict, as crass as it may sound), you take away a huge part about what made Vivi Vivi.

[Freya]

I like sugar and ponies though :(


Can't Vivi just be happy without you bittersweet fun suckers :(?

[G13]

^ Same here. I don't think my post was hurting anything, but to each his own.

[arcanedude34]

Back on topic, I think I'd get rid of the Vivi sons or whatever. Adds unnecessary confusion. Also, the scene with Garnet running through the crowd, losing the pendant, etc. (I know it symbolizes her choosing Zidane over her royal blood, but it's too obvious and elongated to be a good metaphor)

I also would've taken out at least one bittersweet ending and made it happy. Amarant is still a loner, Kuja dies, Frately still doesn't remember Freya, Vivi dies, Cid gets stuck with Eiko, so many sad endings to an otherwise upbeat game.

[roen]

How is Cid getting stuck with Eiko sad?

[trancekuja]

In my ending Kuja is coming back from the depths of the pit he fell in and takes on the Zidane and company by surprise. After the short battle, Kuja defeats them all and creates an entirely new world. He takes Zidane as his slave and Garnet as his wife. No one will ever call him crossdresser again.

[VeloZer0]

...so many sad endings to an otherwise upbeat game.

Despite its cheerful graphical style I found the game to be quite somber, dark, and serious. A happily ever after ending would seem out of place to me.

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

For Fratley's memory to magically return during the ending would be too predictably convenient; that he has to rebuild his relationship with Freya the hard way feels much more meaningful. It's the same with Salamander suddenly becoming a nice guy: I'd rather accept that he's always going to be kind of a jerk, but has at least learned not to dismiss others so brazenly. :salamander:

[Rye]

Yeah, I think it's more magical that Freya and him build a new future. :freya:

[NeoCracker]

You only look at the negatives here people, there are plenty of posotive points.

As mentioned, the rebuilding of Fratley and Freya, the Blackmages, while their lives are short, have managed to accept themselves and find a place within society.

Eiko really didn't have any bitterness in her ending, at all. Unless you count losing Zidane to Garnet. I mean she has a large group of friends, and even a place to call home with Cid.

And I don't think it's possible for Quina to be sad.

And Zidane obviously gets a happy ending.

Really, Cid is the only one with no brightside, now that he has to raise the little twat...

[Depression Moon]

Bt he always wanted a child as you could hear in his voice in the ending. I don't think that Hilda could have ever had kids, must be somethign wrong with her fertitlity and it gave him joy that he has the opportunity to be a father.

I didn't understand your Vivi thing GuardianXIII especially about the shaking hands and crowd part or that other guy who said that Vivi's sons were confusing and unnecessary. I think that the ending is practially perfect. The only other thing I would've liked to have seen though is Vivi's grave at either the Black Mage Village or Alexandria castle since that's where four of his friends are currently staying.

Garnet probably layed him to rest at the village though.

[Tuhkasieni]

In my ending Kuja is coming back from the depths of the pit he fell in and takes on the Zidane and company by surprise. After the short battle, Kuja defeats them all and creates an entirely new world. He takes Zidane as his slave and Garnet as his wife. No one will ever call him crossdresser again.

l o l thats great

[G13]

I wasn't saying I didn't agree with the actual ending. Rye asked what we would have changed and I thought that the Black Mages finding a way to live would be nice is all. Didn't think it'd be a big deal.

[NeoCracker]

1) You are posting on a board full of FF IX fanboys, EVERYTHING is a big deal. :P

2) This kind of thread is no fun if you can't go the back and forth over some peoples Ideas. The debate, discussion, and arguing is most of the fun.

3) I like numbered lists. ^_^

[Tuhkasieni]

wau, this is getting so stupid. :bounce:

[G13]

1) You are posting on a board full of FF IX fanboys, EVERYTHING is a big deal. :P

2) This kind of thread is no fun if you can't go the back and forth over some peoples Ideas. The debate, discussion, and arguing is most of the fun.

3) I like numbered lists. ^_^

Noted. Especially the last one.

[Freya]

Not really, xD. It wasn't so much a debate more of you telling him that he was wrong and you were right, neo.

Vivi surviving all the way. The story already has all those dark themes, spice it up just a tad.

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

Vivi's grappling with mortality is foremost among the game's themes, as well as its most mature. To dash it at the end, to say, "Oh, you didn't need to worry about this after all! Happy End!" would definitely be disappointing to me.

[J.Raven]

1) Lose the Vivi's sons bit, that made me confused for a while.

2) Also I didn't realize the words been written on screen were Vivi's, or he had passed away, until I went on a FFIX website, so something should have been done there.

3) Should have kissing scenes, example Zidane & Garnet; Capt Steiner & General Beatrix; Fratley & Freija; even the Cid & Lady Hilda. It would have made the effort of playing to the end all the more worthwhile. We all want a little romance, don't we?

4) Adding voice acting, which would apply to all other FMVs to add more "life". Currently the only way to hear Zidane's voice is on FF: Dissidia.

[daggertrepe]

The only think I would have done is put in more Beatrix/Steiner action (their reaction in cut scene to the events going on) and NOT black out when she runs to him. AWE.

[J.Raven]

The only think I would have done is put in more Beatrix/Steiner action (their reaction in cut scene to the events going on) and NOT black out when she runs to him. AWE.Quoted for truth.

I came across a thread about Lani not getting enough screen time.

FF7 has had the benefit of expansions to the storyline and even a movie. I say FF9 needs to have the same treatment, and its long overdue, that way it can expand further on Lani and other characters that didn't get enough in-game screen time, or plot holes that were left unexplained.

[G13]

I dunno.

VII was different than IX. IX's story has been finished while VII has tons of stories that needed to be told. If Square made a sequel to IX I would play it, but I wouldn't expect it to be any good.

[PeneloRatsbane]

IX is the only one i've played that felt complete at the end.

[J.Raven]

Interesting, I never really saw it that way.

The story had a real hook on me, so much so I wrote two fanfics set in the FFIX universe, one of them set in the 21st Century (200 years later). Both are rather dark and have mature content.

[Croyles]

Let's just remove Necron from the game and call it a day.

^ This.

I dont like it when these games introduce a "the REAL evil, much more powerful dude" pretty much in the last minutes of the game.
Ultimecia in FF8, even though she was introduced a bit earlier, was like this as well.

[J.Raven]

Let's just remove Necron from the game and call it a day.

^ This.

I dont like it when these games introduce a "the REAL evil, much more powerful dude" pretty much in the last minutes of the game.
Ultimecia in FF8, even though she was introduced a bit earlier, was like this as well.Agreed, it was a bit abrupt and sounded like just some really bad guy who just dropped by to feast on what he hoped was a greatly weakened party.

[NeoCracker]

Let's just remove Necron from the game and call it a day.

^ This.

I dont like it when these games introduce a "the REAL evil, much more powerful dude" pretty much in the last minutes of the game.
Ultimecia in FF8, even though she was introduced a bit earlier, was like this as well.Agreed, it was a bit abrupt and sounded like just some really bad guy who just dropped by to feast on what he hoped was a greatly weakened party.

But Necron wasn't the real Evil. Really, he had nothing to do with the story as a whole.

Necron was simply the entity called by Kuja destroying the Crystal, and the whole fight with him was essentially spiritual, showing that Kuja's actions didn't represent them as a whole, but that people were overall good.

Necron wasn't the big bad evil dropped on you at the end, he was merely the result of Kuja's actions and a symbolic battle.

[Croyles]

Let's just remove Necron from the game and call it a day.

^ This.

I dont like it when these games introduce a "the REAL evil, much more powerful dude" pretty much in the last minutes of the game.
Ultimecia in FF8, even though she was introduced a bit earlier, was like this as well.Agreed, it was a bit abrupt and sounded like just some really bad guy who just dropped by to feast on what he hoped was a greatly weakened party.

But Necron wasn't the real Evil. Really, he had nothing to do with the story as a whole.

Necron was simply the entity called by Kuja destroying the Crystal, and the whole fight with him was essentially spiritual, showing that Kuja's actions didn't represent them as a whole, but that people were overall good.

Necron wasn't the big bad evil dropped on you at the end, he was merely the result of Kuja's actions and a symbolic battle.

Fair enough, I still would have preferred it without him though.

[Forsaken Lover]

Don't mess with perfection. IX had the best ending of the series.

[Kyros]

Let's just remove Necron from the game and call it a day.

This and actually have Zidane die instead of that getting saved bs. This shoulda been the first FF where the main chara died imo since he was so annoying :twak:

[Black Magic Shopkeeper]

>> I never found Zidane annoying. In fact I always considered him the most understanding, insightful main character in all of the FF series.

Also, I wouldn't change the ending for the world.
Well...
I'd change one minor detail.
One Vivi kid looking less chipper than the other 5.
Like, not hopping up and down or dancing or anything. Just-- watching. Probably smugly.
Don't ask me why. I'd just-- rather have it that way.

[Darth Cid]

I never found Zidane annoying. In fact I always considered him the most understanding, insightful main character in all of the FF series.

I agree completely, Zidane is imo the best male protagonist in the PS1 era.

Now being I'm writing a parody of FFIX, I have some alternate endings that I plan to do for it where in between endings you've get the Clue music "That could have been how it happened, but how about this?"

So here's a comical one, everyone boards Hilde Garde 3 no one is in earshot to hear Kuja say "Good bye, Zidane." With no there, he saids, "Um, this is the part where where you come after me and help me? Zidane?" On the ship, the game breaks the 4th wall when Steiner says "This will make a great Final Fantasy." Dagger says, "No way, this can not be come a Final Fantasy, the male lead acted his gender, the female lead acted her gender, it wouldn't work, since FFVII, it's been a parallel dimension, if this becomes Final Fantasy...I'll marry a thief."

A few days later, there's Zidane and Dagger's wedding party at the Arby's, a rip off of an Arby's commercial, Dagger is a wedding gown sitting beside Zidane in a tux, she looks at FFIX's box art saying, "Unbelievable, they didn't get my good side."

[Black Magic Shopkeeper]

Thank you for agreeing with me! 8'D So few people seem to understand what I mean. But really, after everything I've seen Zidane say, how helpful he's been to all the other protagonists when they felt down and confused, how he was THERE for everyone, made me quite optimistic in his favor.

Also, 4th wall breaking. H'awesome. xD

...Well I actually have realized one thing.
Everyone needs Necron's purpose to be cleared up.
Maybe if they had said one thing, that would have answered a lot of questions. Like:
"That was Necron, the actuator of destruction" or something.
...
'Course that's only what I'd ASSUME they would call him/her, since I always believed Necron's purpose was similar to deleting the trash in the recycle bin on the desktop.

[Darth Cid]

Return all spam to a zero world, where live and death does not exist, only deletion. XD

Another line I got for when Necron comes in my parody, Zidane hears Necron talking and says, "If it isn't the Big Lipped Alligator Moment."

[Forsaken Lover]

Eiko: But Zidane..I thought you loved Garnet!

Zidane: I thought I did too. But you're just so beautiful Eiko. I want to be with you.

Eiko: But...I'm only six. I think.

Zidane: There is no law against that here I'm pretty sure. I mean this is the medieval ages + a Final Fantasy game. You're practicaly middle-aged by our world's standards.

[Christmas]

Quina marry Garnet instead of Zidane? :quina:

[Darth Cid]

Quina marry Garnet Beatrix instead of Zidane Steiner? :quina:

I dunno, that would be funny. And would result in some troll theories, they both wear white and I'm wearing white, and paper is white, there is a theme here.


Eiko: But Zidane..I thought you loved Garnet!

Zidane: I thought I did too. But you're just so beautiful Eiko. I want to be with you.

Eiko: But...I'm only six. I think.

Zidane: There is no law against that here I'm pretty sure. I mean this is the medieval ages + a Final Fantasy game. You're practicaly middle-aged by our world's standards.

Even if I wasn't an FFIX fan, that's disgustin'.

[Forsaken Lover]

Not if you're a fan of both Final Fantasy IX and lolicon.

I was joking, anyway. I like Zidane x Garnet.

[Black Magic Shopkeeper]

Return all spam to a zero world, where live and death does not exist, only deletion. XD

Another line I got for when Necron comes in my parody, Zidane hears Necron talking and says, "If it isn't the Big Lipped Alligator Moment."

YES.
Also:
Lulz.




Quina marry Garnet Beatrix instead of Zidane Steiner? :quina:

I dunno, that would be funny. And would result in some troll theories, they both wear white and I'm wearing white, and paper is white, there is a theme here.


You just broke my mind.
Kudos to you!

[Darth Cid]

I take it that was a good mind breaker.

[Black Magic Shopkeeper]

Oh, it was.
It SO was.