Top 5 Final Fantasy IX moments
Final Fantasy IX is my favorite game. The characters and the story speak to me in a way no other game has. It is a game that I pop in a lot of the time when I'm sad, because it always picks me up. Characters like Vivi, Garnet, and Zidane show how you can go through a hard time and come out the other end stronger than before. It was fun writing this article, but it took me just as long to narrow the list down to five as it did to write it, because the game has so many great moments! I hope you enjoy.
5. The Death of Queen Brahne.
This was a big turning point in the story as Brahne ceased to be a major antagonist and it brought Kuja to the center stage. I found the tone of the game more urgent during and after this section. The party returns to the Lifa Tree to confront Kuja. While speaking with him, Kuja forshadows the death of the Queen, and tells Garnet that her mother had become power hungry. The Queen arrives with her fleet of ships.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Queen Brahne
"Bwahahaha! Kuja! So you finally decided to show your girly face here!"
"You're all that stands between me and total domination!"
"Gehehe! But I haven't forgotten all you've done for me! In return, I will show you the ultimate power!"
Kuja isn't threatened by this, as is demonstrated when he gives the Queen a clean target. This is a touching point in Garnet's development, because despite what the Brahne has done to her, she still wants to save her mother.
Quote:
"Zidane, I... I have to save her!"
Zidane:
"Uhh, Dagger? She extracted eidolons from you and started a war!"
Dagger:
"I still don't want her to die!"
Zidane:
"But she didn't care one bit whether you lived or died!"
"You don't have to call her mother anymore!"
Dagger:
"She's my only mother!"
"I don't care if you don't understand!"
Brahne summons Bahamut to finish off Kuja but Kuja demonstrates his power by escaping the massive attack, bleeding only slightly from his forehead. He then uses the Invincible to control Bahamut with her own tactic used against her, the Queen and her fleet face destruction.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Queen Brahne
"I haven't...felt this way...since I saw that play... with you...and your father."
"I led...Alexandria...down... the path...of ruin..."
"The people...will be...happier... with you...on the throne..."
Garnet is seen consoling her dying mother on the shores after the attack. The moment is particularly touching to me. The Queen did raise Garnet fom very young, and we only see the corrupt version of her at the start of the game. But she is still Garnet's adoptive mother, and Garnet still loves her, despite everything she's done. The Queen feels remorse for her actions and leaves Garnet with some positive words.
Quote:
"We went back to Alexandria on Queen Brahne's escape pod."
"We also brought..."
"Dagger's mother with us..."
4. Vivi and Black Mage #288.
Quote:
Zidane:
"Maybe... Just maybe, he'll find what he's looking for."
Dagger:
"...Find what?"
Zidane:
"A place to call home."
Vivi is my all time favorite character, and this is one of the most touching moments in the game for me. He finally meets others like himself. He learns that they've become sentient and they've been "stopping". Vivi finally finds beings like him and he is faced with something new. Wondering if one day, he's going to "stop".
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vivi
"I was wondering how many people have...stopped...moving."
Black Mage No. 288:
"You're very kind to use our words."
"But you already know what it means to live...and to die."
"You're asking about our friends who have 'died,' not 'stopped.'"
Vivi then has to face a problem that a lot of people do at some point in their life, death. I think the script was written very well for this section. Mr. 288 is very honest about his feelings and Vivi handles everything extremely well considering everything he's been going through. A bond is quickly formed between the two, but it doesn't feel forced, or fake. It feels like two people in a similar predicament finding comfort and friendship with each other.
Quote:
Black Mage No. 288:
"I haven't told anyone else about this. If I did, they'd feel the same way I do."
Vivi
"What do you feel?"
Black Mage No. 288:
"I don't know... Fear? I don't want to stop. And maybe I want to run away from it all."
"But living in this village with everyone fills me with joy."
"The joy of living with them far outweighs the fear of death."
"Isn't it the same for you? Traveling with your friends gives you life meaning."
A bond is quickly formed between the two, but it doesn't feel forced, or fake. It feels like two people in a similar predicament finding comfort and friendship with each other.
3. Zidane discovers his origins.
Number 3 on my list is after Zidane finds out the truth about him and Kuja from Garland. He is obviously quite distraught about the news and it's the first time in the game you see him let his sadness get the best of him. It's the first time he's anything but good to his friends.
Quote:
Eiko:
"There he goes, being the tough guy... Look, Zidane... It's not just about you."
Vivi:
"Come on, Zidane.... Don't be like that. Let's-"
Zidane:
"Shut up! Just shut up, you stupid brat!"
He wanders on, visibly dealing with feelings of sadness and anger. He ends up in a fight against Amdusias alone. Unable to fight of the beast on his own, Freya and Amarant arrive to help him finish it off. He and his friends battle different monsters, together, showing him he has people to depend on, just as they depend on him.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dagger
"You've always protected us."
"But you still don't understand that we looked out for you, too!"
"We watched your back while you watched ours."
"And we believed in you the same way you believed in us!"
"Just like you protected us..."
"We want to protect you."
This scene is touching for a few reasons. Zidane was always the positive one. The one who pressed on when others felt like giving up. He was always there for his friends and doing what he thought was right. It opened up his character to show him in his moment of weakness. It was touching to watch his friends give him the words of encouragement he needed to pick himself back up. He was always there for his friends and when he needed them most, they were there for him.
2. The attack on Alexandria.
This entire section of the game was very intense. It's the part where Alexandria castle becomes Alexander and fights against Bahamut. But the moments in particular that I felt the most moved by was with Steiner and Beatrix patrolling the streets and fighting the Mistodons.
In this scene you can really see their devotion to Alexandria and Garnet. You can feel the passion they have as you fight the Mistodon's and watch them grow closer together. It's one of the few times Beatrix is a playable character. You can also feel the relationship between the two maturing as they fight together.
Quote:
Steiner:
"Beatrix... There is something I must tell you!"
Beatrix:
"What is it?"
Steiner:
"I..."
Beatrix:
"Save your valediction, Steiner. We'll live to see another day."
1. Vivi vs. Black Waltz #3
My favorite moment in the game actually takes place fairly early on. It's the scene after the defeat of Black Waltz #3. Vivi is on the bridge, staring at a hat of one of the Black Mage's that was destroyed by the Black Waltz. Garnet is trying to manoeuvre the cargo ship through south gate.
Before this point, Vivi had been very unsure and confident about his abilities. You see examples of this early on when Zidane asks for his help to rescue Garnet in evil forest.
Quote:
Zidane:
“Well, Vivi, we’re getting ready to go look for the princess.”
Vivi:
“Really!? That’s great! Be careful, okay?”
Zidane:
“Actually, we want you to come with us, too.”
Vivi:
“Huh!?”
“B-But I can’t do anything.”
Steiner:
“Hardly, Master Vivi. Your magic was highly effective against that monster.”
“In all honesty, I hold your power in greater esteem than I do this scoundrel’s.”
Vivi:
“B-But…I’m scared. I couldn’t even move last time.”
He obviously doubts his own abilities. But in this scene, we finally takes a stand against the Black Waltz. It sets a good tone for the character. Vivi is timid and shy, but when he needs to, he will stand up and fight for those he cares for. That's one of the main reasons I admire his character so much.
These top 5 moments are a good representation of why I love this game so much. They helped shape the game and the characters for me. What were some of your favorite moments?
