i have to agree with the threadstarter.

IX used to be my favorite in the series. But after my last play a few months ago i was left with a feeling of disappointment from the ending.

I realized IX does not stackup as a standalone FF, but is a tribute to the series - for no reason but the sake of being a tribute.

Which it fails at. The game is loaded with references to older FF's for no reason other than to reference them.

I find it ironic that all the elitists who lament over square's commercial exploitation of the series pick IX as the 2nd best (because, of course, no game could EVER possibly be better than VI). Because here it is - this game is the biggest commercial milking of the series. It simply uses old names on things that have nothing to do with older games, nor do they enrich either IX or the point of reference.

I have to also agree that the lightheartedness and cartoonishness defeat the objective, although those are 2 points i really like about it.

i also have to agree that XII actually accomplishes references done right, but i have such a love-hate relationship with that game, im not going to get into it.