FFIX goes hand in hand with the NES FFIII...the "forgotten" FF. Most people I know who love FF have ironically never played IX. I really enjoyed it, even though I find the huge amount of sidequests a bit of a bore and the battle system, though well stuctured is just TOO SLOW. I loved the characters, they were colourful and complex. Altogether it is an excellent, but unrecognized game thanks to the massive publicity surrounding FFVII and FFVIII, and then the arrival of FFX. I can't say it's one of my favorites but when I do get around to playing it I always enjoy it.