I think FFXII is FFIX without the heart. When I started FFXII, I thought "Wow, this could be on part with 9!" but then I stopped playing about 25 hours in - something I never did with a Final Fantasy game before. FFIX just has a lot of soul in it.

I also much prefer FFIX's fighting system. I love four character fighting! FFXII is too easy, as well.