"Emo" is a term that really defines a genre of music, but is used to describe a depressed and anti-social person. Hence, Squall. Cloud wasn't emo, he was just a whiner. And Kyros, I agree about the final boss, but nothing else; however, let me clarify on junctioning and Triple Triad. Junctioning WORKS, it was just a really stupid idea. All I had to do was hit the Islands Closest to Heaven and Hell to stock up on Ultimas and Curagas, and Ultimecia - all three, no, four forms - went down in, oh, ten minutes. In IX YA HAD TA' TRAAAAAAAAIN. Sorry.
As for Triple Triad, I just didn't get it. Recently, I downloaded the Triad emulator from this site and tried to learn it. I can play it - I just don't like it. Tetra Master was far less complicated, easier to learn, and as much fun - to me, at least - as Triad is to VIII fans.
Anyway, Kyros, I am also guessing - just assuming here, correct me if I'm wrong - that you haven't played many older FF's. Maybe VI, but I'm talking I - III and V, IV excluded because it was the real precursor to the PS1 FF's; and if you did play them, you didn't like them much. Correct? If I'm wrong, please correct me here. But if you liked them, I think you would like IX more.
For now, though, let's agree to dissagree and let others express their opinions on this... not THAT bad, but not good, game.