FF IX is awesome, its my joint favourite with X. But I have to disagree with you reinward because I think that X is romantic and has a charming setting/atmosphere (ok, not quite charming in the same way, but it's still quite charming) and it did pull you into the game, making the experience the same. But I do know what you mean IX had a sort of 'magical' quality that no other FF following it has (and doubt ever will) match or better. For me, IX is the epitome of fantasy as the world, characters and story is fantastical.