FFIX: Playing, Appreciating, Grumbling, Waxing (On & Off)

[>_<]

Edit: Never mind.

I'm currently playing FFIX. I'm also currently trying to finish off the last tiny bit of FFVII (see somewhere else), and also dipping into X and XII to see if they are the sort of games I can possibly tread water with for a protracted amount of time. So yeah, a bit up in the air, but basically, I'm trying to play, and enjoy FFIX for the first (complete) time. My previous attempt got me to Lindblum, and then my PSX got sacrificed to the patron saint of garden forks (long story... drink, friends, a bet... easy money). I'm currently at the start of the second disc - just finished Fossil Roo and I'm enjoying my first dabble with a world map that doesn't weigh my soul down with that god awful mist. There's a lot to love in this game, as far as I can see so far. I'm just having trouble with many of the elements.


So yeah, I do love this game so far. It's the kind of FF game I was hoping for when I first played through FFVII (almost to the end) and decided there and then what I would personally want to see in the next incarnation. It's taken me a while to get around to playing the game in ernest, but what the hell; it's taken me twice as long to decide on what style of underwear I will make a point of wearing when I am old and can no longer wash myself properly. I finally erred on the side of those faded pink long johns often seen in old westerns. No, not the white ones, oh no. The faded pink ones are where my mind is currently at!


Anyway, I wanted to express my views on this game as they stand so far, and was going to do so in this > "Who Finds This Game Kind Of Overrated?" thread, but for the fact it was closed before I had time to respond. I don't know what "overrated" actually means regarding things like this. I mean, if you don't bother reading or taking part in all the (possible) hype that has gone on before, and are generally not interested in overtly black/white views, then what's to tit about? It turns out, rather a lot. But it's more to do with the subjective rather than objective... at least, that is what I have found so far.


I want to be clear at this point that I do not think of IX as a negative. Overrated? Pfft... what would I know. I couldn't give a damn one way or another if it is. I'm more interested in how it plays for me, and right now - at the start of disc 2 - I am loving it, and feeling disappointed with it in equal measure. I think FFVII, and in turn VIII, is partially to blame. Rather, I should say, my impression and internalisation of said previous games are to blame. FFVII was my first legit gaming session with the franchise, and due to it being the first, it made a kind of lasting nostalgic impression (must point out that FFVI has done more for me lately). I loves me some steam punk, and so was enamoured with all the pipes and valves on show in VII. It wasn't quite trad'/blue steampunk; yet the world had a very nice feel to it that I warmed to. VIII came along and I was suckered dry by it's overall design. The puberty brooding of Squall and the general classroom/homework feel of the initial game didn't do much to light my Jeremiah. I lost interest fast. But FFIX always looked like the game I wanted to play.


Truth be told, FFIX is the game I wanted to play. So far it has delivered all the main elements that I was hoping for with aplomb. It's just that it does so in such a way, and sometimes in a certain context, that I often find myself decrying the outcome. For me it's usually the little things that make something purely magical and a joy to behold. FFIX pumps out so many wonderful little touches and nuances, yet few hit home in the way I sooo want them to. And the most frustrating part of it all, is that I know it's just me and my silly little romances of things that shouldn't really foil ones enjoyment of anything. But, damn it, they do!

Ahem, I need to start cutting to the chase.


Okay, first up is the opening scenes that set the tone. When I first started playing I thought this was a bit of cliche romanticism gone too far. It's too trite to be taken seriously. Yet, for some reason, it works. It works so wonderfully that I am still a little confused as to how they managed to pull it off and get away with it. No, that's not true. I believe it works so well because of the design of everything - and the pacing - to a lesser degree. But the design. Good god, it is so wonderful throughout. I wanted to quit very early on because I couldn't stand the whole "bum-bada-bump" oh-so cute Vivi stumbling and dusting his hat off. All the humanesque (is that a word?) animal characters in the city (you anime/furry-porn bastids are to blame). All those initial moments that play a part in constructing the possible world on offer outside the confines of the initial part of the game. I hated it. Yet I warmed to all the wonderful backdrops - their pleasant pinkish tones (a colour that seems to be an ongoing (sometimes subtle) theme)) and broken roof tiles.


The whole idea of the idealistic but naive princess, the oldschool knight blinded by his duty, the brash, overly confident and cocksure thief... What the... are you kidding me! Turns out no, I wasn't being kidded. It also turns out that the whole thing works so damn well, again. Grrr... I should hate this. But I Don't. It's all pulled off with such charm and flourish. Little details abound. My cynicism has been under constant attack.


There's so much I want to comment on - and that's without touching on the gameplay and battle mechanics. Sorry, I can't help but ramble, so I'll leave the rest for another day. I'm playing FFIX again, and have gotten so far as to now be in virgin territory. At the beginning of the second disk, I thought I would take my chances and start offering up my experiences of the first disc. Time and retrospect haven't yielded any vast changes in personal opinion. I still love this game as much as I hate it. But then hate is a very strong word. I guess I'll try to explain more fully in later comments/rants.

[Wolf Kanno]

Kind of sounds like my feelings about FFVIII or DQVIII. Though I'm probably more negative about FFVIII despite actually liking the game. Its hard when you're dealing with untapped potential, especially in game design.