After playing X and X-2 I appreciated IX a lot more. However, IX is still not a patch on VII and VIII. Yes, it's a milidly interesting nostaliga trip for veterans, but I don't think Zidane could have been much more annoying (oh wait, Tidus) and Amarant could not have been more useless. Square should've stuck to mean n' moody leads like Cloud and Squall and finally . . . why oh why did they go with the travesty that was Necron???? Didn't they learn from Ultimecia? Still, IX's better than your average game (end rant).