Latest news with #FinalFantasyIX
Gizmodo
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
The Opening of ‘Final Fantasy IX' Is a Love Letter to Fantasy Itself
Final Fantasy games are known for their big, bombastic openings. Final Fantasy VII's legendary bombing mission, the brainwashed Terra being sent through the snowy paths into Narshe in Final Fantasy VI, the destruction of Zanarkand in Final Fantasy X—these are grand set pieces with high stakes, introducing threats and conflicts central to their epic narratives. They are big and loud, meant to immediately hook you into a journey that will last dozens upon dozens (upon dozens) of hours. They're all iconic in their own rights, but there's only one Final Fantasy opening that I've played over and over growing up with the franchise and keep revisiting even if I don't actually carry on playing beyond it that much: Final Fantasy IX's theatrical, whimsical introduction to Alexandria. Final Fantasy IX, which turns 25 today, opens in stark contrast to its PS1 predecessors. Already a major divergence in returning to the classic fantasy aesthetic that had defined much of Final Fantasy's earliest days—and had been, to much success, diverged from itself at that point in succession with VI, VII, and particularly VIII's leaning into more steampunk and modern sci-fi trappings—Final Fantasy IX opens in a far more subdued manner. We're steadily introduced to the various initial players in IX's party across three interwoven storylines, all threading around a special performance of a play called 'I Want to Be Your Canary,' held to celebrate the Alexandrian princess Garnet's birthday. There's Vivi, a young boy new to the city but eager to see the sights and attend the play, only to find that the ticket he was sold is a fake. There's Captain of the Guard Steiner, tasked with ensuring the evening goes off without a hitch. There's Zidane and the crew of the Tantalus, masquerading as the theater troupe putting on the performance but secretly tasked with kidnapping Princess Garnet at the behest of a rival nation-state—and Garnet herself, who actually wants to be kidnapped so she can escape the control of her increasingly erratic mother, Queen Brahne, and see the world beyond Alexandria's walls. Aside from its clever interwoven stories, what makes Final Fantasy IX's opening act stand out next to its contemporaries is how playful it is with the genre the series has returned to. This isn't Final Fantasy VII's daring act of eco-terrorism or Final Fantasy VIII's deliberate shattering of its initial school setting with the reality of conflict. That's not to say there aren't stakes that are real to the rest of the story's opening, of course—Garnet's concerns about her mother's behavior are for her potential to plunge the world into chaos, and the Tantalus troupe's mission has similar stakes where failure could lead to war between Alexandria and the neighboring city-state of Lindblum. But the opening is wrapped in a layer of metanarrative that is really about the idea of fantasy itself and what it means for Final Fantasy to have returned to this classical, medieval-inspired tradition. Each of the characters we're introduced to throughout the opening act are longing for something bigger and beyond their current lots in life: Vivi wants community and friendship as he takes in the world, even if it means he gets hoodwinked a few times. Garnet, more than just out of worry for Queen Brahne's decline, wants to be free of the expectations placed upon her as a princess. Although he may not initially realize it until Garnet asks him to whisk her away, Zidane finds himself immediately enchanted by the princess he's been tasked with rescuing and the prospect of a life beyond his thievery. Even 'I Want to Be Your Canary' itself, a riff on Shakespearean classics, is about this kind of longing: a Romeo and Juliet-esque tale of star-crossed lovers, Cornelia and Marcus, whose love transcends their perspectives on either side of a conflict between warring kingdoms. 'I Want to Be Your Canary' itself even becomes mechanically important to this romantic view of fantasy. Much of the early battles you fight in Final Fantasy IX's opening are not, as they are in the other games, actual fights: they're presented, even beyond tutorialization, with a layer of artifice. The duels in the play, from Zidane and his Tantalus comrade Blank's famous minigame, to the portrayal of the play's fight scenes as otherwise classic Final Fantasy turn-based combat (including 'SFX' commands to cast magical spells that don't actually harm but dazzle the viewing audience), there's a layer of fantasy beneath the fantasy IX is already engaging with, a love letter to the romantic archetypes of the genre. There's a sense of yearning throughout IX's opening—for the player returning to Final Fantasy's traditional aesthetics, for its characters and their desires to see beyond their current lives, and for the game itself to play with the wanderlust of it all. It remains as infectious now as it did 25 years ago, a call to adventure that doesn't open with the promise of world-ending calamities or huge evils to fight, but a simple desire to embrace that fantasy. And see, as IX's overworld theme asks us to consider, what's over that hill, and what's beyond the next horizon. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Final Fantasy XIV Live Letter 87 Update, Patch 7.3 Release Date and More
Image via: Square Enix With excitement over Final Fantasy XIV's upcoming 7.3 Dawntrail expansion recently increasing after this week's reveal of new playable races, Live Letter 87 brought more than just the typical news, delivering information that laid groundwork for what promises to be one of the more exciting encounter setups in FFXIV history. Patch 7.3 will be due out in early August 2025, bringing what the developers are calling an emotional and poignant climax to Dawntrail's main narrative, in addition to major revisions addressing recent player complaints. The Story Reaches Its Apex Yoshida reconfirmed that Patch 7.3 will be the climactic turning point of the Dawntrail storyline. A new dungeon The Meso Terminal and a climactic trial against a nameless enemy catapults the story conflict to a boiling point. Even more exciting is how fans can look forward to callbacks rich with lore, specifically to Final Fantasy IX and XI, giving additional depth to long-time franchise veterans. FFXIV: Letter from the Producer LIVE Part LXXXVII 87 Summary Echoes of Vana'diel : San d'Oria Returns Keeping the nostalgia trend going, 7.3 will bring the 3rd chapter of the Echoes of Vana'diel alliance raids. This 24-player raid has adventurers going up against legendary foes from Final Fantasy XI, including the recently teased appearance of Kam'lanaut. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Given the stellar production values these raids have come to be known for, this entry might just end up being the crown jewel of the patch. Quality-of-Life Enhancements Answer Player Feedback Yoshida started Live Letter 87 off with a rather uncharacteristic blunt apology, taking the blame on what has been perceived as a slide in quality assurance with hotfixes and maintenance windows becoming an all too common occurrence. While he promised better communications going on and spent some time responding to criticism on two of the game's most recent systems, Occult Crescent and Cosmic Exploration. Players will be able to do so with 48-player preformed alliances with Enmity Patch 7.3 coming next week. The return of Sword of the Sands as the next Forked Tower raid will mark the arrival of both Normal and Savage modes in Patch 7.5, a shift in progression inspired by player demand. LIVE LETTER REACTS! First Look at 7.3 | Final Fantasy XIV Side Quests, and New Challenges For non-combat content, crafters are really going to enjoy themselves. A new Allied Society questline with the Yok Huy will offer a fun, alternative path to leveling from 90 to 100! Other new content includes a new Deep Dungeon, the next chapter in the Hildibrand series, and the Phantom Relic Weapon questline all set to release after launch. Follow all the live updates, scores, and highlights from the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
SoraNews24
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Final Fantasy IX gets its own pop-up store in Osaka and Tokyo for 25th anniversary
Final Fantasies grow up so fast, don't they? It's hard to believe it's been 25 years since we first met Zidane, Garnet, Vivi, and the rest on the epic adventure that merged the classic elements of the early Final Fantasy series with the more modern game console tech of the time, making Final Fantasy IX one of the more unique and memorable installments. And in honor of it, Square Enix is preparing pop-up stores full of limited-edition merchandise. There will be two stores, with the first opening in the Daimaru department store in Umeda, Osaka, from 2 July to 7 September. After that, it will move to the Daimaru in Marunouchi, Tokyo, from 25 July to 11 August. A wide range of goods, from stuffed toys to clothing and accessories, will be sold, all featuring characters and themes from the classic role-playing game. ▼ From top left: Zidane plush toy (4,400 yen [US$30]), Zindane shoulder bag (11,000 yen), Vivi plush pouch (3,960 yen), FFIX 25th Anniversary T-shirt (4,620 yen), FFIX music box 'A Place to Call Home' (2,750 yen), Vivi shoulder bag (9,350 yen) ▼ From top left: Vivi mug (3,520 yen), Mini acrylic stand collection (660 yen each), Vivi pouch (3,300 yen), FFIX 25th Anniversary acrylic keychains (1,100 yen each), FFIX 25th Anniversary magnet collection (660 yen each), Zidane Form-ism figure (6,930 yen) Other titles and franchises will also have items for sale at this pop-up store. ▼ From top left: FFXIV character canvas board (3,300 yen), FFXIV character sticker set (2,200 yen), FFXIV Sugar Riot sticker set (2,200 yen), FFXIV Doman Mahjong T-shirt (6,160 yen) ▼ From left: Dragon Quest Special Metallic Item Gallery: Roto's Armor and Helmet (9,900 yen), Kingdom Hearts II Form-ism Sora figure (7,480 yen), NieR: Piano Journeys (3,630 yen) The shop will be decorated with artwork from Final Fantasy IX and there will be special areas to get your photo taken among the various displays. ▼ Illustrations such as this one of Zidane will be hung on the wall. ▼ Standies like this one of Puck and Vivi allow you to get your picture taken among the characters. The two Daimaru department stores will also have a special Final Fantasy IX collaboration section featuring clothing and accessories based on the game. Specific items aren't mentioned yet, except for this Vivi top in the promotional image. Also, anyone who makes a purchase of 5,000 yen or more will get a randomly chosen Final Fantasy IX rubber coaster for free. It's sure to be a great chance to get some rare merchandise celebrating a great episode from this long-running game franchise. We can only hope it'll be as big as the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy VIII was. You all remember that? When everyone came together and expressed their undying love for Final Fantasy VIII last year and Square Enix held all those huge events? That happened, right? Well… I really liked that one at least. Event information Final Fantasy IX 25th Anniversary at Square Enix Pop-Up Store Daimaru Umeda, 13th Floor Exhibition Space / 大丸梅田店 13階特設会場 Address: Osaka-fu, Osaka-shi, Kita-ku, Umeda 2-1-1 大阪府大阪市北区梅田3-1-1 Date: 2 July – 7 September Hours: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Daimaru Tokyo, 11th Floor Event Space / 大丸東京店 11階 催事場 Address: Tokyo-to, Chiyoda-ku, Marunouchi 1-9-1 東京都千代田区丸の内1-9-1 Date: 25 July – 11 August Hours: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Website Source, images: PR Times ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SoraNews24
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Real-world, real-big Final Fantasy Black Mage hat on sale for fans of magical fashion and Vivi
Square Enix brings the hat of Final Fantasy IX's fan favorite sorcerer to our reality. It can be tricky to explain to non-fans how there are 16 games in the mainline Final Fantasy series, spanning 36 years, and yet none of them are direct sequels to another. But while the stories and settings of those mainline numbered installments are all independent of one another, the shared themes, gameplay systems, musical cues, and visual motifs tie the series' installments to one another. For example, a recurring character class in Final Fantasy is the Black Mage, who, starting from the original Final Fantasy in 1987, can be identified by a tall, wide-brimmed hat that obscures the wearer's face while marking them as a user of offense-oriented magic. It's one of the most distinctive costume designs in the entire RPG genre, and now it's something you can make part of your wardrobe in the real world too. While the Black Mage hat makes multiple appearances across the Square Enix franchise, dedicated Final Fantasy fans are likely getting an extra-strong hit of nostalgia here. The hat's design is modeled specifically after the one worn by Vivi, the shy, purehearted Black Mage with a tragic backstory from Final Fantasy IX, currently celebrating the 25th anniversary of its release for the original PlayStation and often cited by Final Fantasy original creator Hironobu Sakaguchi as his favorite game in the series. Bitmapped graphics were still the norm in video games when the first Final Fantasy came out, and so the Black Mage hat wasn't originally designed with much concern over how the headwear would fit in three-dimensional spaces. That's something you'll need to take into consideration with the real-world Vivi's hat, however, which is listed as having a height of 72 centimeters (28.3 inches) and a brim width of 14 centimeters extending from the central cone, so you might want to be careful if your quest for the day is taking you somewhere with low ceilings or doorways. Vivi's Black Mage Hat is available for preorder now through the Square Enix e-store here, priced at 17,600 yen (US$121) with shipping scheduled for mid-August, which suggests it should be in fans' hands/on fans' heads by Halloween. Source: Square Enix e-store via Hachima Kiko Top image: Square Enix e-store ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Final Fantasy IX Remake Rumors Intensify Amid Anniversary Hype
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy IX and Square Enix has announced some celebration plans for the PS1-era RPG. The publisher said it's 'preparing various projects,' including new figures of the main heroes that slightly alter their appearance. It's enough to have long-time fans once again believing the perrenially rumored Final Fantasy IX remake is real. 'Zidane and Garnet from 'Final Fantasy IX' are now available in FORM-ISM!' the company announced today alongside a new soundtrack vinyl and other merch. 'To commemorate the 25th anniversary, they have been recreated in a three-dimensional form with a reinterpretation of the texture of their costumes.' Three-dimensional form? Reinterpretation of the texture of their costumes? Is this how both characters might look in an upcoming remake? That's one theory among fans, thanks to ongoing speculation about the possible existence of such a remake that dates back to its appearance in the infamous 2021 Nvidia leak, the one that kept proving to be legit again and again. Rumors that the game would soon be arriving on modern platforms in some new shape or form were reaffirmed when Final Fantasy IX appeared in an Epic Games Store backend leak just last June. And Giant Bomb's Jeff Grubb has repeatedly said the game is real, but will be closer to a Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core remake than a full-blown overhaul. Final Fantasy IX has a special place in many fans' hearts for several reasons. It's an incredible game for one. It was also the last entry on PS1, and the last before the series moved to a full 3D look and voice acting on the PS2. Most importantly, it was the last produced by creator Hironobu Sakaguchi before he left Square, and harkens back to the franchise's more traditional, medieval roots. Also it features an adorable black mage named Vivi. In the past, Final Fantasy XIV producer Naoki Yoshida has been coy about the rumors. 'Of course, I do know there are requests for Final Fantasy IX to be made, but when you think about Final Fantasy IX, it's a game with huge volume,' he said last fall, appearing to pour cold water on the rumors. 'When you think about all of that volume, I wonder if it's possible to remake that as a single title. It's a difficult one. It is a tough question.' July 7 will be exactly 25 years since the game shipped and Square Enix hints that fans should expect to hear more announcements leading up to it. Maybe a sneak peek of the game itself at an upcoming PlayStation or Summer Game Fest showcase will be one of them. I hope the game arrives alongside a revised strategy guide. .For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
