Board 8 > Andy Plays Final Fantasy IX

(+) Yeah! (+)

Nanis23 posted...

This is the closest I can find
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ImportantHaircut
But it includes a lot of reasons
The only instances I remember are Mulan, Sakura from Naruto and Garnet
But considering how fucking long the Anime and Manga page is...I guess I need to watch more Anime

The other one in particular I'm thinking about was from DBZ (which is the one that annoyed me the most because Videl's original design was great!)

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Well I won't lose sleep over Zorn and Thorn, I just figured there'd be some lore explanation somewhere. I guess IX never got any spinoffs or related media so ingame lore is all there is!

banananor posted...

don't use your phoenix pinions, just leave them in your inventory

I have learned this now! I got some Pinions from a Chocopiece chest so that helped build the stock back up a bit. Thanks!

MalcolmMasher posted...

Presumably Beatrix is running/rebuilding Alexandria while its princess is off saving the world, but I'm not sure anyone says that. However, as I recall, Cid will tell the party about how he was able to get the Hilda Garde 3 working in such short order.

FFIX Terra is not a deliberate reference to the FFVI character; in Japan she is known as Tina. Ted Woolsey, Square's translator at the time, recognized that while Tina might sound exotic to Japanese audiences, it would be pedestrian to Westerners, and thus changed her name to Terra.

Hm, I still think it's weird that Beatrix never tried to contact the others to let them know she's alive, and I don't quite get how her and Steiner managed to split up during the attack anyway (and they didn't look for each other afterwards?). She's also OP in battle so would work well in the party! Ah well, guess she's just a supporting character in the end. So much for me hoping she'd have an arc of atoning for the massacre at Burmecia.

I had forgotten that fact about Terra (it really is such a better name than Tina), I guess the planet is 'Terra' in the Japanese version of IX too then? Cool coincidence, though it still counts as a bit of a reference imo, even if just in the English version!

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The two planets: Tina and Geena
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The translation added FF references that weren't in the original script anyway, so 'Terra' can still count just kind of unintentionally.

Speaking of references and of Zorn and Thorn, did you notice that they can use Twincast like Palom and Porom?

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andylt posted...

I just figured there'd be some lore explanation somewhere

Only read this when you finish the game
Oh you sweet summer child
If you want explantion for this just wait for Necron...

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andylt posted...

I had forgotten that fact about Terra (it really is such a better name than Tina), I guess the planet is 'Terra' in the Japanese version of IX too then? Cool coincidence, though it still counts as a bit of a reference imo, even if just in the English version!

Uh
Both Gaia and Terra are alternate names to Earth but I assume you know that?


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andylt posted...

We follow Kuja into Mount Gulug, which has very nice music.

FFI baby. Better make it in FFO

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Yeah Beatrix kind of feels underwhelming as a character after how much hype she has.

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It's why I'm surprised she usually has such a strong backing in SMFFFC.

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She's got two great theme songs, a great design, and it's rare for the ultra strong stoic character to be a woman, so she stands out in that regard as well.

Oh and she has big boobs

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Beatrix had a lot of potential for character growth when she first makes her face turn, but then she immediately disappears for ages and doesn't do very much when she comes back. She could've been a solid party member imo.

I wish we'd gotten to play a full Steiner/Freya/Beatrix sequence after the rest leave Alexandria.

Nanis23 posted...

Uh
Both Gaia and Terra are alternate names to Earth but I assume you know that?

Yes I am aware of this! But I have to assume the devs knew of the VI protagonist's English name when they made this game intentionally throwing back to old entries in the series.

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I think keeping Beatrix out of the main party was a good call because it would just ruin her mystique to make her the same as everyone else.

I wish she had a bigger role, sure, but she does plenty to be memorable and likable.

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She should have had a moment where you play as her in a battle you can't win for the irony.

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andylt posted...

Beatrix had a lot of potential for character growth when she first makes her face turn, but then she immediately disappears for ages and doesn't do very much when she comes back

I really love FFIX story/writing but yes this is a huge problem in this game
Especially for Freya
Amarant being a random party member too

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Everyone except for Zidane, Dagger, Vivi, and Steiner gets dick for development. But in a way thats a good throwback as well!

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edit: nvm maybe getting into spoilery territory.

I'll just revise to say I like Eiko. Also maybe the last two posts are spoilery in that non-specific way general complaints/criticisms can be?

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I'd been meaning to discuss Freya. She was one of my favs earlier on, and would've probably been a contender for my overall fav character if they hadn't just dropped her for the past disc and a half. I was assuming she would come back into it whenever Fratley comes back, but I guess maybe not? I'm not asking for clarification here!

The way I've been looking at it, Zidane/Vivi/Dagger have been the main three, with the 4th important one rotating from Steiner to Freya to Eiko as the game has progressed.

Anyway, today's update: I didn't do very much. Tried to keep the friendly monster chain going, and I figured the next would be on the Forgotten Continent as that's the next world map place after Iifa Tree (took me a while to work that out in my head >_>). I spent a very long time there looking for the Jabberwocky, and I did find some, but not the friendly one. Then I thought about how a lot of the friendly monsters have been in forests, so went south to check that out. As soon as I stepped into a forest, the friendly music started playing... but it was the Quizmaster! This was indeed my first encounter with him, and I rather embarrassingly got it wrong. The monster I was looking for shows up not long after that, and he sends me to the snow guy that I'd already met, so I knew where to look for that one. Next up: Garuda.

I also scouted around looking for the next chocobo area, but didn't find anything. Going back into the Lagoon/Forest I obtained several Dead Peppers, a new item which I can give to Choco on the world map. He just pecks and stomps around a bit and nothing happens, so I don't know what to do there. I was looking for some rock or something on the world map he could peck apart, but nope.

The only new location I find is a strange area called Daguerreo. There are lots of different kinds of people here, many of them adventurers looking for treasure, others curious about the Underworld and Dragon God, and others just having philosophical debates about the need for nations. Aside from picking up a few new items the only notable thing right now is a statue that turns Ores into Aquamarine. I assume we'll be coming back here, but this is a strange place indeed. Kicked up a bunch of new questions if this Underworld thing actually leads anywhere...

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You're on the right track, there are specific places to use dead peppers. They'll have distinct marks. For instance if you keep running around the Forgotten Continent, you might notice the spots to try it.

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I spend a while running all over the continent looking for these spots, but I just haven't found them! I try hitting every weird branch or rock that stands out, but I must be missing something blatantly obvious here. The only thing of note I find is a windy valley I can't run through down south, and those strange shadows/holes that I still can't do anything with. I decide to leave it for now and move on with the plot.

Amarant decides he is fed up of teamwork, and runs on ahead to the Castle. I let him go, because this is the most amount of characterisation he has had since he joined the party and I don't want to discourage him. I really try to pick different characters for my party but I'm so worried about missing important unique dialogue that I stick with my usual A crew.

Ipsen's Castle is a strange dungeon, a sorta upside down looking place where the rules are backwards. It almost feels like a rejected early design for Ultimecia's Castle. The first chests we find give very basic weapons, and it soon becomes apparent that the weaker weapons cause more damage in battle. Weirdly this doesn't extend to spells or skills, which seem to function normally. A bit disappointing really, this doesn't change up the battle strategy much once I've equipped everybody with the weak weapons.

There's Tonberries here, moving slower than ever (dear lord how did people put up with this before 3x speed >_>), and notably a Gargoyle which I finally remember to use Soft on. 'Became too soft to live' is one hell of a death quote! Also an odd puzzle that Zidane can't bash or think his way through, that I leave til later. I get lucky with the path choices and we very quickly reach our destination, but not quickly enough to beat Amarant. He considers himself validated and leaves our crew forever. In my head there's like a 10% chance this is legit, but it's enough to have me very concerned about whether he had the Running Shoes in his inventory.

We find some handy mirrors and I excitedly realise that I know all 4 of the world map locations they are referring to- the volcano in the Lost Continent, the earthquakey area near Desert Palace, the windy valley I mentioned earlier, and the weird bit of water with a couple spikey bits pointing up that I have noticed before. Elements, woo! Before we leave, we have a confrontation with this place's guardian I guess, who says some very curious things about Terra's master plan before engaging us in battle. The fight is pretty easy, I get lucky with the steal prompts and after that we can just barrage our way to victory.

On the way down Vivi nearly falls through a hole, and we make note that there may be traps around now. Weirdly, that is the only one. Amarant isn't at the front gate so Zidane goes back and rescues him, and he learns the power of teamwork or whatever I guess. I mean, sure? I hope there's more to this, because as is it feels like a very half-baked attempt to give Amarant something to do. In fact this dungeon is remarkably short considering the super cool potential of an upside down dungeon where the rules are backwards, I imagine and hope we'll be back here soon with more to do.

We decide to split up into teams of two and go to each place at the same time, but before that I check in with Choco to see if there's anything new. There is! I guess that plot development triggered some more Chocographs, and before we know it Choco has a new deep blue colour to run over oceans with. Hooray! I briefly wonder what the next stage could possibly be if we can already cross oceans, but it turns out we still can't go between land and water without a beach, so that's that. I pick up the treasures I can, the highlight being a staff with Meteor, and go all the way to that foamy bubbling spot under Quale's home that I wrote in my notes ages ago. I use a Dead Pepper, Choco disappears underwater for a second, and... nothing. Rats! I will figure you out sometime, Dead Pepper.

Chocobo Hot'n'Cold took up more of my time than I expected (yet I am still not even able to afford the card!), so that's all for today. Eiko annoyingly insists on going with Dagger, a two-healer team does not sound so great! Hopefully the others will have set pairs too so everybody can get some nice conversations going. We will see how all that goes next time.

Grand Kirby posted...

Speaking of references and of Zorn and Thorn, did you notice that they can use Twincast like Palom and Porom?

I forgot to answer this- no I did not notice the Twincast, but oddly enough I had been thinking of the parallels of two annoying brightly coloured twin characters! That's one way to lean into a reference.

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I like the design of Ipsen's Castle, but yeah, it was a weird way to give Amarant some plot relevance out of nowhere. It kinda feels like an after school special. I feel like Amarant had potential and I like him more than most, but they didn't know how to use him.

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Isn't Dagger strong enough by now to act as a damager dealer instead of a healer..?

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Nanis23 posted...

Isn't Dagger strong enough by now to act as a damager dealer instead of a healer..?

Uh, with her summons, maybe. Eiko is a better damage dealer than Dagger in general though, I think.

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I've always found Eiko to be a better white mage, and Dagger a better summoner. Especially once she learns her later spells

edit: I think we should also mention that there is a massive point of no return coming up soon for a lot of items, right after the next plotbeat
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I feel like I remember the rackets being quasi decent for Dagger's physical attacks, and there might be a good one available from a chocograph by now maybe? I don't want to say for sure and make you go on a wild goose chase though, like I maybe unintentionally already did. <_<

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It is weird to me that Eiko and Dagger are just... the same class. There's not even really a noticeable quirk differentiating them, and even more oddly it's Eiko who is the superior healer at the moment!

mnkboy907 posted...

I feel like I remember the rackets being quasi decent for Dagger's physical attacks, and there might be a good one available from a chocograph by now maybe? I don't want to say for sure and make you go on a wild goose chase though, like I maybe unintentionally already did. <_<

Lol I'm sure you didn't already, I must just be missing something incredibly obvious.

htaeD posted...

edit: I think we should also mention that there is a massive point of no return coming up soon for a lot of items, right after the next plotbeat

Thanks for this, after the next plot thing I'll focus on getting all the sides done that I can. Though aside from Chocobo stuff I'm not sure what there is that I can still do.

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Eiko is better at white magic. Dagger is better at summons.

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andylt posted...

Thanks for this, after the next plot thing I'll focus on getting all the sides done that I can. Though aside from Chocobo stuff I'm not sure what there is that I can still do.

Mostly getting whatever new weapons from Daguerro you havent bought yet (the shop changes its contents for the 'disc 4' part of the game)
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You might want to check other shops too, because a lot of them change. Note that there's one outside of Oelvert that's easy to forget. If an equipment has a new ability for someone, it's safest to just buy it to make sure you don't miss out.

Leonhart4 posted...

Eiko is better at white magic. Dagger is better at summons.

It's kind of interesting that they start in opposite roles when Eiko joins, since she has more summons than Dagger at that point but Dagger has had more time to learn white magic. But as the game progresses they eventually switch specialties.

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Is there really that much unique dialogue with vivi and dagger? And not any for the others? I always mix it up but I guess I'd like to know.

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I guess it's possible they have extra dialogue because they're actually relevant to the plot...!

I dunno, I almost always roll with Zidane/Vivi/Steiner/Dagger once we get to disc 3, so maybe I should replay the game and use the others instead to find out!

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Yeah I don't know, but Vivi and Dagger always have something to say when I take them with me and with them being more plot relevant than everyone else I don't want to risk missing out on anything. Even when Dagger was silent there was a nice exchange between her and Zidane when they saw Eiko being prepped for Eidolon extraction. And how does the black mage stuff in Mt Gulug even play if Vivi isn't there?

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yeah the team leon listed is p much the A-team that I always used just because they got the most focus story-wise and they also have the most traditional and straightforward roles that I just like using. Plus the magic sword stuff means it feels real bad to use one without the other and then you're asking me to play without one or two of the main protagonists for the remaining 2 spots which I'm not about.
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Emeraldegg posted...

yeah the team leon listed is p much the A-team that I always used just because they got the most focus story-wise and they also have the most traditional and straightforward roles that I just like using. Plus the magic sword stuff means it feels real bad to use one without the other and then you're asking me to play without one or two of the main protagonists for the remaining 2 spots which I'm not about.

Yep, this is pretty much my exact thought process. I'd lift Steiner out for Freya sometimes but the Magic Sword is too fun to miss out on!

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Fighter/BMage/WMage/Fighter is the most boring setup!
But it is weird to use Steiner without Vivi. Should have given the others some compatibility. Command Sword that functions like a damage dealing mime.

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Honestly after a while Eiko just kicked Dagger out. Steiner and Freya are both fun tho.
I also dont think character interaction gets skipped if you dont have someone in your party
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Hey now Zidane is a thief not a fighter

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OK I've done the Shrines (will discuss this later) and the next target is Esto Gaza- is this the point of no return hteaD was referring to? Is there anything other than buying weapons that I should do before we head to the Shimmering Island/Terra?

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Yeah, that's the point of no return for disc 3. I'm not sure what gets locked out once you go there though.

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Quite a few non-essential places on the world map story wise, but there will be some sidequests missed by them I believe
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OK so we split up and head to the shrines. Zidane decides to pair Vivi with Steiner (aw yeah best duo) and leaves himself with Quina (aw yeah comedy stylings). This section starts really fun, the quick cuts are effective and I'm excited for whatever simultaneous shenanigans we have coming up. The music is very good here.

We all reach our temple guardians and get a couple more bits of odd Terra lore, and then Zidane and Quina are up with a boss fight against the Earth Guardian. Zidane luckily steals the two items this guy has in the first two turns, and then he continually attacks while Quina alternates between casting Mighty Guard and White Wind as necessary. Done and dusted.

The first one down, I hope I can nail the other three guardians first try, and- oh. The gang already fought them off without me. OK then... This kinda sucks tbh after all the setup, and they bothered to make designs for the guardians and everything! Well, three of them, we didn't get to see the Water Guardian. Are these references to the Elemental Archfiends from IV I wonder? Either way, I'm disappointed that we don't get 4 boss fights here. The bits of dialogue we get between the pairings are nice- Amarant has a couple of decent moments that land better than they did back at Ipsen's Castle (I selected 'I don't know' on the ship as it seemed the most interesting option), Quina is Quina, Eiko puts a question into Dagger's head, and Steiner and Vivi don't get nearly enough content. I wish this sequence were extended, I really liked the little bits we got.

Now I'm very tempted to hop straight to Esto Gaza and see just what the heck Terra is like, but before that I have to make sure I don't leave anything behind. I pick up all the weapons I see, and try out Hot'n'cold one last time just to make sure I didn't miss anything. Turns out, I did miss things! With the ocean Choco we can now play in the full range of Chocobo Lagoon, so we get some more Chocographs and sure enough, a shiny golden Choco that can fly (they can fly?!). I get to see what the shadows on the ground were about, and I finally find a single use for the Dead Peppers and arrive at Chocobo's Air Garden.

After playing around here and getting all the graphs, Mene teases that to reach Choco's home we need to use the Dead Peppers. But... how?! Where?? These peppers are the Gimme Cat of consumable items, they are getting me heated! Ah well, I collect all the Chocograph treasures left, which are very easy to find at this point as there aren't many beachless islands to choose from. I get some very nice gear for pretty much everybody (Quina hasn't gotten a new weapon in ages though!) and feel ready to continue on. Notably I look at the description of the second Pumice Piece, which says to 'put it together with the other'. IDK if it means Synthesis or something, but I won't mess around with it until both of the summoners have learned Boost at least.

This would be a good place to leave it for the day so someone can tell me if I've missed something I should do before leaving... but I really want to see what Terra is like... ahhh! I barely restrain myself and leave things here.


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There are a bunch of areas/shops that you lose access to generally if you've missed treasures or purchases. As far as sidequests go (pulling from a guide):

Coffee sidequest turn-in (I think you already missed one, though?)
Monster fight in the Treno Weapon shop
Colored stones from the Conde Petie Mountain Path
Trading an Oglop to one of the dwarves in Conde Petie

In case you want a full list of items to buy (the page also lists areas that will become inaccessible, if you consider that to be a spoiler: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps/197338-final-fantasy-ix/faqs/71891/preparing-to-leave )

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The four guardians are references to bosses from FF1

Also fun fact: Quina can eat that boss

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andylt posted...

Are these references to the Elemental Archfiends from IV I wonder?

The fiends from FF1!

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Leonhart4 posted...

Hey now Zidane is a thief not a fighter

You're the one always saying he's a bad thief!

And I'm saying he's a good fighter.

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I wish we got to fight all 4 bosses too

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andylt posted...

I hope I can nail the other three guardians first try, and- oh. The gang already fought them off without me. OK then... This kinda sucks tbh after all the setup, and they bothered to make designs for the guardians and everything!

Yeah. Cut content indicates that these dungeons were supposed to be explored fully and you were supposed to fight more (all?) of the guardians in this sequence but the game was rushed a bit.

And yeah, it's been pointed out that these guardians are the Four Fiends from Final Fantasy 1. Another cool connection to the original game I liked as a kid. I guess it should also be pointed out that Garland is named after an important character from that game as well:



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pjbasis posted...

You're the one always saying he's a bad thief!

And I'm saying he's a good fighter.

He is a bad thief, but he's a thief nonetheless!

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Gotcha RE the FF1 bosses, I was trying to connect them to the Archfiends with there being one for each element but they didn't really fit the designs as I remembered them.

LordoftheMorons posted...

There are a bunch of areas/shops that you lose access to generally if you've missed treasures or purchases. As far as sidequests go (pulling from a guide):

Coffee sidequest turn-in (I think you already missed one, though?)
Monster fight in the Treno Weapon shop
Colored stones from the Conde Petie Mountain Path
Trading an Oglop to one of the dwarves in Conde Petie

In case you want a full list of items to buy (the page also lists areas that will become inaccessible, if you consider that to be a spoiler: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps/197338-final-fantasy-ix/faqs/71891/preparing-to-leave )

I haven't traded an oglop and I did indeed already miss out on the apparently BS coffee timing. I'll do a scan of all the shops and buy everything I don't currently have in case I need to synthesise it later, but I'll probably be ok then I think!

Leonhart4 posted...

Also fun fact: Quina can eat that boss

lol that's great, what spell does he give?

Grand Kirby posted...

Yeah. Cut content indicates that these dungeons were supposed to be explored fully and you were supposed to fight more (all?) of the guardians in this sequence but the game was rushed a bit.

And yeah, it's been pointed out that these guardians are the Four Fiends from Final Fantasy 1. Another cool connection to the original game I liked as a kid. I guess it should also be pointed out that Garland is named after an important character from that game as well:

For some reason it didn't cross my mind that this game was rushed, but Square was pumping these out every year back then so it does make sense. Amazing that it still feels as good as it does! I wonder if there was supposed to be more on the Lost Continent, as there's only the one area to enter there.

I had heard of Garland before somewhere. I suppose he would be a fitting final boss for this game...

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It teaches Earth Shake, but you can also learn it from an Adamantoise, so you haven't missed it permanently.

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Ah good, I already have Earth Shake. I have to say Quina's my fav blue mage of the series gameplaywise, I think. It's seemed much easier to get the good spells in this game (without having to search for them), and the Eat/Cook mechanic is just fun.

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