"Final Fantasy Ix" is already out on the PlayStation Store in Japan. Square Enix surprised fans by announcing the port of the classic PlayStation One Japanese Role Playing Game. There has yet to be any confirmation on whether it will be coming to the North American, or European, stores. Considering that the previous "Final Fantasy" ports did receive a Western release, it is unlikely this one will not see the same treatment.

A retrospective

These announcements are always a blast, mostly because they ask us to revisit titles which we might not have played for years. "Final Fantasy IX" was released on the original PlayStation in July 2000 and sits at a fantastic 94% on Metacritic. It currently sits with the highest rating out of the entire series.

This massive JRPG is no stranger to re-releases, as it was ported to the PC last year. This version was not quite as well received as the original, sitting at a respectable 84% on Metacritic, but "Final Fantasy IX" still stood the test of time.

For those who played Square's game during its original release, they probably know that it is a fantastic addition to the franchise.

The combat sticks close to the formula established well by the previous two entries, so it is a straightforward turn-based RPG. Complexity can be found here, as each character has specific commands which can turn the tide of battle.

Regarding scope, "Final Fantasy IX" was a huge game for the time. Apparently, it does not compare to the graphical prowess of something like "Final Fantasy XV," while still being just as long of a game. The main quest is considerably longer in the ninth entry when compared to the latest one.

Whats in store for the newcomers?

Most likely, if it is released in North America, Sony will price it at $15.99. As this is a port and not a remake, it makes sense that the PlayStation 4 version would be priced the same as the seventh and eight entries in the franchise.

Would it be worth it for newcomers? Yes, as "Final Fantasy IX" remains one of the best in the series. The graphics are, obviously dated and can take some getting used to. They are by no means terrible but do not go in expecting anything comparable to modern day JRPGs. Despite the new genre shifting towards a more action-oriented style, the turn-based gameplay is still a lot of fun and quite engaging. At the time, it did not offer anything groundbreaking, but it can be described as timeless.