A 2000 PlayStation RPG by Square in which Zidane and a band of outcasts uncover the queen of Alexandria's invasion plans and the cosmic mystery behind the world of Gaia.
Concept
Director Hironobu Sakaguchi designed Final Fantasy IX as a tribute to the franchise’s medieval roots. Black-mage boys, knight queens, and airships return after the sci-fi-leaning VII and VIII.
Story
Bandit Zidane kidnaps Princess Garnet of Alexandria during a play, only to discover her concerns about her warmongering mother are well founded. The pair uncover the existence of an external star, Terra, that has been engineering Gaia’s history.
Legacy
Final Fantasy IX has aged into one of the most beloved entries in the franchise. The 2016 PC remaster added quality-of-life upgrades, and a Hi-Rez Studios remake is reportedly in development.