After playing a ton of Final Fantasy games in a short span of time, I think I have found my new favorite. Final Fantasy IX may not have the strongest villain in the series and horribly long intros for each enemy encounter, but the whimsical storytelling makes it one of the best in the series. The Tim Burton-esque characters and world design look like they were ripped straight from a fantasy storybook. I know all these games are a part of the fantasy genre, but this one really captures the magic in ways that I haven’t seen from other titles in the franchise. It knows when to take itself seriously and when to let go which makes it a charming experience from start to finish.

Here’s hoping that the remake news is true. While I think this game stylistically still holds up and looks great to this day, I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to see this grand adventure reimagined with better graphics and fully voice-acted lines. Until then, download Moguri mods and give it a shot.