final fantasy ix is unrelenting in its storytelling and unapologetic in its earnestness. playing it on my ps2, sitting roughly three feet away from my 36 inch crt while the oversaturated and glare-ridden visuals embedded themselves in my retinas is something ill never forget, as the memories i have of playing one of the most cozy yet melancholic games ive ever experienced will last for a lifetime. while the themes of living life to its fullest are cliche and often overdone, final fantasy ix’s way of tackling these themes is what makes it undeniably unique. rather than one character learning that life is worth it by meeting new people and going on an adventure, this game has a set of characters that form a quasi-symbiotic relationship between each other, and all learn to appreciate an independent facet of their life from the main character, with the main message revolving around the power of living your life to the fullest so you build a legacy for yourself that far outlasts you. along with the main character’s hypocrisy in the ideals he preaches making him an all-time favorite of mine, the supporting cast, especially dagger and vivi, was one of the strongest ive seen and exemplify the importance of leaving a legacy to a tremendous degree.

other than that, the game has stunning visuals for the time it was made and the fmvs were beautiful, along with the character models being razor-sharp and super good looking. everything being a perfect fantasy world in this game fits thematically as well, and while i may not play this game ever again, the legacy it left in my memories will continue even after my life is over. a staple of gaming and must play for anyone thats looking for a shot of optimism; i love final fantasy ix and i always will.