FF9 is an absolute delight. My only real complaint is that the gameplay is very slow. I never beat the game as a kid because I eventually got tired of how long combat took... high speed mode helps a bit, but the gameplay is still on the slow side. Not awful, just not my cup of tea. Outside of that, I have like no complaints with 9.

I have some minor gripes with the story towards the end, but overall the characters are all wonderful and the themes are really fucking good. Vivi in particular has always been a favorite of mine and he continues to just be the star of the show. Dagger and Zidane are also great and I was shocked at how strongly I felt towards their relationships since I remember most FF relationships being kinda meh. I remember not caring for Quina much, but honestly they were really fun this run. I loved the unhinged comedy and I've always liked characters who see the world in a "pure" way. The rest of the cast is really great too.

FF9 is a flawed game, but it's so earnest and so charming. The theme of finding a home just hits so close to home and it has an ending scene that never fails to put a big cheesy smile on my face. It was genuinely worth slogging through that gameplay for :)