Final Fantasy 9 will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year. And, as the very best game in the series, I’m incredibly excited for Square Enix to celebrate its legacy with new merch, reveals, and a look back at what many consider the JRPG series’ crowning achievement. But what I want to hear about most is the long-rumoured remake, and whether it actually exists.
The revival has been discussed for years now, with reports claiming it will be a smaller-scale project compared to Final Fantasy 7 Remake, a fitting compromise considering its fantastical storybook aesthetic and adorable characters that combine beautifully with its heartfelt story.
The Final Fantasy 9 Remake Has Been A Long Time Coming
Earlier this week, the recent deluge of new merchandise also saw a potential subtitle for the remake surface after years of absence. If the rumours ring true, the return of Final Fantasy 9 will be known as Timeless Tale. Square Enix just needs to hurry up and reveal it.
There was a time when I balked at the idea of Final Fantasy 9 being remade. It felt timeless in its presentation, narrative, and characters; a game I was so preciously nostalgic for that the idea of bringing it back to life with new visuals and mechanics risked tainting its legacy.
Part of me still fears what Final Fantasy 9 could look like in this new form, but after seeing a similar laundry list of classics like Dragon Quest 3, Chrono Cross, and Suidoken returning in such reverent forms, I’m starting to believe that developers know what they’re doing. These previously untouchable classics have been treated with the utmost respect. Major companies are too afraid to take risks and make new games, so this is the next best thing. They just need to do it right.
Final Fantasy 9 cannot follow in the footsteps of Final Fantasy 7 Remake and release as this dense trilogy that takes roughly a decade to release in its entirety. It must be smaller, more manageable, and able to maintain the chibi charm of the original while offering a grand and unpredictable world to explore. The original game felt like you were playing with a lovingly crafted diorama of handmade figurines as a loved one read a storybook gently by your bedside. It was equal parts comforting and harrowing, telling a story about the identity, belonging, and human nature of its characters and the world they called home.
It’s a masterpiece, so the idea of tainting that experience naturally comes with distinct trepidation. But I felt the same about Final Fantasy 7, so I’m willing to treat Timeless Tale as a new interpretation of a game I love so dearly. Knowing that, bring it on.
Final Fantasy 9’s 25th Anniversary Is The Perfect Time For The Remake
As part of the upcoming anniversary celebrations, several pieces of merchandise have been announced, which include figurines, plushies, artbooks, vinyls, and more. You can check all of them out for yourself on the official website.
One particular thing I want to focus on are the figures of Zidane Tribal and Princess Garnet, which are currently available for pre-order. While their character designs are unmistakable, these figurines also come with updated design touches that fans are speculating are actually from the rumoured remake. They are more expressive, sport updated textures and flourishes on their outfits, and seem fitting for the sort of aesthetic I’d expect from a revival. Take a look for yourself:
Each character is faithfully yet subtly expanded on, and I can see each design pulled from their respective character models. Other pieces of merchandise, like the vinyl that includes the existing soundtrack alongside some enhanced bonuses and plushies of all of our favourite characters, also feel like they could act as general goods for a remake like this and such an anniversary celebration. Japan does love that sort of thing after all.
It’s also worth noting the figures remind me of the recent Trials of Mana remake which sports a very similar graphical style and character models with proportions just like this. It would certainly be fitting for a Final Fantasy 9 remake of this proposed size and scale.
Final Fantasy 9 was first released in Japan for the original PlayStation on July 7, 2000, which is a potential indication of when the anniversary celebrations will begin in earnest, and also when Square Enix could finally reveal the long-rumoured remake to the world.
Square Enix has said it will be releasing more news leading up to the above date, so it would be a lovely cherry-on-top of proceedings if a remake was a part of that. And if it has been in the works as long as reports claim, it could even be with us before the end of the year.
- Released
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July 7, 2000
- ESRB
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T for Teen: Violence, Mild Language