In a very recent controversy, Uematsu has announced that the game, the super classic, Final Fantasy IX, which is still considered very precious and loved, has more fans overseas than in Japan, its country of origin. During the interview, the composer, Uematsu, implied that he was personally very happy to be back artistically with the medieval sound that had characterized the movie’s music and his works. This enlightening statement from the composer of the musical series is reflecting how different the cultures were that enclosed the title which is often considered the peak of the franchise.
His thrilled mood was due to the fact that he was able to work on the score of FF9 which meant he could return to his ANIMATED DAYS. Uematsu said he was a “medieval otaku” in a laughing tone when he said that! The sci-fi aspects in FF7 and FF8 really annoyed him and he was just yearning for the fantasy very much. His excitement is expressed through the music to a large extent. It is not only the tracks”Weaving of Fate” and “You Are Not Alone!” but also others that have this timeless, almost fairy-tale like quality not derived from the previous industrial or pop styles. It was a deliberate throw-back and he loved every moment of it. That personal love, as one user noted, might be the reason the FF9 OST feels so holistic and cohesive. It is not just a set of battle themes; it is a whole universe formed with the sound of the violas and woods.
The netizens reacted as expected, with a huge outpouring of love for FF9. Players could easily be found exchanging their love. A player by the name of Nelson “El Gamer” Cotto made a long post praising how Square Soft maximized the PS1, praising also the art, music, and characters. He said it is “amazing that a game from 2000 still shines.” And he is correct! Another player just stated, “FF9 was the crowning glory of Final Fantasy. It has just been downhill ever since.” Ouch, harsh but surely there are people who really think like that. The passion is there and it is intense.
But then the question that everyone is thinking pops up… why? What is it that FF9 is bigger outside of Japan? A few users came up with some skin theories. One user called Leiv made a great observation. They proposed that for a lot of players in Europe the medieval Final Fantasy games did not even exist until the release of FF9. Consequently, for those gamer players, FF9 was not a nostalgic teasy but rather a complete and first dose of the classic fantasy style. It was totally new. Conversely, the Japanese had become used to those earlier titles so to them, FF9 might have seemed like a conscious revival rather a fresh visit. This is a pretty clever opinion, really.
Others were just amazed that it didn’t get so much attention in Japan. “With all the merch 9 seems to have and how cute the character designs are, especially Vivi, you’d think FF9 would be super popular in Japan,” wondered one artist. That’s right, Vivi is indeed the shining symbol of ‘wholesome anxiety’ and the whole world loves him for that. Maybe, the chibi style just did not ring the same bell with the Japanese people. Another person wondered if it was the medieval theme that was traditionally “Western” and thus less attractive to the Japanese people that made it more appealing to the Europeans and Americans. It’s the classic story of the princess and the thief, as one more commenter noted, and such stories have universal but maybe special western appeal.
Surely nothing can be so decisive in the Final Fantasy topic as discussions over that which is the actual best game to play. It was now the time for FF9 to be recognized but at the same time some defenders of other right gaming titles took the stand. “No FF can come close to FF VI. It can never happen,” one user commented. Another one brought forth the argument that FF7 and FF8 had Japan’s fandom. It’s the unending cycle of fan discussions and to tell the truth, it’s one of the factors that keep these games alive even after so many decades. Yet, the participants of this thread mostly expressed sincere and unreserved love for Zidane, Garnet, Vivi, and the whole crew.
Discussions veered towards Uematsu’s figure and, in overwhelming numbers, people wished he still had the main compositions for the series. “This man is a legend, I wish he still did the scores,” one musician lamented. His contribution is often regarded as the greatest – not just for a few remarkable tracks, but for the whole package. The sound of a composer totally in his element, geeking out over medieval tunes, and creating magic. Besides, just the fact that the game is also available on modern platforms like Xbox helps keep its legacy alive.
