Explanations of Categories and Scores Graphics: This is pretty much how the game looks: the backgrounds,
the characters, and how well they all move together. This is not truly important
for a good game, but it really helps in making the game real for the player. The graphics in FFIX were stunning...absolutely stunning. There was little pixelation (only the characters in the normal dungeon scenes are a little rough-edged), and the mist-shrouded landscape made flying a much prettier experience. The summons are wonderful, the CGM movies are smooth and nicely motion-blurred, and the enemies looked nice. The only thing that needed work were the rough-edged characters.
Sound: Is the music annoying? Do the sound effects not fit with
reality?? These small little things could ruin a game, and make it
unenjoyable to play. Again, music doesn't make the game, but it sure
is annoying to have to turn down some horrid MIDI-like music in the middle of a game. Some of the music in FFIX was really great. It would really fit the scene and set the mood very well. Other music, though, was more like FFVII's. It was more MIDI-like and flat, though it would still fit the mood. So, while some of the music was FFVIII-caliber, some was more FFVII-caliber. But the SFX were stellar...right down to the sound of the character's footsteps on different substrates!
Playability: Could you not finish a game because the controls were
goofy, or the character control awkward? This is the playability of the game. The controls for FFIX were simple. Character control was easy, and the little bubbles that appeared over their heads was nice (some things you could COMPLETELY miss if it weren't for those little bubbles). The button configuration was a little different from FFVIII, but was close enough to master quickly.
Repeat Playability: Wished you had rented the game instead of
buying it? Did you beat it in two days and don't want to go through the torture of beating it again? This is the repeat playability of the game. Games, games everywhere! Jump rope, frog catching, card games! There are a lot of little games everywhere. There is even a secret if you can get to the last dungeon in less than 12 game hours! There are secrets that depend on other secrets, which completely depend on other mini-games! Classic Final Fantasy!
Plotline/Game Pace: Okay, the plotline thing is fairly simple.
If it's an RPG or action, is there a decent plotline to follow? Do you
want to complete the game, or is there some stupid goal that will be
annoying to finish? However, there are other games that do not have
plotlines, like sports games and puzzles. These have to move up in
difficulty, speed, or something else to be interesting enough to
continue to play. This sort of goes along with Repeat Playability.
FFIX has a good plotline. In some ways, though, it was like FFVIII--"why am I doing this?" Sometimes I guess it was hard to align one's own motivation's with Zidane's. Ah, well. There were no large plot holes and everything closed up nicely.
Innovation: Is this game another first-person shooter? Or is there
something different that makes the game even more interesting? This is
the innovation of the game. This is what makes games different from
each other and more interesting. There is some innovation in the ability system of FFIX. But the fact is that it isn't radically different from most other FF games' systems. It is different enough to have to learn, but that doesn't take long at all. There are also many similarities to other SquareSoft games. I noticed some ChronoTrigger, the other FF games, and SaGa Frontier 2 (bad, bad...Squaresoft!). But, because the ability system IS different, there is some innovation.
Average: Obviously, this is the average score for the game. It
reflects how well the game will compare to others. FFIX was the best game I have played yet. Everything about it was good or wonderful. That is why this game has received the highest I have ever given a game.
