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Ultimate Fantasy IX turns 25 this week. Sq. Enix has been slowly revealing extra merchandise for the sport’s anniversary together with what appears like an important vinyl launch with a brand new model of Melodies of Life. Ultimate Fantasy IX is an important recreation not just for Sq. Enix and the sequence as an entire, but additionally for RPG Website. Alex has written about that right here. After masking the Ultimate Fantasy Pixel Remaster sequence, the twenty fifth anniversary of Ultimate Fantasy IX was an excellent alternative for me to take a look at the sport on each present platform and a few extras to search out the most effective model. Whether or not you propose on celebrating the anniversary by revisiting the sport or wish to lastly play certainly one of Sq. Enix’s greatest RPGs, my new characteristic will cowl the most effective model of FF9 throughout Change, PC, cell, PS5, Xbox Sequence X, Change 2, the unique PS1 recreation on PS Vita, and extra. 

Ultimate Fantasy IX variations that can be purchased in the present day

There are at present two (or three) primary variations of Ultimate Fantasy IX: PlayStation authentic, the remaster (the present model out there to buy), and a modded model of the remaster on Steam which I’ll cowl in a while on this characteristic. The remaster added some increased decision fashions, high quality of life options, cheats, and extra. The remaster is the model of Ultimate Fantasy IX that can be purchased on PlayStation 4/5, Xbox, Nintendo Change, cell, and PC proper now. The unique PlayStation model is that can be purchased as a PS One Traditional and is playable on PS3 and PS Vita proper now. I even re-downloaded it on two of my Vitas to verify one thing for this very article. 

Ultimate Fantasy IX launch timeline from 2000

Earlier than attending to the model variations, cheats, and different adjustments, I would like to supply some context with the discharge timeline throughout platforms. 

• July 2000: Ultimate Fantasy IX releases on PlayStation in Japan.
• November 2000: FF9 launches on PlayStation in North America.
• February 2001: FF9 launches on PlayStation in Europe.
• Could/June 2010: FF9 is launched on the PlayStation Retailer as a PS One Traditional.
• February 2016: FF9 will get a remaster for iOS and Android.
• April 2016: FF9’s remaster is launched on PC Steam.
• September 2017: FF9’s remaster is tweaked and launched on PS4.
• February 2019: FF9’s PS4 model is ported to Nintendo Change and Xbox One.

Ultimate Fantasy IX remaster options, cheats, and present variations

Whereas the unique Ultimate Fantasy IX is out there as a basic on older PlayStation programs just like the PS3 or PS Vita, the remaster which is solely titled Ultimate Fantasy IX is the one model that can be purchased on fashionable platforms. That is out there on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Change, Steam, iOS, Android, and the Home windows Retailer for PC. The sport can be playable through backward compatibility on PS5, Xbox Sequence X|S, and Nintendo Change 2. Additionally it is formally suitable with the Steam Deck.

The remaster introduces many helpful new options and upgrades, however it’s also missing in some methods. The key upgrades are excessive decision character fashions, numerous cheats and boosters, the flexibility to skip the battle digital camera animation, autosave, increased decision films, the flexibility to skip films, quicker loading (this is dependent upon the platform sadly), and even cloud saves throughout platforms. 

The cheats and boosters are very helpful, and you may flip the previous on and off on the fly. The boosters are a one-time characteristic you can’t disable as soon as you have enabled so hold that in thoughts. The boosters can be found within the config menu they usually allow you to maximize character ranges, magic stone counts, gil, and robotically grasp outfitted weapons and kit. The sport does warn you about not with the ability to disable them as nicely fortunately. The cheats may be toggled on and off from the pause menu through the use of the shoulder buttons and triggers. These allow you to flip off encounters, allow excessive pace mode, do 9999 harm, and allow a battle help possibility. The battle help possibility permits limitless trance basically and the 9999 harm possibility has you doing 9999 harm for nearly each assault. Some particular battles can have you do much less harm till you fulfill sure circumstances although.

These boosters, cheats, and the standard of life options make for a dramatically extra playable and accessible model for contemporary platforms, however there are just a few areas this remaster is missing. These are the backgrounds which look fairly ugly until you play on a small cellphone display, the elimination of full analog motion for an eight directional motion possibility, and a decrease body fee for the final interface which makes every thing really feel sluggish. 

Ultimate Fantasy IX Steam vs Home windows Retailer PC model variations

I wish to make a remark that the PC variations of the sport had been patched to repair the BGM concern with music resuming and the battle command window dimension to raised swimsuit enjoying on bigger screens than cell. This video from AustinSV (a incredible useful resource for platform comparisons) is a good showcase of how the sport was again at launch on consoles and PC. The preliminary launch model on Steam nonetheless used the bigger UI meant for contact controls regardless of being on PC. As of in the present day, there are nonetheless just a few variations with the PC and console variations, and even with the 2 PC variations. The Steam model feels fairly dated and in some ways is a port from the early Sq. Enix Steam launch period the place video games had launchers and had been typically not nice. The Steam model would not even allow you to navigate the textual content enter field for names with a controller correctly. You must use the mouse or touchscreen to go forward.

As for the variations between the Steam and Home windows Retailer variations, the previous makes use of B to verify whereas the latter makes use of A to verify by default. When utilizing customized controls, the Steam model defaults to keyboard prompts, however you may press the again button and go to edit customized controller bindings as proven within the picture above. The Home windows Retailer model however doesn’t have any customized management possibility for remapping that I can see. The Home windows Retailer model additionally has no launcher and it has Xbox Play Wherever help which suggests one buy will get you the Xbox and Home windows Retailer PC variations with save carrying over between them. The draw back is that modding doesn’t work on this PC model whereas it does on Steam. 

One factor to notice is that the Home windows Retailer model, at the least on ROG Ally, is bugged the place it runs at a quicker pace than it ought to until you manually cap the display to 30fps. I examined this after re-installing the sport 3 times and booting it and the Steam model up one after the opposite to verify it wasn’t one thing else inflicting the problem. The Steam model doesn’t have this downside.

Ultimate Fantasy IX visuals and efficiency variations throughout PC, PS5, Xbox, Change, and cell

Be aware that for this part, I’ll cowl the unmodded Steam model. I cowl the Moguri Mod in a while within the characteristic. Visually, the remaster has comparable points throughout all platforms with the font used and backgrounds, however there are some extra variations relying on the console. The Change model appears to solely help 720p throughout the board. This wasn’t a problem when enjoying in transportable on the unique Change, but it surely positively just isn’t good when enjoying on Change 2 or docked generally. The Change model additionally suffers from some menu points the place it felt like the sport was consuming inputs. I did not run into this concern within the different variations. 

Visually, all present variations of the remaster are kind of the identical in any other case with PlayStation 4 (together with on PS5) and Xbox One X (together with on Xbox Sequence X) providing the most effective TV expertise alongside the PC model operating at a better decision on a supported show. I’d say the Change model is a step down even from an older iPhone or iPad throughout the board together with in its menus. Even the PAUSE textual content is blurry on Change when it’s crisp on iOS. In relation to visuals and responsiveness, Change is by far the worst model of Ultimate Fantasy IX’s remaster proper now. Not one of the platforms supply a 60fps expertise out of the field proper now for the remaster although.

Ultimate Fantasy IX load instances throughout PC, PS5, Xbox, Change, Change 2, and cell

For the load instances, I’ve examined the Change model on Change OLED, Change 2 inside storage, PS4 model on PS5, PS4 model on PS5 put in to the interior storage SSD, Xbox One model on Xbox Sequence X, Xbox One model on Xbox Sequence X inside SSD, Steam model on Steam Deck SSD, Steam model with the Moguri Mod on the Steam Deck SSD, Steam model on ROG Ally inside storage, Home windows Retailer model on ROG Ally inside storage, iOS model on my iPhone 15 Professional, and iOS model on my iPad Professional (2020 mannequin). I additionally mashed the buttons to skip any logos to hurry issues up as a lot as I might for the dashboard to title display possibility.

For the save file, I checked how lengthy every model took to load up a save file and provide you with character management. For the primary battle, I timed the sport from when the transition is nearly to begin to when it finishes loading and the black display ends. Within the case of the outcomes under which have a spread, if I seen the quantity not being the identical on a number of checks, I included the higher and decrease finish of the outcomes as a spread. For the Steam Deck checks, the consequence contains the time with launcher / with out launcher.

Be aware: All load instances above are in seconds.

As you may see, the Change model is the worst of the lot even in relation to load instances. I hoped it might be higher when performed on Change 2, however the outcomes aren’t significantly better outdoors the preliminary load. I am shocked that it hundreds slower than the unique recreation does on PS Vita as nicely. I used to be additionally shocked that the Xbox model additionally has poor load instances. I ended up re-downloading it and putting in it to the Storage Enlargement Card as nicely after testing on the interior SSD and had the identical outcomes. Newer iOS gadgets, PlayStation 5, and Moguri Mod Steam launch are the most effective with load instances. 

Which model of Ultimate Fantasy IX is the most effective? 

Having now revisited all of the variations of Ultimate Fantasy IX listed above together with testing them over totally different conditions, I’d say the most effective variations are both the PlayStation launch for the unique expertise or the Steam model with the Moguri Mod. The previous will get you the sport because it was meant to be performed, albeit with out high quality of life options, however in order for you these, the Moguri Mod on Steam fixes all the problems the remaster of Ultimate Fantasy IX needed to ship a incredible and scalable expertise. Earlier than lastly serving to you resolve which model of FF9 is greatest for you, I’ll cowl the Moguri Mod as a result of it’s fairly incredible, particularly for many who play on Steam Deck. 

Ultimate Fantasy 9 Moguri Mod set up information

When you’re curious in regards to the Ultimate Fantasy 9 Moguri Mod given the current on-line dialogue round a possible remake, it is extremely easy and straightforward to put in. It ships with plenty of options and visible enhancement choices, however I solely suggest utilizing the Moguri Mod from the brand new launcher. As soon as you put in it utilizing the steps listed right here (Be aware that you simply required Ultimate Fantasy IX on Steam for this), you’re introduced with a brand new launcher, the Memoria Launcher, on urgent Play on Steam. From right here, it’s best to set up the Moguri Mod (9.0 is the most recent, however you need to use Moguri Mod 2020 as nicely when you desire the earlier mod’s look as proven within the comparability above) for the brand new backgrounds, and you can too allow or disable numerous choices as per your liking. You may view the mods from the Mod Catalog a part of the Mods part within the Memoria Launcher.

My suggestions for the opposite choices are utilizing the PSX font, skipping intros to the primary menu, skipping battle load instances, and setting the FPS to auto within the Settings a part of the Memoria Launcher. You may then hit Play to start your newly up to date and enhanced modded model of Ultimate Fantasy IX. Whereas the mod additionally has different choices that change the music, I do not suggest utilizing them in your first playthrough.

Learn how to set up the Ultimate Fantasy 9 Moguri Mod on Steam Deck

Putting in the Ultimate Fantasy 9 Moguri Mod on Steam Deck may be very easy. I’ve defined every step intimately under if you’re new to utilizing the Konsole or Desktop Mode on Steam Deck. When you already know these, it simply requires you to repeat and paste the linked command. 

1. You must go to desktop mode (press Steam -> Energy -> Change to Desktop)
2. Copy the command listed right here and paste it into the Konsole on Steam Deck in Desktop Mode. When you aren’t certain what that’s, when you go into Desktop Mode, press the Steam icon on the underside left after which go to the System menu. Over right here you will note the Konsole for command line entry. You may copy paste that command and hit enter. Chances are you’ll have to manually invoke the on-screen keyboard right here.
3. When you hit enter (and have sufficient space for storing), the mod will set up by itself and put you again into the Konsole ready for textual content enter.
4. You may shut this and hit Play on Ultimate Fantasy IX in Recreation Mode or Desktop Mode to entry the Memoria Launcher after which play your newly-modded Ultimate Fantasy IX.
5. Choose Moguri Mod or Moguri Mod (2020) relying in your desire and let it end downloading earlier than launching the sport with the up to date backgrounds. When you hit play from the Memoria Launcher with out getting this mod, you’ll get the opposite advantages however the backgrounds would be the identical.

Which model of Ultimate Fantasy IX do you have to purchase?

Everybody has their very own priorities for what they need, so I’ll checklist the benefits and drawbacks of each single model of Ultimate Fantasy IX as a conclusion to this characteristic under:

• Ultimate Fantasy IX on PS5 and PS4: If you wish to play in your TV, care about trophy help, and do not care about transportable play (until you stream to a PlayStation Portal or cellphone), that is the model to get. Additionally it is the most effective console model of Ultimate Fantasy IX’s remaster. 
• Ultimate Fantasy IX on Xbox: In case you have entry to a PC handheld or play on each Xbox consoles and PC, the Play Wherever characteristic is a giant promoting level along with the Fast Resume characteristic, however the longer load instances in comparison with PlayStation holds this model again.
• Ultimate Fantasy IX on Nintendo Change and Change 2: The hybrid nature of the Change is the most important promoting level for Ultimate Fantasy IX, however that is simply the worst model of the remaster with the subpar visuals docked and massively lengthy load instances in comparison with all different platforms for the remaster. The Change model additionally would not profit a lot from being performed on Change 2. When you solely have a Change/Change 2 or worth the hybrid nature and might abdomen very lengthy load instances, that is the one to get. The one profit I see to the Change model for a multi-platform proprietor is the Asia English bodily launch which is the one platform for the remaster to get a bodily launch in any area.
• Ultimate Fantasy IX on Steam and Steam Deck: Having the ability to mod FF9 with the Moguri Mod makes this the most effective model of the remaster and the most effective model of FF9 for replaying by far. Even with out that, FF9’s remaster performs nice on PC through Steam Deck. Simply remember the fact that cloud saves are handbook for some purpose and that the sport has a launcher. 
• Ultimate Fantasy IX on Cellular: Whereas the cell model of FF9 has had some points with it not being playable on fashionable iOS variations, the present model appears to run high quality. In reality, I might go as far as to say it’s the greatest transportable model of the remaster if you do not have or wish to play on a PC handheld modded. I can not touch upon the Android model, however I’ve examined the iOS model on a number of iPhones and iPad Professional (2020) and it really works high quality thus far, with significantly better load instances than Change throughout the board. The iOS model additionally has controller help along with contact controls with the identical cloud save system as Steam.
• Ultimate Fantasy IX on PS3 / PS Vita: If you’d like the unique expertise albeit with quicker load instances, that is the one to get. It nonetheless appears nice on the PS Vita display, however you miss out on all the standard of life options, boosters, and cheats out there.

Hopefully this helped you resolve the place it’s best to get Ultimate Fantasy IX and when you already personal it, acquired you to replace or re-download and revisit it for the twenty fifth anniversary. It’s disappointing that each present model has issues to some extent and that the one solution to really get the absolute best expertise now could be both the unique recreation or the modded Steam model.

Ultimate Fantasy IX is now out there on PS4 (and backward suitable on PS5), Xbox One (and backward suitable on Xbox Sequence X|S), Nintendo Change (and backward suitable on Nintendo Change 2), iOS, Android, Steam, and the Xbox Retailer for PC. Take a look at our guides masking FF9 right here.