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Final Fantasy IX is a widely revered game, and one fan artist has decided to show their love for the series with a gorgeously illustrated tribute.
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Final Fantasy IX is one of the most beloved games in a series comprised near-exclusively of beloved games, and one fan artist has shown that love with a breathtaking and affecting piece of art portraying the game’s party.
Created by Twitter user doodlebugdebz and shared by curator account The Art of Video Games, the illustration shows each of the game’s party members reaching out to the protagonist, Zidane, who is pictured falling into empty space.
The image is an allusion to a memorable and heartwrenching scene in Final Fantasy IX in which every party member from the game moves in and out of a brief series of encounters, giving Zidane the encouragement and assistance he needs to survive. It’s a beautiful scene, one that emphasizes the underlying themes of camaraderie, found family and perseverance that pervade the entire game. The illustration captures the emotions of the scene (and of the game as a whole) in stunning detail, with impressively expressive interpreteations of the game’s characters.
Final Fantasy IX was originally released in 2000 for the original PlayStation. The last of three Final Fantasy titles to be released for the platform, the game is considered by some (including Final Fantasy series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi) to be the best in the entire series. Several members of its memorable party, featured in doodlebugdebz’s illustration, have become mainstays in Final Fantasy crossover titles like Dissidia Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy Record Keeper. Characters from Final Fantasy IX have also made appearances in other crossover-heavy series like Puzzle & Dragons.
Final Fantasy IX has experienced something of a second wind recently, in part thanks to the announcement of an FF9 animated series which is set to retell the story of the game in an episodic format. The series is being produced by Cyber Group Studios, a French animation house with a focus in children’s animation. Cyber Group Studios’ filmography includes a number of beloved children’s shows in France. Their most recent international success was The Last Kids on Earth, which was released as a Netflix exclusive.
Since its initial release in 2000, Final Fantasy IX has been re-released and remastered a few times. Currently, the game is available on PlayStation 1, 3 and 4, Xbox One, iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows and Nintendo Switch.
Source: Twitter