Final Fantasy 9 is out now on PS4
Final Fantasy 9, a game that gets serious consideration always wins during 'best Final Fantasy ever' discussions, has been released on the PlayStation Store everywhere.
The first sign of FF9 hitting PS4 occurred overnight when a PS4 release of the classic FF game was rated by PEGI, the Pan European Game Information board, which decides age ratings in Europe. The game has been rated PEGI-12 for 'depictions of violence' and 'bad language'.
It seems like PEGI only jumped the gun slightly, as a few hours later Sony Japan announced the game would be coming to PS4 at their Tokyo Game Show 2017 press conference. Furthermore, it's hitting Japan today.
That lines up with the release date listed by PEGI, which is September 19 - today. Shortly after the conference wrapped up, the game appeared on the European and the North American PlayStation Stores.
If you pick up the game you'll get a lovely FF9-style PS4 theme - just as was the case with the PS4 release of Final Fantasy 7 years ago. Final Fantasy 8 still remains out in the wind, though it's the only one of the three PS1 FFs that doesn't have a properly enhanced PC port, which is what these ports are based on.
FF9's enhanced steam port released for Steam in April 2016. That iteration of the game also included 'no encounter mode', which let you turn off random encounters (although you'll need to use them sometimes to level up). This is also the case with FF9 on PS4.
Along with no encounter mode, FF9 includes other optional features such as: high speed mode, features to maximize character levels, magic stone counts and gil. Also included is the 'Master All Abilities' booster which will allow players to automatically master equipped weapons and gear.
FF9 boasts high-definition movies and character models, auto-save functionality and Vita users will be pleased to know it includes share functionality and remote play with the handheld.
Back in 2015, the PC version of Final Fantasy 7 came to PS4. This was entirely separate from the upcoming remake, but was instead an upscaled version of the game's original release with a few polishes. Final Fantasy 8 also made its way to Steam, but 8 doesn't tend to get brought up in 'what's the best Final Fantasy' discussions, so it is, perhaps, less likely to make its way back to PlayStation.
It's the best one, so, y'know. This is good news.