10 Reasons Why Final Fantasy IX Is The Best Game Of The Series

Most fans of IX are in agreement that Vivi, the affable black mage, has enough strength as a character to carry the story on his own. An orphan with an unknown origin, Vivi acts with a young innocence that brings out the best of every member of the party. His nostalgic design also touches the heart strings of older players.

In battles, he is more than an asset. When his meter fills up and he goes into trance mode, he gains the ability to do double-damage with two spells aimed at the target instead of just one. Couple that with his tandem offense he can employ with other party members, and his absence is felt whenever he finds himself in a real snag.

He also has one of the more charming, and even darker arcs of any fighter on the airship, having to ponder over his origin. He sees enemies that look like him but lack his autonomy and his heart. Worse yet, he even sees them die. Vivi's death-centred arc is made all the more grim when considering he is only a child throughout the game.

But what makes him a fan favorite among the game's heroes is the way he powers through. Vivi grows into a strong kid by the end, and is even ready to teach the other characters a thing or nine. That onslaught of tragedies he faces, and how he learns to deal with them is a lovely reminder that innocence can be wounded, but can also endure.

Rather than moping and crying like some of FF's other characters, he takes to quiet contemplation, and evades death so that his character arc can come complete, allowing players the joy of seeing how he decides to give his life meaning.