Square Enix Teases Final Fantasy IX For Mobile

At the start of the year, Square Enix made a rather surprising reveal. That Final Fantasy IX would be coming to PCs is perhaps expected. That it would also be coming to mobile, both iOS and especially Android, was, perhaps the publisher's late Christmas gift (or early, depending on when it actually arrives) to fans. While still thin on launch details, Square Enix is now giving fans yet another appetizer, showing FF IX "in action" action on a mobile device, in a preview delivered over an almost two-hour long news style presentation.

Final Fantasy IX is one of the hidden gems of the series, a well-loved title, perhaps more than Final Fantasy VIII, though not as popular as the now iconic VII or even VIII, at least when it comes to characters. The backdrop of the game is a war between two nations, with a protagonist that looks like a cross between a human and a cat (what's not to love?!).

FF IX was the last Final Fantasy title to be made for the PS One platform, so it's not surprising that, in terms of graphics, the mobile port looks pretty much on par, perhaps even better, than the original console version. Square Enix did promise "refreshed" graphics that would at least make the 2000 game more palatable nearly two decades later.

In terms of controls, Square Enix seems to have fortunately diverged from simply emulating the physical controller of the PlayStation. As noted in our review of Final Fantasy VII for iOS, controls were that port's biggest flaws. Here, Square Enix has simplified things a bit and oriented it towards mobile devices. In particular, the virtual d-pad can actually be used on any part of the screen instead of being locked to a corner. A similar convention is actually used in Square Enix's mobile ports of the Dragon Quest series.

At one point, however, the game does revert to a PS controller layout, only because the mini game does require the use of specific controller buttons.

The video doesn't reveal specifics about the game's launch. The most pressing question at the moment is whether Square Enix will make the game available outside of Japan. Considering the effort it is putting in marketing it, in contrast to the Final Fantasy VII port, it would be a waste not to.