#3. FINAL FANTASY 9
Though it started out as a fantasy series (as its name suggests), Final Fantasy gradually started veering into sci-fi territory overtime. By the final years of the PS1 era, it had cemented itself as a sci-fi series, having shed its fantasy trappings almost completely. Final Fantasy 9 was a throwback to the earlier days of the series, featuring a high fantasy setting, and for franchise fans, it’s one of its strongest outings. And that’s not just because it harkened back to the series’ fantasy days- it’s because it did it so well. From an excellent and rich setting with fantastic world-building to a cast of characters that was full of weird, loveable, quirky personalities, from its open world exploration to its unabashedly classical combat and progression, Final Fantasy 9 was a dream come true for fans of the series and of the genre. Hopefully, we’ll see Final Fantasy returning to that style once again not too long from now.
