Not impressed with this steam version

[sylardean]

I have to be honest here, FF9 is my second fav of the series to date and what squeenix has done to this port is make the game trash, the PSX/PS1 version is so much better. Sure they HD the cut scenes, or so they said.. (cos even some of those look pixilated more that the Ps1/Psx versions), and the character models but left the rest, (areas, scenery), an entire blurry/pixilated mess, really BAD to look at. It's THAT bad in some places that the entire scenery looks flat and looks like a paper mario game. The battle huds WAY TOO big and chunky, even the battles look like they are zoomed in a little too much in random fights.

I'm NOT gona ask for a refund on the game though cos I still like the game and I will play through the game immaterial of how bad it looks, cos im a FF fan. If any of my friends ask would I recommend this game to them off steam, my answer will be.. "HELL NO! find a psx/ps1 emulator and play that version, its better".

[Fugsnarf]

The PS1 version looks terrible compared to this for the characters models alone. The only thing it's got over this port is the interface. These character models are fantastic, and mods will surely come that will improve the background scaling, fonts, and the interface. Mind you, I'm not playing this until those mods are out. There are some promising ones being worked on already that address all my problems, though.

[nicomoto2014]

I'm enjoying it a lot! No complains about the graphics really. I think they are fine. The battles do seem zoomed though, I thought it was weird.

[Zeder966]

I can see why people prefer the PS1 version. I mean I think both are on the same level, this version having more ups and downs, but it's up to opinions I guess. Like for every up this port has, there's a down. Better models and the like, worse backgrounds, stuff like that.

[Something Music]

I thought the backgrounds were higher rez than the original version, or at least the same.

You have to remember this was developed for CRT screens that have lines to help the graphics blend together, which is much different than the Flat/Plams/w.e. you're viewing on now, which changes how we view the graphics considerably

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifJIMUJnvsg Is a decent comparison.

[Narcoleptic Marshmallow]

Originally posted by Something Music:

I thought the backgrounds were higher rez than the original version, or at least the same.

They are higher res. I think the reason people are weirded out by it is because everything else looks so sharp. Character models, object models, UI, item/equip icons, card designs, all look so great, and then you have the backgrounds looking like they were left outside in the rain when viewed against everything else. I don't blame them.

Plus, psone native resolution was very small (320x240, upscaled to 640x480 in some games, FFIX included), so everything looked more or less the same in terms of graphics, and that's messing up with people's memories of the game as well.

[TheSlowKnightOfNi]

Anyone also notice they removed/didn't add the death sounds from enemies? They just die with no noise, it's a shame.

[Fur Paws]

Seeing as I haven't played this game since it's initial release, I am enjoying it just as much as the old days. I have zero complaints about graphics seeing as I fully understand what we were getting.

I think it is important to note, even if you asked for a refund, you played the game past the 2 hour mark which means no refund.

[ZBR]

Calling this port trash is ludicrous. Why all the nitpicking? Really, you're just picking nits. We should all be happy SE gave us such an amazing game. It looks amazing, sounds amazing, the menus are FINE, and I have all of these options that make the gameplay much better for a second time around game- fast forward, auto-battle, etc.

[ZBR]

There really is no way to please some people.

[sylardean]

dont get me worng guys, im playing thorugh this game.. but im SURE the background art (areas) are blurred with some type of effect..

ps1/pc steam compare pic - http://s768.photobucket.com/user/decanos78/media/ff9pc%20compare%20pic_zpsois3gop2.png.html

i duno it just seems to me that the pc version seems blurred other than the obvious char. models, chests etc.

[sylardean]

Originally posted by Sub_Dork:

Calling this port trash is ludicrous. Why all the nitpicking? Really, you're just picking nits. We should all be happy SE gave us such an amazing game. It looks amazing, sounds amazing, the menus are FINE, and I have all of these options that make the gameplay much better for a second time around game- fast forward, auto-battle, etc.

I AM happy they released an attempted sprused up version of this game, hence why i bought it, my issue is with its background graphics.. nothing else, everything else looks great. I'm glad that they just didnt TOTALLY mess this port up like they have with most of the other FFs.

[sylardean]

Originally posted by Something Music:

I thought the backgrounds were higher rez than the original version, or at least the same.

You have to remember this was developed for CRT screens that have lines to help the graphics blend together, which is much different than the Flat/Plams/w.e. you're viewing on now, which changes how we view the graphics considerably

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifJIMUJnvsg Is a decent comparison.

defo proof right there that its zoomed in.. nice comparison vid :)

[Narcoleptic Marshmallow]

Someone made a thread about the disparity between character models and backgrounds, early January this year, comparing the (at the time) upcoming PC version vs an emulated version.

http://steamcommunity.com/app/377840/discussions/0/451850213946644962/

Copy pasting image links in case you don't want to open it:

New : http://i.imgur.com/GH40mu1.png
Emulated : http://i.imgur.com/cQC9KPs.png

New : http://i.imgur.com/msMaIka.png
Emulated : http://i.imgur.com/DbNTwWx.png

New : http://i.imgur.com/Cn0xMg3.png
Emulated : http://i.imgur.com/j1gUTgI.png

New : http://i.imgur.com/ck8OvEp.jpg
Emulated : http://i.imgur.com/QwJ0gcD.jpg

Like I said before, and I think most people would agree with me, it's clear that the backgrounds have been reworked and do look better than the original, however the character models completely stand out in comparison, which gives the impression that it's "worse". The bottom right corner of the third picture, with the three NPCs next to the flower cart and houses' roofs is the most blatant example of it.

But these two things are true: number one, the backgrounds have been reworked. Number two, the new backgrounds look blurred. I don't know what they used to "upgrade" the backgrounds, but it definitely wasn't the same thing they used for everything else. It doesn't bother me personally, as limitations were expected, but I can fully understand why someone would have trouble accepting these character models and these backgrounds come from the same game.

[Capybara]

It's a fantastic version imo.

[Iido]

After playing for a while, I don't think the environments look that bad at all. I think they must have at least applied some kind of filter over them to make them less pixelated, because they look rather smooth to me. Look at FFVII and FFVIII's prerendered backgrounds in the Steam/PC version, then look at FFIX's. Way, way better than they look, the former 2 have HORRIBLE pixelation.

Honestly, my biggest complaint so far is that they seemingly removed or replaced a lot of sound effects. Many battle sound effects are different, and for some reason they seem to have removed many monsters' "death cries". Most noticable with the Sand Golem, which no longer lets out that long, garbled roar when defeated..*currently in Cleyra at this moment in time*