When Square Enix arranged for a cover with the pleased visage of Vivi for the 25th-anniversary Famitsu special for Final Fantasy IX, it threw a massive bombshell, and all hell broke loose. The cover sports a new 3D rendering of Vivi, the psychologically twisted black mage-owner of the cuteness factor; this, they say, is proof of a long-rumored remake finally happening-or so they wish!
The Genki tweet, a Japanese gamer news source, set some nice gear over the FFIX community. Now, if you ask me, this cover art is just too polished for any simple anniversary; some say it looks like actual game graphics! Now, if that’s true… would Square Enix even go out of its way to create a whole new art style for Vivi unless they had some bigger plans for her in mind?
But Sqare Enix love to keep life interesting for everybody. Since then, they have just been teasing us. Remember those days when rumors became so pervasive about FFVII Remake before it came out, those were the days. The same thing all over again, basically. Some want to argue that the remake came into production and was canned, and now the company is just buying itself advertising time by rehashing ancient assets. Others, meanwhile, say that it’s going to be a slow-burn type of revelation, with the big unveiling just around the corner.
The replies under the tweet merge everyone — anticipation, frustration, and sheer despair. User ‘@Raquayza19’ said: “STOP TEASING ME ALREADY I NEED TO SEE THE GAME!”, and the next user that spoke up, ‘@dikanchut’, said, “I cannot stand this edging, man. Come on…” And honestly? Same. Square Enix knows exactly what they’re doing, and gamers are eating it up.
Compounding the rumors, this Famitsu issue itself will hold an 18-page feature on FFIX, with key staff interviews, including character designer Toshiyuki Itahana and legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu, plus an art card of the cover itself. That’s so much love for a 25-year-old game-or maybe they are cooking something in the back.
Some players are pointing out that maybe what we are seeing on the cover is the Madain Sari at night, which is an important location in the game. Others joked about Vivi’s design, with @Poptart_Bart saying, “to be fair he’s always been kinda ugly,” while @jiyuugema defended him, saying, “He looks like a monkey, like the original.” Classic Vivi discussion.
Really, though, why now? Final Fantasy VIII got its 25th anniversary last year and did not get anywhere near this sort of attention. The imbalance has gamers solidly convinced that Square Enix might be actually working on something special for FFIX. Is it a full remake? A remaster? Or just a really nice magazine cover to mess with us?
By this time, it’s anybody’s guess. Square Enix is still finishing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, so a full FFIX remake might be some years down the line. But the fact that they’re going into the weeds trying to celebrate a single game’s anniversary suggests that something might be coming together. Whether it is what everyone’s been asking for-the remake-or just another round in the cruel tease, we really don’t know.
For now, all we can do is stare and dream about that Famitsu cover. And maybe go on and replay FFIX for the hundredth time while we wait.
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