Characters of Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy IX, a PlayStation role-playing game consisting of four CD-ROMs,[1] features a cast containing various major and minor characters.
The characters were designed after the creation of Final Fantasy IX's plot, unlike its predecessors VII and VIII, which had their protagonists created before the story.
Sakaguchi described him as a person who "likes girls and doesn't care for much", lacking any real objective and being carefree, but a key character nonetheless.
Zidane has shoulder-length blonde hair, blue eyes, and a prehensile monkey-like tail, as shown in game when he uses it to evade Steiner.
Near the end of the game, it is revealed that Zidane is a Genome created on the planet Terra to replace the antagonist Kuja as a more powerful "Angel of Death".
Vivi Ornitier (ビビ・オルニティア, Bibi Orunitia) first appears at the beginning of the game, becoming embroiled in Tantalus's plan to kidnap Princess Garnet when he travels to Alexandria to attend a performance of the play I Want to be Your Canary.
He joins with Zidane and others, and later discovers others like him, later learning that they are mindless, manufactured foot soldiers created by Kuja.
He continues to search for the truth about his origins and point in life, as well as what makes him different from others like him, such as his ability to express emotions.
Adelbert Steiner (アデルバート・スタイナー, Aderubāto Sutainā) is the Captain of the Knights of Pluto, the only group of male soldiers in Alexandria's military force.
This also makes him one of the few Final Fantasy characters to be called by both the first and last name given in the game's manual during actual gameplay.
He joins forces with Zidane, whom he hates due to being a thief, but is willing to put up with just about anything to ensure Garnet's safety.
When the party learns of the Queen's role in the attacks on Burmecia, Steiner questions his loyalty, as he does not believe such horrible deeds could be committed by the person he dedicated his life to defending.
Garnet Til Alexandros XVII (ガーネット・ティル・アレクサンドロス17世, Gānetto tiru Arekusandorosu Jūnanasei), is the heroine of Final Fantasy IX.
Amarant's combative nature and arrogant attitude often leads to conflict, but eventually his personality begins to change as a result of Zidane's influence.
[14] The warrior he wanted to challenge was Zidane, but he never got the chance to until meeting him in Madain Sari while tracking down Garnet alongside Lani.
Amarant does not divulge this information until a conversation with Freya outside the auction house in Disc 3, and keeps the reasoning for his grudge towards Zidane, who does not remember him, secret for a significant portion of the game.
Queen Brahne later summons him to retrieve Princess Garnet's pendant and assassinate Vivi, and he takes the job after learning that Zidane is traveling with them.
[20] Freya Crescent (フライヤ・クレセント, Furaiya Kuresento, /ˈfraɪə/) is Burmecian, a race of anthropomorphic rats who mainly live in the cities of Burmecia and Cleyra.
[21] Hailing from Burmecia, she is met by Zidane in Lindblum during the Festival of the Hunt, joining his quest after they finish their competition.
She travels to Cleyra, which is under attack by Alexandria, where she meets her love Sir Fratley, but discovered that he lost his memory.
Quina's motive for joining the party is not out of a desire to save the world, but rather as an opportunity to taste different foods from all around Gaia.
After helping her get down, she shows them Madain Sari and decides to join the party, despite her grandfather having told her not to leave until she was sixteen.
After defeating Kuja, one of the final scenes in the game shows Eiko referring to Cid and Hilda as her parents.
As Garnet testifies several times throughout the game, she was formerly a kind and well-liked ruler of the kingdom, but eventually becomes cruel, particularly when a man called Kuja shows up, revealed to have been talked into waging war with an army of Black Mages and having Zorn and Thorn extract the Eidolons from Garnet before executing her.
While she begins as an antagonist to the party, she switches sides to protect the Princess Garnet, fighting alongside Freya and Steiner to help them escape.
After Brahne's death, she serves under the newly crowned Queen Garnet, and she and Steiner grow to develop feelings for one another.
Regent Cid Fabool IX (シド・ファブール9世, Shido Fabūru Kyūsei) is the present ruler of Lindblum, who was turned into an oglop by his wife, Hilda, because of his womanizing.
He was best friends with Garnet's father and ordered Tantalus to kidnap her out of concern for her safety, based on Brahne's erratic behavior.
The Waltzes were assigned to follow orders and answer directly to Queen Brahne, and were dispatched to capture Garnet and bring her back alive.
[25] Digital Spy rated the game the second best Final Fantasy, citing "lovable characters and hatable villains" as one of their reasons.
