Final Fantasy IX Battle System
Combat System
The combat system for Final Fantasy IX is comparable to the system from Final
Fantasy VII. Also character classes return to Final Fantasy IX. Battling parties
can consist of up to four characters, and you'll be able to make use of front
and back rows, depending on the weapons and abilities a character can use. A new
option called ‘Trance Mode' replaces the Limit Breaks, although it servers the
same purpose (this is a very good thing because well lets face it we all like
Limit Breaks). When a character takes a certain amount of damage, they will go
into a trance, which allows them to make use of previously inaccessible
abilities. Each character will gain skills based on their character alone, such
as Zidane having a steal command (Mug like in Final Fantasy VIII) since his character class is
Thief. Magic returns to being used via magic points (MP) because so many people
complained about the Junction System in Final Fantasy VIII. The choice of spells
available to a character will be limited by what their class is.
Spells
To completely understand the availability of skills and spells to characters in
Final Fantasy IX, you must understand the equipment system. The availability of
equipment for characters is similar to the SNES Final Fantasy titles - equipment
will not be limited to one person, but one class type. Thieves and warriors will
be able to equip light armor, while knights will wear heavy armor and mages will
be able to equip robes. The same basic pattern applies for weapons, and it is
then from these different equipment classes that the abilities and spells a
character can use is determined. Every item and piece of equipment in Final
Fantasy IX has its own set of skills it can teach to certain characters. When
equipped, the items and weapons a character uses will allow the character to use
its selected abilities. One example given is Vivi's Black Mage Staff. When equipped, Vivi will be able to use
the magic spells "Osmosis" and "Fire" in battle. Each of these
spells has its own Action Points (AP) gauge, which when full, allows Vivi to
continue using the spells even after he unequipped the Black Mage Staff. (Note:
this AP is not for Guardian Forces). AP is gained merely by battling with the
equipment on, which means you'll need to use all equipment and items available
to a character for a certain amount of time if you wish to learn every spell and
ability that the character can learn.
Action Abilities and Status Abilities
The abilities themselves come in two different classes, Action Abilities (AA)
and Status Abilities (SA). Action abilities give your character in-battle
commands, such as extended stealing abilities or the power to use summoned
Guardian Forces (Which know so far the returning GFs are Leviathan and once
again Bahamut). Status Abilities can raise a characters statistics or can
increase a character's resistance to status changes, such as poison, or blind. |
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