After Final Fantasy VII and VIII, IX returned more to the medieval swords, wizards and stuff. This was a refreshing change from the previous games, with the Techno feel of Midgar and the futuristic Gardens. While there was still some technology, the difference was plain to see and the feel of the game was different.

It was also refreshing to have your characters defined as the character class at the start of the game. Zidane as your thief, Steiner as your fighter, Eiko and Garnet as White Mages, Vivi as Black Mage, Amarant as Black Belt, Freya as Dragoon and Quina as... Quina.

Anyone else feels that the return to the previous style of FF games aided this one?

I liked the basics part. I have never played a FF game from I-VI so I wasn't very aware of this class system. But I think these basics really did help the game come out as successful as it did. For example, where would Vivi be if there was no black mage system? If these basics weren't in FFIX, then the game would be much different than it is now...

Yay! I can particiapate within this forum!

Well I'm sure you all know my feelings towards Medieval themes. I absolutely love it. I am finding it rather challenging to this new equip system. I mean you learn this, equipt that. Then suddenly another weapon pops up before you learn the previous Ability.

I don't know...
As for the class/jobs thing, I can live with it. It was nice to bring back the basics. I have a feeling it won't be the last time they do this.

I loved the all the systems for FF9. It was back to basics in a way but they were refreshing.

Too right! In FFVII and FVIII, the characters are basically all the same ability wise. The only difference is their stats (which you can change) and their Limit Breaks (is that what they're called in FFVIII? I can't remember >_<)
This time though, the characters are more defined. Garnet, Vivi and Eiko aren't as strong as the others, but they can use more magic. The types of magic a character can learn is kept within their class (for example, Zidane can't learn Cure, or any White Magic, Garnet can't learn any Black Magic, ect)
This makes the game more intersting, and the battle party becomes more strategic. Like, not putting Garnet and EIko in the same party, or balancing out magic with strength.

wasnt quina basically a blue mage? anyway, ive alwasy found the blue mage to be the most useless final fantasy class because their attacks are the same as monster attacks.. although there were 1 or 2 good ones in ff9.

yea, but i noticed that too when i tried to assign classes to the characters in 7 and 8 after i played 9. my assigning came to a halt when i reached barret and tifa and selphie and irvine (not to mention a few more that i dont feel like naming).