Well, it didn't suck as such...
It just didn't have the same impact that e.g. FFIV, VI and VII did.
It was much better than VIII and almost in every wat better than X.
Sure it went a bit crazy in the end, so that kind of made it feel like a crappy ending, but still... It was epic, and that is a lot better than crappy VIII.

The best FFs of all time:

VII
VI
IV
Tactics
IX
V
II
I
VIII
X
X-2

III I haven't played yet, so can't say anything of it... But probably it goes somewhere between II and V.

Why is X way down there? =/

I actually put X above most of the old games that I liked (probably on part with VI). Great story, drama, graphics & animation, gameplay wasn't bad either (the sphere grid is probably the greatest system implemented in any FF game so far) not to sounds and voices (they weren't bad even in the english version of the game).

X-2 was complete garbage though, its like the only good part about that game was getting the perfect ending just to properly end FFX. Though I did like finding out more about spira and the war from before...

I would suggest that we all stay on topic and quit spamming the topic, please, and thank you or i will get a mod and/or admin.

I dont think that people so much hate it... they just think/make snap judgements "its just ANOTHER Final Fantasy for me to play and beat"
" it cant be as good as the others..."
i think that gamers dont give it a real chance after playing VIII. and after playing VIII, they think " that system sucked, or so and so happened when i did this" and all those thoghts revolve around the NEXT Final Fantasy...IX! they think maybe theyll have similar systems, or since they had enough with the PSX Final Fantasy series theyll wait for PS2 Final Fantasy series to come out.
but i DO think VIII gave it a bad Rep

Why would VIII give IX a bad rep? VIII had its bad sides with randomly getting characters with GFs switched out for one that don't but I don't think that gave IX a bad feel.

I personally think IX is one of the greatest FF games. Vivi is by far my most favorite character of all the games because he kicks ass!

Maybe what made people feel uneasy about IX was cross-dresser Kuja.

LMAO! i have to give you a 100% exactly right about the Kuja thing.
I dont know why they created a character that wears a thong...?????
the guy does look kindaaaa womanish. the whole facial features, and choice of clothing OMG why, what would make a man wear that. he obviously went insane right after he was created then started trying on womans clothing....
anyways back on topic, i can see your point of view but in my case the systems reaked with chaos. i wouldnt of tried this game if i hadnt of bought the guide first.
And between me and you, this is my favorite Final Fantasy Too

i only heard about everyones problem with FF IX last week, i think its amazing, one of the best, and far far far superior to x (which was good but just not as indepth). M'oan the IX

I think Final Fantasy IX was a great game overall but the random encounters slowed down the game so much, even at the highest battle speed.

I think it was because of the high of FF7, everyone loved FF7, I mean, everyone and their dogs and grandmas loved FF7.... FF8 came out, people didn't like it, it sold, but it wasn't liked, so they continued thinking that Square will do something more like FF7 with FF9, they didn't so that's why they hate it..