While I didn’t know it at that exact moment, Final Fantasy 9 was the game that changed my life forever. Each game in the Final Fantasy franchise has large overarching themes, oftentimes philosophical ones. Final Fantasy 7 is about ecological preservation and a sense of self, and Final Fantasy 10 heavily explores both nihilism and theological prejudice. Final Fantasy 9 posits that the “worth” you find is what you, and the people around you, make. It’s a true testament to the quality of Final Fantasy 9 that its most unassuming character has left the biggest impact.