Popular Final Fantasy 9 Mod Gets Surprise Update

by

Popular Final Fantasy 9 Mod Gets Surprise Update

Highlights

  • The Moguri Mod 9.0 update completely reworks Final Fantasy 9‘s backgrounds and battle graphics, adding new features like higher frame rates and widescreen support.
  • The Memoria mod launcher now includes new options like custom fonts and built-in antialiasing, enhancing the gameplay experience.
  • Experimental shader features in the Moguri Mod offer options to change character models, opening up possibilities for further modding opportunities.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I can confidently say that the latest update to the Moguri Mod for Final Fantasy 9 is nothing short of a game-changer. Having played this classic title on various platforms since its initial release, I’ve always felt that the PC port fell short in terms of visual quality compared to other versions.

Four years after its debut, the beloved PC modification for Final Fantasy 9, known as Moguri Mod, has been updated once more. Final Fantasy 9, a cherished installment in the series, originally launched on the PlayStation 1 console way back when. Over time, it’s been ported to various platforms, with a PC version appearing in 2016. One of FF9’s standout features is its stunning environmental art and graphics, which were among the best on the PS1. Many players feel that these aspects didn’t get the upscaling treatment they deserved when the game was transferred to Steam.

Among the many well-liked modifications for Final Fantasy 9, one stands out: the Moguri Mod. This modification focuses on enhancing and refining the game’s graphical resolution while preserving its unique aesthetic. The mod first appeared in 2020, offering upgraded backgrounds, resolving several issues and glitches, and implementing various visual alterations using a combination of AI and hand-drawn art. Although it appeared that the mod was complete save for some minor updates, the creators of Moguri Mod unveiled an entirely new version.

The new version of the Moguri Mod was posted to its official website, this version being known as Moguri 9.0, compared to the 8.3.0 update back in 2020. This overhaul of the mod has completely re-rendered Final Fantasy 9‘s timeless backgrounds, using both a mix of Stable Diffusion and a mixture of the original upscales. On top of that, the battle backgrounds have been reworked, along with improvements in lighting, texture upscaling, and pre-rendered FMVs. Many of the original mod’s visual bugs have also been fixed.

In essence, the significant enhancement to Moguri Mod in Final Fantasy 9 primarily lies in the enrichment of features incorporated into the Memoria mod launcher. These additions range from boosting the game’s framerate to as high as 120 FPS, providing support for 16:10 and ultrawidescreen displays, enabling custom fonts, and integrating built-in antialiasing. The advancements made also pave the way for a surge of modding possibilities, including the addition of new textures, sound effects, playable characters, and even voiceovers.

The Moguri Mod offers some trial shader options in three variations: standard, cartoon with outline, and realism. These significantly alter the visual appearance of character models within the game. Additionally, this mod lets players swap the Tetra Master minigame from Final Fantasy 9 with Triple Triad from Final Fantasy 8. Although whispers of a remake for Final Fantasy 9 have persisted for quite some time, Square Enix has yet to confirm it officially. Until then, the Moguri Mod may serve as an unofficial update closest to the original game.

Final Fantasy 9 Moguri Mod Version 9.0 Changes

Update to Moguri itself (by Snouz)

  • Upscale re-rendered of all backgrounds, aided by Stable Diffusion, mixed with the original result
  • Full rework of battle backgrounds (re-render, re-stitching, re-mood)
  • Redrawing of many layer edges
  • Improvements to most lights
  • Animated textures upscaled on Monsters/NPC
  • Rework of some FMVs
  • Many visual bugfixes (battles, backgrounds…)

Features from Memoria

  • High framerate (60fps or more, recently overhauled)
  • Mod manager/downloader, new launcher
  • Many new options in Memoria.ini and directly in the launcher
  • Non-gridded camera and camera stabilizer
  • Custom fonts
  • PSX battle UI, dynamic mode
  • Antialiasing, texture filtering
  • New audio engine
  • Triple Triad/Tetra Triad/lower randomness card modes
  • New cheats
  • 16:10 widescreen support, much more backgrounds supported
  • UI improvements (instant open/load, more items/abilities on screen)
  • More controller support (DS4, DS5, Switch)
  • Much cleaner layer edges with 3D objects
  • Many new modding possibilities (textures, SFX, Statuses, playable characters, voices…)
  • Turbo dialog/combat with R1
  • Model viewer
  • Experimental model shaders
  • Disc change images

Memoria Bug fixes

  • Infamous occasional crash at the end of the game
  • Turn-based fixes
  • Many fixes to widescreen
  • Restored some hidden layers (never seen before)
  • Fixed many backgrounds, cropped layers, animations, lights
  • Battle texture problems

Read More

2024-08-17 01:13