Enclosures
Final Fantasy IX is famous for a bit of a gaffe with how it handled its official Strategy Guide. Squaresoft decided to split the information between the printed guide book and the online site PlayOnline.com. The problem is that practically the entire guide was trapped behind the site, so consumers paid $15 to $20 for what was an empty book. Square’s hybrid idea quietly died and was removed. The pamphlet was included up until the Square-Enix merger happened.
Variants
Here we go. Final Fantasy IX has a hilarious amount of known variants, that are split into 4 groups: Squaresoft, Square-Enix, Canadian, and then Square-Enix Store Silver bottom reprints. We’ll keep them sorted that way for sanity purposes.
Squaresoft Releases
After the original release featured above, the game was re-released as a Greatest Hits.
SLUS-SLUS-01251GH, 01295GH, 01296GH, 01297GH / PSRM-020480, 021230, 021240, 021250
Squaresoft Greatest Hits Release – SLUS-SLUS-01251GH, 01295GH, 01296GH, 01297GH / PSRM-020480, 021230, 021240, 021250
Square-Enix Greatest Hits Releases
The first Greatest Hits re-release after Square and Enix merged into Square-Enix was printed with white discs.
Square-Enix Greatest Hits with White Discs – SLUS-01251GH, 01295GH, 01296GH, 01297GH / PSRM-020480, 021230, 021240, 021250
The second Greatest Hits Square-Enix release changed the discs back to the ‘clear’ or silver discs, but then adjusted the back design to relocate the ESRB descriptor box to the left corner.
Square-Enix Second Greatest Hits – SLUS-SLUS-01251GH, 01295GH, 01296GH, 01297GH / PSRM-020480, 021230, 021240, 021250
Canadian Releases
The first Canadian release is the original black label Squaresoft release. The SLUS ends in F, but it’s not displayed anywhere but the back insert spine and the French manual.
SLUS-01251F, 01295, 01296, 01297 / PSRM-020480, 021230, 021240, 021250
Canadian Black Label – SLUS-01251F, 01295, 01296, 01297 / PSRM-020480, 021230, 021240, 021250
Canadian Greatest Hits Release, via Square-Enix. Silver Tops, Color French Manual
Canadian Silver Top Discs, Color French Manual
Canadian Silver Tops with Black & White French Manual
Canadian Silver Tops with Black & White French Manual
Canadian Greatest Hits Release, via Square-Enix.
SLUS-01251GH-F, 01295GH-F, 01296GH-F, 01297GH-F / PSRM-020480, 021230, 021240, 021250
Canadian Greatest Hits Square-Enix – SLUS-01251GH, 01295GH, 01296GH, 01297GH / PSRM-020480, 021230, 021240, 021250
Square-Enix.com Store Silver Bottom Reprint Releases
Even after the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 had moved on, Square-Enix has been constantly reprinting a select group of their original PlayStation games and selling them through their online store. These reprints are on standard silver CD-Rom discs and have at least three known reprints.
Version 1
The first disc has the thinnest text of the three known Silver Bottom versions, and the manual has a super bright, almost lime green spine.
Square-Enix Silver Bottom Reprint Version 1
Version 2
Next up is the second version which has the first disc having a slightly thicker font. The manual has the standard green stripe with the faint “Greatest Hits” text repeating.
Version 2 Square-Enix Store Version
Version 3
The third version’s Disc 1 has a really thick font (possibly a printing issue) and the manual’s green spine has the most predominant “Greatest Hits” background text.
Square-Enix Store Silver Bottom Version 3
Misprints
- There are no known misprints.
