[Analysis] Necron: Worst final boss ever or secretly brilliant? · 5:44pm May 26th, 2018
I'd say spoiler alert, but one: if you haven't played Final Fantasy IX yet then what the hell are you doing? It's been almost two decades. Two, I think we can all agree that the final boss comes right the hell out of nowhere so there's no real spoilers here. Regardless, I'll put this one light warning anyway just in case.
I love Final Fantasy IX. Like it might be my favorite game I love it so much. What's that? I said Final Fantasy VI was my favorite? That has since been corrected after further analysis on the ninth entry in the series. Regardless of my feelings on the games, I'll skip straight to the point.
There is a truth within the FF community that has been universally accepted ever since the release of Final Fantasy IX: Necron, the final boss of the game, is a terrible final boss. I stand before this "truth" to bring up facts people may have ignored when looking at this monster.
Many people immediately hate Necron simply because he comes right the hell out of nowhere when Zidane and friends get to the end of the game. How much "out of nowhere" are we talking about here? For starters, Necron never shows up nor is ever mentioned explicitly in the narrative of the story or even hinted at. He isn't even the main antagonist, he simply wants to kill everyone after observing Kuja's destructive tendencies. Furthermore, after he's defeated he is never mentioned again for what little remains of the story, even when Zidane and co. returns to their realm. Even I will admit that isn't super interesting and I fully understand those who hate this guy and say it sours Final Fantasy IX right at the last moment.
However, there is something people don't realize: Necron is seen CONSTANTLY throughout the game in forms unlike but still similar to the one we encounter him in.
There are several key themes that make up the bulk of Final Fantasy IX's story: finding your place in the world, realizing your own mortality and, leading in from that, death. This game is filled to the brim with death and mortality. Burmecia being purged by Queen Brahne, Freya losing Fratley, Vivi and Kuja trying to cope with their limited lives, Terra being blown up and literally every Genome but Zidane being eradicated. These are only some of the events that happen within the game and they all revolve around death.
At the end of the game, Kuja kills everyone in the party. Technically. The party is sent to the Hill of Despair where Necron is. He explains he's been studying Kuja's actions and has come to the conclusion that everyone exists merely to die and thus intends to kill everyone. It's up to Zidane and his friends to prove to Necron there is a point to living and they must make the most of their limited time.
It's clear by this point that Necron is the embodiment of death, the aforementioned theme of Final Fantasy IX. Zidane and the others all had to face their own forms of loss: Vivi with his limited life, Eiko being one of the last of her kind, Freya losing her home of Burmecia, Zidane discovering he's a doll without emotions; all of these can be attributed to the death of something whether it'd be the death of someone else, the death of yourself or the loss of motivation to keep living.
Necron embodies all of that, and now the party must face their demons and defeat him. I may have not done that explanation justice, but basically Necron doesn't have a role in the story because he doesn't need one. He is death, the theme of the game. Defeating him proves that Zidane and the others are not afraid of him and, by extension, death itself.
And as for the literal coming out of nowhere part, I believe it's a metaphor for death able to come at any time without warning. We never know when any of us are going to die, so this guy suddenly appearing before Zidane and the others makes total sense: they weren't ready for it, but by defeating him they can prove they will be ready for it when the time comes. It's super symbolic.
That's just my opinion on the matter, and like any opinion I have you're free to criticize it. In fact, I encourage it! I want to hear your thoughts on this final boss. Was it actually a good finale to an amazing game or did it sour the ending just a little too much for you? Let me know in the comments below.
Oh, and you want an example of an actually bad final boss? Just play Fable 2.
Mate, i love your view. And i do agree.
Besides the point, GOD, he was an annoying fight.
It's a hell of a stretch for symbolism when Hades exists in the game(granted, he's not quite the Ruler of the Underworld) along with Lich, Soul Cage, and Death Guise... and yet, it's better than the lack of narrative we get on the guy because it all stays speculatory otherwise. I just wish him and all the mid-late game bosses had more HP to stay long enough to be a proper threat at least.
One thing I would correct you on though, as a long time fan of the game myself: Terra gets destroyed, yes, but did you forget about Mikoto and all the other Bran Bal Genome survivors in the Black Mage village that were rescued?
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Hey, thanks man!
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It's a slight stretch, but at the same time you're right: it's all speculative. I do like the Necron fight and I wanted to give it justice somehow.
I completely forget about them, sorry. I'm replaying the game now after playing through it at a friend's place years ago, but it's been a while. I know what happens in general throughout the game, but some plot points escape me.