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Final Fantasy IX

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Movie Critic Guide

By
Jarrod Garripoli

By far, the most annoying trophy/achievement in Final Fantasy IX is Movie Critic, which requires you to view 79 Active Time Events (ATEs). ATEs are basically little cutscenes that happen away from your controlled character, so you can see what other characters are doing during the current events. Despite the description saying you only need to view 79 of them, that actually includes all of them. There’s 83 total ATEs in the game, but three of them don’t count towards this trophy/achievement, leaving 80 total. Of course, there comes a point in the game where you have to make a choice on what to do (it’s a minor choice), with there being an ATE for each of the options, meaning you will miss one of those. Thus, you only get 79 ATEs to view, so you will have to get all of them in order to unlock this trophy/achievement.

This page will give details on all of the ATEs, saying whether they happen automatically or you have to trigger them yourself. To trigger the ATE, look for the Active Time Event to pop up in the bottom left corner of the screen, then press the Touchpad (PS4), Minus button (Switch), View button (Xbox One) or the Select button (all other Playstation consoles) to bring up a list of the current ATEs you can view. In some instances, you will need to pick specific ones, as to not make others go away, but those will be pointed out in the following guide.

The Evil Forest

The first area with ATEs is the Evil Forest, with nothing really standing out here. My Little Baby requires you to watch Time to Escape first, but that’s about it for this area. Note that you will get two of the Teach Me, Mogster! ATEs here, which don’t count towards the total for Movie Critic.

ATE Description
The Forest Keeper Automatic
Time to Escape --
My Little Baby Must view My Little Baby first
Girl Who Was Left Behind --
Orchestra in the Forest Will get this where you encountered Prison Cage
Do As I Say, Not As I Do Automatic

The Village of Dali (First Visit)

Your first visit to Dali isn’t really eventful, as far as ATEs go. Dagger Tries Harder might not trigger right away, but avoid the equipment shop until you get it, just in case.

ATE Description
Vivi, Confused --
Dagger Tries --
Cat’s Eye --
Cat’s Eye 2 Requires Cat’s Eye first
Dagger Tries Harder Avoid shop and keep going between areas until it triggers; Requires Dagger Tries first
Queen Brahne’s Steiner Automatic

Lindblum (First Visit)

You’ll get your third, and final, Teach Me, Mogster! ATE here, which doesn’t count towards this trophy/achievement. There’s really nothing that stands out with your first visit to Lindblum, so you don’t have to go out of your way in doing anything.

ATE Description
Small Town Knight in a Big City --
Vivi’s Shopping Automatic
Steam Engine --
What Can I Do? Automatic
Baku and His Crew --

Treno (First Visit)

Welcome to your first instance of a town where ATEs can be a nuisance, since you will want to follow a set path, in order to get them all. Make sure you do the ATEs in the table below in the following order, as you might miss out on one.

ATE Description
Treno Tradition Pick this one at the beginning
Pursuit Head left after previous one and view this one
Confusion Head down the stairs after previous one
Ambition Head south after the previous one
Meeting Place Backtrack to entrance and go up stairs on the right for this one
Unexpected Visitor Go north after previous ATE
Crime and Punishment Return to Treno after visiting Tot’s tower

Cleyra

You will need Quina here to view two of the four ATEs, so if you didn’t pick him/her up after completing the events at Lindblum, you won’t see them. Other than that, explore the town before advancing the story to make sure you have all four of the ATEs.

ATE Description
No Yummy-Yummies! --
There a Mushroom! --
Don’t Hate Me --
I-I Haven’t Hurt Anyone --

Alexandria Castle (Second Visit)

There’s only one ATE here and it happens automatically, after the boss fight in the basement, so you can’t miss it.

ATE Description
Friendship Automatic

Lindblum (Second Visit)

There are only three ATEs here and two will happen automatically, with the one you have to trigger being easy to find.

ATE Description
The Third Jewel --
Brahne’s Fleet Arrives Automatic
<Gwok-gwok!> How infuriating! Automatic

Conde Petie (First Visit)

You will want to be careful with roaming about Conde Petie, as visiting some places before you’re meant to will cause you to miss the ATEs. Follow the list below for the first four, then don’t worry too much about the final one.

ATE Description
Vivi and the Couple Watch this one first
Quina Accused Go left after watching previous ATE
Quina Can’t Communicate Pass through either of other two doors after previous ATE
Dagger and William Return to entrance and go east one room
Hungry Bryan After speaking with Vivi after he runs away

Black Mage Village (First Visit)

The Black Mage Village is another of those areas where it can be very easy to miss an ATE or two, particularly the Gourmand’s Nose one. This is another area where you will want to follow the list of ATEs below as a walkthrough.

ATE Description
Everyday Life Pick this at the beginning
Life On The Run After previous ATE, go right one screen (not far right path)
Gourmand’s Nose Pass through back door of item shop, then out the normal exit to get this one to appear
Different Language Return to beginning of village and take far right path
Visitor, Not Invader Ignoring any buildings, go to far left of village and enter graveyard via left exit
Life Cycle Enter synthesis shop and final one will pop when Dagger leaves

Conde Petie (Second Visit)

On your second visit to Conde Petie, there is only a single ATE, but it is possible to miss it if you don’t pay attention to a response you have to give. After the ceremony with Dagger and Zidane is over, answer the question to Vivi/Quina with “Why don’t you guys get married, too?” The ATE will automatically trigger during the following scene.

ATE Description
Nuptial Joy Automatic after answering with “Why don’t you guys get married, too?”

Madain Sari (First Visit)

It’s not entirely sure if you need to do the specific stuff during the ATEs here to have the other ATEs show up, but it might be needed, so that will be listed. There is a slight order to the ATEs here, so you might as well follow the table below.

ATE Description
Vivi’s Feelings Pick this at the beginning
Dagger’s Feelings After previous, go north and then back to fountain area
Eiko’s Feelings Go north, talk to moogle to make Quina appear, then back to fountain; Chimomo (fishing), Mocha (potatoes), Momatose (kitchen)
Eiko’s Kitchen Automatic; 11 people, No oglop, Lend a hand
Eiko’s Kitchen 2 Ask Quina for advice

Alexandria on Disc 3

The ATEs here, when controlling Vivi, shouldn’t be too troublesome to get. Just follow the table below, in case.

ATE Description
It’s So Big! Go right of the bar
Long Time No See! Return to the bar and go left once
To Fly High Return to the bar for this one
Artemicion Go to the main square
I Forgot! Should trigger after walking out of bar with Zidane
Clowns on a Dark Night Automatic

Treno on Disc 3

Treno on the third disc can be a big trouble spot, since this is where one ATE could be missable. During the second ATE here, How He Ended Up Here, you have to choice to either send Vivi back home or let him stay in Treno. Letting him stay will have an ATE that you can trigger later on during your visit, while sending him home will also have another ATE you can trigger later. If you send him home, under no circumstances should you go to Quan’s Dwelling until you finish your first card game in the tournament, as that is when you can trigger Home Sweet Home. You will also want to make sure you pick “I’m interested” when given the choice during Good Old Days, as you won’t get the second ATE if you don’t.

ATE Description
Eiko Talks Life Will pop when you first gain control
How He Ended Up Here Either let Vivi visit home or have him stay in Treno (will miss one ATE here)
Hippo’s Prize Can trigger outside of Tot’s tower (only if Vivi stays in Treno)
Memories By The Water Triggers outside of Tot’s tower; Can go to another screen if pick Hippo’s Prize first
City People Outside of card stadium
Good Old Days After the first card game (pick this and its subsequent ATE first before Home Sweet Home, if Vivi went home); Choose “I’m interested” when given the option
Lessons of Life Only available after picking “I’m interested” during previous ATE
Home Sweet Home Pick after the previous two ATEs (only if Vivi visited his home)
Hallucination After the second card game
Premonition After the second card game

Lindblum on Disc 3

This should be the last trouble spot for ATEs in the game, as there are a few tricky ones here. First and foremost, when you talk with Blank in the guest room at the beginning, make sure you ask him about Dagger, as you won’t get My Bad later. Also, if you didn’t watch Hallucination during your previous trip to Treno, then you won’t get Something Washed Ashore. The last tricky spot here is the final two ATEs. Before you go back to Cid with the three potions, make sure you spend all of your money and it’s below 50 Gil. During the No Free Lunch ATE, Zidane will forfeit the rest of his money, then you’ll get Give Me My Money! once you board the Blue Narciss.

ATE Description
Something Washed Ashore Won’t trigger if you didn’t watch Hallucination in Lindblum
My Bad Must have picked “Where’s Dagger?” when speaking with Blank in the guest room
Self-Reproach Automatic
Deep Anger Automatic
My Hammer --
The Rally Should trigger if you met Wei and Kal in Burmecia
No Free Lunch Make sure you have less than 50 Gil on you before viewing this
Give Me My Money! Automatic; Only triggers if you have less than 50 Gil before watching No Free Lunch

Lindblum on Disc 3 (2)

Both ATEs here are automatic, so there’s nothing to worry about with them.

ATE Description
Team Automatic
Recovery Automatic

Bran Bal

All four of the ATEs here will trigger when you’re in control of Eiko.

ATE Description
Place to Call Home Should trigger when you gain control of Eiko
Where the Heart Is Upon exiting the inn
Came into this World Go to the right of the inn
The Truth Inside the north building, where a bunch of NPCs are located

Pandemonium

The final ATE is in Pandemonium, at the elevator section. In order to get it, though, you will have to perform a series of tasks. To begin, set the standard heading to zero, then head into the room on the left. While in here, try to jump from all three accessible ledges, only to be blocked. Return to the controls and change the heading to 2, then do the same thing as above. Upon going back to the controls one more time, there will be a scene and returning to the left room will allow you to activate The Elevator ATE.

ATE Description
The Elevator Read above for what to do
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Guide Information
  • Publisher
    Square Enix
  • Platforms,
    iOS, PC, PS1, PS4, Switch, XB One
  • Genre
    RPG
  • Guide Release
    28 April 2019
  • Last Updated
    20 February 2021
  • Guide Author

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A group known as the Tantalus Theatre Troupe visits the kingdom of Alexandria to celebrate the birthday of Princess Garnet. Unbeknownst to the royal family and the citizens of the city, the troupe is actually a band of thieves, who are aiming to kidnap the princess. However, to add a twist, the princess was planning on escaping the castle all along, even asking the troupe to “kidnap” her. This little event kickstarts many others, leading to a grand adventure.

This guide is planned to have a beginning-to-end walkthrough of the main story, while simultaneously guiding you through all of the side quests and other goodies in the game. The side quests include Chocobo Hot and Cold, Tetra Master, and all of the smaller ones, like the jump rope mini-game, Friendly Monsters, Excalibur II, and much more. In addition to all of this, you will find lists of all abilities that characters can learn, as well as Quina’s Blue Magic.

  • Beginning-to-end walkthrough, covering all story elements
  • Coverage on all side quests, from major to minor ones
  • How to learn all abilities, including Quina’s Blue Magic
  • Detailed trophy/achievement guide

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