Honestly, What's the verdict for you?

[Carin-Eri]

They should actually try with the references then. DT's numerous IX references feel like they were mechanically and soullessly thrown in by people that didn't care and just skimmed an overview on a wiki, and I dislike the expansion more because of it.

I am, personally, curious as to why there are cases where the reference is there visually, but isn't supported by the dialogue/story. Zelenia for example is - for all intents and purposes - Beatrix, but for reasons that are not clear they avoided naming her as such.

[Jeeqbit]

I am, personally, curious as to why there are cases where the reference is there visually, but isn't supported by the dialogue/story. Zelenia for example is - for all intents and purposes - Beatrix, but for reasons that are not clear they avoided naming her as such.

It is but although they ripped large amounts of the lore wholesale, it is technically a different game and they are just taking inspiration from it. They probably don't want to hurt the lore of the original characters, so instead you can interpret these to be the "next generation" that came after the ones in FF9 if you want, but somehow having similar attributes and personalities.

There is also a standout character that seems very different to Garnet - Spheen, so that might be why.

[TaleraRistain]

I am, personally, curious as to why there are cases where the reference is there visually, but isn't supported by the dialogue/story. Zelenia for example is - for all intents and purposes - Beatrix, but for reasons that are not clear they avoided naming her as such.

It was a bit odd with Steiner and Beatrix they used Otis and Zelenia when they had other obvious references like Zander and Ambrose for Zidane and Amarant that used the same first initial. Garnet makes a bit of sense since Sphene is fulfilling both the gemstone name and the first initial of her real name.