34% into X-2 is the point I stopped playing in the official series. I had a difficult time getting the palm of my hand unstuck from my forehead with that one. I feel XII and XIII deserve a try by me, but I don't know when that time will come. Still need to play V! Not playing II or III is understandable, but not playing V feels like I'm missing out on something, and I know there are many fans of that one.
I have to go with FFVI. FFVII was indeed a great game, but I am much more fond of VI.
I really liked the characters from VI. Great heroes, and quite a lot of them, and especially great villians. Maybe Gau, Strago and Relm could have been given more purpose, (Mog, Umaro, and Gogo are clearly extra characters) but they didn't take away from the experience. I find it interesting that FFVI's double sized cast compared to all other FF rosters has ZERO characters I hated or really disliked being forced to use.
Love Terra. Love Celes. Love Locke. Love Edgar. Love Sabin. Love Setzer. Love Cyan.
That's already the average number of FF cast members, now add that I:
Like Shadow and Gau. I may be indifferent to Strago and Relm, but I'll take under-utilized characters over annoying or rude ones any day. And the bonus characters... I'm fairly sure they were included primarily to pad out your parties for the split-up sequences. Nothing wrong with extra soldiers! Of course the main group of adventurers has all the emotional resolve and combined fighting experiences, but if Bigfoot himself wants to fight alongside you, let him!
Emperor Gestahl, Kefka and Ultros rocked my face off.
The versatility of the Esper system was very cool when I was a kid playing for the first time. "Whoa, you mean I can teach spells to anyone? Awesome!" It is easy to over-level while trying to exploit Espers, but it's completely up to you how you want to go about it.
I found the hunt for allies in the endgame an interesting and satisfying feature. I know some folks didn't like it but it worked very well for me. They failed, and in their seperation, came to a resolution on their individual, unresolved personal issues. They recuperated, and they decided a world without Kefka was still a world worth dying for the chance to realize. Together and against the odds, they defeated the horrible monster that forever defaced their planet.
FFVI was a satisfying experience all the way to the end. There wasn't a whole lot I didn't like about VI. Simply unforgettable.
I have played IX to completion, however I'd be hard pressed to recall what happens in it. I did enjoy it, but it didn't stick. I remember enjoying it more than X, but strangely, I can recall more of what happens in X and in what order. IX... Totally fuzzy.
IV was pretty awesome in it's heyday but it takes one too many logic dumps to take completely seriously (How the hell did the Red Wings get underground before you if you had the key to the underworld?!), along with suicidal drama (lol I survived!) and betrayal everywhere.
VIII
gameplay experiments/angsty teen love drama/busy work simulator: The Game. And it sold incredibly well because of the successful hype FF7 generated. I don't hate it, but it is hella strange. I like the modern feel of the world and the card game was pretty neat.X had an interesting leveling system and weapon customization, and great visuals. Terrible cast. Decent story, though I wouldn't play it again. X-2 was just a sloppy drunk.
Two responses since I started typing, lol could be worse.
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