Over a decade of Final Fantasy history gave this release a weird set of expectations. While technically better than the beloved Final Fantasy VII, in almost every way, it was a far departure from the series originals, and I think that gave it a somewhat marred reception. In retrospect, I've enjoyed it far more without that baggage, and save for some late 90's jank, it's ultimately a fun and memorable experience with great production values—for the time, anyway.