My absolute favorite game of all time. Every time I come back to it I wonder if I'm overrating it in my memories but it always surpasses my expectations. The cast of characters (despite being one of FF's biggest) is absolutely the most memorable to me. The first half of the game is a fun build-up with classic FF dynamics (assembling a party, evil empire, connections to past legends), but then the second half remains one of the most amazing things I've ever experienced. Every character getting their own little story of finding a reason to live and fight for a better tomorrow in the face of utter hopelessness is the most emotionally affecting thing I've ever seen in a video game. And it makes the final showdown all the more satisfying as a result.
The gameplay is also top-tier for me, the perfect balance of every character having a unique identity in combat while also allowing for customization. The ATB system is great, and I miss the four person parties this game allowed for before 7 knocked it down to three. Magic is at maybe its most useful in the series, although there's physical builds that can keep pace with it as well. Espers feel built into the game better than summons in any title (with 8 and 10 coming closest) and their plot relevance only enhances the feeling of using them. I do wish Desperation Moves were implemented more like the Limit Breaks of 7 though, as I've played this game upwards of 10 times and only triggered them a few times.
The music and sound design are also insanely memorable. Terra's theme gives me chills every time I hear it (including mounting up on magitek in FFXIV), and Searching for Friends is maybe the best sweeping, heartfelt, adventure music I've ever heard. Not to mention the 3 main battle themes, Dancing Mad, or fun stuff like Slam Shuffle, Spinach Rag, and Johnny C. Bad (amazing pun there).
The total package for me, probably not one I'd recommend for a newcomer to the series (or JRPGs in general), but one I think any JRPG enthusiast could appreciate and enjoy. I've loved a lot of what the FF series has done since 6, but I don't know if they'll ever top it.
The gameplay is also top-tier for me, the perfect balance of every character having a unique identity in combat while also allowing for customization. The ATB system is great, and I miss the four person parties this game allowed for before 7 knocked it down to three. Magic is at maybe its most useful in the series, although there's physical builds that can keep pace with it as well. Espers feel built into the game better than summons in any title (with 8 and 10 coming closest) and their plot relevance only enhances the feeling of using them. I do wish Desperation Moves were implemented more like the Limit Breaks of 7 though, as I've played this game upwards of 10 times and only triggered them a few times.
The music and sound design are also insanely memorable. Terra's theme gives me chills every time I hear it (including mounting up on magitek in FFXIV), and Searching for Friends is maybe the best sweeping, heartfelt, adventure music I've ever heard. Not to mention the 3 main battle themes, Dancing Mad, or fun stuff like Slam Shuffle, Spinach Rag, and Johnny C. Bad (amazing pun there).
The total package for me, probably not one I'd recommend for a newcomer to the series (or JRPGs in general), but one I think any JRPG enthusiast could appreciate and enjoy. I've loved a lot of what the FF series has done since 6, but I don't know if they'll ever top it.