Despite owning Final Fantasy V Advance for many years, I somehow only ever played the two better-known--and better-loved--Final Fantasy entries for the Super Famicom. I don't know why I never tried it out; I suppose at the time I just couldn't bring myself to play much of anything, much less a multi-hour RPG.

Boy did I miss out. This game is a delight. The story never reaches the heights of Final Fantasy IV or VI, but it has some standout moments that at least elevate it above the likes of Final Fantasy I or III. Same goes for the characters as well, though I will say I love Faris with all my heart.

No, Final Fantasy V shines on its Job System and the amount of customisation one can do is simply sublime. This series has become very well-known for its narrative elements, but I always appreciate when they bring something mechanically interesting to the table, and I found immense delight in planning out and executing on specific builds for each character. There are certainly things I would do differently on a future playthrough, and there's always the Four Job Fiesta...

In short, definitely play this one.